Searching for Sunday

Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church

By: Rachel Held Evans

Narrated by: Rachel Held Evans

Are you struggling to connect with your church community? Do you find yourself questioning the core beliefs that you once held dear? Searching for Sunday, from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans is a heartfelt ode to the past and a hopeful gaze into the future of what it means to be a part of the modern church.

Like millions of her millennial peers, Rachel Held Evans didn't want to go to church anymore. The hypocrisy, the politics, the gargantuan building budgets, the scandals--to her, it was beginning to feel like church culture was too far removed from Jesus. Yet, despite her cynicism and misgivings, something kept drawing Evans back to church.

Evans found herself wanting to better understand the church and find her place within it, so she set out on a new adventure. Within the pages of Searching for Sunday, Evans catalogs her journey as she loves, leaves, and finds the church once again.

Evans tells the story of her faith through the lens of seven sacraments of the Catholic church--baptism, confession, holy orders, communion, confirmation, the anointing of the sick, and marriage--to teach us the essential truths about what she's learned along the way, including:

• Faith isn't just meant to be believed, it's meant to be lived and shared in community
• Christianity isn't a kingdom for the worthy--it's a kingdom for the hungry, the broken, and the imperfect
• The countless and beautiful ways that God shows up in the ordinary parts of our daily lives

Searching for Sunday will help you unpack the messiness of community, teaching us that by overcoming our cynicism, we can all find hope, grace, love, and, somewhere in between, church.

©2015 Rachel Held Evans (P)2015 Thomas Nelson Publishers

A Must Read!

If I could, I would thank Rachel Evans in person for writing this book. I would want to give her the BIGGEST bear hug and say, "Yes woman! Thank you for writing about the experiences that many a woman has had in the Protestant/Evangelical Church. Thank you for exposing and unpacking all these truths in one place!" I wish this book was around 20 years ago when so many young women were simultaneously being encouraged to seek and press for God while being encouraged to pull pack and remain pigeon holed to the church's ideals for, well, "The Churched". This book was a page turner, with gems in each chapter. Read it. Just Read it. (And Thanks Again, Rachel).

Encouragement for a weary soul

If you are weary, if you are broken-hearted and have been hurt by the church, read this book. It’s read by the tender, yet fierce voice of RHE herself. It is a refuge where I, as a male minister, found new meaning and strength. Read this book.

Beautifully Written, Profound and Real

I wish I had heard about Rachel Held Evans earlier, but then all is in God’s perfect timing. I cried, I laughed, got my heart broken in all the right places, and uttered countless grunts of agreement as I read this book. Needless to say, this is a must-read for all who want to know a bigger, more loving God. ♥️

Thank you, Rachel Held Evans, for your life.

Loved, Loved, Loved This

I can't say enough good about this book. My girlfriend recommended it to me and it was more than I thought it would be. She talks so well about her personal journey and struggle with her faith, and dives deep into the truth of her doubts.

This spoke so directly to many of the struggles I feel. I did not grow up the same way, but doubt is something we all deal with. This book gives you the space to explore your own. The stigma is wiped clean.

Give this book a try. If you're on the fence, if you're reading this review, give this book a try.

Excellent and insightful!

This book was so timely for me. I have grown up in the church and so often felt that we need a better perspective on what the church should be. I'm a huge fan of Rachel Held Evans and this book was well worth my time!

can't get enough!

I can't get enough of searching for Sunday! I listen or read this book everyday.

Review of searching for Sunday

Thoughtful and authentic perspective of her faith and doubts about growing up in an evangelistic church of the recent generations

this said what I've struggled to understand

RHE - hearing your voice speak such truths so eloquently brought me to tears numerous times. Thank you for sharing your wisdom

Rachel is always spot on

Is thoughtful thought provoking envelope and loving. Is the more time passes the more I miss her clear an honest voice

Rachel is the friend we all wish we had.

I was captivated equally by the story and her voice. I normally shy away from things that are theologically heavy (for lack of a better word), but Rachel did an amazing job of balancing her Biblical knowledge with her personal experiences.
When the acknowledgements were finished, I was hit with the painful and powerful reminder that this amazing soul is no longer with us. I felt like I’d lost a friend. Definitely a voice taken way too soon. Thinking of her sweet family today.