Spring 2026 – Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers!

The first half of 2026 promises many excellent new books! Here are 60+ of our most anticipated books of Spring 2026 for Christian Readers…

These anticipated books of Spring 2026 (released in the first half of the year) wrestle with some of the deepest challenges of our day, and will orient us toward faithful living in the present and in years to come.

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[ TOP 10 – Part 1 ]   [ Top 10 – Part 2 ]
[ Theology ] [ Church / Formation ] [ Literature ]
[ NonFiction ] [ History / Biography ]
[ Young Readers ] [ Coming in Fall 2026! ]

Page 1: TOP 10 – Part 1

(In Alphabetical Order by Author’s Last Name)

The Way of the Desert Elders: How the Wisdom of Ancient Christians Sustains Us Today 

by Lisa Colón DeLay

(Broadleaf Books, January 27)

A spiritual expedition into the stories and wisdom of ancient, desert-dwelling Christians, who show us how to forge faith at the edges of empire.

For all that bewilders and bedevils us, the desert mothers and fathers can help us face our circumstances and ourselves. In The Way of the Desert Elders, Lisa Colón DeLay asks: What if desert elders from more than a millennium ago could walk beside us and nourish our spirits now?

Starting in the fourth century, half a million Christians fled the villages and cities of the Roman Empire. Leaving behind comforts, they battled what Evagrius called “afflicting thoughts,” which still unsettle us today. Yet they discovered a spirituality durable enough to endure harsh conditions and self-denial, sturdy enough to flourish in abandoned places.

In wise and vivid prose, DeLay introduces us to a cast of characters who were both devoted and flawed. Like us, the desert abbas and ammas wrestled with gluttony, lust, greed, wrath, acedia, despondency, vainglory, envy, and pride. We meet the abba who’d been a crime boss, the amma who once traded sexual favors for a chance to travel, and the archbishop who fled his post because of a scandalous love affair. We learn about the stylite hermits, who lived atop pillars and drew tourists, and about the weaver who prayed so intensely while he worked that he wove a basket larger than himself. DeLay brings the timeless sagacity of these spiritual companions to bear on our own barren times, offering reflection questions, prayers, and suggestions for crafting a rule of life.

Desert spirituality doesn’t mean going it alone; it means finding companions to walk with us. With their ordinary longings and extraordinary commitments, the desert elders can lead us toward peace, spiritual growth, and intimacy with God.

Braving the Truth: Essential Essays for Reckoning with and Reimagining Faith

by Rachel Held Evans

(HarperOne,  February 24)

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans inspired a generation of questioning and evolving believers. This book offers a collection of her most impactful essays—in print for the first time.

For a generation finding their footing in life after evangelicalism, Rachel Held Evans was one of the most trusted and beloved voices of our time. Stubborn in her hope, courageous in her questions, and devoted to inclusivity, her online writing was a sanctuary to the millions who read her words daily. Her death to a sudden illness in 2019 invoked a global outpouring of stories of her legacy and influence.
Today, her words still speak, and now for the first time, fans old and new can experience her most viral and enduring essays in print—from those tackling patriarchy, white supremacy, and religious nationalism to those offering new interpretations of Scripture, freeing perspectives on doubt, and a better way forward. Braving the Truth is an anthology and keepsake collection letting readers borrow the bravery Rachel was best known for. Edited by New York Times bestselling author and Rachel’s dear friend Sarah Bessey, this special volume is interspersed with reflections from:
– Shauna Niequist on the practice of bravery
– Glennon Doyle on the decision to “stay and complicate”
– Jen Hatmaker on LGBTQ+ allyship and affirming theology
– Lisa Sharon Harper on fighting white patriarchy in the church
– Matthew Paul Turner on the freedom of the “slippery slope” of asking questions
– Kaitlin B. Curtice on solidarity, kinship, and “tending the spiritual fire”
– And more from Candice Marie Benbow, Micha Boyett, Cindy Wang Brandt, Alise Chaffins, Shane Claiborne, Monica A. Coleman, Shannon Dingle, Peter Enns, Kathy Escobar, Kathleen Gleason, Austen Hartke, Peter Held, Carol Howard, Kristen Howerton, Zack Hunt, Emmy Kegler, Kathy Khang, Mihee Kim-Kort, Rachel Kurtz, Tanya Marlow, Sarah McCammon, Mike McHargue, Scot McKnight, Brian D. McLaren, Mason Mennenga, Osheta Moore, Amanda Held Opelt, Matthias Roberts, Winnie Varghese, Matthew Vines, and Kelsey Hanson Woodruff

“If you want to understand the Church today, you need to understand Rachel Held Evans,” so writes Sarah Bessey. Thoughtful yet down-to-earth, immediate and timeless, this essay collection is a gift from the past to bring into the future—a treasury to revitalize, validate, embolden, and return to again and again.

Beauty and Justice: Creating a Life of Abundance and Courage 

by Haejin Shim Fujimura and Makoto Fujimura

(Brazos Press,  April 7)

What if the pursuit of justice requires more than activism? What if it also demands beauty? In a world marked by division and suffering, beauty has the power to heal, and justice becomes most compelling when it is truly beautiful.

In Beauty and Justice, justice advocate Haejin Shim Fujimura and internationally renowned artist Makoto Fujimura explore how beauty and justice are two sides of the same gospel calling. Through stories from their global work in the arts, advocacy, and cultural renewal, they invite readers to

· discover how beauty sustains justice work and prevents burnout,
· understand why justice without beauty can become harsh and ineffective, and
· embrace practices for cultivating a “generative life” of courageous service.

For artists, leaders, and changemakers, this book offers a bold invitation to partner with God in restoring what is broken and building a more beautiful future. It includes a four-color insert of artwork discussed in the book.

Paul and John in Harmony: A Theological and Historical Exploration

by Michael J. Gorman

(Baker Academic, April 14)

Since the earliest days of the church, scriptural interpreters have noticed similarities between the writings of Paul and John. These similarities have become a topic of intense debate among biblical scholars.

In Paul and John in Harmony, world-renowned New Testament scholar Michael Gorman looks in depth at significant parallels between the Gospel of John and 1 John and the Pauline letters. Gorman explores texts such as Philippians 2, John 13, and John 15 and themes such as participating in Christ and the Father’s double sending of the Son and the Spirit, Gorman argues that the similarities in these writings express some of the most important aspects of New Testament theology and spirituality.

Although most modern scholars claim that Paul and John represent independent traditions, some have recently argued that Paul’s letters influenced the later Johannine writings, while others contend that there was mutual influence. Gorman considers these proposals in light of the parallels he has examined and offers a proposal of his own that rethinks the relationship between John and Paul: Could John have influenced Paul?

Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry

by Ada Limón

(Scribner, April 7)

24th Poet Laureate of the United States Ada Limón inspires us to see poetry as much more than just words—as a powerful force for healing, a call to action, and a vibrant celebration of humanity’s many voices.

Ada Limón—celebrated poet laureate and 2023 MacArthur fellow—takes us on an inspiring journey into a world where poetry is both a soothing balm for the soul and a spark for transformation. With her blend of accessible yet profound prose, Limón delivers a powerful message: poetry has the ability to heal, connect, and remind us of our shared humanity.

Limón’s mission to make poetry approachable shines brightly in this slim but impactful book. Recognized as a 2024 Time magazine Woman of the Year for her commitment to bringing poetry into everyday lives, Limón passionately argues that poetry is essential to understanding ourselves—our tenderness, courage, imperfections, and our deep, unshakable worthiness of love.

Drawing from her own experiences as the 24th US poet laureate, Limón shares how poetry connects us not only to each other but to the natural world. This theme is at the heart of her project You Are Here, which celebrates the beauty of our environment and our place in it. Her prose, like her poetry, feels like an open invitation—welcoming readers of all backgrounds to explore the richness of human experience through verse.

Fans of Robin Wall Kimmerer, Matthew Zapruder, or Jesmyn Ward will find a kindred spirit in Against Breaking—which offers a refuge, a reminder of the resilience and beauty found within us and all around us. As Limón writes with heartfelt clarity, “If you need to remember what makes us human, tender, brave, flawed, and worthy of love, you need poetry.”

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