1517's Favorite Books from 2025
By 1517 Staff
12/29/25
17mins

1517's Favorite Books from 2025

Below is a list of our favorite theological books - across all categories - from 2025. A special thanks to our contributors who submitted titles, wrote summaries and full reviews for these books and more throughout the year.
The Scandal and Splendor of the Savior’s Birth
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
12/26/25

The Scandal and Splendor of the Savior’s Birth

Every sinner can trace their salvation back to this moment when the Savior was born in accordance with the Word of God so that all of God’s words would be realized.
What to Preach and Not to Preach at Christmas
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
12/25/25

What to Preach and Not to Preach at Christmas

Christmas is not for remembering, thinking, pondering, trying to make sure you are really celebrating it properly, or for wondering whether you truly have faith.

All Articles

Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
08/13/19

What Matters Most

We confuse our success and failures with God’s judgment of us.
Bonnie Petroschuk
Bonnie Petroschuk
08/13/19

This is Love

It wasn’t that I didn’t love. I loved deeply, but I was also aware of the much deeper reservoir of self-love that kept me from ever loving fully.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
08/13/19

You’re Not Fine Just the Way You Are

Contrary to what pop-psychology, social media memes, and your sweet grandmother told you, you are not fine just the way you are.
Valerie Thur
Valerie Thur
08/12/19

Killed the Word

Mere confrontation in the form of, “What you’re doing is wrong—you need to change yourself,” can never solve the root of our problem.
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
08/07/19

My Grace-Covered Memory

My past, littered about this tiny island, resurrects itself when I draw near, but it never does so alone. It is always accompanied by the Savior.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
08/06/19

Chasing the Spotlight

We are so free as Christians that we don't even have to compare ourselves to other Christians.
Grant Klembara
Grant Klembara
08/05/19

Killing Our Hero, Martin Luther

Martin Luther is not–or, at least should not–be the object of our affection.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
08/04/19

What Can the Church Do in Times of Violence?

It is a strange irony, but in a world drunk on violence, it is only on the cross of violence that there is hope for peace in our world.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
07/30/19

Pain is Our Birthright

Pain is our birthright, but Jesus’ resurrection is our irrevocable end.
Bob Hiller
Bob Hiller
07/29/19

Protected from Baptism

The real problem with the way we talk about Baptism in particular, and the sacraments at all, is that we are simply afraid of letting God’s Word get us.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/27/19

Three Hidden Hebrew Treasures in Psalm 23

These treasures show us that, no matter how well we think we know this poem, there’s always more layers to uncover.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
07/24/19

The iChisel: Defaced Images and the Human-Faced God

It’s no wonder we’re so attached to images; we are one. We are human hyphens between the celestial and the terrestrial.
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