Kate Bowler, Joyful, Anyway

Bowler reflects on what it means to pursue joy in a world shaped by suffering, uncertainty, and unmet expectations. Drawing on her own experience with illness and cultural critique of “positive thinking,” she explores how faith can hold grief and gratitude together without forcing resolution or simplistic narratives of healing.

Peter Casarella (ed.), Chiara Lubich: Essential Teachings on Unity

Casarella introduces the theological and spiritual vision of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement. The book highlights Lubich’s emphasis on unity, reconciliation, and communal life as central Christian practices. It also situates her thought within broader ecumenical and global conversations about church renewal and Christian witness in divided contexts.

Stephen B. Chapman, The Lord Bless You

Chapman explores the biblical theology of blessing, tracing its significance across the Old and New Testaments. He examines how blessing functions in worship, covenant life, and divine-human relationship. The book emphasizes how scriptural language of blessing continues to shape Christian imagination, prayer, and communal identity today.

Susan Eastman, Romans: An Interpretation Bible Commentary

Eastman offers a theological and pastoral reading of Paul’s Letter to the Romans, attentive to the letter’s spiritual and communal dimensions. She highlights themes of participation in Christ, transformation, and life in the Spirit, showing how Romans speaks not only to doctrine but also to embodied Christian discipleship.

Amy Laura Hall, Erecting the Pulpit: Muscular Christianity from Teddy Roosevelt to Donald Trump

Hall examines the development of “muscular Christianity” as a form of religious nationalism that fuses faith, masculinity, and political power. Tracing its influence from Victorian origins to contemporary American evangelicalism, she explores how religious rhetoric has shaped public authority, gender roles, and institutional life. The book combines historical analysis with ethnographic insight.

Kevin Hart, Carnets (Poiema Poetry Series)

Hart presents a collection of philosophical and theological poetry that explores mysticism, language, and divine encounter. The work moves between reflection and lyric expression, engaging questions of presence, absence, and transcendence. His poems invite readers into a contemplative space where theology and literature intersect in deeply personal and imaginative ways.

Zebulon M. Highben, Sing Many Names: Scriptural Images for God in Hymnody

Highben explores how hymn writers draw on Scripture to name and describe God through congregational song. The book examines the theological significance of metaphor and biblical imagery in worship, showing how hymnody shapes communal understanding of God. It invites readers to consider how language in song forms belief and spiritual imagination.

Lester Ruth (ed.), How Worship Became Music

Ruth edits a historical exploration of how modern Christian worship shifted toward music-centered expression. The volume traces changes in theology, practice, and cultural influence, showing how congregational song evolved over time. It invites readers to consider how worship practices shape belief and how music functions theologically in church life.

J. Warren Smith, Early Christian Theology

Smith traces the development of Christian doctrine in the early centuries of the church, focusing on how theological debates shaped core beliefs. He examines figures, councils, and controversies, showing how Christian theology emerged through conflict, interpretation, and reflection on Scripture within a diverse and rapidly expanding religious movement.

Brent A. Strawn, Unwavering Faithfulness: Pivotal Moments in the Book of Isaiah

Strawn examines key passages in Isaiah to show how themes of covenant, faithfulness, and divine promise develop across the text. He combines literary and theological analysis to highlight the book’s coherence and depth, demonstrating how Isaiah continues to speak into questions of trust, identity, and divine presence.

J. Ross Wagner (ed.), Being Christian After the Desolation of Gaza

Wagner edits a collection of theological essays reflecting on violence, suffering, and Christian witness in the context of Gaza. The volume engages questions of lament, solidarity, and moral responsibility. Contributors wrestle with how Christian faith speaks meaningfully into experiences of devastation and ongoing political and humanitarian crisis.

Matthew Philipp Whelan, Christianity and Agroecology

Whelan explores the relationship between Christian ethics and ecological agriculture, focusing on sustainable practices and environmental responsibility. The book considers how theological traditions inform approaches to land use, food systems, and ecological justice, encouraging a rethinking of human relationship with creation in light of ecological crisis.

Eric Lewis Williams, More Than Tongues Can Tell: Theological Generosity in Black Pentecostal Thought

Williams explores the theological richness of Black Pentecostalism, emphasizing its intellectual and spiritual depth. He argues for a generous reading of Pentecostal thought that resists narrow categorization, highlighting its contributions to theology, worship, and lived faith within Black religious traditions.

William Willimon, The Last Supper: Conversations That Led to the Cross

Willimon examines the final teachings of Jesus and their implications for Christian discipleship. Focusing on the Last Supper narratives, he reflects on themes of sacrifice, community, and preparation for the cross. The book offers pastoral interpretation aimed at helping readers understand the depth of Jesus’ final hours.