November Book Recommendations

I may be a little scattered this morning, but you still get three excellent books to check out. All are on the devotional side, for personal reflection and growth, rather than academic learning. The Freedom of Surrender, by Mary DeMuth. Journey through forty days of entrusting specific areas of your life to God your inner struggles, your family, your expectations, your regrets, your ministry, your grief, your relationships, your job, your health, your finances, your future, and more. Every daily devotion includes Scripture, prayer, and Mary’s original art.Missing the Kingdom, by Wayne GordonIn this personal and biblical book, Gordon explores:* How Jesus’s main message was the Kingdom, not just salvation* Why the Sermon on the Mount is the blueprint for Kingdom living* The deep connection between the Kingdom, righteousness, and justice* How the Great Commandment to love God and neighbor fuels Kingdom work* The tragedy of reducing the gospel to a ticket to heaven* What it looks like when churches become outposts of the Kingdom on earthWe Follow Christ, edited by Tara Beth Leach, Patricia M. Batten, and Matthew D. KimThe unique and gifted contributors to this volume are leaders in their respective fields in the church, theological education, and society. Through their personal accounts of vocational identity, they share collective wisdom and experiences in being called by God and exercising that call. Reflecting on their journeys, these extraordinary women disclose transparent stories of heartache and yet offer hope in the one whom they have chosen to follow, the Lord Jesus Christ.More Than a Mother: Lessons from the Life of the First DiscipleThis one isn’t a book, but a small paperback booklet published by Our Daily Bread Ministries as part of their Discovery Series. I used my dissertation resources to explore the life and calling of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as his first disciple. ODB offers each essay separately as well as the pdf of the whole booklet for free download. If you’ve followed my writing over the last eighteen months, this booklet will give you the best summary of my dissertation work beyond reading the actual academic-level project itself. Happy reading!Some hyperlinks are affiliate, earning pennies for brick-and-mortar book stores at no cost to you. Get full access to The Estuary with Kelley Mathews at kelleymathews.substack.com/subscribe