I’ll be honest with you: April 2021 was probably not the most significant month for new and notable releases of Christian books. I did not have as many as usual show up in my mailbox and did not have to work as hard as usual to narrow down the list. However, we were still blessed with some significant titles and I’ve done my best to list many of them here. Thus, with no further ado, here are my picks for new and notable Christian books for April 2021. Do note that I have not read all of these books but merely skimmed through them to see what they are all about; the information I include is the editorial description provided by the publisher.
Surviving Religion 101 by Michael Kruger. “For many young adults, the college years are an exciting period of selfdiscovery full of new relationships, new independence, and new experiences. Yet college can also be a time of personal testing and intense questioning— especially for Christian students confronted with various challenges to Christianity and the Bible for the first time. Drawing on years of experience as a biblical scholar, Michael Kruger addresses common objections to the Christian faith—the exclusivity of Christianity, Christian intolerance, homosexuality, hell, the problem of evil, science, miracles, and the reliability of the Bible. If you’re a student dealing with doubt or wrestling with objections to Christianity from fellow students and professors alike, this book will equip you to engage secular challenges with intellectual honesty, compassion, and confidence—and ultimately graduate college with your faith intact.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe by Voddie Baucham. “The death of George Floyd at the hands of police in the summer of 2020 shocked the nation. As riots rocked American cities, Christians affirmed from the pulpit and in social media that ‘black lives matter’ and that racial justice ‘is a gospel issue.’ But what if there is more to the social justice movement than those Christians understand? Even worse: What if they’ve been duped into preaching ideas that actually oppose the Kingdom of God? In this powerful book, Voddie Baucham, a preacher, professor, and cultural apologist, explains the sinister worldview behind the social justice movement and Critical Race Theory—revealing how it already has infiltrated some seminaries, leading to internal denominational conflict, canceled careers, and lost livelihoods. Like a fault line, it threatens American culture in general—and the evangelical church in particular. Whether you’re a layperson who has woken up in a strange new world and wonders how to engage sensitively and effectively in the conversation on race or a pastor who is grappling with a polarized congregation, this book offers the clarity and understanding to either hold your ground or reclaim it.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Glimmers of Grace: A Doctor’s Reflections on Faith, Suffering, and the Goodness of God by Kathryn Butler, MD. “If you’ve ever spent time in a hospital, you know that it can be a place of struggles and hardships. These hardships aren’t limited to physical problems; often when our bodies are in pain, our spiritual lives can suffer too. Former trauma surgeon Dr. Kathryn Butler experienced this firsthand as she walked alongside patients, colleagues, and friends through various illnesses and aching loss. In Glimmers of Grace, Butler draws from this experience to guide believers through the deep questions of God’s trustworthiness in the midst of suffering. Blending memoir and devotional reflections, Butler interweaves her own stories of grace with narratives from Scripture to reveal how God’s steadfast love endures even in times of great affliction.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Gospelbound: Living with Resolute Hope in an Anxious Age by Collin Hansen & Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra. “As the pressures of health warnings, economic turmoil, and partisan politics continue to rise, the influence of gospel-focused Christians seems to be waning. In the public square and popular opinion, we are losing our voice right when it’s needed most for Christ’s glory and the common good. But there’s another story unfolding too–if you know where to look. In Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra counter these growing fears with a robust message of resolute hope for anyone hungry for good news. Join them in exploring profound stories of Christians who are quietly changing the world in the name of Jesus–from the wild world of digital media to the stories of ancient saints and unsung contemporary activists on the frontiers of justice and mercy. Discover how, in these dark times, the light of Jesus shines even brighter. You haven’t heard the whole story. And that’s good news.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Essential Christian Doctrine: A Handbook on Biblical Truth by John MacArthur. “Doctrine not only equips you with more knowledge about God, it also shapes your affections toward him and directs your actions for him–but it can be difficult to know where to begin. This concise handbook, developed from John MacArthur’s larger work Biblical Doctrine, is an entry point for studying theological topics such as the Bible, the Holy Spirit, the church, and more. As MacArthur walks through the essentials of the Christian faith doctrine by doctrine, he’ll not only encourage your heart and mind, but also empower you to proclaim the faith that was ‘once for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3).” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Deacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the Church by Matt Smethurst. “How Can Deacons Mobilize Service in the Church? Deacons are essential to a church’s health—yet confusion abounds regarding their biblical job description. What’s their God-given role in a local congregation and how do they relate to the church’s overall mission? In this short book, Matt Smethurst makes the case that deacons are model servants called to meet tangible needs, organize and mobilize acts of service, preserve the unity of the flock, and support the ministry of the elders. Clearing away common misconceptions, Smethurst offers practical guidance for deploying deacons and helping churches to flourish.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Banner Mini Guides by Various. The excellent Banner Mini Guide series has had some new volumes added to it. “Banner Mini Guides introduce the the reader to some of the major themes and issues related to the Christian faith. They lay a solid foundation of Bible teaching while encouraging more thorough exploration of the theme with suggestions for further reading. The mini-guides will seamlessly fit into the teaching quarters of the church year with their thirteen-chapter format, making them useful for group as well as for individual study.” Initial guides cover salvation, regeneration, sanctification, growing in grace, the Christian mind, the Bible, and the church. (Buy them at Westminster Books)
Freedom to Flourish: The Rest God Offers in the Purpose He Gives You by Elizabeth Garn. “Are you tired? Are you weary? So many Christian women are exhausted because we’ve come to believe that God’s purpose for us is rooted in what we do—which means we’re constantly striving to somehow do enough. But there is hope! Elizabeth takes us back to the gracious plan God laid out for us in Genesis: he created us to bear his image, he is inviting us to live out that purpose, and through Christ he frees us to flourish as those who are unconditionally loved.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Yours, Till Heaven: The Untold Love Story of Charles and Susie Spurgeon by Ray Rhodes. “Charles Spurgeon is esteemed for his writing, preaching, and passion for the Lord. But behind the great man was a great wife–and between the man and wife was a profound marriage. Yours, Till Heaven invites you into the untold love story of Charles and Susie Spurgeon to discover how the bond between this renowned couple helped fuel their lifelong service to the Lord. Discover how Charles and Susie traversed the challenges of loneliness, physical affliction, popularity, controversy, and other trials together with a heavenly vision. Just as the Spurgeons lived their lives as witnesses of Christ, in Yours, Till Heaven their marriage continues to be an example for how all marriages today can remain faithful, loving, and joyful despite the challenges that life may bring. With historical precision and narrative craft, Spurgeon scholar Ray Rhodes Jr. captures the inner-life of this Victorian romance that not only served the Spurgeons in their day, but that can also continue to empower and encourage couples today. For more on the lives of the Spurgeons, find Susie by Ray Rhodes Jr.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Acts 20: Fierce Wolves are Coming; Guard the Flock by Alexander Strauch. “God has given us a special gift in Paul’s farewell message to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38). There is really nothing else in the New Testament comparable to this passage. In “Acts 20: Fierce Wolves are Coming; Guard the Flock,” Alexander Strauch provides an in-depth yet practical exposition of this extraordinary portion of Scripture. History amply demonstrates that the truths of Paul’s message cannot be overstated or repeated too often. The appalling, centuries-long failure to stop false teachers from invading churches can be traced directly back to ignorance of or disobedience to Paul’s prophetic warnings to the Ephesian elders. Paul’s instructions and pleas to the Ephesian elders are just as critically needed today as they were that day on the shores of Miletus.” (Buy it from Amazon)
The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy & What to Do about It by Dave Jenkins. “In The Word Explored, Dave Jenkins examines the problem of biblical illiteracy and helps readers learn the basics of Bible reading, church membership, and how the local Church should function under the Word reminding us that believing the right things is not enough, we need to move into obedience to the Word that we claim to believe, in every area of the Christian life and ministry.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
