Arts & Culture

Seven New Books on Faith, Work & Economics

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The library of excellent books on faith, work, and economics continues to expand with every passing year. Here are just seven new additions that came out in 2020 which we recommend. If you haven’t read them yet, consider this list as inspiration for your 2021 reading plan!

Work And Worship: Reconnecting Our Labor and Liturgy

By Matthew Kaemingk and Cory B. Willson

There are many excellent books on the theology of work that are focused on how to bring Sunday’s worship into our Monday’s workplace. This book takes a different approach and asks how the workplaces of congregants can better inform Sunday’s worship. Learn more by reading this excerpt.

Faith Seeking Freedom: Libertarian Christian Answers to Tough Questions

By Norman Horn, Doug Stuart, Kerry Baldwin, and Dick Clark

For Christians who are passionate about freedom, fulfillment, and flourishing, it can be challenging to know where we fall on a modern political spectrum. If you have ever wondered if you are a libertarian, or even if a Christian can be a libertarian, this short book of answers is a good place to start. (It’s certainly more informative than an internet quiz.) You can begin with this excerpt.

How Then Should We Work: Rediscovering the Biblical Doctrine of Work (Audiobook)

By Hugh Whelchel

Our regular readers may recognize this as Hugh Whelchel’s seminal book on faith and work, originally released in 2012. However, we are excited to have released it as an audiobook for the first time in 2020! So if you haven’t read it yet, or would be interested in adding it to your audiobook library, you can download it now from Audible. Every download helps support IFWE.

The Third Temptation: Rethinking the Role of the Church in Politics

By Austin Rogers

What does the Bible say about politics? It’s a question as old as the Bible itself. In this book, author Austin Rogers takes a fresh look at what Christians can learn specifically about the third temptation of Christ. We ran a two-part excerpt specifically on income inequality and monetary policy in December, which you can read here (part 1) and here (part 2).

Shadow Christians: Making an Impact When No One Knows Your Name

By Jeff Iorg

Does my work matter to God even if I’m an accountant? What about a hairstylist? Or electrician? At IFWE, we hear variants of this question every day. In this book, Jeff Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary, addresses the value of what he calls “shadow Christians”—the people whose careers aren’t in the spotlight but are still of great importance to God.

Work Worth Doing: Finding God’s Direction and Purpose in Your Career

By Tom Heetderks

Our Hugh Whelchel endorsed this book saying, “Tom Heetderks’ book, Work Worth Doing, is the ongoing conversation every parent needs to have with their young adult children. This conversation will transform a future lifetime of toil and work into a great adventure leading to fulfillment and purpose.”

What Are You Going to Do with Your Life?

By J.D. Greear

Do you know how you would answer that title question? Most of us don’t. That’s why in this book, J.D. Greear recommends and unpacks Jesus’ call for his followers to give our lives away and our greatest call. It’s a great, short read to give to a young person who is still trying to figure out what they want to do with their life.

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