Beautiful Outlaw — John Eldredge
The most honest portrait of Jesus you'll encounter — wild, playful, fierce, and more alive than Sunday morning has led you to believe.
Resources for the journey.
We've gathered the books, guides, podcasts, and practices that have shaped our community and the lives of people like you.
Not an exhaustive list.
Not the only right answers.
Just resources we trust — for the whole life,
not just the Sunday part of it.
Now, a little note about these recommendations...
These books, podcasts, and organizations have each shaped someone in our community in a real way — and we trust them enough to share them.
That said: our listing of a resource does not imply full theological agreement with every view expressed by its author or organization.
We're a community rooted in Scripture and in Jesus.
We trust you to engage these resources thoughtfully — holding onto what is good and true, and bringing everything else back to the community and to God's Word.
On Faith & Following Jesus:
Love Does — Bob Goff
What happens when you stop planning to follow Jesus and actually start doing it — told through Bob's hilariously true stories..
The Ragamuffin Gospel — Brennan Manning
For anyone who's felt too broken to be loved. Manning writes grace like someone who needed it desperately and finally found it.
Mere Christianity — C.S. Lewis
The most durable case for the Christian faith ever written — clear-eyed, patient, and surprisingly alive for a book from 1952.
Practicing the Way — John Mark Comer
A field guide to becoming the kind of person who actually lives like Jesus, not just believes like him.
Youtube Videos
The Bible Project
BibleProject creates free resources to help you experience the Bible. Check out our other resources at bibleproject.com. You can find us elsewhere: Download our app: https://bibleproject.com/app/
BibleProject Podcast on YouTube:
The Bible Recap — Tara-Leigh Cobble
Have you ever closed your Bible and thought, “What did I just read?” Maybe you've tried to read through the Bible but quit when it felt confusing or impersonal? The Bible Recap is here to help! The Bible Recap (TBR) follows a chronological Bible reading plan and is a short daily recap by creator and host, Tara-Leigh Cobble. She'll highlight and summarize that day's Bible reading in a casual, easy to understand way. You can READ, UNDERSTAND, and LOVE the Bible!
Your Move with Andy Stanley
Your Move provides practical content to help you make better decisions and live with fewer regrets. Your Move content is always free because we never want to create a barrier for anyone looking to grow personally, professionally, relationally, spiritually—or any of the “lly’s.” It’s simple. We provide the content and recommend next steps; then it's Your Move!
On Prayer:
A Praying Life — Paul Miller
The most honest and practical book on prayer available — written for people who struggle to pray, which is most of us.
The Circle Maker — Mark Batterson
Bold, story-driven, and permission-giving — for those who need to believe their prayers actually matter.
Answering God — Eugene Peterson
The Psalms as a school of prayer — slow, poetic, and quietly life-changing.
On Spiritual Formation:
Sacred Rhythms — Ruth Haley Barton
Simple, honest, deeply practical — about the rhythms that create space for God in ordinary life.
Renovation of the Heart — Dallas Willard
The intellectual architecture for why formation matters and how it actually works — dense but worth it.
Celebration of Discipline — Richard Foster
The foundational text on ancient spiritual practices. It changed how an entire generation understood what it means to grow.
On Marriage:
Sacred Marriage — Gary Thomas
What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than happy? This question changes the frame on everything.
The Meaning of Marriage — Tim Keller
Theologically rich and honest about the hard work — for couples who want to understand why marriage is worth fighting for.
Captivating — Stasi Eldredge
Written for women but life-giving for couples — unpacks the longing at the heart of the feminine soul.
On Parenting:
Parenting — Paul David Tripp
Gospel-rooted and honest about how hard parenting actually is. No formulas — just grace and truth.
The Whole-Brain Child — Daniel Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
Practical neuroscience for everyday parenting — how to connect before you correct.
Give Them Grace — Elyse Fitzpatrick
The clearest case for organizational health as a leader's primary job — applies directly to church teams.
On Mental Health & Emotional Healing:
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality — Peter Scazzero
The book that names what many church people quietly know: emotional immaturity and spiritual maturity cannot coexist.
The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk
The definitive guide to trauma and healing — how the body holds what the mind tries to forget.
On Justice & Mission:
Tattoos on the Heart — Fr. Gregory Boyle
Stories of mercy from the streets of Los Angeles — the most compelling portrait of what the kingdom of God looks like up close.
Just Mercy — Bryan Stevenson
The story of justice work in the deep South — devastating and hopeful, the kind of book that makes you want to do something.
On Leadership:
Canoeing the Mountains — Tod Bolsinger
Leadership for uncharted territory — written for pastors navigating a world that no longer follows familiar maps.
The Advantage — Patrick Lencioni
The clearest case for organizational health as a leader's primary job — applies directly to church teams.
BIBLE READING PLANS
Reading the Bible Together
If you've never read the Bible — start here.
The Gospels · 40 days
Begin with Jesus himself. His words. His stories.
Read one chapter a day. See what you notice.
The Psalms · 40 days
40 daily Scripture readings that illustrate the character of God and the nature of faith.
New Testament in a Year
One short reading a day. No guilt if you miss a day.
Just pick up where you left off.
The One Year Bible ·Chronological
For those who want the whole story. It takes about 15 minutes a day.
Prayer Guides
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRAY
That's more common than you think.
The Lord's Prayer · Matthew 6:9–13
Jesus' own guide. A framework, not a script.
Pray through each line slowly. See what comes up.
A Simple Morning Prayer Guide:
Gratitude — What am I thankful for right now?
Honesty — What's actually going on inside me?
Surrender — What do I need to release today?
Request — What do I need? What do others need?
Listening — Sit quietly. See if anything comes.
Examen Prayer · (Evening)
A prayer practice from the ancient church.
Review the day. Notice where God was present.
Notice where you felt far from him.
Ancient Practices
THE CHURCH HAS BEEN PRAYING AND PRACTICING FOR 2,000 YEARS.
WE DIDN'T INVENT SPIRITUAL FORMATION.
Sabbath
One day a week. Rest is not laziness — it's theology.
We were made to stop.
Lectio Divina
Ancient Christian practice of slow, prayerful Scripture reading.
Read a short passage four times. Ask: What word stands out?
What does it mean for me? What is God inviting me to do?
Fasting
Giving something up to make room for God.
Food. Social media. Entertainment.
Not to earn God's favor — to clear the channel.
Silence & Solitude
Jesus went to quiet places to pray. So should we.
Even 10 minutes of intentional silence changes something.
Journaling
Writing is thinking made visible.
Keep a record of what God is saying. You'll want to return to it.
Share Your Insights
Resources are meant to be shared. If you’ve discovered something that has encouraged your faith, challenged the way you think, or helped you grow, we’d love to hear about it.
Share an insight you’ve been learning, something God has been teaching you, or a resource that has made an impact in your life. Your recommendation might be exactly what someone else needs right now.
Let’s learn from one another and continue growing together.