December 8, 2023, WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that four books—Impossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung; A Praying Church by Paul E. Miller; Remaking the World by Andrew Wilson; and Reforming Criminal Justice by Matthew T. Martens—have been named winners in their respective categories for the Gospel Coalition’s 2023 Book Awards.
Impossible Christianity: Why Following Jesus Does Not Mean You Have to Change the World, Be an Expert in Everything, Accept Spiritual Failure, and Feel Miserable Pretty Much All the Time (Crossway, August 2023) by Kevin DeYoung was awarded in the Popular Theology category. This book speaks to anxious Christians who feel inadequate or overwhelmed in their faith and assures them that they can experience lasting joy in a life of sincere and simple obedience. TGC comments, “In an age of extrabiblical burdens and stifling demands, Impossible Christianity is a breath of fresh air.”
A Praying Church: Becoming a People of Hope in a Discouraging World (Crossway, January 2023) by Paul E. Miller was awarded in the Ministry category. Addressing church leaders in a post-Christian culture filled with discouragement, cynicism, and unbelief, Miller’s book casts a vision and provides direction for a return to the simple yet life-changing practice of praying together. “Miller’s magnificent book stands as a compelling wake-up call,” writes TGC.
Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West (Crossway, September 2023) by Andrew Wilson was awarded in the History and Biography category. In this skillfully researched book, Wilson explains how seven historic events in 1776 shaped today’s post-Christian West and equips believers to share God’s truth in the current social landscape. “Remaking the World is an imaginative work of cultural apologetics that every church leader should grapple with,” writes TGC.
Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal (Crossway, November 2023) by Matthew T. Martens was awarded in the First-Time Author category. Written from personal experience as a noted attorney and seminary graduate, Martens examines the American criminal justice system and proposes a vision for it that is based on Christ’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves. TGC comments, “To some extent, all Americans participate in our justice system—from voting to serving on juries. As Christians, we can do this with wisdom, peace, and hope. We can love our neighbors well as we point to the perfect justice of the God who justified us. Martens shows us how.”
Andreas Köstenberger and Gregory Goswell’s Biblical Theology: A Canonical, Thematic, and Ethical Approach (Crossway, March 2023) received an honorable mention in the Academic Theology category. The book provides an essential foundation for interpreting all 66 books of the Bible, identifying the central themes of each text and discussing its place in the overall storyline of Scripture.
Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing, comments, “We are quite delighted to see these four authors win book of the year for their respective categories, along with two authors sharing an award of distinction. So our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Kevin DeYoung, Paul E. Miller, Andrew Wilson, Matthew T. Martens, Andreas J. Köstenberger, and Gregory Goswell for writing such wonderful books, and thank you to the Gospel Coalition for their encouragement and support in promoting and commending good books for God’s people!”
The Gospel Coalition, founded in 2005, reviews nearly three hundred books per year on their website and in their academic journal, Themelios. Awards are given to titles that are gospel-centered, faithful to Scripture, spiritually discerning, and unifying and renewing for the church.
Founded in 1938, Crossway is a not-for-profit global Christian publishing ministry that publishes gospel-centered, Bible-based content to honor our Savior and serve his church. Crossway seeks to help people understand the all-encompassing implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s word—for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone. Crossway is the global publisher of the ESV® (English Standard Version®) Bible, more than 1,000 Christian books, and an extensive list of gospel literature. For additional information, visit crossway.org.
Contact: Lauren Susanto, lsusanto@crossway.org
