Dr. Matthew Bingham’s “A Heart Aflame for God” Receives Award of Distinction

November 24, 2025; WHEATON, Ill.— Crossway is pleased to announce that Matt Smethurst’s Tim Keller on the Christian Life: The Transforming Power of the Gospel (April 2025) has won The Gospel Coalition’s 2025 Book Award in the History and Biography category. Announcing the award, TGC commends, “At the heart of Tim Keller on the Christian Life lies a simple but profound conviction: The gospel changes everything. Matt Smethurst captures the essence of Keller’s ministry by tracing the key themes that shaped his preaching and writing.”

Matthew Bingham’s A Heart Aflame: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation (April 2025) also received an Award of Distinction in the Popular Theology category. “Matthew Bingham enters the [spiritual formation] conversation, urging us to remember and draw from our Reformation heritage, which brims with resources for growth,” writes TGC.

“We are very grateful to see these two books recognized in this way. Both books exemplify why Crossway exists: to help Christians live the Christian life to the glory of God,” says Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing and book publisher. “Matt Smethurst does it through the lens of the teaching of one extraordinary pastor-theologian, Tim Keller, mining all of his writings, and even transcribing all of the sermons from his first pastorate, to provide in one volume what Tim never did on his own: a synthesis of all of his teaching on the Christian life into one volume. Matthew Bingham does it primarily through the lens of the Puritans, helping to recover their biblical approach to spiritual formation. May the Lord continue to use these books to help us walk coram Deo, before the face of God.”

This exceptional biography—Tim Keller on the Christian Life by Matt Smethurst—honors Timothy Keller (1950–2023), an influential pastor, author, and cofounder of The Gospel Coalition, by tracing nearly 50 years of sermons, conference messages, and books. Synthesizing Keller’s work, Smethurst delves into each core component of the Christian life while covering Keller’s views on prayer, suffering, friendship, vocation, and intimacy with God. With theological insight, Smethurst encourages Christians and leaders to pursue a life pleasing to God.

In A Heart Aflame for God, Matthew Bingham analyzes God-ordained spiritual practices modeled by the 16th- and 17th-century Reformers. Drawing from Puritan tradition, Bingham encourages readers to find a balance between having confidence in their salvation through faith with a responsibility for one’s personal spiritual growth. Throughout A Heart Aflame for God, Bingham dives into biblical practices including meditation, prayer, and self-examination from a Protestant perspective.

The Gospel Coalition Book Awards are presented to books in eleven different categories. They are judged on how they offer gospel-centered argument and application, include faithful and foundational use of Scripture (both Old Testament and New Testament), foster spiritual discernment of contemporary trials and trends, and encourage efforts to unite and renew 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:  Sarah DeRosa, sderosa@crossway.org, 1 (630) 682-4300, ext. 6012

 

We are thrilled to announce that Numbers 20-36, part of the globally esteemed Apollos Old Testament Commentary (AOTC) series, by L. Michael Morales, has been honoured with the Award of Distinction for Biblical Studies at The Gospel Coalition Book Awards 2025.

The Gospel Coalition praised Numbers 20-36 as “the fruit of 10 years of labour from one of the best biblical theologians in the church today,” noting:

“Morales’s commitment to biblical theology shines throughout as he situates the message of Numbers within the larger framework of the Pentateuch and Scripture’s storyline. This commentary will help pastors and Christians discover that Israel’s journey through the wilderness is ‘a paradigm for God’s people in every generation.’”

The Gospel Coalition’s annual Book Awards recognise the finest evangelical books published each year across 11 categories, including Biblical Studies, Cultural Apologetics, History and Biography, and Christian Living.

The books are evaluated for the way they:

• Offer gospel-centered argument and application.
• Include faithful and foundational use of Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament.
• Foster spiritual discernment of contemporary trials and trends.
• Encourage efforts to unite and renew the church.

Apollos is the academic imprint of Inter-Varsity Press UK (IVP-UK), and is home to acclaimed series including the New Studies in Biblical Theology (NSBT) series and the Apollos Old Testament Commentaries (AOTC) series.

Thomas Creedy, Publishing Director for Apollos and IVP-UK says: “We are delighted to see Numbers 20-36 honoured with this award. Following a rewarding and inspiring two weeks representing Apollos and IVP at the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) conferences in Boston, I am thrilled to see our commitment to the highest levels of biblical scholarship and rigour recognised in this way.”

Press contact:  Emily Beater: ebeater@spck.org.uk

Lille, France / Chicago, USA, December 1, 2025—Nord Compo, a global leader in publishing services, announced two AI-enhanced tools to advance the company’s growing suite of innovations designed to streamline production workflows, reduce costs, and uphold the highest quality standards for publishers worldwide.

Descripto:  Smarter, Faster Image Accessibility

Descripto transforms the process of creating image descriptions for accessible EPUB files. Using contextual AI, the tool analyzes images alongside surrounding text to generate accurate short and long descriptions. Publishers can then review, fine-tune, or designate images as decorative directly within the platform. Finalized descriptions are automatically integrated back into the EPUB, ensuring a seamless end-to-end workflow.

The key value propositions are faster workflows through automating a time-consuming task and cost savings by minimizing manual labor without compromising quality.

Correcto (coming soon): AI-Assisted Copyediting Excellence

Correcto blends the precision of AI with the judgment of seasoned editors. Built on the Chicago Manual of Style, the tool performs an initial copyediting pass before professional editors review and validate. Early testing shows that this hybrid model improves accuracy and consistency while reducing turnaround time.

The key value propositions are greater accuracy from AI + human review, cost savings, and  time optimization.

Security and Human Oversight

Per Arnaud Lecompte, Director of International for Nord Compo, “These tools are part of Nord Compo’s expanding portfolio of AI-enhanced services designed to help publishers operate more efficiently in an increasingly complex market.” Each tool is deployed within a secure, closed environment and includes human oversight at every step to ensure trust, transparency, and editorial integrity.

Nord Compo, a multinational company with more than five decades of experience and a team of 600 employees across three continents, continues to set the standard in composition, digital publishing, editorial services, and audiobook creation.

For more information, contact:  Larry Bennett, lbennett@nordcompo.com

Zondervan Reflective, Zondervan Academic, Zonderkidz, and W Publishing Honored

NASHVILLE (December 3, 2025) — HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) is proud to announce it received multiple honors, including the Book of the Year award, at the 2025 Christianity Today Book Awards. These awards recognize the most impactful books of the year shaping evangelical life, thought, and culture.

The Book of the Year was awarded to The Reason for Church: Why the Body of Christ Still Matters in an Age of Anxiety, Division, and Radical Individualism by Brad Edwards, published by Zondervan Reflective. In this work, pastor Brad Edwards explores how the evangelical church has seen millions of Americans leave the church in the last 25 years, as individualistic beliefs drive people away. Edwards connects the dots of the current church crisis and provides compelling reasons to come back.

“The past few years have seen a curious pattern of skeptics announcing a newfound respect for Christianity or even converting outright. Is this revival or something like it? Perhaps it’s too soon to say. But it’s not too soon to say that the time was right for The Reason for Church,” said Bonnie Kristian, Deputy Editor of Christianity Today, in the announcement. “Brad Edwards’s incisive yet gracious book is apt for this moment—in which even many Christians imagine they can do without the community and obligations of a local congregation—and its call of steadfast commitment to the body of Christ will always be needful and true.”

In addition to being named Book of the Year, The Reason for Church also won in the Church and Pastoral Leadership category. Three other HCCP titles received top honors in their respective categories:

• The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep: A Story of God’s Redemptive Loveby Hannah E. Harrison (Zonderkidz) won in the Children’s category.
• Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Lifeby Grace Hamman (Zondervan Reflective) in the Christian Living and Spiritual Formation category.
• Prophet, Priest, and King: Christology in Global Perspectiveedited by Michael S. Horton, Elizabeth W. Mburu, and Justin S. Holcomb (Zondervan Academic) won in the Theology (Academic) category.

“Winning multiple awards, including Book of the Year, is a testament to the dedication and talent of our authors, editors, and publishing teams,” said Mark Schoenwald, President and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “These honors highlight the power of thoughtful, transformative books to shape lives, inspire faith, and address the pressing questions of our time. We are deeply honored to see titles from Zondervan Reflective, Zondervan Academic, and Zonderkidz recognized for their impact on the Christian community and beyond.”

Additionally, four HCCP titles were recognized by the awards program with honors:

• A Teachable Spirit: The Virtue of Learning from Strangers, Enemies, and Absolutely Anyoneby A. J. Swoboda (Zondervan Reflective) received an Award of Merit in the Christian Living and Spiritual Formation category.
• The Gospel After Christendom: An Introduction to Cultural Apologeticsedited by Collin Hansen, Skyler R. Flowers, and Ivan Mesa (Zondervan Reflective) was a finalist in the Apologetics and Evangelism category.
• Jesus Our True Friend: Stories to Fill Your Heart with Joyby Sally Lloyd-Jones (Zonderkidz) was a finalist in the Children’s category.
• The Deep-Rooted Marriage: Cultivating Intimacy, Healing, and Delightby Dan B. Allender and Steve Call (W Publishing) was a finalist in the Marriage, Family, and Singleness category.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing
HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) is the world’s leading Christian publisher and home to renowned brands Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. It also operates various digital platforms, including FaithGateway, ChurchSource, and Bible Gateway—the world’s largest Christian website. HCCP specializes in bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, children’s books, academic resources, curriculum, gift books, audio, and digital content crafted for the Christian market. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, with an office in Grand Rapids, Michigan, HCCP is part of HarperCollins Publishers. For more information, visit HarperCollinsChristian.com.

Contact:  Franny Blanchard, HarperCollins Publishers, franny.blanchard@harpercollins.com

Grand Rapids, MI – 12/01/2025— Zondervan is pleased to announce that The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep by Hannah Harrison, published under its Zonderkidz imprint, has won The Gospel Coalition’s (TGC) 2025 Book Award in the Children’s category. The award recognizes the book for its creativity, theological depth, and relatability.

“We are honored that The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep has been selected as the 2025 Children’s Book Award winner by The Gospel Coalition,” said Megan Dobson, VP and Publisher of Zonderkidz. “This recognition affirms our commitment to publishing books that communicate timeless biblical truths that touch the hearts of children and the adults reading with them. We’re grateful to see this book resonating so deeply with families, educators, and churches.”

In its announcement, The Gospel Coalition noted, “Many children’s picture books seem designed with only half their audience in mind, but this one will delight parents as well as children. The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep reminds us that sometimes we can learn deep, even hard, truths with laughter.”

The book tells the humorous story of George the sheep to remind readers of all ages of the steadfast love and care of the Good Shepherd. This award highlights the title’s success in creating a shared reading experience that is both entertaining and spiritually meaningful for families. This honor underscores Zonderkidz’s dedication to providing faith-based resources that nurture spiritual growth. The author’s next release, The Good Farmer and the Worried Donkey, will be available in September 2026.

Hannah E. Harrison is the author and illustrator of six award-winning picture books, including Extraordinary Jane, My Friend Maggie, and Poopsie Gets Lost. Her books have received numerous starred reviews, been chosen as Kirkus Books of the Year and Editors’ Picks on Amazon, and have been selected for book clubs. Hannah is originally from New Hampshire, but now lives in Oklahoma with her big-hearted husband, two delightful daughters, a crabby cat, and a playful pup.

Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imaginative, innovative, and educational resources that reflect a Christian worldview and build up children and teens. For additional information, please visit www.zonderkidz.com.

Media Contact:  Tessa Baker, Marketing Manager, Zonderkidz Tessa.Baker@harpercollins.com

There Is Only One True Hope that Offers Meaning in This Life

New Growth Press and Truth for Life are launching a new series of Bible studies with the release of Ecclesiastes: Chasing the Wind​ on December 8, 2025. The Verse by Verse series, based on Alistair Begg’s expository Bible teaching and preaching, captures the heart of Truth For Life’s mission, providing yet another way to teach the Bible with clarity and relevance.

This study of Ecclesiastes will help participants face the apparent futility of this life and recognize the one true hope that can give it meaning. Trapped in a dark world without a clear a view of God, the writer of Ecclesiastes sought frantically for some light on the path—but indulging in everything this world had to offer left him empty and unfulfilled. After climbing high on life’s ladder, he made the tragic discovery that it was propped against the wrong wall. Cynical about life’s achievements, he rightly began to question whether anything mattered or it was all vanity.

In this twelve-week, verse-by-verse study, readers will consider what the challenging “words of the Preacher” have to say about life’s apparent futility. They will also be reminded of the one true hope that can give their existence lasting meaning. Study participants will more fully grasp the value of God’s Word in their lives as they grow in their ability to read and understand Scripture before applying it in their walk with the Lord.

Key themes of the study include the vanity of life, the fear of God, the realities of the fall, toil and labor, and the enjoyment of God’s creation. Each lesson includes five sections: Open the Book, Study the Book, and Live Out the Book, followed with prompts for Praise and Prayer. Each lesson concludes with optional content for Further Study, including related Scripture readings and helpful resources. Supplements at the end of the book include study tools and tips for individuals, groups, and leaders.

The study’s introduction explains “The great inherent danger when we study the Bible is that we want to move immediately from our reading of the biblical text to personal application. To combat that temptation, each session in this volume follows a structure which will help you spend adequate time meditating on and studying each passage before attempting to apply it to your own life.”

When so many pass their days running down dead-end streets, we can live with purpose. First, though, we must discover and embrace what it means to fear God, which is the beginning of true wisdom.

The next study in the series, 2 Timothy: Guarding the Truth, is set for release in July 2026.

Alistair Begg is the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, a daily and weekend program that brings the exposition of Scripture to a global audience through radio, podcast, and a wide range of digital and streaming platforms. Since its launch in 1995, Truth For Life has featured teaching drawn from Alistair’s decades of faithful preaching at Parkside Church, where he served as senior pastor from 1983 until 2025. Today, Alistair is actively engaged with Truth For Life and speaks frequently at conferences throughout the United States and around the world, where he encourages pastors, theology students, and believers and proclaims the Gospel to those who have yet to come to faith in Jesus Christ. Alistair is the author of several books, including Name Above All Names, Pray Big, and Brave by Faith. His books have been translated into many languages and are read by a global audience. Alistair began in pastoral ministry in 1975 after graduating from the London School of Theology. Before joining Parkside Church, he served for eight years in Scotland, ministering at Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. Alistair and his wife, Susan, have been married since 1975. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

Learn more about Truth for Life at www.truthforlife.org and follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings – audra@newgrowthpress.com  

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Good Book Company is thrilled to announce that The Outsider has been recognized with two notable awards—Christianity Today’s Book Award in the Young Adult Category and the ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award.

Released in May 2025, The Outsider is a compelling retelling of the story of Ruth by Katy Morgan. The book is the third installment in her growing Bible Retellings series, following the ECPA Christian Book Award winner Songs of a Warrior (2023), and The Promise and the Light (2021). Together, these titles continue to captivate pre-teen readers by bringing biblical stories to life in faithful and accessible ways.

The cover design is credited to Megan Parker and her father Andre, The Good Book Company’s Head of Design.

“We are delighted that The Outsider has been recognized in this way,” says Carl Laferton, Publisher at TGBC, “Katy has a rare ability to combine biblical faithfulness, historical depth, and a gripping narrative, and we’re excited to see how this and future Bible retellings will bring readers into the biblical world, and show them the goodness of God in new ways. And every great book deserves a great cover, and so we’re doubly glad for the cover award won by the father-daughter combo of Andre and Megan. These awards highlight the strength of the series and TGBC’s commitment to producing imaginative resources for young readers that are biblical, relevant, and accessible.”

For media inquiries and access to promotional assets, contact: publicity@thegoodbook.com.

ABOUT THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY
Founded in 1991, The Good Book Company (TGBC) is an employee-owned international Christian publisher. Their Bible studies, books, devotionals, videos, tracts, evangelistic courses, and training materials are used throughout the English-speaking world, and in translation in over 35 languages worldwide. Everyone at TGBC is passionate about the Lord Jesus, His word, His church, and His gospel of grace. They create and publish biblical, relevant, and accessible resources that will encourage Christians to keep going, keep growing, and keep sharing their faith.

 

DECEMBER 2025–WaterBrook has signed New York Times bestselling authors and hosts of the These Are the Days podcast with 3.8 million social followers, Jeremy and Audrey Roloff’.

These Are the Days: 12 Biblical Values That Add Meaning and Magic to Childhood, will be the first in a four-book deal with WaterBrook, and will address the overwhelming challenge many Christian parents face: how to instill biblical values in their children with a sustainable, month-by-month framework that aligns 12 core values with the natural rhythm of the year—making intentional parenting achievable.

Scheduled for publication in Summer 2027, included are three children’s books that explore these biblical principles through whimsical, adventure-based storytelling.

World rights were acquired by Executive Editor Drew Dixon from Bryan Norman at Alive Literary Agency.  For rights inquiries, contact Denise Cornin decronin@penguinrandomhouse.com

WaterBrook is an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group.

Contact:  Beverly Rykerd, VP, Publicity Director PRH Christian, 719-719-440-2746, brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com  

December 2025 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is excited to celebrate seven titles and authors that were recognized as part of this year’s Christianity Today Book Awards. Honorees are noted as CT’s “picks for the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.”

“For more than thirty years, the Christianity Today Book Awards have been a meaningful marker in our publishing year,” said Terumi Echols, president and publisher at IVP. “These awards not only highlight the strength of Christian publishing as a shared ministry, but they also honor the faithful and impactful work of individual authors. We are especially thrilled to celebrate the recognition of seven IVP authors who are speaking into our current culture on a range of topics, from politics and theology to family, the church, and mission.”

The seven IVP titles and authors that were honored as part of this year’s Christianity Today Book Awards:

Award of Merit, Apologetics and Evangelism
Walking Through Deconstruction: How to Be a Companion in a Crisis of Faith by Ian Harber tells the author’s real-life story of deconstruction and lays out a vision for the kind of faith environment that can foster genuine reconstruction through healthy relationships, robust doctrine, healthy institutions, a better theology of suffering, and the peace of God.

Award of Merit, Theology (Popular)
Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters by Carmen Joy Imes traces the thread of God’s presence in the gathered community of faith across the entire Bible. She invites readers into a vision of the church that is rooted deeply in Scripture and speaks directly to the challenges we face today.

Finalist, Biblical Studies
Thinning the Veil: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation by Shane J. Wood provides a fresh perspective on Revelation, aiming to transform our understanding of this profound text. Wood invites readers to see Revelation not as a daunting puzzle but as a revelation of Jesus, meant to inspire divine intimacy and spiritual renewal.

Finalist, Marriage, Family, and Singleness
Households of Faith: Practicing Family in the Kingdom of God by Emily Hunter McGowin recovers biblical portraits of households of faith that are not limited to just the biological nuclear family, that can be multigenerational households of married and single, with or without children. McGowin calls Christians to practice family as apprentices to love who discern the times and improvise faithfulness together.

Finalist, Missions and the Global Church
Reviving Mission: Awakening to the Everyday Movement of God by Linson Daniel, Jon Hietbrink, and Eric Rafferty reveals God’s invitation into everyday mission in the way of Jesus. The authors invite readers into four Es of reviving mission: encountering God, exploring what he’s doing all around us, empowering those he sends us to, and establishing communal rhythms of transforming habits and habitats.

Finalist, Politics and Public Life
Citizenship Without Illusions: A Christian Guide to Political Engagement by David T. Koyzis presents a case for political engagement as a way to love our neighbors that doesn’t require our full devotion to parties or ideologies. Using examples from various eras and places, Koyzis guides readers to make the best of their own political situations, make thoughtful decisions, and promote societal diversity while respecting those who disagree.

Finalist, Theology (Academic)
Walking the Way of the Wise: A Biblical Theology of Wisdom by Mitchell L. Chase invites readers to rediscover wisdom as an essential thread woven throughout the tapestry of Scripture. By tracing the themes of wisdom and folly from Genesis to Revelation, Walking the Way of the Wise illuminates the role of wisdom in the covenant life of God’s people. This title is part of the Essential Studies in Biblical Theology (ESBT) series that explores the central or essential themes of the Bible’s grand storyline.

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners.

Contact:  Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

 

KJV Majestic Illuminated Bible to Debut in March 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 4, 2025—Christian publishing imprint FaithWords returns to the roots of early Bible publishing to help modern readers experience how the Bible first captured readers’ imaginations. The KJV Majestic Illuminated Bible (March 10, 2026) invites readers to experience Scripture in a vibrantly beautiful way as the earliest Bible readers once did through 450-year-old restored Reformation artwork.

In the early days of the Reformation, illustrated versions of Martin Luther’s new translation of the Bible made Scripture come alive for everyday people for the first time. To help newly literate readers engage with the extraordinary story of the Bible, one publisher of the day commissioned a set of woodcuts—a relief printing technique where a design is carved into a block of wood, leaving the desired image raised—to create the very first illustrated Bible featuring a unified style of art by a single artist. These vivid images invited readers not only to read but to see the story of redemption unfold before their eyes.

More than 450 years later, these woodcuts have been lovingly restored and reimagined as they appear for the first time in their new incarnation in the KJV Majestic Illuminated Bible. The Bible features the careful restoration of some 100 original woodcuts from the 1564 Feyerabend Bible, as well as design work from typographer 2K/Denmark. The result is a multi-sensory Bible for adults that brings God’s Word to life for a new generation by recreating the experience of those who first encountered the Bible centuries ago, immersing readers in visually stunning four-color classic Reformation-era art combined with a contemporary Bible format.

These timeless works of art are now accompanied by beautiful original hand lettering and captions to create an unforgettable interaction with the Word of God. Suited for both individual reading and gift giving, the KJV Majestic Illuminated Bible serves perfectly as both a daily companion and a keepsake.

“The KJV Majestic Illuminated Bible offers modern-day readers a unique opportunity to experience the Bible in a truly immersive way. This classic Reformation artwork is visually stunning and has been carefully restored with great respect for its historic roots and Martin Luther’s vision to make the Bible accessible to everyone,” said Vice President and Publisher of Hachette Nashville Daisy Hutton. “In our current culture where people are moved by images, it’s our hope that the artwork in this Bible provides spiritual encouragement and a renewed sense of connection to Scripture.”

KJV Majestic Illuminated Bible (FaithWords, ISBN: 978-1-5460-0975-7) is available March 10, 2026, and may be pre-ordered. Hardcover: $44.99; Leather: $49.99.

FaithWords publishes transformative and thought-provoking pastoral voices for a broad audience. Categories include narrative inspirational nonfiction, Christian living, self-development and women’s issues. Bestselling authors include Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer and T.D. Jakes.

Contacts:
Laura McGowan, 847.347.5206
Alli Ehrhardt, 541.973.1994