There’s something about summer that invites us to slow down and open a book—on a porch, at the lake, in a folding chair while the kids run through the sprinkler. And reading is never wasted time. The words we take in shape the people we become. We are formed by what we read: stretched by good stories, steadied by good counsel, drawn nearer to God by His Word.
The preacher Charles Spurgeon once offered a piece of advice worth keeping close all summer long: “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” That’s a good rule for a reading life—wander widely, taste deeply, but make your home in Scripture. As the psalmist put it, the one who delights in the Lord’s instruction is “like a tree planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season” (Psalm 1:3, NLT).
So we asked our staff a simple question: What are you reading, or what would you hand to a friend? Here’s what they came back with. A few will challenge you, a few will comfort you, and one of them is just plain fun to read aloud. Pick one up this summer and see where it takes you. Click on any author or title for more details.
Donna recommends anything by Shelley Shepard Gray: These warm, gentle, and quietly faith-filled novels of Amish life are the kind of stories you sink into after a long day. Family, forgiveness, and second chances run through her writing. They’re comfort reading in the best sense, with grace woven all the way through.
Jason recommends Trust by Dr. Henry Cloud: Trust is the soil every healthy relationship grows in, and one of the hardest things to know what to do with when it’s been broken. Cloud offers clear, practical wisdom on when to extend trust, when to hold it back, how to earn it, and how to begin repairing it. A genuinely useful book for marriages, friendships, and leadership alike.
Alex (Assistant Kids Director) recommends The Donut Chef by Bob Staake–unsurprisingly, a kids’ book! A bouncing, rhyming romp about two bakers in a donut showdown that spins gloriously out of control. This one’s silly, clever, and fun to read aloud. Perfect for the little ones in your life.
Rich recommends The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver: A sweeping, beautifully written novel about a missionary family in the Congo, told through the voices of the mother and her four daughters. It’s not a tidy or comfortable read. Kingsolver asks hard questions about faith, humility, and what happens when conviction outruns love. But it’s a profound and unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the last page.
Peter recommends the Book of James (from the Bible itself): Leave it to Peter to take Spurgeon’s advice literally. This is the perfect time to read through James as we’ve been walking through it as a church this summer. James is the Proverbs of the New Testament—short, bracing, and intensely practical. You can read it in one sitting and go back to it all summer.
Cody recommends The Body Teaches the Soul by Justin Whitmel Earley: Your body is more spiritual than you think. Earley, author of The Common Rule, makes the case that our physical habits of eating, sleeping, resting, and moving aren’t separate from our spiritual lives but woven right into them. A warm, humble, and convicting guide to caring for the whole self God made.
Jim recommends Max Lucado’s Anxious for Nothing and Unshakable Hope: Two gifts for an anxious age. In Anxious for Nothing, Lucado walks through Paul’s call in Philippians to trade worry for peace. In Unshakable Hope, he anchors the weary heart in the promises of God. Lucado’s gift has always been making deep truth feel like a conversation with a trusted friend.
Cheryl recommends Heaven by Joni Eareckson Tada: Few people have thought longer or more honestly about Heaven than Joni, who has lived with profound suffering for decades. This is a hope-filled, vivid meditation on the home God is preparing for those who love Him.
Tricia recommends The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer: If summer has you longing for a less frantic pace, start here. Comer makes a compelling case that hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life, and he offers practices—silence, sabbath, simplicity—for following the unhurried way of Jesus. A timely word for tired people.
Whatever you read this summer, may it draw you deeper into the goodness of God and the gift of His Word. And if you finish one of these, come tell us what you thought—we’d love to hear.
