New Books and Bibles
Below is a list of the new and notable resources releasing this month from Crossway. Titles include the ESV GraceLaced Bible, illustrated by Ruth Chou Simmons, and Eat, Drink, and Be Merry by Ray Ortlund.
ESV GraceLaced Bible, Journaling Edition
Illustrated by Ruth Chou Simmons
The ESV GraceLaced Bible, Journaling Edition showcases the beauty of God’s Word alongside artist Ruth Chou Simons’s signature watercolor art. Each Bible book opens with a full-page illustration as well as an ornamental drop cap and image. Lined writing space in the margins allows readers to record notes or prayers directly beside corresponding passages of Scripture. Throughout the Bible, there are also 50 full-page verse illustrations, 250 illustrated verses appearing in the margins, and a ribbon marker. This elegant journaling Bible is ideal for personal Bible reading and reflection, small-group study, or taking notes during sermons.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: A Gospel Call to Bold Enjoyment
Enjoying the human journey through this world can seem impossible. So much is going wrong in these dark days. And the daily personal demands never let up. Who has the time—much less the freedom of heart—to play, to laugh, to delight? What’s more, those following Christ can also feel duty-bound to live in sacrificial austerity.
But God’s strategy for wise living includes bold enjoyment. In fact, any “Christianity” that feels embarrassed about enjoying God’s good gifts dishonors him and leaves Christians with less to give their suffering world.
With a pastor’s heart, Ray Ortlund invites readers to embrace God’s strategy for facing reality and living well. Meditating on Ecclesiastes 11:9–10, Ortlund explains how following Christ here in this world is a nuanced mix of both suffering and happiness. Ecclesiastes is a gospel call to accept the suffering and to savor the happiness—and savor it boldly.
“Uplifting, insightful, and, above all, full of wisdom—I wish this book had been around thirty years ago. Written by a true sage for those looking for more of the grace and joy of Christ in their lives.”
—Sam Allberry, Associate Pastor, Immanuel Nashville, Tennessee; author, One with My Lord
Using Authority Well: A Concise Guide for Men
Every position of power—in homes, churches, and boardrooms—has the potential to strengthen people or to harm them. Bad leaders abuse their authority or abdicate it. And their actions breed distrust in authority generally. Yet what do godly authority and leadership look like—the kind that causes people to flourish?
Many men today have lost their bearings when it comes to leadership. In this condensed version of his book Authority, Jonathan Leeman equips men to take hold of the authority they’ve received and responsibly steward it for the good of others.
Exploring the domains of marriage, fatherhood, church, and the workplace, he offers practical, Scripture-based advice for daily life. This accessible guide, perfect for men’s groups, helps readers submit to God and gain biblical wisdom for their most important roles.
“Jonathan Leeman has done wonderful work in helping all Christians understand the limits, power, and beneficial effects of God-given authority. He helpfully reminds us that one cannot exercise upright authority unless one can be under authority.”
—R. D. “Tex” Alles, 25th Director, United States Secret Service
The Heart of Christ for Sinners
Puritan theologian Thomas Goodwin preached extensively on Jesus’s grace in his most popular work, The Heart of Christ Toward Sinners on Earth (1645). This abridged version, edited for modern readers, features updated language and a foreword by Dane Ortlund. As readers follow the last week of Jesus’s life and meditate on his love, they will be moved to confidently seek God’s throne of grace.
Ephesians: Life Together in Christ
With warmth and clarity, Megan Hill makes in-depth Bible study accessible without diminishing the richness of God’s Word. Verse-by-verse, Hill guides readers through the full ESV text of Ephesians to aid their personal study, group discussion, teaching, and outreach. Ephesians teaches us about how God’s work of redemption makes us alive, why the church is so important, and what it means to live in Christ. Each volume in the Conversational Commentary series includes an engaging introduction, historical and cultural background, key themes, and suggestions for deeper study.
“This is the series I’ve been waiting for! These Conversational Commentaries are for every Bible study leader, small group facilitator, Bible teacher, and Bible study participant. Written by women, for women, these volumes help you engage deeply with Scripture, equip you for rich discussions, deepen your understanding of God’s word, and point you to Christ.”
—Courtney Doctor, Director of Women’s Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition; Bible teacher; author, From Garden to Glory and In View of God’s Mercies; coauthor, Behold and Believe
1 Peter: Hope for Exiles
In this volume in the Conversational Commentary series, Lydia Brownback offers women a warm and clear verse-by-verse examination of the book of 1 Peter. It’s an accessible resource for personal study, small-group discussions, teaching, and outreach. In this epistle, Peter calls believers to hold fast to Christ, who strengthens them with grace and fills them with hope amid hardship.
“The Conversational Commentaries series is a trusted companion for individual study or teacher preparation. I appreciate each author’s careful consideration of the original writer, document, and audience while keeping the language and format refreshingly accessible. These handy reference tools will be great additions to any theological library to return to repeatedly.”
—Karen Hodge, Coordinator of Women’s Ministries, Presbyterian Church in America; coauthor, Transformed: Life-Taker to Life-Giver and Life-Giving Leadership
Bible Study
Keeping up with our do-it-all culture is not only exhausting, it can also hinder us from seeking the Lord. How can we grow in devotion to God in a world of endless distractions? TGC’s Disciplines of Devotion series helps women cultivate a life of devotion to the Lord by building simple, biblical practices into their days.
Each volume highlights one spiritual discipline—exploring its meaning, biblical examples, and benefits—and offers accessible ways to make this practice a spiritual habit. In this volume, Glenna Marshall explains how joyful regular Bible study can be. Sharing simple, effective methods she’s used for more than 10 years, she helps women seek God in Scripture until we see him face to face.
Evangelism
In this short volume, Sharonda Cooper helps women overcome fear and find joy in evangelism. She offers simple, practical steps for engaging the lost with the gospel, with tips for sharing your testimony, starting conversations, and guiding others through the Bible.
Worship
In this volume, Emily Jensen helps women take worship beyond singing on Sunday mornings and make it a part of daily life. Explaining that true worship is a right response to who God is and what he has done, she offers dozens of ways readers can praise him through their words, their works, and their “why.”
“The Disciplines of Devotion series is a timely and valuable resource for women who long to grow in spiritual depth and maturity. With biblical insight and godly wisdom, each volume offers practical help for cultivating habits that lead us closer to Christ. I’m thankful for this series and eager to see how God will use it to strengthen and encourage the hearts of women.”
—Melissa B. Kruger, author; Vice President of Discipleship Programming, The Gospel Coalition
You Can Change: God’s Transforming Power for Our Sinful Behavior and Negative Emotions
With the conviction that sanctification is God’s work and the journey to holiness is joyful, Chester leads readers through a “change project,” beginning with the selection of one area in their lives they want to modify. Each chapter features a guiding question to help readers as they deal with a specific sin or struggle, truths from God’s word, and a reflection guide to support readers through their change project.
“As a counselor, reading You Can Change is refreshing. I’m in the business of helping people to change, but they often lack clarity on exactly what needs to change and how (and how long it might take). Tim’s book gives clear, practical guidance that brings Jesus to the forefront, reminding us that it is only by his power that we become more like him. This book is full of grace and hope. I highly recommend it!”
—Kristin L. Kellen, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
