Calvin College Press: 12 books

If you are a student wondering what to study in college, this book is for you. It invites you to seek out the practical benefits of studying literature, language, the arts, history, religion, and philosophy. These disciplines-known collectively as the humanities-will teach you to analyze complex social...

Jonathan P. Hill is assistant professor of sociology at Calvin College. He is the author of several articles and book chapters on higher education and religious faith and coauthor of the book Young Catholic America: Emerging Adults In, Out of, and Gone from the Church (Oxford, 2014). He is also the...

Is it possible to work in international development without hurting those we are trying to help? Over the last few decades, evangelical Christians in the United States have moved from an open embrace of development work (e.g. short term missions, poverty alleviation strategies like microenterprise,...

Religious persecution is on the rise. Daily news stories and social science research chronicle the suffering of Christians and those of other faiths at the hands of both governments and private citizens. Yet, with few exceptions,the North American church has been largely absent from serious action...

Worship in the Joy of the Lord is a curated collection of over 300 quotations on the deep meaning and purpose of Christian public worship designed to inspire, challenge, and equip worshipers and worship leaders to be transformed by the renewing gospel of Jesus Christ. John D. Witvliet is director...

Congregational community engagement is so widespread in the United States that it is best described as a congregational norm. Both congregational leaders and attenders, in fact, expect to be involved in community activities simply as a matter of course. Moreover, people in need assume aid from congregations...

Encountering cultural differences in the classroom, in the workplace, in the church, and in the public square is an everyday part of contemporary life. The chances that we will live our lives interacting only with those who share our cultural identity and ways of thinking are shrinking. Understanding...

In this accessible, insightful book, noted Christian scholar and award-winning author James K. A. Smith gathers together a range of his writing for popular audiences. Working at the intersection of faith and culture, past and present, church and world, Smith offers both incisive cultural criticism...

This book offers a concise and highly-readable explanation of the dramatic changes that took place during the Reformation and helps readers understand the deeper impact of the Reformation beyond its own time period. Changes in theology and in worship, in the status of lay people and clergy, and in...

“Diversity” is not a new, foreign element in American life. It goes back to the earliest roots of the nation, when five distinct regions emerged along the Atlantic shore in the 17th century. This book explains how and why that happened, and with what consequences. Each region was marked by a different...

Disability and Inclusive Communities* *intends to help readers learn how to build communities that fully include people with disabilities. Often our social practices unintentionally exclude those with disabilities by making it difficult for them to fully participate in the community. These practices...

Why do we listen to sermons?  Where did sermons come from? How has preaching managed to survive and thrive across so many years and in so many cultures? Most Christians listen to a sermon every week. But what is a sermon? How does it relate to the Bible, and how does the Holy Spirit work through...