Books to Note

Loving the Way Jesus Loves

Philip Ryken (Crossway)

Phil Ryken takes readers through “the love chapter” (1 Cor. 13: “Love is patient, love is kind …”) and illustrates it with snapshots from the life and ministry of Jesus. Ryken’s reflections are profound, his stories engaging, his quotes well chosen, and his exegesis accessible.Loving the Way Jesus Loves challenges our loveless attitudes and behaviors in light of the Savior who loved us “to the uttermost.”—Trevin Wax.

Why Jesus?

Rediscovering His Truth in an Age of Mass Marketed Spirituality Ravi Zacharias (FaithWords)

In Why Jesus?, the popular apologist examines humanity’s deep spiritual hungers and the common solutions presented by mass-marketed leaders of pop spirituality (Deepak Chopra, Oprah Winfrey, Eckhart Tolle, and so on). Ravi Zacharias exposes the empty promises of those who peddle spiritual advice at the expense of careful thinking and experiential wisdom. The book shows why issues of exclusivity, authority, and relevance are always pertinent to conversations about spirituality, and ends with a plea for people to understand Jesus as Truth.—Trevin Wax

Places of Faith

A Road Trip across America’s Religious Landscape Christopher P. Scheitle and Roger Finke (Oxford University Press)

Are you looking for an adventure with minimal admission fees? A house of worship may be the answer. In Places of Faith, Penn State’s Christopher P. Scheitle and Roger Finke recount their nationwide trek in search of some of the most distinctive houses of worship. Buddhist temples, Muslim mosques, Jewish synagogues, evangelical megachurches, and ethnic Catholic parishes all compel Scheitle and Finke to exit the interstate. They assure readers, however, that comparable adventures await everyone willing to walk down their own streets.—Todd C. Ream