2025 Book Recommendations

Above: My home desk in March... Most of my reading this year has been  in research for my dissertation thesis, but a steady diet of "outside reading" has provided a crop of books our Richly Dwelling readers may want to consider checking out:

Doctrine: Daily Doctrine by Kevin DeYoung. I love this book released by Crossway earlier this year (Because it is less than a year old, I have not read all of it... The book is a "daily" reading!). I read it regularly, have shared it broadly (with leaders I work or walk with), used it in teaching prep, and recommend it highly!

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​Practical Theology: Waiting Isn’t a Waste. This book was released on my birthday in 2024, but a recommendation from a friend in 2025 made it a timely read for me this year. The new TGC president, Mark Vroegop, helps readers see how to steward seasons of waiting, discerning, and providential pausing in a way that empowers deeper knowledge of God, His word, and His work. Through this book I also discovered this 1897 classic by Andrew Murray, Waiting on God (PDF HERE). Murray’s work is the backbone of Vroegop’s, so a natural supplement strengthening potency. 

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Apologetics: The Gospel After Christendom: An Introduction to Cultural Apologetics  edited by Collin Hansen, Skyler Flowers, and Ivan Mesa. I read several books on apologetics this year in preparation for gospel conversations with thoughtful skeptics in southwest Colorado. As with most multi-author volumes, not every chapter carries the same weight... but the chapters in this book worth reading are truly excellent. Gray Sutanto’s contribution in chapter 6 is especially strong  (Indonesian genius delivers again). Overall, this book is a must-read for engaging contemporary people with clarity and love, particularly when it comes to identifying and confronting cultural idols.

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​Biography:  Joseph Smith, the rise and fall of an American Prophet. I only read a few biographies this year, but  John G. Turner's work is a must read for anyone curious about the origins of Mormonism. I picked it up because of our proximity to Utah and the Mormon population in this region. I could not put it down because of Smith’s wild personality and practices. Warning: The last half of the book trudges through a ton of conflict kicked up by Smith through his very unorthodox leadership, including the “plural wives” priority he promoted (read polygamy here, and it includes “sealing” marriages with teenagers as well as other men’s wives… without his wife’s knowledge). Overall, this window into the foundation of Mormonism is a fascinating window into American history that you will enjoy reading.

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There are several others I would like to mention, including Dan Allender's new book on marriage (The Deeply-Rooted Marriage) and Kathy Keller's release of Tim's teaching on sin (What is Wrong with the World: The Surprising, Hopeful Answer to the Questions We Cannot Avoid).  For reasons of time and space, the recommendations mentioned must be sufficient.

As you prayerfully consider 2026 reading, we hope you will choose to stay engaged with Richly Dwelling as a cornerstone of your spiritual diet.