ECPA The 2007 CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR

The 2007 CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR:

2007 Christian Book of the Year Winner Ever After Karen Kingsbury Zondervan, 9780310247562 Download: Cover (5.46 mb jpeg)

Category: Bibles

Winner Archaeological Study Bible NIV Zondervan, 9780310926054 Download: Cover (5.37 mb jpeg)

  Category: Bible Reference & Study

Winner The IVP Atlas of Bible History, Paul Lawrence IVP Academic, a division of InterVarsity Press, 9780830824526 Download: Cover (989 kb jpeg)

  Category: Children & Youth

Winner Sexy Girls Hayley DiMarco Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 9780800730840 Download: Cover (3.89 mb jpeg)

  Category: Christian Life

Winner What Jesus Demands from the World John Piper Crossway Books, 9781581348453 Download: Cover (7.92 mb jpeg)

  Category: Fiction

Winner When Crickets Cry Charles Martin Thomas Nelson, 9781595540546 Download: Cover (2.45 mb jpeg)

  Category: Inspiration & Gift

Winner Pearls of Great Price Joni Eareckson Tada Zondervan, 9780310262985 Download: Cover (1.53 mb jpeg)

CT Book Awards 2007

CT Book Awards 2007

Book Awards 2007
22 titles that bring understanding to people, events, and ideas that shape evangelical life, thought, and mission.
posted 5/23/2007 08:17AM

This year, 43 publishers nominated 291 titles. CT editors selected the top books in each category, and then panels of judges—one panel for each category—voted. In the end, we chose 22 titles that bring understanding to people, events, and ideas that shape evangelical life, thought, and mission. Selections from judges' comments are below.

Apologetics/Evangelism

The Language of God: 'A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
Francis S. Collins (Free Press)

Our judges said:

"Faces head-on the most tactically challenging issues that keep people from Christian faith in our time with both clarity and charity. And by showing a Christian who loves creation, science, his neighbors, and his Lord, it presents a rare and welcome picture of mature Christian character."

Our coverage:

Creation or Evolution? Yes! | Francis Collins issues a call to stand on the middle ground. (January 16, 2007)

Living with the Darwin Fish | Why the discovery of yet another 'missing link' doesn't destroy my faith. (March 12, 2007)

Not Too Simply Christian | Two approaches to apologetics. (Books & Culture, March/April 2007)

Biblical Studies

Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony
Richard Bauckham (Eerdmans)

Our judges said:

"Wonderful. A dazzlingbook. It reads beautifully, grabs the reader with its fascinating detective work, and sets the scholarly discussion of the historical Jesus on a new (very old!) foundation: eyewitness reports as the basis of the biblical gospel. This is biblical scholarship of the highest order that can be read with enjoyment by the thoughtful layperson."

Christianity and Culture

The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World
Miroslav Volf (Eerdmans)

Our judges said:

"How should a Christian handle the memory of abuse? If it is forgotten, where is justice for the accuser? How is reconciliation possible when abuse involves communities and nations? Volf addresses these questions with a profound theological grasp of their implications both for the present and the future."

Our coverage:

Redeeming Bitterness | Miroslav Volf tells how to stop the 'shield of memory' from turning into a sword. (April 9, 2007)

Excerpt:

An Obligation to Remember Eternally? | Resentment, even in the name of justice, is not for those who expect God's final reconciliation.

Christian Living

Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?
Philip Yancey (Zondervan)

Our judges said:

"Directness and liveliness of illustration and argument, theological substance, quality of biblical reflection, and readability that may make it accessible even to those coming to faith, Bible reading, or prayer for the first time."

Our coverage:

Yancey: 'I'm Okay! Honest' | Author and CT columnist injured in SUV accident. (March 2, 2007)

Prayer and the Cross | Resurrection hope. (Books & Culture, January/February 2007)

When You're Sick of Prayer | Two books that make a delightful difference. (Review by Cornelius Plantinga Jr., December 21, 2006)

Grappling with God | Prayer sometimes feels like a hug and a stranglehold at the same time. (October 20, 2006)

The Church/ Pastoral Leadership

Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples
Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger (B&H Publishing)

Our judges said:

"This very practical book addresses a big gap in most evangelical churches: the lack of a functional process for actually making disciples (not just incorporating church attenders)."

Our coverage:

Simple Process, Vibrant Church | Simple Church calls churches to focus on making disciples. (January 8, 2007)

Fiction

Dwelling Places

Vinita Hampton Wright (HarperSanFrancisco)

Our judges said:

"Literarily sophisticated and subtle. Characters and setting are extremely well developed. The nexus of family drama and large sociopolitical context is very rare. Faith plays a subtle but powerful role."

Our coverage:

Trouble in the Heartland | New fiction from Vinita Hampton Wright. (Lauren F. Winner, Books & Culture, March 1, 2006)

History/Biography

Upon the Altar of the Nation: A Moral History of the Civil War
Harry S. Stout (Viking)

Our judges said:

"Likely to change people's minds about deeply important cultural views and memories. The Civil War, Stout argues, was not a just war in its inception or in its conduct."

Our coverage:

Mine Eyes Have Seen the Gory | Two historians tell why Christian thought went AWOL during the civil war. (August 1, 2006)

Grapes of Wrath | A moral history of the Civil War. (Books & Culture, March/April 2006)

Missions/Global Affairs

The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible's Grand Narrative
Christopher J. H. Wright (IVP Academic)

Our judges said:

"Completely fresh with new insights presented in a lucid and compelling way. This is an important work of scholarship that will likely give future generations a firm foundation for thinking theologically about the church's mission in the world. Likely to affect the way that biblical theology and exegesis are done in evangelical seminaries."

Our coverage:

An Upside-Down World | Distinguishing between home and mission field no longer makes sense. (January 18, 2007)

Spirituality

The Divine Embrace: Recovering the Passionate Spiritual Life
Robert E. Webber (Baker Books)

Our judges said:

"A brilliant and convincing exposition of the deficiencies of intellectualized, mysticized, and experientialized approaches to spirituality with a convincing, positive case for Christian spirituality as entering into the reality (divine embrace) of what Christ has accomplished for us on the Cross. The engagement with the rich history of spirituality, orthodox and otherwise, is outstanding."

Our coverage:

Robert E. Webber, Theologian of 'Ancient-Future' Faith, Dies at 73 | Author of more than 40 books on worship, Webber was criticized, then lauded, for emphasizing early church practices. (April 20, 2007)

Together in the Jesus Story | Bob Webber's fingerprints are all over a new call to live the narrative that really matters. (September 1, 2006)

Excerpt:

God Is Not the Object of Our Worship | He is the subject who forms us as we sing, tell, pray, and enact God's story in worship. (April 30, 2007)

Theology/Ethics

The Shadow of the Antichrist: Nietzsche's Critique of Christianity
Stephen N. Williams (Baker Academic)

Our judges said:

"This book tackles a subject too often ignored by evangelical Christians. The role of Nietzsche in forming what we call modern culture is of foundational importance, and Williams expounds this for us in a clear and compelling way. Every pastor and Christian educator should read and ponder this book when addressing the concerns of modern society."

* * *

Awards of Merit

Apologetics/Evangelism

Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense
N. T. Wright (HarperSanFrancisco)

Our coverage:

Echoes and Voices from Beyond | N.T. Wright argues that Christianity better comprehends our deepest human longings. (September 1, 2006)

Mere Mission | N.T. Wright talks about how to present the gospel in a postmodern world. (January 5, 2007)

Not Too Simply Christian | Two approaches to apologetics. (Books & Culture, March/April 2007)

Against Tapioca Pudding | N. T. Wright's antidote for vague spirituality. (Books & Culture, March/April 2007)

Biblical Studies

The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made
Mark Dever (Crossway)

Excerpt:

Does God Have Enemies? | The message of Obadiah. (May 24, 2007)

Christianity and Culture (tie)

Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity
Edward Gilbreath (IVP Books)

Our coverage:

Exit Interviews | Why blacks are leaving evangelical ministries. (January 15, 2007)

Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church
James K. A. Smith (Baker Academic)

Our coverage:

Books & Culture Corner: In Memoriam: Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) | Remembering a philosopher who never forgot about death. (James K.A. Smith October 1, 2004)

Christian Living (tie)

The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus' Essential Teachings on Discipleship
Dallas Willard (HarperSanFrancisco)

Our coverage:

Dr. Willard's Diagnosis | Why we need to really die before we can really live. (September 1, 2006)

A Divine Conspirator | Dallas Willard is on a quiet quest to subvert nominal Christianity. (September, 2006)

Jesus Mean and Wild: The Unexpected Love of an Untamable God
Mark Galli (Baker Books)

Excerpt:

Jesus Mean and Wild: The Unexpected Love of an Untamable God | Apparently 'satanic' can be a synonym for 'relevant'. (July 1, 2006)

The Church/Pastoral Leadership

Why Church Matters: Worship, Ministry and Mission in Practice
Jonathan R. Wilson (Brazos)

Fiction

Winter Birds
Jamie Langston Turner (Bethany House)

Excerpt:

The Winter of Our Discontent | "A cantankerous old woman is never so annoying as when she is in some way related to you." (May 29, 2007)

History/Biography

A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan
Michael Kazin (Knopf)

Our coverage:

The Life of Bryan | Michael Kazin explains why American politics needs another William Jennings Bryan. (June 1, 2006)

The Great Loser | The ambiguous legacy of William Jennings Bryan. (Books & Culture, January/February 2007)

Missions/Global Affairs

The New Faces of Christianity: Believing in the Bible in the Global South
Philip Jenkins (Oxford)

Our coverage:

God's Word in an Old Light | Philip Jenkins on how global South Christians read the Bible. (December 5, 2006)

An Upside-Down World | Distinguishing between home and mission field no longer makes sense. (January 18, 2007)

Downward, Outward, Later | A superb new history of Christianity. (Philip Jenkins, Books & Culture, September/October 2006)

Companions of Life | A supple faith. (Philip Jenkins, Books & Culture, March/April 2007)

Excerpt:

"Shall the Fundamentalists Win?" | An excerpt from Philip Jenkins' new book, The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South. (December 5, 2006)

Spirituality

Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading
Eugene H. Peterson (Eerdmans)

Theology/ Ethics

Evil and the Justice of God
N. T. Wright (IVP Books)

2006 Christian Book Awards Winners

ECPA Announces 2006 Christian Book Awards Winners
 

 

Category: Bibles

	Winner The Message: Numbered Edition, Eugene H. Peterson NavPress, 1576836738
	Faith in Action Study Bible, Terry Muck Zondervan, 0310928621		NIrV Kids’ Quest Study Bible, Lightwave and Livingstone Corporation Zondervan, 0310708788
	The Reformation Study Bible – English Standard Version, Dr. R. C. Sproul, General Editor Ligonier Ministries, 0875526438		The Minister’s Bible B&H Publishing Group, 1586401696

  Category: Bible Reference & Study

	2006 Christian Book of the Year Winner Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible Kevin J. General Editor Baker Academic (A Division of Baker Publishing Group), 0801026946
	A Profound Weakness: Christians & Kitsch Betty Spackman Piquant Editions, 1903689139		The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching Haddon Robinson and Craig Brian Larson, General Editors Zondervan, 0310252482
	Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books Editors: Bill T. Arnold and H.G.M. Williamson InterVarsity Press, 0830817824		Teaching With Heart Jody Capehart Standard Publishing, 0784713472

  Category: Children & Youth

	Winner Teen Virtue Vicki Courtney B&H Publishing Group, 0805430563
	A Young Man After God’s Own Heart Jim George Harvest House Publishers, 0736914781		Blade Silver Melody Carlson NavPress, 1576835359
	It’s Not About Me Teen Edition Max Lucado Integrity Publishers, 1591452902		SHE Teen Rebecca St. James/Lynda Hunter Bjorklund Tyndale House Publishers, 141430028X

  Category: Christian Life

	Winner A Sacred Sorrow Michael Card NavPress, 1576836673
	Credo: Believing in Something to Die For Ray Pritchard Crossway Books, 1581347197		Encountering the World of Islam Keith Swartley, Editor Authentic Publishing, 1932805249
	Lead Like Jesus Ken Blanchard W Publishing Group / Thomas Nelson, Inc., 0849900409		Questions Kids Ask about Sex The Medical Institute for Sexual Health; Melissa Cox, Ed. Fleming H. Revell (A Division of Baker Publishing Group), 080071878X
	Cure for the Common Life Max Lucado W Publishing Group / Thomas Nelson, Inc., 0849900085

  Category: Fiction

	Winner The Ezekiel Option Joel Rosenberg Tyndale House Publishers, 1414303432
	Chosen Ginger Garrett NavPress, 1576836517		The Rising Jerry B. Jenkins/Tim LaHaye Tyndale House Pubishers, 0842360565
	Holding Heaven Jerry Jenkins w/ Ron DiCianni Integrity Publishers, 159145218X		Fourth Dawn Brock & Bodie Thoene Tyndale House Publishers, 0842375155

  Category: Inspiration & Gift

	Winner Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success John Wooden & Jay Carty Regal, 0830736794
	Jack’s Life: The Life Story of C.S. Lewis Douglas Gresham B&H Publishing Group, 0805432469		God’s Mirror Max Lucado Integrity Publishers, 1591452791
	The Invisible Woman Nicole Johnson W Publishing Group / Thomas Nelson, Inc., 0849918294		Just the Two of Us Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott Zondervan, 0310803810

The Christianity Today Book Awards 2006

The Christianity Today Book Awards 2006

APOLOGETICS/EVANGELISM
Is Jesus The Only Savior?
James R. Edwards (Eerdmans)

BIBLICAL STUDIES
Dictionary For Theological Interpretation Of The Bible
Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Craig G. Bartholomew, Daniel J. Treier, and N.T. Wright, eds. (Baker Academic)

CHRISTIANITY AND CULTURE
Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers
Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton (Oxford)

Christian Living
The Scandal Of The Evangelical Conscience: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?
Ronald J. Sider (Baker)

The Church/Pastoral Leadership
The Art And Craft Of Biblical Preaching: A Comprehensive Resource for Today's Communicators
Haddon Robinson and Craig Brian Larson, eds. (Zondervan)

Fiction
This Heavy Silence
Nicole Mazzarella (Paraclete)

History/Biography
The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis
Alan Jacobs (HarperSanFrancisco)

 

Missions/Global Affairs
Contextualization In The New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission
Dean E. Flemming (IVP)

SPIRITUALITY
Christ Plays In Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology
Eugene H. Peterson (Eerdmans)

THEOLOGY/ETHICS
The Drama Of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology
Kevin J. Vanhoozer (Westminster John Knox)

Awards of Merit

APOLOGETICS/EVANGELISM
So Much More: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality
Debra Rienstra (Jossey-Bass)

BIBLICAL STUDIES
The Last Word: Beyond the Bible Wars to a New Understanding of the Authority of Scripture
N. T. Wright (HarperSanFrancisco)

CHRISTIANITY AND CULTURE
America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity
Robert Wuthnow (Princeton)

CHRISTIAN LIVING (tie)
Finding Our Way Home: Turning Back to What Matters Most
Mark R. McMinn (Jossey-Bass)

Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity
Lauren F. Winner (Brazos)

THE CHURCH/PASTORAL LEADERSHIP
Ministry In the Image Of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service
Stephen Seamands (IVP)

FICTION
Startling Joy: Seven Magical Stories of Christmas
James Calvin Schaap (Revell)

HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY (tie)
The Victory Of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success
Rodney Stark (Random House)

Why Study the Past? The Quest for the Historical Church
Rowan Williams (Eerdmans)

MISSIONS/GLOBAL AFFAIRS
The Changing Face of World Missions: Engaging Contemporary Issues and Trends
Michael Pocock, Gailyn Van Rheenen, and Douglas McConnell, eds. (Baker Academic)

SPIRITUALITY
Born Again and Again: Surprising Gifts of a Fundamentalist Childhood
Jon M. Sweeney (Paraclete)

THEOLOGY/ETHICS
Is the Reformation Over? An Evangelical Assessment of Contemporary Roman Catholicism
Mark A. Noll and Carolyn Nystrom (Baker Academic)

2005 ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award Winners

2005 ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award Winners

Bibles

Hands On Bible by Group Publishing, Inc.

Published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Reference Works/Commentaries

New Testament Theology by I. Howard Marshall

Published by InterVarsity Press

Fiction

Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury

Published by Zondervan

Biography/Autobiography

A Table In The Presence by Lt. Carey H. Cash

Published by W Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Theology/Doctrine

The Holy Trinity by Robert Letham

Published by P&R Publishing Co.

Devotional

His Passion, David R. Veerman, Editor

Published by Integrity Publishers

Inspirational

It’s Not About Me by Max Lucado

Published by Integrity Publishers

Christian Living

When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayer by Jerry Sittser

Published by Zondervan

Christianity and Society

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey

Published by Crossway Books

Missions/Evangelism

The Case For A Creator by Lee Strobel

Published by Zondervan

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

 New Light On Depression by David B. Biebel, D. Min. & Harold G. Koenig, M.D.

Published by Zondervan

                                                                                   
Christian Education

Emerging Culture An Interactive Curriculum, Jimmy Long, Editor

Published by InterVarsity Press

Preschool Children

I’d Be Your Princess by Kathryn O’Brien

Published by Standard Publishing

Elementary Children

A Faith to Grow On by John MacArthur

Published by Tommy Nelson

Youth

Every Young Woman’s Battle by Shannon Ethridge & Stephen Arterburn

Published by WaterBrook Press

Marriage

Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Published by Integrity Publishers

Family and Parenting

Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel

Published by W Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Gift Book/Poetry

To A Child Love Is Spelled T-I-M-E by Mac Anderson & Lance Wubbels

Published by Warner Faith, A Division of Time Warner Book Group

Bible Study

Great Lives: Job by Charles R. Swindoll

Published by W Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Spanish

Darwin no mató a Dios by Antonio Cruz

Published by Vida Publishers