When we misunderstand the cultures that birthed the Scriptures (whether Bronze Age, Mesopotamia or late first century Rome), we often also misunderstand the Scriptures themselves. In Priscilla, Prof. Ben Witherington of Asbury Theological Seminary helps us understand not only the Early Church leader Priscilla (of Priscilla and Aquila fame) but also the world in which she served. Witherington accomplishes this through the medium of good historical fiction—verifiable facts inside believable fictional narrative. To bolster narrative choices, Witherington’s book includes relevant illustrations, including archaeological photographs and Latin and Greek translations. Priscilla demonstrates that history is engaging, its details and explanations clarifying, and its perspectives and concerns relevant.

Although he is a prolific writer, an internationally known leader, and a popular podcaster, Craig Groeschel found the success of his newest book surprising. Having garnered an Amazon five-star rating with over 3300 reviews, Winning the War in Your Mind speaks strongly about the why, what, and how of taking (as the Apostle Paul writes) “every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5b, ESV). The power of Winning the War comes from its meshing of vulnerability and practicality. Groeschel, the pastor of Life.Church (multi-site megachurch and source of the YouVersion app), discusses how dryness and depression threatened to shipwreck his focus and ministry. Discovering that long-held, erroneous thought-patterns were stifling both his progress and his hope, Groeschel looked for and found a pathway back to his joy-filled self.

Too often we lack backstories about our heroes and heroines: instead, they seem to arrive grown, as in the ancient myth where Venus escapes fully-formed from Zeus’ head. But biblical theology teaches us that heroic qualities mature in the soil of everyday life, in the learning to say “no” to self and “yes” to God within a world of frustration and failure, hope and dream.

Clint Clifton aptly describes himself with five words: “family man, church planter, entrepreneur.” I’d add two more: “experienced mentor.” You see, in this Christ-centered, easily read, and eminently practical book, Clifton does exactly the kind of things that best-in-class mentors do—and he does them well.

Two thousand years after Christ, believers are still hard at work bringing his good news to every nation. In the twenty-first century, God has been moving with special power in the Muslim world, particularly among women. In Women Who Risk, Tom and Joann Doyle tell stories about women believers in places like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Palestine. The Doyles, former missionaries, lead an organization called Uncharted Ministries; they are therefore well suited to write about Muslim-born believing women. We do well to learn the stories.