Good Books Big Questions

Self-care is more than chocolate and bubble baths, says pastor Benjamin Espinoza

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:01:00 -0400

Self-care sometimes gets a bad rap. It sounds entitled. But seriously bad things can happen when we don’t take care of ourselves. Ben Espinoza’s new book Good News about Self-Care: How Nurturing Your Soul, Your Self and Your Sanity Honors God is meant for a general audience. Everyone can benefit. But this is a conversation about what happens when pastors ignore self-care. The consequences can be devastating, not just for pastors and their families, but for congregations and the wider Church.

Ben Espinoza is the Lead Pastor of Riverstone Church in western New York.

For US orders, use discount code GOOD20 to get 20% off Good News About Self-Care at navpress.com. It’s available in Softcover, Audiobook or eBook.

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Let us know what you think of the show. Our email address is goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the show.

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Name bullying for what it is, says author Heather Thompson Day

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0400

If you’ve ever been bullied – as a child or adult – you know how crippling it can be. After it happened to her daughter London, Heather Thompson Day and London wrote a children’s book called Can I Sit Here? They wanted to give other kids the words to name bullying for what it is and encourage adults to take it more seriously. But this conversation quickly moves into how to identify and respond to bullying whether you’re a child or an adult; how to apologize if you're the bully, and how to truly pray for our enemies.

For US orders, use discount code GOOD20 to get 20% off Can I Sit Here? at navpress.com. It’s available in hardcover and eBook.

Visit GoodBooksBigQuestions.com to catch up on all episodes.

Let us know what you think of the show. Our email address is goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the show.

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Why don’t Christians share their faith? asks pastor and former NFL player Derwin Gray

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0400

Where has Derwin Gray had conversations about Jesus? A coffee shop. A golf course. An NFL dressing room. But many Christians don’t do that. This pastor and former NFL defensive back wrote a book called Lit up with Love: Becoming Good News People to a Gospel Starved World. It’s not so much about evangelism, as about becoming a person who overflows with good news. If you don’t always feel you’re overflowing with love or if you cringe at the thought of talking about your faith, this conversation might be especially for you.

Derwin L. Gray is an author, speaker, Lead Pastor at Transformation Church, podcaster and former NFL player.

For US orders, use discount code GOOD20 to get 20% off Lit Up With Love at navpress.com. It’s available as an Audiobook, eBook and Softcover.

Visit GoodBooksBigQuestions.com to catch up on all episodes.

Let us know what you think of the show. Our email address is goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the show.

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Bring doubts and honest wrestling to Bible reading, says Message editor Olivia Eldredge

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0400

Why does the world need another Bible marketed at women? That’s a question Olivia Eldredge, the Editor of The Message Women’s Devotional Bible asked herself. She grew up in the era of “purity culture” and was deeply dissatisfied with much of the Christian content created for women. “It ignores questions I had about Scripture,” she says, “hard questions about how women are mistreated and portrayed.” The introduction to this new devotional Bible bravely declares: “This would be a no-holds-barred project. No question silenced. No difficult topic given shallow treatment. We would name hard things.” And it does. This is a Bible that includes content warnings before stories of rape and abuse. The devotionals by women, like this conversation with Olivia, wrestle with hard questions and come away with hopeful answers.

Olivia Eldredge is the Editor for The Message Bible from NavPress.

For US orders, use discount code GOOD20 to get 20% off The Message: Women’s Devotional Bible at navpress.com. It is available as an eBook and in a beautiful leatherbound hard copy.

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Let us know what you think of the show. Our email address is goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the show.

Where is God in our hurt and failure? asks author Dominique Young

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0400

Why is it that in life’s worst moments God can feel so distant? That’s where this conversation with author Dominique Young begins. She knows what it’s like to feel forgotten by God. But Dominique has also discovered that if we look for God’s character, we may be surprised where we find it. Her book, God, Where are you? invites readers to honestly wrestle with our deepest hurts and failures, and live a more transparent and authentic life before God and with each other.

Dominique Young is an author, speaker and Bible teacher.

For US orders, use discount code GOOD20 to get 20% off God, Where are You? at navpress.com. It’s available in Softcover, eBook and Audiobook.

Visit GoodBooksBigQuestions.com to catch up on all episodes.

Let us know what you think of the show. Our email address is goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the show.

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Our polarized world needs peacemakers, says pastor Mark DeYmaz

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0500

If you follow the news, it’s hard not to become outraged by one group or another. Perhaps most discouraging for Christians is how they themselves are sometimes viewed as hateful. How did the world’s greatest love story become associated with hate? That’s where Mark DeYmaz starts his new book Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace. Using St. Francis’ Peace Prayer as a framework, he describes practical ways to respond to the polarization happening in our society and in our churches.

Mark DeYmaz is a pastor at Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas. If you’d like him to lead a book study or seminar on peacemaking, contact Alison at alison@mosaix.info

For US orders, use discount code GOOD20 to get 20% off Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace at navpress.com. It’s available as an Audiobook, eBook and Softcover.

Visit GoodBooksBigQuestions.com to catch up on all episodes.

Let us know what you think of the show. Our email address is goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the show.The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Season 2 Trailer

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:01:00 -0500

Season 2 of Good Books Big Questions launches March 2, 2026 with conversations about books fresh off the press and authors addressing some of the biggest questions about being a Christian in these times:

How can you be a peacemaker in this polarized world?
Where is God in our worst moments?
Can you bring doubts and honest questions to reading the Bible?
Why don’t Christians share their faith?
Why are pastors burning out?

Interested in buying the books? Go to NavPress.com. Then use the Discount Code (not case sensitive): GOOD20 on the NavPress books featured in Season 2, and get 20% off until the end of May.

Season 2’s ad-free episodes are full of bold, loving and sensible conversations about faith. They drop weekly on Mondays in March and April.

Good Books Big Questions is a NavPress podcast where conversations about books open the door to bigger conversations about life and faith.

Hosted by Karen Stiller—author of Holiness Here: Finding God in the Ordinary Events of Everyday Life (NavPress, 2024) and The Minister’s Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Doubt, Friendship, Loneliness, Forgiveness and More (Tyndale House, 2020, and an author known for her transparency.

We'd love to hear your feedback. Email us at goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com

The views and opinions expressed in these recordings do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Deborah Sáenz: Publishing is so white-centric: Editors are trying to change that

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400

NavPress editor Deborah Sáenz talks with Karen Stiller about how editors find, woo and work with Christian authors. She shares the story of how she developed a passion for sharing the stories of writers of colour, and why that is so crucial.

We think this conversation is the perfect way to wrap up Season 1 of Good Books Big Questions. We’ll be back in March with Season 2.

Post talk from Deborah: Most of my work as a book editor is behind the scenes, so being on the podcast was a treat! I hope our conversation gives listeners a small glimpse behind the curtain. The business of Christian book publishing is full of beauty and meaning, but also tension and risk. As editors, authors, and readers, having a humble posture and an openness to learning keeps us all in check.

Post talk from Karen: “I loved having the opportunity to have a conversation with my very own editor for my book Holiness Here. Deborah knows what she’s doing and she brings a respect and love for writers and the powerful role books play in our lives. That comes through really clear in this episode."

Who is Deborah Sáenz? Deborah Sáenz is an acquisitions and developmental editor for NavPress, specializing in Christian non-fiction. She has worked in book publishing for 15 years as a marketer, collaborator, and editor. She received a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Northwestern University and a certificate in manuscript editing from the University of Chicago. Deeply committed to elevating underrepresented voices, her passion lies in collaborating with authors of color and helping to increase BIPOC representation in traditional publishing. Originally from the U.S.-Mexico border town of Laredo, Texas, she currently resides in San Antonio.

Let us know what you think of the show. Our email address is goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the show.

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Joyce Koo Dalrymple: Less striving, more grace

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

How do we stop striving for approval and rest in God’s grace? This is an ongoing question for many people of faith. Author, pastor and speaker Joyce Koo Dalrymple knows what striving feels like, and how tough it is to stop. In this honest conversation Joyce shares the roots of her striving, her wounds of failure, and her journey to believe God’s grace.

Parables of Grace: A Bible Study on God's Heart for His Children is her latest book in the LifeChange Bible Study Series from NavPress. The prevalence of grace in these colorful stories from Jesus might surprise you. And if you’ve ever thought you were the “bad guy” in the stories, you won’t want to miss this episode.

A post conversation quote from Joyce: “God’s grace flows out of His very nature and extends to every one of us who is open to receive it. As a recipient of such grace and forgiveness, may you cultivate an ever-deepening loving relationship with God, one that causes you to overflow with grace toward others and demonstrate justice and mercy in the world.”

After the talk with Karen: “Joyce is so accomplished, she’s a little bit intimidating to think about interviewing, but I didn’t need to worry. Joyce brought her warmth, authenticity and deep honesty about her own journey to this conversation that I think will be a relief to many listeners. It was to me!”

Find all Joyce's LifeChange Bible Studies at NavPress.

Books Joyce mentions Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen and Abba’s Child by Brennan Manning.

Email Good Books Big Questions at goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com and give us your feedback.

Who is Joyce Koo Dalrymple?
Joyce Koo Dalrymple is a ministry leader, author, and podcast host. She leads Refuge for Strength, a women’s ministry focused on spiritual formation and listening to God in community. She is also the Chief of Content and Engagement at Khora Collective. A former television journalist and attorney, she frequently guest preaches at local churches and speaks at women’s events and retreats. Her books include Women of the New Testament and Jesus' Passion Week. Joyce received a BA from Stanford University, a law degree from Boston College, and an MDiv from Metro Atlanta Seminary. She and her husband Tim have three daughters and live in Philadelphia.

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators

Norman Hubbard: Loving brothers and sisters who drive you nuts

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Do we have to sit with Christians whose politics offend and trouble us? Actually, yes, we should, says author Norm Hubbard. Even if it’s really hard. Norm is the author of More than Christians: Practicing Gospel-Shaped Community with the Language of the Early Church.

Norm didn’t intend to write a book that speaks to the current polarized political climate, but that’s what he did. His suggested solution to the challenges of the day is surprising in simplicity and potentially profound in impact. There’s lots of laughter in this conversation that tackles head on how we get along with fellow Christians whose opinions might alarm us, no matter which side of the political divide you find yourself on.

A post conversation quote from Norm: "We use lots of words to describe the gospel: sin, salvation, grace, eternal life. It's time we add the word, 'family.'”

After the talk with Karen: “Clearly, I find Norm funny. An author who can bring a light touch to heavy topics just makes reading and talking about big things so much easier. This is one of those kinds of conversations.”

Listen to Norm's book More Than Christians on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to audiobooks. You can also find his book at NavPress.

Email Good Books Big Questions at goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com and give us your feedback.

Who is Norm Hubbard? Norman Hubbard has served on staff with The Navigators collegiate ministries for the past 25 years on seven campuses in the Midwest. He currently works with students in Minneapolis, oversees staff in Wisconsin, and speaks at conferences nationally. Norman has a Master's Degree in Applied Linguistics from Auburn University, and he's currently working on a Masters of Divinity at Denver Seminary. He is the author of three Bible study workbooks. Norman and his wife have children ranging in ages from 25 to 10.

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators

Dieula Previlon: You can ask God anything

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Do you need to ask God some tough questions? Have you shaken your fist at God or cried out your most honest pain and heartbreak? For Dieula Previlon, the author of Does God See Me? speaking (or maybe even yelling) to God with complete earthy honesty is an important part of how we live with trauma and grief.

Dieula set out to write a book as teacher and guide, pulling on her years of experience working with women in prisons and around the world. To her surprise, she found she was also writing as a fellow traveller through pain and healing. If you’re worried this episode is a downer, don’t be. Joy and laughter are part of the journey and also part of this very honest conversation.

A post-conversation quote from Dieula: “I love books that cause us to wrestle even if we don't come up with answers from the wrestling. I believe asking questions while being curious is a part of the journey. I hope when you listen, you will feel seen and understood. You are not alone in your questions.”

After the talk with Karen: “I first met Dieula at a NavPress author retreat where we connected over recent and profound losses, and also an appreciation for the Netflix show Love is Blind. Which goes to prove Dieula’s important point that we can laugh at and with life, while still acknowledging the very real pain some of us go through. Dieula has so much to teach.”

Listen to Dieula's book Does God See Me? on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to audiobooks. You can also find her book at NavPress.

Visit Dieula’s site and reach out to her with thoughts and questions about her work and this conversation.

Find out more about ElevateHerInternational.

Books Dieula mentions Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah

Email Good Books Big Questions at goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com and give us your feedback.

Who is Dieula Previlon?
Dieula Previlon is an author, visionary and social entrepreneur. She is the founder and executive director of the non-profit ElevateHer International Ministries and the for-profit business Elevate Life Coaching, Counseling and Consulting. Her vision is to empower women to heal from trauma, to find their purpose, and to flourish. She is also an ordained minister, a licensed counselor, a certified trauma-informed business coach, and leader. Her professional career in these areas spans over 20 years. In this season, she's celebrating her first book: Does God See Me? which is available at every major book store.

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Kat Armstrong: Taking the Disney-glasses off about women in the Bible

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A lot of talk about women in the church leads to what they should or shouldn't be doing. Kat Armstrong, author of The Storyline Project Bible study series, poses a different and bigger question. In this lively and challenging conversation, Kat, a Bible study author, preacher and teacher walks us through her own journey of coming to grips with the often untold and misunderstood power of women in the Bible narrative.

Kat’s latest studies are called Deserts and Gardens and explore the storyline of both kinds of places that are also symbols in the Bible. Along with her confession that she once thought of Esther as a “Disney princess,” Kat helps us see nuances we might be missing. We also dip our toes into the hot sands of the deserts in the Bible and what they mean for we who still wander.

A post-conversation note from Kat: “Curiosity might be the key we’re missing in our spiritual lives. In this conversation on Good Books Big Questions, I share why approaching Scripture as a literary masterpiece can transform the way we encounter God’s Word. I hope you’ll listen in.”

After the talk with Karen: “Wow. This is a woman who has been through some stuff to reach this place of being a very impactful Bible teacher. And no, she doesn’t just write for women. I laughed. And shed a tear or two. This is a good one.”

Find Kat’s books at NavPress.

Visit Kat’s website and reach out to her with thoughts and questions about her work and this conversation.

Visit The Storyline’s site.

Books Kat mentions Vindicating the Vixens: Revisiting Sexualized, Vilified, and Marginalized Women of the Bible, edited by Sandra Glahn.

Email Good Books Big Questions at goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com and give us your feedback.

Who is Kat Armstrong?
Kat Armstrong is a dynamic Bible teacher, innovative ministry leader, and author passionate about helping curious Christians engage with Scripture. Born in Houston, Texas, she studied at Dallas Theological Seminary and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Houston Theological Seminary under Drs. Scot McKnight and Lynn Cohick. Her academic training, paired with her clear communication style, has made her a sought-after keynote speaker for churches, conferences, and nonprofits nationwide. She also hosts Holy Curiosity, a podcast produced by The Center for Women in Leadership.

She is the author of No More Holding Back and The In-Between Place, and creator of the eight-volume Storyline Project Bible study series. Kat has contributed to The Message Bible: Women’s Devotional and written for outlets like Christianity Today, Proverbs 31, and Peer Magazine. Her next book, Easy to Follow: Trading Toxic Leadership for the Way of Jesus (NavPress, October 2025), co-authored with Lyle Wells, offers a transformative vision for Christian leaders rooted in integrity and grace.

Kat currently serves as Senior Director of Marketing and Content Development at Integrus Leadership and previously co-founded the Polished Network, growing it from one local gathering to a nationwide nonprofit for women in the workplace. She has also served on the board of Pillar Seminary, as an ambassador for Seminary Now, and as a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. Kat lives in Dallas with her husband Aaron, senior lead pastor at Christ Fellowship McKinney, and their son Caleb.

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The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Jared Ayers: Trusting a God with Scars

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Can we still find beauty in being a Christian? Or in Christian institutions? Author Jared Ayers was disappointed with the church’s reaction to the growing number of religiously unaffiliated and wrote a book for people in the borderlands of faith.

In You can Trust a God With Scars, Ayers walks readers through a gentle examination of the Christian faith and what it can offer we who search. In this conversation with host Karen Stiller, Ayers shares his own times of doubt, what helps him draw closer to God and trust, and how being a new author is changing how he views the world.

A post-conversation note from Jared: “We need places where we can have real conversations about faith, life, and God. I found this conversation with Karen on Good Books Big Questions one of those all-too-rare places, and I hope others experience that too.”

After the talk with Karen: “I enjoyed this so much. I especially appreciated that Jared didn’t give pat, formulaic answers for why bad things happen and how tough life can be sometimes. I left with shows to watch and music to listen to because this guy is really plugged into popular culture.”

Jared mentions The Undertaking: Life Studies From The Dismal Trade by Thomas Lynch.

Listen to Jared's book You Can Trust a God with Scars on Spotify, Apple, Audible or wherever you listen to audiobooks. You can also find his book at NavPress.

Visit Jared’s site and reach out to him with your own questions and thoughts about his book and this conversation.

Email Good Books Big Questions at goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com and give us your feedback.

Who is Jared Ayers?
Rev. Dr. Jared Ayers is a pastor, speaker, professor, and writer. He is a graduate of Western Theological Seminary and the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination. A pastor for more than two decades, he currently serves as senior minister at First Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach, Florida, and as an adjunct faculty member at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Jared is married to his wife, Monica, and they’ve been graced with two sons and a daughter.

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.

Welcome to Good Books Big Questions: Bold, Loving, and Sensible Conversations About Faith

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

No one ducks the tough questions about faith on this show. Not the host and not the guests. If you’re disillusioned, doubting, discovering faith, or if you simply want a safe space to dig into some big questions you’ve had for a while, you will find good company here.

You’ll discover thoughtful, honest, and civil conversations about the issues that keep us up at night. Also, the occasional laugh, of course – and a level of honesty that helps us all keep our faith alive.

Good Books Big Questions is a NavPress podcast where conversations about books open the door to bigger conversations about life and faith. Together with NavPress authors, we dive into questions like:

What does it mean to truly trust God?
How can we worship alongside people who think and vote differently than we do?
Where do we find joy in the midst of trauma and suffering?
How do we get past easy answers and formulas of faith and think about how to navigate some of the toughest stuff in life and still believe in Jesus?

Each conversation blends thoughtful book discussion with big, timeless questions of Christian faith and spiritual growth.

About the Host

Karen Stiller is the author of Holiness Here, The Minister’s Wife, and co-author of Craft, Cost & Call: How to Build a Life as a Christian Writer. She is a writing coach, teacher, freelance editor, and longtime journalist whose work has appeared in Reader’s Digest, Christianity Today, The Walrus, Ekstasis, and more.

For 22 years she served as an editor of Faith Today magazine and hosted the Faith Today podcast. Karen has traveled to South Sudan, Uganda, Senegal, Cambodia, and across North America reporting on stories of the Church around the world. She has moderated debates on faith and society at the University of Toronto and holds an MFA in Creative Non-Fiction from the University of King’s College. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in the Sacred Art of Writing at Western Seminary.

Living in Ottawa, Ontario, Karen brings curiosity, compassion, and candor to every conversation.

Please follow, rate and review Good Books Big Questions wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us for bold, loving, and sensible conversations about faith.

We'd love to hear your feedback.

Email us at goodbooksbigquestions@gmail.com

The views and opinions expressed in this recording do not necessarily reflect the positions of NavPress or The Navigators.