Are you looking for something to read over the summer? Look no further. We have chosen three books for a First Baptist Summer One-Read. Feel free to read one or explore them all. The idea is to read them at your own pace over the summer and then join the conversations in the fall. Hopefully, the books will be thought-provoking, encourage spiritual growth, and foster fruitful discussion. You can order the books independently or purchase a copy at the church.
Eighty years after Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s death in a Nazi camp, his powerful message in Life Together still resonates. In a world that often prioritizes individualism and self-sufficiency, Bonhoeffer explores the deep need for authentic Christian community—a community not built on personal preference or convenience but on commitment, confession and the daily practice of grace. Bonhoeffer reminds us that real community is not about finding perfect people or crafting the ideal social circle but about embracing the messy, transformative power of life in Christ together. Life Together challenges us to see that we are not meant to live in isolation—our yearning for connection and purpose can only be fully realized in relationship with God and one another. We will have a chance to discuss the book in the fall; as an added bonus, in the summer of 2026, Senior Minister Carol McEntyre will lead a travel-learning experience to Berlin, Germany, to explore theology and Christianity through the lens and story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
The Road to Character by David Brooks explores the deeper values that should inform our lives, contrasting what he calls “résumé virtues” (skills that contribute to external success) with “eulogy virtues” (qualities that define our inner character). Drawing on the lives of historical figures such as Dorothy Day, Dwight Eisenhower and others, Brooks reflects on how true character is built through struggle, humility and moral depth. This book invites us to consider what it means to live a good life, one shaped not just by achievement, but by integrity, purpose and self-examination. This fall, Senior Minister Carol McEntyre is planning a Sunday morning preaching series about Christian character—what it is and how it is formed. The Road to Character will be a thoughtful complement to the series, helping you reflect on who you want to be and how to grow toward that vision.
In Jesus and the Disinherited, acclaimed theologian and spiritual advisor to MLK Jr., Howard Thurman, explores how the gospel may be read as a manual of resistance for the poor and disenfranchised. While Jesus inhabits the pain of the oppressed, Thurman writes, Jesus’ example of overwhelming love instructs us all to reach past anger and distrust toward a vision of unity. Thurman’s 100-page classic will appeal to anyone eager to see love prevail over hate. Minister of Spiritual Formation and Outreach Camille Loomis Rehnborg will lead a Wednesday night book discussion on Thurman’s book this fall.