I love brain science, and The Other Half of Church does not disappoint. Wilder and Hendricks argue that Christian formation can become overly focused on information, individual effort, and willpower while neglecting the relational processes that shape character.
I was especially struck by their emphasis on joy, attachment, identity, and the idea that we are shaped by the people we are connected to, not just by the truths we know. Drawing on neuroscience and ministry experience, they explore how healthy relationships can reinforce or interrupt patterns in the brain and why secure, grace-filled community matters for lasting transformation.
The book helped me think more deeply about why discipleship is relational. Spiritual growth is not simply about learning more or trying harder. God often forms us through the people around us, and this book offers a fascinating framework for understanding why that matters.