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, 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
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