Divine Direction
Craig Groeschel (Zondervan)

 “You are one decision away from changing your life forever,” writes Pastor Craig Groeschel in Divine Direction. His new book examines seven life-changing choices: start, stop, stay, go, serve, connect and trust. Blending personal anecdote, biblical principle and practical wisdom, Groeschel shows how “small choices” can have a “big impact” over the course of a lifetime. This book was written for a broad audience, so pastors and other church leaders will no doubt find it useful for small groups, book clubs or Sunday School classes. However, they might also find it helpful for operationalizing their own dreams for life and ministry.

Culture Care
Makoto Fujimura (IVP Books)

 “[O]ur culture is broken,” writes Christian artist Makoto Fujimura, “and needs care to be restored to wholeness.” Philosophy speaks of the fundamental values of truth, goodness and beauty. In their efforts to restore culture, Christian leaders have typically emphasized truth (worldview, apologetics) and goodness (moral reform, political action), but neglected beauty. Fujimura encourages all Christians, but especially Christian artists, to pay attention to the way beauty inspires people to be “open to questions of meaning, reaching beyond mere survival, inspiring people to meaningful action, and leading toward wholeness and harmony.” This is a short, thought-provoking book about an aspect of culture many Christian leaders overlook.

Spirit Hermeneutics
Craig S. Keener (Eerdmans)

“How do we hear the Spirit’s voice in Scripture?” New Testament scholar Craig S. Keener sets out to answer this question in Spirit Hermeneutics. He argues that “reading Scripture in light of Pentecost” means first embracing “the message that the Spirit inspired biblical writers to communicate in their original setting.” It also means recognizing the Spirit’s guidance as we exegete texts, guidance which includes “highlighting areas where the message applies to us today” and “inspiring our obedience to the message.” This is an advanced theological book by a leading Pentecostal theologian, and it will require careful study.