First-time visitors often leave church with warm feelings but few lasting tools. A thoughtful book can travel home with them, answer questions they didn’t ask out loud, and keep the conversation going long after Sunday ends. At In the Gospel Publishing, three resources are especially well suited for this purpose: Done, Real Christianity, and the new one-year devotional God’s Story, Our Hope. Each one meets people where they are and points them clearly to Jesus. With bulk pricing available, churches can keep them on hand affordably.
Done: A Clear, Compact Gospel for the Curious
Done (by Cary Schmidt) was written to be placed in the hands of someone who is not yet a believer. It walks readers step by step through biblical reasoning that leads to the cross and a moment of decision. The central contrast is simple and memorable: most religions say “Do,” while the gospel says “Done.” Christ has already finished the work of salvation; the gift is received by faith, not earned by performance.
Its size (roughly 120 pages) and regular price of $4.95 make it practical for churches to keep on hand in quantity. At the best bulk rate (case of 100 or more), the price drops to about $2.97 per book. Many congregations give it to every first-time guest or keep a stack in the lobby for people to take freely. Available in KJV, ESV, and Spanish editions, it removes unnecessary barriers and lets the gospel speak clearly. Churches that have used it report stories of people reading it at home, discussing it with family, and later trusting Christ. For the visitor who is still deciding what they believe, Done offers an accessible, unhurried introduction to the finished work of Jesus.
Real Christianity: For Those Who Have Heard About Rules but Not Grace
Some visitors arrive with prior exposure to church or religion and leave feeling confused or weighed down. Real Christianity (also by Cary Schmidt, Second Edition) speaks directly to that experience. Subtitled “Embrace the Grace, Endure the Struggle, Enjoy the Relationship,” it addresses people who are exhausted by performance-based religion—those who have only known condemnation, guilt, or the sense that they must constantly measure up.
The book unpacks what authentic Christianity actually is: a relationship with Jesus rather than a system of religious effort. It helps readers understand how to rest in God’s unconditional grace, walk through the real (and victorious) struggle of growth, and enjoy the abundant life Jesus offers. Regularly priced at $9.95, it is available for about $5.97 per book when ordered by the case (36 or more). For a first-time guest who has been turned off by legalism or who wonders whether Christianity is just more rules, this resource can be a welcome relief and an invitation into genuine relationship. It also serves new believers who need a clear picture of what following Jesus looks like beyond the initial decision.
God’s Story, Our Hope: A Year-Long Invitation into the Big Picture
God’s Story, Our Hope is a one-year devotional journey through Scripture’s grand redemptive narrative—from Genesis to Revelation. Written by fifty-one pastors and Christian leaders, it offers 312 daily readings that trace God’s historical, redemptive story across six movements. Each day pairs a Scripture passage with a short, practical devotion, and the volume includes a one-year Bible reading plan covering the Old and New Testaments plus the Psalms.
This resource works especially well as a follow-up gift or for visitors who are open to exploring further. Rather than isolated verses or topical encouragement alone, it helps people see the Bible as one coherent story and discover their own place within it. A first-time guest who receives it can begin reading the next day and continue for a full year, supported by a companion daily podcast and YouTube playlist from Growing in the Gospel. Regularly priced at $19.95, the lowest bulk price is $12 per book when ordering two cases (48 or more). It gives churches a meaningful way to say, “We want you to know the whole story of God’s rescue and hope, and here’s a simple path to walk through it.”
Putting These Resources to Work in Your Church
These three books complement one another well. Done meets the person who needs the gospel explained simply and clearly. Real Christianity helps the person who has been confused or burdened by religious performance. God’s Story, Our Hope invites ongoing discovery of the biblical narrative for anyone ready to keep reading.
Practical ways churches use them:
- Keep Done available for every first-time visitor or for members to give away freely (as low as about $2.97 each in bulk).
- Offer Real Christianity to guests who mention past church experiences or ask deeper questions about the Christian life (as low as about $5.97 each by the case).
- Give God’s Story, Our Hope as a “next step” resource at the end of a welcome series, membership class, or personal follow-up conversation (as low as $12 each in larger quantities).
- Pair any of them with a short note from the pastor or a follow-up email that points people to a website or class where they can learn more.
Bulk pricing makes it realistic for churches of various sizes to keep them stocked. The goal is not to pressure anyone into reading; it is simply to place clear, grace-centered resources within easy reach.
First-time visitors leave with many impressions. A well-chosen book can quietly continue the work the Spirit has already begun—explaining the gospel, clarifying what real Christianity is, and inviting people into the great story of God’s redeeming hope. These three titles from In the Gospel Publishing are designed for exactly that purpose. You can find them, along with bulk options and free digital resources, at shop.inthegospel.com.