How IVP Fiction Can Grow You Spiritually
by Eva Pankratz, Publicity Coordinator
There’s no shortage of resources to choose from when it comes to spiritual growth. Books, podcasts, Bible studies—the list goes on. Maybe when you think of spiritual growth you think of a sermon, a meeting with a spiritual director, quiet time with Jesus, or your small group. Maybe you think of it with delight, or maybe it’s something that you secretly dread.
What if the fiction book you read for enjoyment also deepened your walk with Christ?
“Jesus knew the power of stories,” says Sharon Garlough Brown, author of the bestselling Sensible Shoes Series and the Shades of Light Series. “He used them to reveal the heart of God and to show us what the kingdom of God is like. Fiction is stealthy. It sneaks past our defenses and engages our imagination and emotions, reaching us in places that arguments or teaching sometimes can’t. When we begin to identify with characters in a story, that can create space for the Holy Spirit to gently confront us and transform us. If we’re open to the journey, reading fiction can provide opportunities for us to be enlarged in compassion and be drawn into a deeper, more honest relationship with God.”
The Sensible Shoes Series walks alongside the journeys of four women as they gain a new understanding of friendship, spiritual truths, and a deeper life with God. The first book, Sensible Shoes, introduces readers to Hannah, Meg, Mara, and Charissa as they reluctantly arrive at a retreat center and embark together on a journey of spiritual formation.
“My fiction focuses on spiritual formation as the central storyline, not just as a background theme,” says Brown. “While many novels focus primarily on external events, my stories are driven by how characters wrestle with, resist, and ultimately respond to God’s presence in the midst of change, suffering, and loss. I intentionally weave spiritual practices into the narrative so readers don’t just observe transformation—they’re invited to experience it alongside the characters. Each book is also paired with a study guide, providing in-depth opportunities for readers to engage with their own spiritual journeys—personally and in community—in practical, reflective ways.”
Sharon Garlough Brown
Sharon Garlough Brown is a spiritual director, speaker, and cofounder of Abiding Way Ministries, providing spiritual formation retreats and resources. She is the author of the bestselling Sensible Shoes Series of novels, which includes Sensible Shoes, Two Steps Forward, Barefoot, An Extra Mile, and their study guides.
With roots in publishing spiritual formation giants such as Dallas Willard, Eugene Peterson, Richard Foster, and J. I. Packer, spiritual formation has always been a priority in IVP books, even fiction.
Cindy Bunch, senior editor-at-large at IVP, says, “Reading can be a meaningful spiritual practice, but reading books for spiritual growth is not about the number of pages covered. It’s about what we take in. It’s about connecting with God through the writer and finding a deep moment of insight, affirmation, or renewal.”
This Shore of Light is an upcoming novel by K. C. Ireton set in a small Pacific Northwest town. The story centers around five people searching for a way forward in the wake of broken trust and lost hope. Readers interested in liturgy and love stories with emotional and spiritual depth will find the book authentic and inspiring, guided by Ireton’s background as an Anglican lay preacher and catechist.
K. C. Ireton
K. C. Ireton is an Anglican lay preacher, catechist, and author of The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year and A Yellow Wood and Other Stories. She and her husband have four children and live on Puget Sound.
Keelia Clarkson, author of Chapter One Again, says, “God can choose any avenue through which to reveal himself, his truth, his beauty. Over and over again, we see him choose stories. Fiction is the creation of God’s creation. Stories help us feel seen and known, offer inspiration and excitement for the story we’re telling with our own lives, grant respite and comfort in a chaotic world, and point to deeper truths that will ultimately draw us closer to God.”
Chapter One Again is the debut novel from actress Keelia Clarkson. The book is a cozy, clean second-chance romance set in Colorado, and is perfect for anyone searching for love, purpose, and a place to call home.
Keelia Clarkson
Keelia Clarkson is a film and television actress who has appeared in numerous indie and studio films and network shows. She is the editor-in-chief and founder of the popular online magazine, Wallflower Journal, a place for the woman witha deep inner world. Chapter One Again is her debut novel. Originally from Los Angeles, Keelia now lives between New York City and Colorado Springs.
The next time you find yourself reluctant to go deeper with God, consider picking up a IVP fiction book. IVP’s fiction books use page-turning narratives to illuminate Christian truths, educate and form you spiritually, and immerse you in their vivid stories.
See the full list of IVP fiction titles here.
