The book EVERYONE at Old Powhatan Baptist Church should read in 2015…

J.D. Greear. Jesus, Continued…: Why the Spirit Inside You is Better than Jesus Beside You (Print / Kindle)

Why does God often feel more like a doctrine we know about than a Person we know? Why do so many of us think of Christianity as a lifestyle to which we conform, rather than a God with whom we commune? Jesus gave his disciples the audacious promise that it was to their advantage he go back to heaven because the Holy Spirit could then come to live inside of them. How many of us consider our connection to the Holy Spirit so strong and so real that we would call his presence in us better than Jesus beside us?

The Books I’m Most Excited to Read (or Read Again) in January

Michael S. Horton. Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World (Print / Kindle)

Far from a call to low expectations and passivity, Horton invites readers to recover their sense of joy in the ordinary. He provides a guide to a sustainable discipleship that happens over the long haul—not a quick fix that leaves readers empty with unfulfilled promises. Convicting and ultimately empowering, Ordinary is not a call to do less; it’s an invitation to experience the elusive joy of the ordinary Christian life.

Jerry Bridges. The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God’s Love Through You (Print / Kindle)

As we desire to be more like Jesus, we want to live loving, joyful lives. Yet loving our enemies seems impossible. Even being patient with our family is often difficult. How can we put on the gentle garments of grace when we’re so busy battling our old behavior patterns? Navigator author Jerry Bridges explains how to practice the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23)

Malcolm Gladwell. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (Print / Kindle)

The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate.

 

Kindle Deal(s) of the Day

Sally Lloyd-Jones. The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name ($1.99 on Kindle)

The multiple award-winning Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby, the Child upon whom everything would depend. From Noah to Moses to King David, every story whispers his name. Jesus is like the missing piece in a puzzle—the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. Children and adults alike will be captivated by the 44 beautifully written and illustrated stories in this bestselling storybook Bible. Perfect for young readers, this eBook edition allows children to view the engaging Jesus Storybook Bible illustrations and tap to zoom text!

Matt Chandler. To Live Is Christ to Die Is Gain ($2.24 on Kindle)

The short book of Philippians is one of the most quoted in the Bible, yet Paul wrote it not for the popular sound bites, but to paint a picture of a mature Christian faith. While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith. In this disruptively inspiring book, Chandler offers tangible ways to develop a faith of pursuing, chasing, knowing, and loving Jesus. Because if we clean up our lives but don’t get Jesus, we’ve lost! So let the goal be Him. To live is Christ, to die is gain—this is the message of the letter. Therefore, our lives should be lived to Him, through Him, for Him, with Him, about Him—everything should be about Jesus.