For Immediate Release — April 3, 2025

Announcing the Christian Book Award® Finalists for 2025

Several ties yield 70 titles named best of year in 12 Christian publishing categories

Category winners and Christian Book of the Year® to be announced April 29 at the ECPA Awards Celebration in Nashville

TEMPE, ARIZ., APRIL 3, 2025 — The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) has named 70 finalists for the 2025 Christian Book Award program. The finalists represent the year’s best in Christian publishing among 12 book and Bible categories.

The Christian Book Award finalists represent the work of 29 Christian publishers and imprints. Scores were close with ties announced in eight of the twelve categories in Audio, Children, Christian Living, Devotion & Gift, Faith & Culture, Ministry Resources, New Author, and Young People’s Literature.

The winner in each category along with the 2025 Christian Book of the Year®, will be announced at the ECPA Awards Celebration, held April 29 in Nashville during the ECPA Leadership Summit, to an audience of Christian publishing executives, managers, and industry guests. The evening will be hosted by Dr. Carolyn Weber (Surprised by Oxford), and include special honors for the contributions of authors Josh McDowell and Kay Arthur, the milestone anniversaries of NavPress and Paraclete Press, and more. The 2025 Christian Book of the Year® will be named and virtually announced by last year’s recipient and New York Times bestselling author Beth Moore (ALL MY KNOTTED-UP LIFE, Tyndale Momentum).

“It’s always a joy to recognize excellence in Christian publishing as we reveal the finalists for these prestigious awards,” said ECPA President Jeff Crosby. “I extend my sincere congratulations to all authors and publishers who have been recognized, and look forward to our celebration together in Nashville.”

The finalists of the 2025 Christian Book Award program are:

AUDIO – tie

How Great Is Our God, Chris Tomlin; narrated by Mark Smeby, produced by ONE Audiobooks, book published by K-Love Books, B0CWPRPL9S

I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t, written and narrated by Lysa TerKeurst, produced by Sydney Mathieu, Harper Audio, book published by Thomas Nelson, B0CZ4LP8B6

Mostly What God Does, written and narrated by Savannah Guthrie, produced by Sydney Mathieu, Harper Audio, book published by Thomas Nelson, B0CK9S123W

My Story Your Glory, written and narrated by Matthew West, produced by ONE Audiobooks, book published by K-Love Books, B0CX352ZCP

My Utmost for His Highest-Modern Classic Edition, Oswald Chambers; narrated by Mark Smeby, produced by ONE Audiobooks, book published by Our Daily Bread, B0D1M2ZVN4

Parenting Teens with Love and Logic, Foster Cline and Jim Fay; narrated by Chris Fabry, produced by ONE Audiobooks, book published by NavPress, B0D68R1LBD

BIBLES

CSB Men’s Daily Bible, Robert Wolgemuth and CSB Bibles by Holman, Editors; B&H Publishing Group, 9781430094111

CSB Oswald Chambers Bible, CSB Bibles by Holman, B&H Publishing Group, 9798384509240

NET Timeless Truths Bible, Thomas Nelson, 9780785290124

NLT Every Woman’s Bible, Naomi Cramer Overton, General Editor; Misty Arterburn, Assoc. Editor; Stephen Arterburn, Consultant Editor, Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496452993

NLT Go Bible for Kids, Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496455710

BIBLE REFERENCE WORKS

40 Questions About Pentecostalism, Jonathan Black, Kregel Academic, 9780825448249

Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, G. K. Beale, D.A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli, Baker Academic/ Baker Publishing Group, 9781540960047

Habakkuk: The Christian Standard Commentary, Susan Maxwell Booth, Holman Reference, B&H Publishing Group, 9781535941204

Mere Christian Hermeneutics, Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Zondervan Academic, 9780310234388

The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible: One-Volume Edition, Christopher A. Beetham and Nancy L. Erickson, General Editors, Zondervan Reflective, 9780310530800

BIBLE STUDY

Ephesians: A Study of Faith and Practice, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger, Lifeway Christian Resources, 9781087790312

The Epic of Eden: Deborah Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video, Sandra L. Richter, PhD, HarperChristian Resources, 9780310166498

Experiencing the Heart of Jesus for 52 Weeks, Revised and Updated, Max Lucado, HarperChristian Resources, 9780310161707

God’s Goodness for the Chosen: An Interactive Bible Study Season 4, Amanda Jenkins, Dallas Jenkins, Dr. Douglas S. Huffman, David C Cook, 9780830784585

Luke in the Land: Walking with Jesus in His First-Century World, Kristi McLelland, Lifeway Christian Resources, 9781087788944

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

27 Summers, Ronald Olivier with Craig Borlase, Thomas Nelson, 9781400239122

Ghosted: An American Story, Nancy French, Zondervan, 9780310367444

The Shape of My Eyes, Dave Gibbons, Worthy Books/ Hachette Nashville, 9781546003236

Well Lived, Sally Clarkson, Harvest House Publishers, 9780736985475

You Are Safe Now, Tricia Lott Williford and Jana Richardson, NavPress, 9781641582803

CHILDREN – tie

All Creation Waits: Children’s Edition, Gayle Boss; illustrated by Sharon Spitz, Paraclete Press, 9781640608283

Build, written and illustrated by Emily Lex, Harvest Kids, 9780736987424

God’s Big Picture Bible Storybook, N.T. Wright; illustrated by Helena Perez Garcia, Tommy Nelson, 9781400246878

Indescribable Atlas Adventures, Louie Giglio; illustrated by Nicola Anderson and Lynsey Wilson, Tommy Nelson & Passion Publishing, 9781400246137

Up Toward the Light, Granger Smith; illustrated by Laura Watkins, Tommy Nelson, 9781400241668

When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful, Kate Rietema; illustrated by Jennie Poh, B&H Publishing Group, 9781087787664

CHRISTIAN LIVING – ties

The Mary We Forgot, Jennifer Powell McNutt, Brazos Press/ Baker Publishing Group, 9781587436178

Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer, WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, 9780593193822

Praying Personalities, Janet McHenry, Kregel Publications, 9780825448188

The Scandal of the Kingdom, Dallas Willard, Zondervan, 9780310367949

Untangle Your Emotions, Jennie Allen, WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, 9780593193419

Waiting Isn’t a Waste, Mark Vroegop, Crossway, 9781433590979

What Happens Next, Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, 9781400260003

The Wood Between the Worlds, Brian Zahnd, InterVarsity Press, 9781514005620

DEVOTION & GIFT – tie

Feel, Anjuli Paschall, Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764238536

House Rules, Myquillyn Smith, Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800744748

Letters to Grief, Kate Motaung, Christian Art Gifts, 9781639524648

Live It Out, Dan Scott, Orange Publishing, 9781635702347

Women Who Followed Jesus, Dandi Daley Mackall, Paraclete Press, 9781640608511

Word before World, Gretchen Saffles, Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496446350

FAITH & CULTURE – tie

Brown Faces, White Spaces, Latasha Morrison, WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, 9780593444825

Exiles, Preston Sprinkle, David C Cook, 9780830785780

How to Tell the Truth, Preston Perry, Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496466891

Jesus and the Powers, N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, Zondervan Reflective and SPCK Publishing, 9780310162247

Kingdom of Rage, Elizabeth Neumann, Worthy Books/ Hachette Nashville, 9781546002055

The Spirit of Justice, Jemar Tisby, Zondervan Reflective, 9780310144854

MINISTRY RESOURCES – tie

Fighting Shadows, Jon Tyson and Jefferson Bethke, Thomas Nelson, 9781400243303

Forming Faith, Matt Markins, Mike Handler and Sam Luce, Moody Publishers, 9780802433381

How Not to Waste a Crisis, Tod Bolsinger, InterVarsity Press, 9781514008669

Proclaiming the Word, David J. Jackman, Crossway, 9781433592102

Scripture Hymnal, Randall Goodgame, Rabbit Room Press, 9781951872250

You’re Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry, Crossway, 9781433590573

NEW AUTHOR – tie

Advent for Exiles, Caroline Cobb, B&H Publishing Group, 9781430095842

The Brain Change Program, Dr. Alan Weissenbacher, BroadStreet Publishing Group, 9781424566624

Church Girl, Sarita T. Lyons, WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, 9780593601167

Even If He Doesn’t, Kristen LaValley, Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496478528

How to Tell the Truth, Preston Perry, Tyndale House Publishers, 9781496466891

Priests of History, Sarah Irving-Stonebraker, Zondervan Reflective, 9780310160908

YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE – tie

The Action Bible: Faith in Action Edition, Sergio Cariello, David C Cook, 9780830787005

Get Your Hopes Up, Carlos Whittaker, Tommy Nelson, 9781400247141

The Hiding Place Graphic Novel, Corrie ten Boom and Elizabeth & John Sherrill, Chosen Books/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800762544

Once a Queen, Sarah Arthur, WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, 9780593194454

Only Light Can Do That, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Lisa A. Crayton & Sharifa Stevens, Tommy Nelson, 9781400244195

The Quest for the Guardians, Kathryn Butler, Crossway, 9781433587825

The 2025 finalists and winners will be promoted through multiple retail and media outlets, including media sponsor Christianity Today and retail partners Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook.com, Logos, Mardel, The Munce Group/MTL, NetGalley, and Parable Christian Stores.

View the 2025 finalists at https://christianbookawards.com/finalists.html
To learn more about the program, visit ChristianBookAwards.com
ECPA Awards Celebration on April 29: ECPAleadership.org/awards-evening.html

The Christian Book Award® program has recognized the highest quality in Christian books since 1978 (originally called the Gold Medallion Award). Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design and impact, the Christian Book Awards are the oldest and among the most prestigious awards in religious publishing. ChristianBookAwards.com

ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. ECPA.org

Media contacts:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA President, jcrosby@ecpa.org, 630-989-0222
Cindy Carter, ECPA Awards & Recognition Manager, ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998

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