Books by Joshua Engelsma

 Click for a sample

We’re bombarded with antichristian messages everywhere in life, and from casual hookups to casual sex, our culture’s messages on dating are no different.

But Christians don’t have to follow these norms. The Bible gives us a better way.

It’s a way of chastity and wisdom. A way that understands that marriage—the end goal of dating—is for life. The person you marry will shape who you become spiritually. And that person will also be the father or mother to the children God is pleased to give you some day.

Pastorally and accessibly, Joshua Engelsma answers the practical questions of Reformed, Christian dating based on the truth that we must date differently—with marriage as the goal and scripture as the guide.

Read reviews by Carlos Antonio Gosmo (Sojourners), Kristin Stiles (booksataglance.com), James Admiraal (The Outlook), Gary Eriks (PRCA), Cory Griess (PRCA), Michelle Hofman (Young Calvinists), Jim Regnerus, Charles Terpstra (The Three R's Blog), Jon Van Dyk (Christian Renewal), Mrs. Ricky Pronk (The Messenger), and Sarah Vandergugten (Clarion)!

What others are saying about this book:

"A concise, accessible and biblically trustworthy source on this subject." –@reformedandreading

• "Wonderful! Very thorough and yet short and to the point...so, not intimidating for young people to read! It's a gem...look forward to reading more of [the author's] books in the future." – a reader (parent)
• "We didn't have to remind [our children]...to read it. They wanted to! And finished it in shocking time!  Made for an enjoyable Sunday evening of discussion with our boys. And the questions made for a great starting point with that." – a reader (parent)
• "This is a book full of practical advice on dating.  Especially helpful are the suggestions to pray at the end of dates which would help maintain physical boundaries, and to not over share throughout the day so there is plenty to talk about on dates.  Also the chapter focusing on single life is well written and encouraging."  – a reader (parent)
• "When I first opened the book I was amazed by how easy it was to read while understanding the concepts.  The book also gave thoughtful insight on the topic of dating." – a reader (young person)
• "It was a very well written book and displayed very well the concepts of dating."  – a reader (young person)

Joshua Engelsma is a minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches of America. He lives in Doon, Iowa, with his wife, Courtney, and six children. He has served as pastor of Doon Protestant Reformed Church since 2014.

• 160 pages
• ISBN 978-1-944555-60-3
  

paperback version available

audiobook version available

  Click for a sample

We’re bombarded with antichristian messages everywhere in life, and from casual hookups to casual sex, our culture’s messages on dating are no different.

But Christians don’t have to follow these norms. The Bible gives us a better way.

It’s a way of chastity and wisdom. A way that understands that marriage—the end goal of dating—is for life. The person you marry will shape who you become spiritually. And that person will also be the father or mother to the children God is pleased to give you some day.

Pastorally and accessibly, Joshua Engelsma answers the practical questions of Reformed, Christian dating based on the truth that we must date differently—with marriage as the goal and scripture as the guide.

Read reviews by @reformedandreading, Carlos Antonio Gosmo (Sojourners), Kristin Stiles (booksataglance.com), James Admiraal (The Outlook), Gary Eriks (PRCA), Cory Griess (PRCA), Michelle Hofman (Young Calvinists), Jim Regnerus, Charles Terpstra (The Three R's Blog), Jon Van Dyk (Christian Renewal), Mrs. Ricky Pronk (The Messenger), and Sarah Vandergugten (Clarion)!

What others are saying about this book:

"A concise, accessible and biblically trustworthy source on this subject." –@reformedandreading

• "Wonderful! Very thorough and yet short and to the point...so, not intimidating for young people to read! It's a gem...look forward to reading more of [the author's] books in the future." – a reader (parent)
• "We didn't have to remind [our children]...to read it. They wanted to! And finished it in shocking time!  Made for an enjoyable Sunday evening of discussion with our boys. And the questions made for a great starting point with that." – a reader (parent)
• "This is a book full of practical advice on dating.  Especially helpful are the suggestions to pray at the end of dates which would help maintain physical boundaries, and to not over share throughout the day so there is plenty to talk about on dates.  Also the chapter focusing on single life is well written and encouraging."  – a reader (parent)
• "When I first opened the book I was amazed by how easy it was to read while understanding the concepts.  The book also gave thoughtful insight on the topic of dating." – a reader (young person)
• "It was a very well written book and displayed very well the concepts of dating."  – a reader (young person)

Joshua Engelsma is a minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches of America. He lives in Doon, Iowa, with his wife, Courtney, and six children. He has served as pastor of Doon Protestant Reformed Church since 2014.

• 160 pages
• softcover
• ISBN 978-1-944555-59-7
• Release date: October 15, 2019

eBook version available

audiobook version available

 Click for preview

Simon van Velzen was a powerful preacher of the gospel. He was a reformer of the church of Christ in the Netherlands in the Secession of 1834. He was a seminary professor who influenced hundreds of future Reformed ministers. He was a faithful husband and devoted father.

In his own day, he was held in high regard by such notable figures as Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck, and was respected as a spiritual father and John Calvin-like figure by Reformed believers both in the Netherlands and America. Sadly, many Reformed Christians in the twenty-first century have little, if any, idea who he is. Where he is remembered, he is often branded as being “unyielding, obstinate, and domineering,” and he is dismissed as being of little significance in the history of the church. This biography corrects such ignorance and misconceptions by setting forth the fascinating life of an influential figure in the history of Christ’s church.

What others are saying about this book:

"This readable story of the Afscheiding leader who most impacted orthodox Dutch Calvinists in North America should be in every church library." - Robert P. Swierenga

Read reviews by Robert P. Swierenga (Protestant Reformed Theological Journal), Stephan Regnerus (PRCA), and Jerome Julien (The Outlook). 

Joshua Engelsma is a minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches of America. He is also the author of Dating Differently: A Guide to Reformed Dating.

• 240 pages
• ISBN 978-1-959515-16-6
  

Hardcover version available

 Click for preview

Simon van Velzen was a powerful preacher of the gospel. He was a reformer of the church of Christ in the Netherlands in the Secession of 1834. He was a seminary professor who influenced hundreds of future Reformed ministers. He was a faithful husband and devoted father.

In his own day, he was held in high regard by such notable figures as Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck, and was respected as a spiritual father and John Calvin-like figure by Reformed believers both in the Netherlands and America. Sadly, many Reformed Christians in the twenty-first century have little, if any, idea who he is. Where he is remembered, he is often branded as being “unyielding, obstinate, and domineering,” and he is dismissed as being of little significance in the history of the church. This biography corrects such ignorance and misconceptions by setting forth the fascinating life of an influential figure in the history of Christ’s church.

What others are saying about this book:

"This readable story of the Afscheiding leader who most impacted orthodox Dutch Calvinists in North America should be in every church library." - Robert P. Swierenga

Read reviews by Robert P. Swierenga (Protestant Reformed Theological Journal), Stephan Regnerus (PRCA), and Jerome Julien (The Outlook). 

Joshua Engelsma is a minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches of America. He is also the author of Dating Differently: A Guide to Reformed Dating.

• 240 pages
• hardcover
  
• ISBN 978-1-944555-73-3
• Release date: February 24, 2021

eBook version available