12/15/17

Christianity Today recently announced the winners of their 2018 Book Awards. Baker Publishing Group won the top award in three categories. The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker won in the Children and Youth category, The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch received top honors in the Christian Living/Discipleship category, and Engaging Globalization by Bryant L. Myers won in the Missions/Global Church category. In addition, three Baker publications won Awards of Merit: Paul and Gender by Cynthia Long Westall in Biblical Studies; The Science of Virtue by Mark R. McMinn in Spiritual Formation; and Scripture as Real Presence by Hans Boersma in Theology/Ethics. Christianity Today honors the books they consider “most likely to shape evangelical life, thought and culture.” For the complete list of winners, please click here.

The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker
(Revell; ISBN 9780800728496; ebook ISBN 9781493411078; $17.99)
After his mother’s death, twelve-year-old Samuel Chambers would do anything to bring her back. Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life—the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back. His quest to defeat death entangles him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict and forces Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question: Could it be possible that death is a gift? Haunting and hypnotic, The Day the Angels Fell explores the difficult questions of life in a voice that is fresh, friendly, and unafraid.

The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
(Baker Books; ISBN 9780801018664; ebook ISBN 9781493406555; $13.99)
Making good choices about technology is more than just using internet filters and determining screen-time limits. It’s about building character, wisdom, and courage rather than accepting technology’s promises of ease and instant gratification. Alongside in-depth original research from Barna Group that shows how families are wrestling with technology’s new realities, Andy Crouch takes parents beyond the typical questions of what, where, and when to show us that in a world full of devices, there’s a way to choose a better life than we’ve imagined.

Engaging Globalization by Bryant L. Myers
(Baker Academic; ISBN 9780801097980; ebook ISBN 9781493410262; $26.99)
Globalization is speeding up our world, extending our relationships globally, and bringing us closer together in many ways. The church and many Christians, however, remain largely unaware of its seductive power. This up-to-date resource by a veteran leader in global development work with World Vision orients readers to the history of globalization and to a Christian theological perspective on it, explores concrete realities by focusing on global poverty, and helps readers reimagine Christian mission in ways that announce the truly good news of Christ and God’s kingdom.

Paul and Gender by Cynthia Long Westfall
(Baker Academic; ISBN 9780801097942; ebook ISBN 9781493404810; $32.99)
Respected New Testament scholar Cynthia Long Westfall offers a coherent Pauline theology of gender, which includes fresh perspectives on the most controverted texts. Westfall interprets passages on women and men together and places those passages in the context of the Pauline corpus as a whole. She offers viable alternatives for some notorious interpretive problems in certain Pauline passages, reframing gender issues in a way that stimulates thinking, promotes discussion, and moves the conversation forward. As Westfall explores the significance of Paul’s teaching, she seeks to support and equip males and females to serve in their area of gifting.

The Science of Virtue by Mark R. McMinn
(Brazos Press; ISBN 9781587434099; ebook ISBN 9781493411214; $18.99)
The church and science have drifted apart over the past century. However, this book shows that the new science of virtue—the field of positive psychology—can serve as a bridge point between science and the church and can help renew meaningful conversation. McMinn clarifies how positive psychology can complement Christian faith and promote happiness and personal flourishing. McMinn brings the church’s experience and wisdom on six virtues—humility, forgiveness, gratitude, grace, hope, and wisdom—into conversation with intriguing scientific findings from positive psychology.

Scripture as Real Presence by Hans Boersma
(Baker Academic; ISBN 9780801017032; ebook ISBN 9781493406654, $39.99)
This work argues that the heart of patristic exegesis is the attempt to find the sacramental reality (real presence) of Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. Leading theologian Hans Boersma discusses numerous sermons and commentaries of the church fathers to show how they regarded Christ as the treasure hidden in the field of the Old Testament and explains that the church today can and should retrieve the sacramental reading of the early church. Combining detailed scholarly insight with clear, compelling prose, this book makes a unique contribution to contemporary interest in theological interpretation.

Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.