Content - Articles (5 recent)

How IVP Fiction Can Grow You Spiritually

Fri, 15 May 2026 17:48:00 GMT

by Eva Pankratz, Publicity Coordinator

There’s no shortage of resources to choose from when it comes to spiritual growth. Books, podcasts, Bible studies—the list goes on. Maybe when you think of spiritual growth you think of a sermon, a meeting with a spiritual director, quiet time with Jesus, or your small group. Maybe you think of it with delight, or maybe it’s something that you secretly dread.

What if the fiction book you read for enjoyment also deepened your walk with Christ?

Books for Every Season: Resources to Read Through the Church Year

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:21:00 GMT

Reading with the Church Through the Year

The church year is one of Christianity's oldest gifts to its people. For centuries and across traditions, Christians around the world have been ordering their lives around a shared calendar that moves through the story of Christ's life, death, and resurrection and invites us to inhabit that story season by season.

Whether you've observed the liturgical calendar your whole life or are just discovering it, this page is your guide to IVP resources organized by the rhythms of the church year. You don't need to belong to a particular tradition to observe and benefit from these seasons. The church year belongs to the whole church.

How to use this page: Browse by season to find books that fit where you are right now, or explore the full collection to build a year-round reading life rooted in the historic Christian story.

The Gift of Playing Together as a Family

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:24:00 GMT

The Gift of Playing Together as a Family

Soul-Nourishing Reads for Christian Moms

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:29:00 GMT

We all long for something that speaks to the heart, offering a quiet moment of peace and reflection amid the demands of each day. Perhaps you're a mom seeking inspiration for your own faith journey, or maybe you're searching for a meaningful gift for a mom in your life. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, a holiday, honoring Mother's Day, or simply wanting to encourage someone through a challenging season, these thoughtful books can be a lasting gesture of love.

Featuring devotionals, insightful Bible studies, poetry, and engaging novels, this collection of Christian books provides a compassionate space for mothers to breathe. Each selection is uplifting, deeply encouraging, and thoughtfully designed to help the women you love rest, reflect, and draw closer to God on any occasion.

Presence and Play

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:24:00 GMT

Presence and Play

Books on Disability and the Church

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:29:00 GMT

Resources for Building a More Inclusive and Accessible Christian Community

As the church seeks to reflect the full beauty of the body of Christ, a crucial reality demands our attention: one in four adults lives with a disability. Yet many congregations and ministries remain unsure how to move from good intentions to genuine belonging. Disability ministry is not a niche concern, it is a vital expression of the gospel’s call to mutuality, dignity, and interdependence.

The following books invite individuals, ministry leaders, and entire congregations to move beyond awareness toward meaningful inclusion. They offer theological grounding, practical wisdom, and powerful stories that challenge us to reshape how we serve, empower, and learn from people of all abilities.

Dive Deep into the Theology of Lent and Easter

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:29:00 GMT

As we prepare for the sacred seasons of Lent and Easter, there's no better time to reflect deeply on the theology of Christ's passion, death, resurrection, and ascension.

Including both accessible reads to in-depth studies, this collection will help you reflect on Christ's passion, death, and resurrection as you journey toward Easter.

Keep reading to learn more about these featured books, each with a brief description to help you choose the perfect companion for your Lenten and Easter reflections.

Trusting God When You’re Afraid of the Dark

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:24:00 GMT

Trusting God When You’re Afraid of the Dark

5 Ways Pastors Can Avoid Losing Their Way

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:53:00 GMT

By Peter Greer and Jill Heisey, co-authors of How Leaders Lose Their Way

In a time when so many leaders are faltering, the question of how to remain faithful for the long haul has never been more pressing. Peter Greer and Jill Heisey, authors of How Leaders Lose Their Way, sought to understand what causes leaders to lose their way and what sets apart those who remain steadfast. Their research points to five essential practices that enable leaders to stay grounded, mission true, and faithful for a lifetime.

At some point, you have likely sung the words, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love…”¹ Though the soothing melody softens the blow, it’s a frighteningly true statement for Christ-followers—especially those in leadership.

In fact, one study of Christian leaders found that only 1 in 3 finish well.²

Aware of our own propensity to wander, we researched what causes leaders to lose their way. Although strong currents pull us away from a faithful finish, we identified five essential practices of leaders who remain steadfast and mission true for a lifetime.

1. Acknowledge your propensity to wander.

Leaders who think they aren’t vulnerable to losing their way won’t be aware of the subtle but significant impact of small compromises. When they hear of others’ falls or drift, they might think “How could they let that happen?” rather than, “How can I make sure the same doesn’t happen to me?” Humble introspection is required to ask where, not if, we, too, are slowly drifting.

2. Focus on who you are, not what you do.

Henri Nouwen wrote that we inhabit “a world constantly trying to convince us that the burden is on us to prove that we are worthy of being loved.”³ In our quest to earn what God says we inherently possess, we too often run roughshod over relationships, failing to love God and others well. Our first effort must be to reframe our way of thinking, to recognize that entirely apart from our achievements, aspirations, and machinations, we are the beloved of God, who absolutely delights in his children.

3. Slow down.

When the life of a leader is rushed, it’s hard to see when and where we’ve gotten off course. We become so preoccupied with doing that we fail to pause and ask if the things we’re doing are aligned with our mission. Speed limits our vision, depriving us of the ability to see beyond the immediate future and beyond ourselves to those around us.

Avoiding drift requires a change of pace: a time and place to regularly pause, consider, and take stock. We won’t know that we’re veering off course unless we slow down enough to look up and check our location.

4. Pray and obey.

Pastors who finish well prioritize prayer—not as a last resort, but as a non-negotiable first priority. Prayer is an essential guardrail that recenters us and reminds us who we are and who God is. Amid the immense pressures of pastoral leadership, mission true pastors pray and remember, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29).

5. Keep others close.

On a safari tour in Akagera National Park, Rwanda, our guide pointed to a lone gazelle grazing and asked, “Do you know what that is called?”

“Gazelle!” someone helpfully offered.

“Dinner,” he replied.

1 Peter 5:8 warns that our enemy “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” And isolation makes us vulnerable. Leaders who drift often do so quietly, without notice, because they lack close relationships with others willing to ask hard questions or offer correction.

We need more than companions; we need friends who know us deeply and will speak the truth for the sake of our souls.

Who knows you fully? The Johari Window, developed by psychologists Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham, helps us see that we all have a “hidden area”—known to ourselves but undisclosed to others. Any growth in this area is a warning sign to pause, ask difficult questions, and invite trusted friends into the conversation.

If you’re ready to take practical steps toward finishing well, we’ve created a set of free tools to help you reflect, recalibrate, and refresh your leadership journey. Access the free resources at howleaderslosetheirway.com—and press on toward a faithful finish.

¹ Robert Robinson, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” 1758, https://hymnary.org/text/come_thou_fount_of_every_blessing.

² J. Robert Clinton, “Listen Up Leaders!” (Barnabas Publishers, 1989), 7, https://clintonleadership.com/resources/complimentary/ListenUpLeaders.pdf. Not all the leaders Clinton identified were described in enough detail to be evaluated, but of those who were, only about 30 percent finished well by Clinton’s definition. Although Clinton conducted his research decades ago, there’s no reason to believe that what has been true for millennia has changed in recent years.

³ Henri J. M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World (New York: Crossroad, 1992), 129.

Top Reference Books Every New Pastor Needs

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 18:29:00 GMT

Equipping Pastors with Tools for Preaching, Studying, and Shepherding

Starting out in pastoral ministry can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Between preparing sermons, caring for people, and leading a congregation, new pastors quickly discover the importance of having solid reference tools at their fingertips. A well-chosen library can save hours of study time, bring clarity to difficult passages, and strengthen both preaching and teaching.

But with so many resources available, where should a new pastor begin? In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the best reference books for new pastors like trusted commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and other essential study tools. These resources will help you build a strong foundation for preaching, teaching, and shepherding God’s people.

10 Must-Have Books for Pastors

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 16:14:00 GMT

Pastoral ministry is both a sacred calling and an essential part of God's mission in and through the church. Those engaged in teaching, caring, leading, and offering spiritual guidance bear tremendous significance in the life of their churches and communities, often in ways not fully seen or acknowledged.

Through both the challenges and the rewards of day to day ministry, the right resources can help pastors in their day to day calling. These books have been thoughtfully chosen to support and equip pastors in varying aspects of their ministries and their own spiritual lives.

If you are seeking fresh insight, deeper spiritual formation, or practical wisdom for ministry, there's something here for you. Whether you're a pastor yourself or you want to support the church leaders in your life, these books are the perfect place to start!

Bible Studies for Every Kind of Small Group

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:21:00 GMT

Find the Right Bible Study for Your Group

Choosing the right study can make all the difference for your small group. Whether you're seeking in-depth discipleship, practical ministry tools, or studies designed for a specific demographic, we’ve got something for every group. Check out these trusted resources to help your group grow in faith.

15 Essential Books for New Seminary Students

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Unlock deeper understanding and spiritual growth with this must-have collection of books tailored to guide you through your seminary journey. These books will help you build a solid theological foundation, inspire spiritual reflection, and equip you for faithful service as you start your seminary journey.

Whether you are just beginning your theological education or seeking to further your scholarship, this collection has something for every new seminary student. These books provide the tools to build a solid foundation for faithful ministry and lifelong learning.

Books to Help You Slow Down this Summer

Tue, 20 May 2025 15:08:00 GMT

When the pace of life speeds up, summer can offer an opportunity to slow down. Whether you're craving rest, seeking deeper spiritual rhythms, or simply longing to breathe a little more deeply, these books offer guidance to help you tap the brakes and reset your rhythms.

As Alan Fadling writes in A Year of Slowing Down:

“I hope you’ll come to believe that God has given us enough time for everything he’s given us to do. I pray that you’ll find growing freedom and courage to make time for that which matters most—to God and to you. I trust that you’ll come to discover that most things shouldn’t be hurried and some things simply can’t be.”

Keep reading to learn more about titles that invite you into this kind of unhurried living.

Essential Reads for Understanding and Supporting Mental Health from a Christian Perspective

Thu, 01 May 2025 15:08:00 GMT

A Curated Reading List for Personal Growth and Healing—For Yourself or Those You Care About

Mental health is a deeply personal and multifaceted part of our lives—and it's something God cares deeply about. Whether you're seeking to better understand yourself, support someone you love, or grow in your professional or ministry capacity, books can be powerful tools for insight and healing.

The books in this list are written from a Christian perspective, offering thoughtful, compassionate engagement with mental health rooted in biblical truth and spiritual wisdom. Each one invites readers to deeper self-awareness, hope, and wholeness in light of God’s love. Whether you're new to these topics or have explored them for years, these titles offer grace-filled guidance for every step of the journey.

Four Ideas for Family Prayer

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Four Ideas for Family Prayer

“God Gives Good Gifts to Everyone”

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:00:00 GMT

“God Gives Good Gifts to Everyone”

What Is Juneteenth? How Christians Can Engage with Black History

Thu, 30 May 2024 14:39:00 GMT

What Is Juneteenth? How Christians Can Engage with Black History

6 Formas en que los Académicos Pueden Apoyarse entre Sí

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 14:39:00 GMT

6 Formas en que los Académicos Pueden Apoyarse entre Sí

6 Ways Academics Can Care for Each Other Well

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:39:00 GMT

6 Ways Academics Can Care for Each Other Well