Well, maybe that’s a tad dramatic, but it feels true enough. When the world was overflowing with divisiveness and the church wasn’t being … the church, a few good women gathered on a porch with me and dove into the tough issues. We laughed and processed and remembered why we need community. God bless friends who aren’t afraid to dive deep into uncomfortable topics.

The aim of our book club was to find books that explore ideas in Christian thought and then discuss ways they impact our lives, family, neighborhoods, and work. The club is open, and has grown and shifted but maintained its original focus. Just about everyone reads the books and comes prepared to talk about the subject matter. We meet outside in the summer/fall because Covid is still a jerk. I bought heating blankets and a propane heater last fall so we could meet for as long as possible.

I highly recommend book clubs for everyone. Five Stars forever.

If you’re interested, here are the books we’ve read and a short review. Start your own club and tell me about the books you cover! I love a good recommendation!

Book Club; Season One

📚 King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited by Scot McKnight

A great re-orientation to what the Gospel actually is. McKnight’s approachable style and scholarly insights were a great start to the book club.

📚 The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby

This was a gut-punch in a good way. I have vivid memories of listening to this on audible and crying at the way Christians (in particular, evangelical churches) have treated their Black brothers and sisters.  

📚 Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Another gut punch. I don’t suggest reading this back-to-back with Tisby because it put me in a pretty dark place. My memories of this book involve throwing things. I had to work through some pretty intense anger at the politicization of Christianity and the making of a Christian industry. Some in our group thought this one was a little harsher than necessary. Du Mez is a historian, not a pastor, and we felt like we all needed pastoral care after this book.

📚 The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming by Henri Nouwen

This is the pastoral pic following the double takedown of Tisby and DuMez. The poetic feel didn’t work for everyone, but I, for one, needed a literary hug Nouwen provided.

📚 Rediscovering Scripture's Vision for Women: Fresh Perspectives on Disputed Texts by Lucy Peppiatt

Super academic, great content. Maybe TOO academic? I don’t know that I’d do this one again since the content is covered a bit in Making of Biblical Womanhood, but a few in the group really liked this one.

Book Club; Season Two

📚 A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer

This was the post “long Covid winter” literary hug. McKnight again has a pastoral/academic style. He gave solutions instead of only outlining the problems. We didn’t actually get to discuss this one because of weather delays.

📚 How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice by Jemar Tisby

Tisby’s follow-up to The Color of Compromise answered the “what now” everyone was asking. His answers have nuanced and insightful take-aways, for the person just dipping their toes in racial reconciliation to the well-seasoned ministers.

📚 Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund

Jesus’ only words to describe himself were “gentle and lowly,” and Ortlund takes a look at how that descriptor matched Jesus’ actions. He has well-thought-out theology, but some of his views we struggled with. All that makes for a wonderful discussion.

📚The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr

Gut punch #3. Yikes. Another book written by a whip-smart historian pushing all the buttons. I loved our discussion about Barr’s biblical and historical (church history) examination of womanhood.

📚Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality by Rachel Joy Welcher

This book sounds a little sassier than it probably is. I expected it to be edgy and was pleasantly surprised to find it straight up enlightening. Welcher attempts to shift the purity discussion to a holiness issue – an issue between you and God. Turns out her perspective rightly puts the bar higher than avoiding spaghetti straps and wondering how far is too far on a date. Our discussion this night was my all-time favorite.

📚 Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say by Preston Sprinkle

Sprinkle handles the topic of trans with more grace than I’ve ever witnessed – secular or Christian. He doesn’t skirt any issues, takes an open and honest look at it all, and demands that anyone working through a biblical understanding of trans keep a soft heart. I came away thoroughly educated and humbled.