Jedd Medefind & Erik Lokkesmoe (Passio)

Upended: How Following Jesus Remakes Your Words and World is for everyday Christians who believe that in order to please God, they need to do big, radical things. Medefind, president of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, and Lokkesmoe, founder and principal of the Different Drummer entertainment agency, break down these false expectations and present concrete, down-to-earth examples of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

With the understanding that most Christians don’t live like “peculiar people,” as the Scripture says, the authors show that a follower of Jesus is an apprentice—a student, one who is continually learning. Written from the perspective of a modern-day apprentice, the book shows that making small choices one at a time and day-by-day is what’s needed in following Christ.

Filled with scriptural references, personal insights and encouragement, Upended offers real-life application for any Christian, not just ministry leaders or those with seemingly endless resources. Medefind and Lokkesmoe lay out what it means to live an upended life while following Jesus. —Jean Breunle

Bryan Clay (Thomas Nelson)

Telling his story in Redemption: A Rebellious Spirit, A Praying Mother, and the Unlikely Path to Olympic Gold, Olympic athlete Bryan Clay hailed from inauspicious and troubled beginnings to ascend to athletic prowess and stardom.

Clay, who has garnered a 2008 gold medal and a 2004 silver medal in the decathlon, grew up in a contentious, drug-abusing and fractured household, having no hope of being a professional athlete. His parents divorced at a formative age, and Clay became an angry youth. His waywardness followed him to Azusa Pacific University, where he continued to sow his wild oats yet also grow in his love of track and field.

This autobiography is the story of an “unlikely champion,” a praying mother and a young man who chose to reexamine his priorities and relationship with God. By eventually “putting God first,” Clay learned discipline and commitment. Now a husband and father, he also created his own foundation to offer hope, guidance and self-confidence to children. Redemption is an authentic story of conversion and transformation that will touch a diverse readership. —Brian Smith McCallum

Bill Johnson & Randy Clark (Chosen Books)

Veteran healing ministry leaders and best-selling authors Bill Johnson and Randy Clark team up again to write candidly about their ministry in Healing Unplugged: Conversations and Insights From Two Veteran Healing Leaders.

The book is written in transcription style as Johnson, senior pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, Calif., and Clark, founder of Global Awakening, interview each other, revealing glimpses of their lives, their friendship and their ministries. Opening their hearts, they share stories of their early years in ministry, and the persons and events that impacted them and helped to grow their ministries.

Readers will be challenged to believe in a God who is active today as the authors tell of miracles they have witnessed stateside and afar. Tempered with humility and lightened with humor, Healing Unplugged shares the mistakes and milestones the authors have experienced, and offers encouragement to others pursuing healing ministries. —A.J. Luck

Reinhard Bonnke (Charisma House)

Internationally known evangelist and author Reinhard Bonnke takes a comprehensive look at the person and work of the Holy Spirit in his newest release, Taking Action. The book tackles this topic  through the eyes of an evangelist, but more than that, it is a successful attempt to produce a handbook of solid theology for the church to understand what it means to be filled and operating in the Holy Spirit’s power.

Bonnke begins with an overview of the importance of being baptized in the Spirit, then goes into greater detail describing each of the gifts of the Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.

Although Bonnke illustrates his points with personal experiences, much of the book is an examination of Scripture. Indeed, there is an appeal for Christians to get back to the Bible and to measure all experience by it. At the same time, Bonnke wants readers to avoid being legalistic—which would strangle the grace of God and the Spirit’s freedom—and maintains that Scripture is the loving guide to greater freedom and not meant to punish people with rules.

The German-born teacher does not communicate casually in English as other popular authors; his writings take on a more structured and formal tone, yet it never detracts from—rather, it enhances—the rich content. Taking Action is both spiritual and sensible and will prove to be a great resource for those who want to be faithful in their walk with God. —Deborah Delk Grady