
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
We have compiled a list of books recommended for every Christian to read for life change and spiritual formation. We hope you experience the amazing blessings and grace of Jesus as you grow deeper in him.
BOOKS IN COMMON

Brennan Manning
Jul 12 - Aug 9, 2023
In his sequel to The Ragamuffin Gospel, bestselling author Brennan Manning shows how true and radical trust in God can transform our lives.
Manning, beloved author and spiritual teacher, shows us how trust in God can transform our lives and open us up to deeper experiences of grace and love. In Ruthless Trust, he turns his focus from furious love to radical trust, revealing the ways in which trust renews our faith and help us grow.

Rachel Held Evans
Jun 14 - Aug 16 2023
College & Young Adults. Contact Ray Medina (rmedina@bidwellpres.org).
If the Bible isn't a science book or an instruction manual, what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she embarked on a journey to better understand what the Bible is and how it's meant to be read. What she discovered changed her--and it can change you, too.

Timothy Keller
Jul 6 - Aug 3, 2023
The question of why God would allow pain and suffering in the world has vexed believers and nonbelievers for millennia. Timothy Keller, whose books have sold millions of copies to both religious and secular readers, takes on this enduring issue and shows that there is meaning and reason behind our pain and suffering, making a forceful and ground-breaking case that this essential part of the human experience can be overcome only by understanding our relationship with God.
PASTORAL RECOMMENDATIONS

HENRY HANSEN
SENIOR PASTOR

One of the most popular introductions to the Christian faith ever written, Mere Christianity brings together Lewis’ legendary broadcast talks during World War Two. Here, Lewis provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith.
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A collection of scintillating brilliance, Mere Christianity remains strikingly fresh for the modern reader and at the same time confirms CS Lewis’s reputation as one of the leading writers and thinkers of our age.
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Amazon Description

RAY MEDINA
PASTOR OF
COLLEGE & EMERGING ADULTS

He was only twenty-eight when he died in a plane crash with two of his small children, but singer/songwriter Keith Green had already created a legacy of music and inspiration that would outlive him. A spiritual revolutionary, he found freedom through Jesus, not religion, and spent his last years convincing others to refuse to accept the status quo and instead bring compassion and honesty back to the church. He touched people through vibrant lyrics in songs like "Your Love Broke Through," "You Put This Love In My Heart," and "Asleep In The Light." Last Days Ministries, which he and his wife Melody founded, went on to challenge thousands of people to take to the mission fields of the world.
Amazon Description

GREG COOTSONA
PASTOR OF
DISCIPLESHIP & CARE

It has long been believed that science and faith cannot mingle. Faith rejects the rational, while science restricts us to a life with no meaning beyond the physical. It is an irreconcilable war between two polar-opposite ways of thinking and living. Written for believers, agnostics, and atheists alike, The Language of God provides a testament to the power of faith in the midst of suffering without faltering from its logical stride. Readers will be inspired by Collin’s personal story of struggling with doubt, as well as the many revelations of the wonder of God’s creation that will forever shape the way they view the world around them.
Amazon Description