Ten Theology Books to Watch For - January 2020

**Here are some excellent theology books * that will be released in January 2020** :

* broadly interpreted, including ethics, church history, biblical studies, and other areas that intersect with theology

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Hineni: In Imitation of Abraham

Alisa Kasmir

Liturgical Press

How do you encounter the mystery of the other? This is the central question at the heart of spiritual direction and central to the human quest. Hineni—presence—is not an answer to the mystery but a response to the challenge. At a time when people on the edges of religion increasingly seek out spiritual direction as a way of confronting life’s unanswerable questions, Hineni indicates a fundamental reality beyond labels. And in an age that seems to suffer from disconnection, Hineni indicates a way in.

A helpful resource for anyone interested in spirituality beyond easy answers or (in)convenient labels, Hineni: In Imitation of Abraham is a stark exploration of what it truly means to be present—to yourself, to the one before you, and to the one we call God.

What Is Jesus Doing?: God’s Activity in the Life and Work of the Church

Edwin Chr. Van Driel

IVP Academic

Jesus is present here and now, Christians have always affirmed. But how are we to understand his present activity in a challenging, post-Christian context? In what ways is he at work in our congregational worship, pastoral care, preaching―and even our board meetings? At a time when many feel uncertain about the future of the church, What Is Jesus Doing? brings together leading thinkers in pastoral theology, homiletics, liturgical theology, and missiology in a compelling resource for pastors and theologians. Emphasizing the reality of Jesus both as the resurrected, ascended Christ and as present and active today, the contributors consider how to recognize the divine presence and join in what God is already doing in all areas of church ministry.

With deep theological reflection, personal stories, and practical suggestions, this interdisciplinary conversation invites leaders to remember that the church is first of all God’s project, not ours―and that this truth should fill us with hope.