NEXT STEPS

Books

Written by Tim Costello. Who's in favour of compassion? Pretty much everybody, actually. Left or right, religious or not, nobody seems to have a bad word to say about compassion. So why do we have so much trouble addressing the conflict, inequality, and suffering in our world? Ranging from the streets of St Kilda to the slums of Delhi, from Plato to Nietzsche, the Dalai Lama to Peter Singer, and from Seinfeld to the Good Samaritan, Tim Costello appeals to our common humanity - and takes an unflinching look at how costly compassion can be.
Book: Cost of Compassion
Written by Nijay Gupta. How the first Christians were weird, dangerous, and compelling. The first Christians were weird. Just how weird is often lost on today's believers. Within Roman society, the earliest Christians stood out for the oddness of their beliefs and practices. They believed unusual things, worshiped God in strange ways, and lived a unique lifestyle. They practiced a whole new way of thinking about and doing religion that would have been seen as bizarre and dangerous when compared to Roman religion and most other religions of the ancient world.
Book: Strange Religion
Written by Esau McCaulley. “Lent is inescapably about repenting.” Every year, the church invites us into a season of repentance and fasting in preparation for Holy Week. It’s an invitation to turn away from our sins and toward the mercy and grace of Christ. Often, though, we experience the Lenten fast as either a mindless ritual or self-improvement program. In this short volume, priest and scholar Esau McCaulley introduces the season of Lent, showing us how its prayers and rituals point us not just to our own sinfulness but also beyond it to our merciful Savior.
Book: Lent
Written by Stephen McAlpine. How to live for Jesus in a culture that keeps changing. This book explores the increasingly secular direction that our western culture is heading and shows how the gospel equips Christians and churches to face the future with confidence.
Book: Futureproof
Written by Brian Rosner. This book challenges the popular idea that expressive individualism-looking inward-is the sole basis of one's identity. Brian Rosner provides an approach to identity formation that looks outward to others and upward to God, which leads to a more stable and satisfying sense of self.
Book: How to Find Yourself
By Christopher Wright. Recommended book for the Fruit of the Spirit series, exploring growing in Christlikeness.
Book: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit
In the shifting cultural sands of the West, Christianity is no longer a dominant worldview or an accepted norm. Twenty-first-century Christians find themselves pushed to the edges of contemporary culture, exiled in a strange land. This sifting has led to some choosing comfort and compromise as their response, laying down their cross for an easier ride. This book will enable you to discover key principles and practices that contribute to a life of lasting faith one that is grounded in faithful discipleship but also pulsing with life and faith-fueled adventure.
Book: Resilient Disciples