April 2025 | LISLE, IL—Award-winning author and New Testament professor Matthew W. Bates has signed a contract with IVP Academic for the Summer 2028 release of his book tentatively titled ChristFormed: How Beholding Jesus Leads to Discipleship.
“We are thrilled to have Matthew Bates writing for IVP Academic,” said acquiring editor Rachel Hastings. “His strong publishing history of writing both for the scholar and the student, coupled with his passion for the church, will inform this exegetically rich and spiritually formative project for readers.”
Bates (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is a professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. He is the author of Gospel Allegiance, Salvation by Allegiance Alone, and Why the Gospel?, which won a 2024 Christianity Today Book Award and was named the 2024 Resource of the Year by Outreach magazine. Bates also cofounded and cohosts the popular Bible and theology podcast OnScript.
“Our initial viewings of Jesus are cloudy, leading to confusion about discipleship and a culture of division,” Bates writes. “It is only when we continue to journey with him that we truly see his character and practices. As we increasingly gaze on the genuine Jesus, the vision is so desirably good that transformation into his image is inescapable. To fully see Jesus is to be ChristFormed.”
ChristFormed will be a ten-stage journey of transformative discipleship that guides readers into the heart of Jesus. Since Jesus intentionally taught his followers how to be disciples as they walked together toward Jerusalem, it draws insights especially from Luke’s travel narrative. In Luke 10–19 Jesus reveals his character, habits, and practices, so that those who desire to see can be changed through participatory viewing. Each chapter will contain practical tips, questions, and suggested exercises that are useful for personal discipleship, church groups, a sermon series, or the classroom.
Bates said, “Dallas Willard’s insight is true: spiritual change begins with accurate vision. To be changed in the present, we must behold as much of the authentic Christ as we can now. This book focuses on correctly viewing Jesus as we journey with him to reshape our desires and practices.”
Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com
