Thank you for your consideration of coverage.
It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard releases October 28, 2025 into bookstores everywhere, and is available in paperback, audiobook, e-book, and Spanish.
What’s Here for You…
This section of the Nappaland.com website has been created specifically for you. We hope you find it helpful. Here you’ll find many tools you can use to facilitate your coverage, including:
- Full media kit, viewable as a flip book or as a downloadable pdf (with active links).
- High-resolution images.
- Author bio and credentials.
- Three excerpt articles that you can reprint, free of charge, for your audience, in web or print outlets.
- One brand new interview article with author, Mike Nappa, that you can also reprint, free of charge, for your audience.
- A digital ARC of It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard, viewable as a flip book right in your browser.
- Why This Book.
- Why Your Audience Will Care about This Book.
- Retailers where this book is available.
- Interview conversation-starters.
- Content summary.
- And more!
To view the consumer landing page for It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard, please click here.
Thanks!
Why Your Audience Will Care about This Book
When you share It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard with your audience, you’ll do at least 10 wonderful things for them. You will:
- Deliver to viewers, readers, and listeners new insight on practical Christian living from a bestselling and award-winning Christian author with more than two million copies of his books sold worldwide.
- Attract interest with the fascinating results from an extensive study of 246 New Testament Scriptures that directly reference the Holy Spirit.
- Serve local churches with a non-denominational Christian Living book that’s appropriate for: individual use, small group study, classroom discussion, coffee-shop conversation, mentor relationships, and friend-to-friend Bible exploration
- Be able to recommend with confidence a biblically-reliable, personally-relatable resource that will actually make daily life better for Christian readers.
- Appeal to audience members from varied backgrounds with top-shelf book endorsements, including an endorsement from Dr. Michael Anthony of Dallas Theological Seminary and bestselling women’s author, Laura L. Smith.
- Draw in viewers, readers, and listeners with sharable insights about the Christian life that are drawn from a generational study on the Holy Spirit.
- Help to equip others for a satisfying, authentic Christian life.
- Guide followers away from the Pharisaical mistake of legalism.
- Inspire viewers, readers, and listeners to find new confidence and joy in their daily Christian experience.
- Bring people closer to Jesus.
Amen!
Media Kit
To view the flip book, use the controls below the first image to “Toggle Fullscreen.”
To download a pdf file of this media kit, click on the image below. To request an interview with Mike Nappa, click here.
Downloadable PDF File  |
Why This Book?
According to the American Worldview Inventory 2025 research study, conducted in January 2025 by Dr. George Barna and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University:
- A supermajority of American Christians (70%) report that they do not “believe in the living presence and power of the Holy Spirit.”
- Additionally, roughly two-thirds of Americans (67%) do not believe that “God is involved in every moment of their life,” or that “the God of the Bible provides them with power or guidance.”
Mike Nappa’s book, It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard speaks directly into this situation, offering hope, biblical understanding, and practical guidance for the normal Christian life.
Dr. Michael Anthony, of Dallas Theological Seminary, says, “I absolutely love this book! With the accuracy of a Swiss watch, Mike Nappa teaches us from the Scripture what it means to have God’s Spirit work in us.” Bestselling inspirational author, Laura L. Smith, adds, “Mike Nappa’s writing is inviting, clever, and makes you want to keep reading—and learning!”
Drawing from an extensive study of 246 direct references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard reveals in-depth what God’s Spirit does—and what’s left for us to do. In here, readers will discover how the Holy Spirit constantly works in, with, and through us to accomplish His purpose.
Will you help share that good news with your audience?
To request an interview with Mike Nappa, click here.
Available Wherever Books Are Sold
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About the Author
 | Mike Nappa (M.A.B.T., M.A.E., B.A.C.E.) is an award-winning theologian known for writing “coffee-shop theology” as well as helpful Christian living and devotion books. A bestselling author, his works have been translated into many languages, with millions of copies sold worldwide. Mike is proud to be a person of color (Arab-American) active in the Christian publishing industry. To request an interview with Mike, click here. |
Author Credentials | |
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High-Resolution Images
To download:
- Click on a thumbnail below to open the high-resolution image in a new browser tab.
- On the high-resolution image, right-click and select “save image as…”
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Wondering How to Get Mike Nappa Autographs to Give Away to your Audience?
Mikey is happy to send you free autograph bookplates (stickers) you can share with your audience. Use the link below to make your request. Just let us know how many autographs you’d like to receive, and an appropriate address, and we’ll mail some out to you. Thanks!
Click here for autograph details.
Free Reprintable Articles for Your Media Outlet
Below are three article-sized excerpts from It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard, as well as one brand new interview article with Mike Nappa. We are happy to give you permission to reprint any or all of these articles in your media outlet, free of charge. If you have questions, just let us know. Click Here to quickly reach the PR team for It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard.
To download an article, click on the title link or the left image that you prefer. | |||
Content Link | Article Title | Word Count | Summary |
 | about 400 words | The article "Always Welcome" by Mike Nappa highlights the impact of the Holy Spirit's intentional hospitality. Through stories and reflection, it urges readers to embrace the daily spaces that God fills with kindness, love, and genuine acceptance. | |
 | about 700 words | In "A Redneck Pastor," Mike Nappa shares a heartfelt story of unconventional ministry and humility. Through candid reflection, he shows how authentic faith and simple compassion can resonate powerfully across cultural and social divides. | |
 | about 800 words | In "An Interview with Mike Nappa," the author shares insights on writing, faith, and creativity. Through honest reflection, Nappa offers encouragement, practical advice, and a heartfelt glimpse into the life of a purposeful storyteller. | |
 | about 1200 words | In "How to Act Rightly," Mike Nappa reflects on moral integrity and practical wisdom. He encourages readers to pursue righteousness with humility, emphasizing that true character is shaped by everyday choices and faith-driven action. | |
Interview Conversation-Starters
To request an interview with Mike Nappa, click here.
Here are a few interesting prompts you can use during an interview with Mike Nappa. Feel free to use any that seem appropriate for your media outlet.
- First, tell us the “Mike Nappa Story.” How did a grandson of immigrants in Oklahoma grow up to be an award-winning theologian and a bestselling Christian author?
- What first prompted you to write, It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard?
- You say early on in your book that, “The Christian life is not as hard as you’re making it.” What do you mean by that?
- This book is a deep-dive into the 246 direct references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. What was your process for conducting such a large Scripture study?
- What surprised you the most as you were writing It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard?
- What do you mean when you say that the Holy Spirit works “in,” “with,” and “through” us?
- Can you explain your perspective on Romans 8:15, which says, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”
- One fascinating chapter in your book is titled, “The Holy Spirit Flaunts Christ Through You.” Would you tell us a little bit about that?
- What’s the best advice about the Christian life that you’d give to people listening to you right now?
- Rumor has it you’ve got a secret “Friends of Mikey” bonus for people in our audience who might be interested in buying It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard. Care to spill that secret with us?
Content Summary: It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A SPIRIT PLACE
The way my grandmother used to tell it,
her wedding ceremony lasted seven days,
included a fair amount of alcohol—
and featured a very large boulder stuck in the middle of the road.
So begins Mike Nappa’s deeply personal, intensely practical exploration of the Holy Spirit’s role in the Christian life. It seems that on the day of his grandfather’s wedding, the bride’s brothers issued an impossible challenge to the groom: Move this giant stone, or turn around and go home! And his grandfather, bless his heart, couldn’t budge it one inch…
Many of us, Nappa observes, view an authentic Christian life as a similarly impossible obstacle—a symbolic “immovable stone” that weighs us down with endless expectations and exhausting obligations. So we wake up each day determined to resist every temptation, to live better than others, to make ourselves into heroes of our faith … And go to bed each night feeling like failures, wondering why it must always be so hard.
But your life doesn’t have to be that way.
Drawing from an extensive study of 246 direct references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard reveals in-depth what God’s Spirit actually does—and what’s left for you to do. (Hint: It’s not what you think!)
In here you’ll discover:
- How the Holy Spirit works In, With, and Through you to accomplish his purpose.
- Eleven specific ways God actively energizes your spiritual experience.
- Five mistakes that make your Christian life much harder than it has to be.
- What it looks like when the Holy Spirit lives your faith.
- Why you never have to walk in the weakness of your own power.
- How the Holy Spirit flaunts Christ through you.
- And much, much more.
If you want to live your Christian faith with joy, power, and passion, then right here is where your new life begins. Are you ready for that?
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It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard is a non-denominational resource that’s appropriate for: individual use, small group study, classroom discussion, coffee-shop conversation, mentor relationships, and friend-to-friend Bible exploration.
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Full Table of Contents for It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard
Introduction: A Rock and a Hard Place
PART 1: WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES IN YOU
Exploring the invisible things the Holy Spirit does in you, all by himself.
One: The Holy Spirit Creates Life in You
Life was invented by God’s Holy Spirit, and he persistently creates it in you in multifaceted ways. That includes: Your physical life; your spiritual regeneration; and his indwelling presence within you.
Two: The Holy Spirit Makes You His Family
You are not a guest in the kingdom of God; the Holy Spirit makes you one who belongs. By him you are: Adopted into God’s family; recipient of the gift of God’s Person; grafted into Abraham’s legacy; and sealed, reserved, and guaranteed for glory.
Three: The Holy Spirit Prizes You
You matter—because you matter to the Holy Spirit. He prizes you so much so that he: brings you freedom; sets you apart for spiritual purpose; anoints and rests on you; and continually sanctifies you in preparation for eternity.
Four: The Holy Spirit Fills and Baptizes You
God is not passive about you, nor is he some disinterested, disengaged deity. The Holy Spirit fills you with awareness of his active presence; and immerses you in his power and love.
PART 2: WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES WITH YOU
Exploring the invisible things the Holy Spirit does in you, but with your cooperation.
Five: The Holy Spirit Lives Your Daily Faith
Christianity is not a solo sport—you are not alone in faith. The Holy Spirit actively cooperates to help you: Think rightly; act rightly and serve rightly—all by the Spirit.
Six: The Holy Spirit Energizes Your Passion in Worship, Song, and Prayer
When your heart longs for God, the Holy Spirit ensures you find him. He energizes your pursuit of Christ through: Activating and facilitating your worship experience; making music that resonates in your soul; and offering unobstructed prayers on your behalf.
Seven: The Holy Spirit Empowers Your Ability to Live for Christ
What the mind thinks, the body does—and so we need help from God to choose rightly day by day, minute by minute. The Holy Spirit is up to that task, empowering you to live for Christ by: Helping you discern truth; bolstering your faith, hope, and love; and providing your strength for daily living.
Eight: The Holy Spirit Walks Beside You
God leads from alongside—he does not simply point and hope you get to his destination. The Holy Spirit guides your steps in this way: Teaching you all necessary things; reminding you of Christ; instructing you in faithfulness; and leading you into his purpose.
PART 3: WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THROUGH YOU
Exploring the visible things that demonstrate outwardly the Holy Spirit’s invisible work in your life.
Nine: The Holy Spirit Communicates Christ Through You
God makes you a partner to speak his truth. The Holy Spirit helps you do that by: Bringing Scripture to life in your world; testifying of Jesus and his work in your life; explaining spiritual mysteries; and speaking blessing to those in your reach.
Ten: The Holy Spirit Flaunts Christ Through You
Your life demonstrates Jesus to those around you—but not by your power alone. The Holy Spirit does the heavy lifting for you, expressing Christ to your world through: Growing his fruit in your life; expressing his gifts in your personality; and displaying his power and signs in your experience.
Eleven: The Holy Spirit Incarnates His Church Through You
The Holy Spirit unifies you with God’s children. He plants you with people and gives you grace to: Build each other up in his church; thrive as one body of believers; and mobilize his ministry to your world.
Afterword: How to Make Your Christian Life Harder Than It Really Is
If you don’t like that the Holy Spirit is doing so much in your Christian life, here’s how to make it much, much harder for yourself: Quench the Holy Spirit; grieve the Holy Spirit; lie to and/or test the Holy Spirit; resist the Holy Spirit; or blaspheme the Holy Spirit. (Any of those things should do the trick.)
Appendix 1: 246 Direct References to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament
Appendix 2: Common Greek Terms for the Holy Spirit in the New Testament
Acknowledgments
About the Author
End Notes
Digital ARC (pdf): It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard
Here’s where you can see a digital, advance reader’s copy of Mike Nappa’s book, It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard. To view the flip book, use the controls below the first image to “Toggle Fullscreen.” Enjoy!
If you’d like a downloadable version of this digital ARC, or want to request a hard copy for review, please let us know. Click here to get in touch.
Need Anything Else?
We hope you’ve found the materials on this page helpful, but if you need anything else please feel free to reach out.
To quickly reach the PR team for It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard, Click Here.
