Preaching from the Cross: Paul’s theology of proclamation by Frank Matera (Baker, £17.99 (£16.19); 978-1-5409-6819-7).

“Much has been written about the life, ministry, and theology of the apostle Paul. But what about Paul specifically as a preacher? How did he understand his commission from the risen Lord Jesus to preach the gospel, and how did he put it into practice? Further, what lessons can contemporary preachers learn from Paul about the theology and practice of preaching to help them be more faithful messengers of God's Word? As a leading Pauline scholar and practicing pastor, Frank Matera has considered these questions, and he offers this short, accessible book to pastors and students as wise and helpful guidance.” 

Francis of Assisi: The life of a restless saint by Volker Leppin (Yale, £20 (£18); 978-0-300-26380-0).

“Leppin’s Francis of Assisi sets Francis’s inner emotional and spiritual world against a broader historical background to show how the message of this inspiring and often vexing medieval saint continues to resonate in our contemporary world.”

Constructive Theology and Gender Variance: Transformative creatures by Susannah Cornwall (Cambridge University Press, £26.99 (£24.29); 978-1-108-79191-5). New in paperback

“In this book, Susannah Cornwall reframes the issues of gender diversity and transition in constructive Christian theological terms. Resisting deficit-based discourses, she presents gender diversity in a way that is positive and non-oppositional.” 

Selected by Frank Nugent, of the Church House Bookshop, which operates the Church Times Bookshop.