Must Reads
THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
John Mark Comer
In a world that’s always rushing, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer offers a much-needed invitation: slow down and live differently.
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This powerful and very practical book confronts the modern epidemic of busyness, overload, and distraction and how these forces are quietly pulling us away from a deep, life-giving relationship with Jesus.
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John Mark Comer, a pastor and teacher, shares his own journey of burnout and spiritual dryness, and how a wise mentor's simple advice, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life”, became the turning point in rediscovering the peace and presence of God.
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Why Hurry is Hurting Us (and Our Faith)
Comer shows how hurry is not just a scheduling problem, it’s a spiritual one. He argues that the modern pace of life makes it nearly impossible to live emotionally healthy and spiritually rich lives. Our constant motion leaves no room for prayer, silence, reflection, or simply being with God.
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Jesus, Comer reminds us, was never in a hurry. He walked slowly. He made time for people. He retreated often to be alone with the Father. If we want to follow Jesus, we must also adopt His rhythm of life - not just His teachings.
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Key Takeaways from the Book
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Hurry is incompatible with the way of Jesus.
You can’t live a life of love, peace, or joy when you’re constantly rushed.
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Our schedules are shaping our souls.
What we give our time and attention to is forming us - whether we realise it or not.
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Silence and solitude are essential spiritual practices.
Regular time alone with God helps realign our hearts and minds.
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Sabbath is a gift, not a rule.
Practicing a weekly day of rest is a powerful act of resistance against the culture of always-on productivity.
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Simplifying your life creates space for God.
Less clutter, fewer commitments, and intentional living lead to more spiritual clarity.
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Jesus lived an unhurried life and we’re called to do the same.
His pace was deliberate, loving, and present. We are invited to follow that same way.
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Technology is shaping our attention (and our distraction).
Comer encourages intentional habits like digital minimalism and phone boundaries.
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Spiritual disciplines are counter-cultural but life-giving.
Prayer, Scripture, community, and slowing down are not outdated, they’re vital.
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Rest is not laziness, it’s holy.
God Himself rested. We are created to live from rest, not for rest.
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Slowing down is not just good for you, it’s essential to your spiritual formation.
A slower pace allows for deeper relationships with God, with people, and with yourself.
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Some Final Thoughts
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is not just a good read it’s a timely invitation to reimagine your life. It’s for anyone feeling overwhelmed, spiritually dry, or longing for something more meaningful.
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At Protea Valley Church, we believe that slowing down is an act of faith. This book will challenge and encourage you to live more intentionally, love more deeply, and walk more closely with Jesus.
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We highly recommend it for individuals, small groups, or families looking to reset their pace and refocus their lives on what truly matters.
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Looking for Your Next Read?
Pick up The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and begin the journey of becoming unhurried in a world that never stops moving.
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This book is available at Takealot.
Book Review for Parents: THE ANXIOUS GENERATION
Jonathan Haidt
In a recent sermon, Brent recommended The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - a must-read for parents navigating the challenges of raising kids in today’s digital world. Haidt unpacks how excessive screen time, social media, and overprotection have contributed to rising anxiety and depression among young people.
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Unpacking the Big Problem
One of the book’s most powerful insights speaks directly to indulgence - the idea that giving our kids everything they want, shielding them from discomfort, and eliminating struggle is not an act of love, but a disservice to their souls. Haidt challenges parents to rethink modern parenting norms prioritising convenience and ease over resilience and character formation.
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Just as contentment is a choice, kids must learn to live with delayed gratification, boundaries, and real-world challenges to develop emotional and spiritual strength. Overindulgence, whether in digital entertainment or material comfort, leaves them unfulfilled and anxious rather than secure and grounded.
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Haidt doesn’t just diagnose the problem - he offers practical solutions for parents who want to raise emotionally strong, faith-filled, and resilient kids in a world that constantly pulls them toward distraction and discontent.
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3 Key Takeaways for Parents
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Limit screen time and encourage real-world play - Prioritise face-to-face interactions, outdoor play, and hands-on creativity over digital entertainment. Kids need real-life experiences to develop emotional resilience.
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Teach delayed gratification - Don’t rush to solve every problem or fulfil every request immediately. Let your children experience waiting, working, and earning - these build patience, perseverance, and contentment.
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Embrace discomfort as growth - Allow kids to struggle, fail, and problem-solve. When we remove every challenge, we also remove opportunities for growth, confidence, and emotional strength. Instead of protecting them from every hardship, walk alongside them in it.
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Essential Reading for Parents
If you’re looking for a book that will challenge, equip, and encourage you in your parenting journey, this one is worth your time!
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This book is available at Takealot.
RAISING CONFIDENT KIDS IN A CONFUSING WORLD
Ed Drew
Reviewed by Matthew Christy
In a world where children are constantly bombarded with mixed messages about who they are, one of the most pressing questions they face is: "Who am I?" And their answer to this question can shape their entire worldview.
At Protea Valley Church, we believe that scripture plays a crucial role in helping children form a strong, Christ-centred identity. Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World by Ed Drew is a powerful scripture-based resource that aligns with this mission, offering parents and church leaders practical guidance in navigating these challenging waters.
Drew's book is an invaluable tool for parents at every stage of parenting, from the early years to the teenage phase. He skillfully uses scripture to address key questions of identity and integrates his own real-life experiences to make the content relatable and actionable.
Addressing the Key Issue
The book emphasises the vital role of Christian parents in guiding their children's understanding of identity. Drew states, “I would happily go through my whole life without discussing some (or all) of those topics. But I am a Christian parent, so I must not allow my children’s school or friends or favoured social media influencers to tell them what they need to understand to live a flourishing life” (p. 108). He also provides a clear and impactful framework to help children discover and embrace their identity in Christ, built around foundational gospel truths such as: "I am precious, I am forgiven, I can change. I know what to do when I’m not okay, I am wonderfully made."
Drew's humility and care are evident throughout the book, reflecting his deep desire to see parents help their children navigate the complexities of identity with confidence and clarity.
A Must-Read for Parents and Church Leaders
Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World is highly recommended for parents and church leaders looking for practical and scriptural guidance in helping children understand their true identity.
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The book is available at Scripture Union, Christian Book Distributors, Takealot, and on Kindle. For more resources, including podcasts, visit Ed Drew's website: faithinkids.org.
10 THINGS EVERY TEEN SHOULD ASK (AND ANSWER) ABOUT CHRISTIANITY
Rebecca McLaughlin
Reviewed by Matthew Christy
Discipling kids as parents or within the church at this age is challenging, especially when faced with difficult questions, such as:
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How can there be an authentic connection with a generation more influenced by social media than scripture?
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How can those within the church inspire belief and equip believers to defend their convictions in a culture where personal experience often carries more weight than biblical convictions?
At Protea Valley Church, we aim to apply the scriptures to the complexities of daily life, and helpful resources like the book 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask and Answer About Christianity help us achieve this goal.
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Rebecca McLaughlin's timely book stands out as a source of clarity amid uncertainty. Written in a style that resonates with young people, McLaughlin addresses 10 big questions and provides the framework to answer them in a format that is clear and effective. She writes, “It struck me that kids and teens have complex questions too. In fact, in my experience, kids ask the hardest questions of all” (McLaughlin, 2020:11).
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Tackling the Big Questions
Through the use of scriptures, illustrations, her own studies, and “ridiculously smart people” (McLaughlin, 2020:21), she expertly demystifies some of life’s biggest questions and offers clear answers.
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How can I live my best life now? (mental and physical health benefits of the Christian life)
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Isn’t Christianity against diversity? (racism, slavery, Christianity)
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Can Jesus be true for you but not for me? (universal truth/relativism/evangelism)
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Can’t we just be good without God? (God as the basis for morality/9/11/Hitler/Stalin/human identity/abortion)
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How can you believe the Bible is true? (evidence for the Gospels/evidence for the resurrection/true versus literal)
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Hasn’t science disproved Christianity? (origins of science/science and faith controversies, Christian scientists today)
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Why can’t we just agree that love is love? (marriage/sex/singleness/friendship/same-sex attraction/pornography/abuse)
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Who cares if you’re a boy or a girl? (gender/feminism/transgender and non-binary identities)
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Does God care when we hurt? (God’s sovereignty in suffering/God’s care for us/prayer/purpose)
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How can you believe in heaven and hell? (meaning of heaven and hell/sin and judgment/salvation/invitation)
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McLaughlin handles some of the more divisive questions on sexuality, diversity, and suffering with skill, humility and care that is grounded in the gospel. Furthermore, she offers invaluable advice to parents, grandparents, and caregivers who are navigating how to address these topics with their kids.
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Highly Recommended for Parents & Teens
This book is an excellent tool for both parents and teens. It's incredibly useful in instilling trust in the scriptures and gaining good biblical comprehension, while helping young people as they grapple with tough questions.
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You can find the book at Scripture Union, Takealot and Christian book stores, or on Kindle.
FUTURE CHURCH
Will Mancini
& Cory Hartman
At Protea Valley Church, we’re all about loving Jesus, making disciples, and serving together. As part of our vision to learn together to imitate Jesus and to make Him known to others in our city we want to equip our congregation to go and be the church in their community. As such, we’ve found a great resource to inspire you in your journey of growing as a disciple who makes disciples.
Will Mancini and Cory Hartman's Future Church: Seven Laws of Real Church Growth takes a deep dive into the current state of churches in North America and why they are struggling to multiply and build a community of believers who fulfil Jesus' call of disciple-making.
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Identifying the Solution
The authors provide a solution to this problem by studying Jesus’ Great Commission through the lens of the seven laws of mission, power, love, context, development, leadership and vision to equip and encourage church members to become active disciples and disciple-makers. One of the core concepts addressed in the book is exploring the relationship between listeners, learners, and goers in the church and to this end, Mancini and Hartman explain that the church needs alternative metrics to determine real church growth: “Real church growth is not defined by adding in-person attenders or increasing weekly giving. Real church growth targets the transformation of individuals – the actual making of disciples. This requires a completely different approach to being the church on a week-to-week basis as well as a different set of key metrics. Real church growth will ultimately result in the addition of in-person attenders, but it is not the immediate objective.”
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Highly Recommended for Leaders
This book is highly practical, giving you both a map and tools to change your thoughts and approach to church ministry and energise your personal development as a disciple and a leader. There are many lessons and disciple-making gold to be discovered in Future Church: Seven Laws of Real Church Growth and this will probably become one of the most highlighted books on your bookshelf. We highly recommend it and it is a must-read for leaders.
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Check out this helpful visual summary of the book here.
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You can read the book on Kindle or listen to it on Audible or buy a hard copy at your local bookstore.
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