The Collected Best Books of 2025

I probably don’t need to tell you how much I love books in general, and Christian books in particular. One of my favorite times to be a reader is in mid-December when people begin to share their picks for the top books of the year. I collect all of the lists written by sites or organizations I already follow, then scour them to see if there is any consensus. I have done that over the past few weeks and am ready to share the results.

Here are the books that appeared repeatedly and, in a more subjective sense, seemed to generate the most positive buzz throughout the year. For each, I added the publisher’s brief description.

A Heart Aflame for God by Matthew Bingham. If there is one book that appeared on the greatest number of lists, I am quite sure it is this one. In fact, it would have appeared on my list, had I read it on time. But I can now agree with many others and say that it is an extraordinary book and one that is well worth your time. “Primarily drawing from Puritan tradition, Bingham shows readers how to balance belief in salvation through faith with a responsibility for one’s personal spiritual growth. He studies biblical practices—including meditation, prayer, and self-examination—from a Protestant perspective. Blending historical analysis and practical application, this edifying study cultivates a greater understanding of Reformed theology and an ever-growing relationship with God.” (Amazon, WTS)

Everything Is Never Enough by Bobby Jamieson. It’s possible that this got more nods than A Heart Aflame, but obviously you can’t go wrong either way. Jamieson’s book focuses on the book of Ecclesiastes and what it teaches about happiness—true and lasting happiness, that is. “Does it feel like you should be happy, and want to be happy, and try to be happy, but somehow you just can’t be happy? One way to be unhappy is not getting what you most want. Another way is to get all you could possibly want…only to discover that everything is not enough. The writer of Ecclesiastes did it all. He had money, education, possessions, sex, and power—everything the modern world promises will bring joy—and yet he was never satisfied. And from his discontent, we benefit and find a surprisingly simple trail to lasting joy.” (Amazon, WTS)

Theo of Golden: A Novel by Allen Levi. This novel has generated a lot of buzz, even making its way to the New York Times list of bestsellers. It has an extraordinary 23,000+ reviews on Amazon, which is many times greater than all the other books on this list put together. “One spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from…or why… His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers. Theo visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their ‘rightful owners.’ With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered. A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.” (Amazon)

Tim Keller on the Christian Life by Matt Smethurst. Smethurst’s book, WORLD’s pick for book of the year, is an ideal complement to Collin Hansen’s biography, which is also well worth the read. “Synthesizing Keller’s work topic by topic, each chapter of this book highlights a key aspect of the Christian life—covering his views on prayer, suffering, friendship, vocation, intimacy with God, and more. Written by pastor Matt Smethurst, Tim Keller on the Christian Life draws from Keller’s nearly 50 years of sermons, conference messages, and books to share practical theological insight that will galvanize leaders and laypeople alike.” (Amazon, WTS)

A Light on the Hill by Caleb Morell. A Light on the Hill is essentially a biography of a church—Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. The church has had a long and interesting history, which makes this an especially interesting book. “Through real-life stories, A Light on the Hill reveals how God works through church bodies and remains faithful during times of uncertainty. Exploring themes such as pastoral ministry, faithfulness, courage, racial reconciliation, church and politics, and more, this book will help readers see the long-term effects of faithful church ministries. Ultimately they will be encouraged to invest in a local church and preserve the gospel for the next generation.” (Amazon, WTS)

By way of general market books, you may want to consider: