Recommended Books for 2023

Core and Wider Book Recommendations made for Flipped - Life in the Upside Down Kingdom

It might be your relaxing hobby or it might be your Spiritual Discipline – but reading is a great way to invest in our walk with God. We know choosing books can be tricky when time and resources are limited. To help you narrow it down, we’ve selected eight books that we love (four for adults and four for younger readers). These are based in our 2023 theme of exploring life in the upside-down Kingdom, finding that Jesus turns our expectations around. They’re great to keep or give away. 

You could buy a few copies of Flipped and study them with friends as part of the Big Church Read. https://thebigchurchread.co.uk/flipped/

Core Recomended Books for Adults

Flipped: the Upside-Down Kingdom in Matthew’s Gospel – Malcolm Duncan

The Beatitudes: Bible Study Workbook – Beatrice Smith

Why Less Means More – Cathy Madavan

This is That: How to see the kingdom of heaven in every day living – Martin Young

Core Recommendations for Younger Readers

Big Start Annual 1

Wow! Jesus – Martha Shrimpton

Known – Philippa Hanna

Whistlestop Tales: Around the World in 10 Bible Stories – Krish and Miriam Kandiah 

These are all available from www.springharvest.shop  

Wider Recommended Books

We hope you find this list helpful. It’s a starting point with suggested books we think you will enjoy and might be a blessing.

Younger Readers:

Good News Bible: Family Edition – Bible Society

Planet Protectors – Ruth Valerio and Paul Kerensa 

Whistlestop Tales: Around the Bible with 10 Extraordinary Children – Krish &Miriam Kandiah 

God Cares Series – Debbie Duncan 

Theology, testimony and practical living:

The Other Side of Hope; flipping the script on cynicism and despair and rediscovering our humanity – Danielle Strickland

A Beautiful mess; how God recreates our lives – Danielle Strickland

Walking With Jesus in Strange Places – John Swinton

Upside Down Kingdom – Donald B Kraybill 

Meeting God in Matthew – Elaine Storkey 

Every Tribe: stories of diverse saints serving a diverse world – Sharon Prentis

Multicultural Kingdom: Ethnic Diversity, Mission and the Church – Harvey Kwiyani

Invisible Divides: Class, Culture and Barriers to Belonging in the Church – Natalie Williams and Paul Brown 

Still Standing - 100 lessons from an 'unsuccessful' life - Tola Doll Fisher 

Resilient – Sheridan Voysey

From Guns to God – Claud Jackson

Worship for Everyone – Nick and Becky Drake

Talking to Children About Race – Loretta Andrews 

Talking to Children about Mental Health – Lily Jo

The Life you Never Expected: thriving whilst parenting special needs children – Rachel Wilson 

Just Leadership – Simon Barrington and Justin Humphreys