Books

By: dc Talk & The Voice of the Martyrs

💭 “Would you stand for Jesus no matter the cost?”

This powerful book opens our eyes to the reality of Christian persecution around the world. Created by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs, Jesus Freaks shares true stories of believers — past and present — who courageously stood for their faith even in the face of suffering and death.

📖 Written especially for youth and young adults, this collection includes timeless Scriptures, memorable quotes, and inspiring accounts of men and women who lived unashamed for Christ. It’s a wake-up call to live boldly, pray fervently, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

🔗 Borrow the book here: www.libib.com/u/irecmelbourne?solo=43687780

By: Irene Howat

💭 “Would you give in or would you resist?”

These ten girls grew up to become women who stood firm in their faith, even when living as a Christian was difficult and dangerous. They chose to do what was right instead of what was easy, choosing eternal life, love, and joy through obedience, hardship, and even life-threatening challenges.

📖 Through these inspiring true stories, Irene Howat reminds readers, young and old, of the courage and conviction it takes to follow Christ faithfully. In a world where compromise often feels easier, these women’s lives point us back to the strength found in unwavering faith.

🔗 Borrow the book here: www.libib.com/u/irecmelbourne?solo=43684735

By: David Platt

💭 “What is Jesus worth to you?”

It’s easy for many Christians to forget how Jesus said His followers should actually live, leaving behind security, comfort, possessions, and even family for His sake. He called us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. But how many of us truly live like that?

In Radical, David Platt challenges readers to open their hearts and reflect on how the Gospel may have been shaped to fit cultural preferences or personal comfort. He reminds us what Jesus really said about being His disciple and invites us to believe and obey His words wholeheartedly.

📖 In this book, he also shares the story of a church community that chose to take Jesus’ commands seriously and live out the Gospel radically. Finally, Platt invites us to join The Radical Experiment — a one-year journey of authentic discipleship that can transform the way we live and witness to a world in desperate need of the Good News.

🔗 Borrow the book here: https://www.libib.com/u/irecmelbourne?solo=43684585

By: Joel R. Beeke & Garry J. Williams

When we think of the Reformation, John Calvin is one of the names that shaped Protestant theology alongside Martin Luther.

To mark this, we’re introducing a special book from our church library:

Calvin: Theologian and Reformer

📙 Are you familiar with Calvin’s life, his Institutes of the Christian Religion, or his approach to powerful preaching and revolutionary living?

This volume grows out of a conference at The John Owen Centre for Theological Study in London to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birth. It covers his life, reforming work, theology, and enduring influence, with contributions from scholars including Joel Beeke, Sinclair Ferguson, Ian Hamilton, Anthony Lane, Ray Pennings, and Paul Wells.

👉 Borrow the book here: https://www.libib.com/u/irecmelbourne?id=43684609

By: Stephen Nichols

When we think of the Reformation, the name Martin Luther instantly comes to mind. To mark this, we’re introducing a special book from our church library about his life and writings.

📙 Does your knowledge of Martin Luther’s writings start and end with the hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"?

As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation he sparked, this book introduces Luther as one of history’s most colourful and influential figures. While his story is well known, his powerful writings are often less familiar. This illustrated guide summarises his major works, including The Bondage of the Will and On the Councils and the Church, and includes the complete Ninety-Five Theses with annotations. It also provides guidance for studying Luther’s ethical writings, table talk, hymns, and sermons, along with a select guide for further reading.

👉 Borrow the book here:  www.libib.com/u/irecmelbourne?solo=43685198 or contact someone from church to have the book delivered to you

Let’s use Reformation Month as a chance to grow in faith and understanding together! ✨

📚Library Ministry

By: Justo L. Gonzalez

Starting with the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, this second volume of The Story of Christianity takes the story through to the present day. 

Historian Justo Gonzalez brings to life the people, events, and ideas shaping Protestantism, Catholicism, and Orthodoxy, while highlighting key theological developments and the social, political, and economic forces that influenced the church. Themes of unrest, rebellion, and reformation run throughout, along with profiles of figures like Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin. The book also explores Christianity’s growth in Europe, the US, and Latin America, changes across Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern traditions, and recent developments such as the World Council of Churches, the Second Vatican Council, and efforts towards Christian unity, finishing with reflections on key issues and debates today.

👉 Borrow the book here: www.libib.com/u/irecmelbourne?solo=43683335 or contact someone from church to have the book delivered to you.

By: Andrew Atherstone

A beautifully illustrated guide to one of the most intense periods of religious upheaval since the founding of Christianity.

Bringing the period of the Reformation to vivid life, this color illustrated guide looks in detail to all aspects of the time period to determine why the Reformation happened, how it was carried out, and what it ultimately achieved. The key figures from the time period are brought to life along with the key debates and controversies surrounding the time period, and are presented together in tandem with the wider political and social implications the Reformation continues to have on religion today. Specific contents include: Here I stand: Martin Luther, Radical Reformers, The Reformation Legacy, and more.

👉 Borrow the book here: www.libib.com/u/irecmelbourne?solo=43683520 or contact someone from church to have the book delivered to you.