August 2020 Christian Book Picks

Looking for great Christian books to read? Here are my August 2020 Christian book picks on topics like loving the elderly, spiritual growth and Bible study, discipleship, joy, and prayer.

The Value of Wrinkles

This book is a gem on a topic that isn’t often discussed. The elderly are often marginalized in our youth-obsessed society, yet Isabel Tom graciously elevates them to the place of honor they deserve.

She tells many stories of living with her elderly grandparents, then making elderly care her career of choice. These stories are delightful and clearly demonstrate her deep love for members of the Greatest Generation.

As the oldest grandchild and great-grandchild on both sides of my family, I have been richly blessed with the types of relationships Isabel describes. My grandparents were anchors for me after my parents divorced, and they also provided priceless childcare to my children. Most of all, they modeled a quiet, steady faith in God, which has shaped me to be who I am today.

Many of us feel lonely and perhaps orphan-like in our broken families. Why not learn how to reach out to the older generation, whether related by blood or not? Isabel explains not only the blessings older people have to offer us, but practical ways on how to engage with them in meaningful ways.

An excellent book on an important topic. Not only has this made my August 2020 Christian book picks list, but it will make my top 20 list for 2020 as well.

I received a preview copy of The Value of Wrinkles from Moody Publishers.

Get your copy from Amazon or CBD.

Upset the World + Study Guide

I’ve been a Christian all my life, but I still needed this book to shake me up a bit. It’s not an upsetting book at all. Rather, it’s a guidebook to engaging your faith in intentional ways in this world which is desperate to hear something different from true Christians.

Tim Ross shares his personal stories with grit and authenticity. He shows us exactly how God redeemed and restored him. He powerfully demonstrates how to engage with our broken culture with joy and grace, based on his personal experiences. I found his tone to be uplifting and inspirational while also stretching me to try new things.

If you want to recharge your Christian faith in these unique and challenging times, this is an upbeat, challenging, and encouraging book to help you. It would make an excellent book for group study, whether in person or online.

An ideal companion to Upset the World, this Bible study is packed with engaging questions and space to record your answers. I like the smaller size because it will fit easily into a purse or briefcase, perfect for using on your lunch break or while running errands.

It includes the main points from each chapter and helps you go deeper with practical application questions. Great book for individual or group studies.

I received a preview copy of Upset the World and the study guide from Gateway Press.

Get your copy of Upset the World from Amazon or CBD and the study guide from Amazon or CBD.

Small Batch Discipleship

Too many of us think that discipleship is hard, boring, overly complex, or impossible. But Tracy Sullivan proves that in small batches, discipleship is greatly rewarding and even delightful.

I love the storytelling and metaphors in this book. The stories kept me hooked chapter after chapter. As a small group leader myself, many of Tracy’s points resonated with me. The book will help both seasoned leaders and new leaders understand how to do discipleship, which is so important in post-Christian America.

I received a preview copy of Small Batch Discipleship from the publisher, and I highly recommend it to you.

Get your copy from Amazon.

Joykeeper

Suzanne Eller is one of my favorite authors, and I happily preordered a copy of Joykeeper.

In Suzie’s signature style, she writes with wisdom and vulnerability. This is no Pollyanna prescription for finding more joy. Instead, it’s an invitation to slow down, get quiet with God, open yourself to some probing questions, and choose a different mindset.

I’m savoring this book one chapter at a time. Reading Suzie’s books is like sitting at the feet of an older, wiser sister in Christ and soaking in all the time-tested, hard-won lessons of faith she’s learned. Her teachings have encouraged and shaped me for years, and Joykeeper is one of my new favorites.

I purchased my own copy of Joykeeper from CBD.

Get your copy from Amazon or CBD.

The Prayer Map 2021 Creative Planner

I bought this planner because I enjoy The Prayer Map for Women book. It uses the same format, with a Prayer Map at the beginning of each month. It has a full month calendar 2-page layout, with daily entries too. On the daily entry pages, it also has to-do lists, a mini-prayer, and a Bible verse. I love the purple color scheme and the flat-lay spiral binding.

The only things I wish it had would be tabs for the months and perhaps a pocket inside the covers. However, I can add my own tabs to it, and keep the planner in a separate pouch if needed. Looking forward to organizing my daily prayers with this planner.

I purchased my own copy of this planner from CBD.

Get your copy from Amazon or CBD.

Which book looks most interesting to you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Here are my August 2020 Christian book picks on topics like loving the elderly, spiritual growth and Bible study, discipleship, joy, and prayer. #christianbook #bookreview Click To Tweet