PASTORAL RESOURCES

Recommended by Pastor Joe Haverlock: This book has inspired me to pursue a deeper connection with God as a worshiper throughout the week, not just on Sundays. Smith highlights how our hearts can easily be led astray by worldly influences, reminding us that our hearts can become "idol factories," as John Calvin described. He offers practical daily habits, rhythms, and practices to lead personal reformation. This book serves as a refreshing discipleship tool for your worship journey, challenging you to deepen your worship on Sundays and extend it to your daily life, Monday through Saturday.

Purchase You Are What You Love here.

Recommended by Pastor Rob Pifer: What is Habits of the Household about? Habits of the Household offers a meaningful way for families to connect with God through daily routines. Through reflections and stories, you'll learn how to implement simple habits that will help you find deeper meaning amid the chaos of family life.

Purchase Habits of the Household here.

Recommended by Pastor Scott Stake: If you're longing for a closer relationship with the Lord in the midst of the busyness of life, then this book is for you! Ken Shigematsu provides a helpful framework to develop life-giving, spiritual rhythms that can help you commune with God in the everyday moments. We'll cover 3 of these gospel practices (meditation, prayer, and sabbath rest) in our October Gospel for Life class.

Purchase God in My Everything here.

Recommended by Pastor Paul Gilbert: The Lord's Supper has been the central and characteristic action of the church at worship. But there are still many ways of understanding it and many questions surrounding this meal. Each contributor of this book make a case for one of the following views:

Baptist view (memorialism)

Reformed view (spiritual presence)

Lutheran view (consubstantiation)

Roman Catholic view (transubstantiation)

All contributors use Scripture to present their views, and each responds to the others' essays.

Purchase Understanding Four Views on the Lord’s Supper here

Recommended by Pastor Paul Gilbert: The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most influential scriptures of the Bible and is the most studied and commented upon portion of the Christian Scriptures. Every Christian generation turns to it for insight and guidance. This books shows that the Sermon on the Mount offers a clear window into understanding God's work in Christ by providing a historical, theological, and literary commentary on the Sermon, and explains how this text offers insight into God's plan for human flourishing. Furthermore, it related the Sermon's theological themes to contemporary issues such as ethics, philosophy, and economics.

Purchase The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing here