James Bryan Smith, author of the bestselling The Good and Beautiful God, has signed a three-book contract with InterVarsity Press on the topics of beauty, goodness and truth. The first book, on beauty, will release in fall 2015.

James Bryan Smith, author of The Good and Beautiful God

Smith says his books will focus on the life of Jesus, who revealed God's glory (beauty), who went about doing good, and who was himself the truth. "I am very excited to be working again with the stellar staff at IVP," Smith said. "The subjects of beauty, goodness and truth are of great importance to all people, and these ideas I have been working on have deeply impacted my life with God. God is beautiful, good and true, and he has created us to long for all three. I pray these books will bring a sense of wonder and gratitude and faith to all who read them."

Smith is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, and is a founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovare. He also serves as the director of the Aprentis Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University.

"We are pleased to be continuing with James Bryan Smith and the Aprentis Institute with three new books," said Cindy Bunch, associate editorial director at InterVarsity Press. "Jim brings real-life application to spiritual formation concepts in a way that is bearing fruit in the lives of many. As Jim's editor, I am grateful to be one of the first to read his new work."

Smith is the author of ten books, five with InterVarsity Press, including the award-winning Apprentice Series: The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life and The Good and Beautiful Community. His most recent book, Hidden in Christ, released in July 2013.

"Jim's Apprentice Series has been a delightful and rewarding project to work on over the past four years," Jeff Crosby, InterVarsity Press's associate publisher and director of sales and marketing, said. "We consistently hear from readers about the life-changing impact of that series and, more recently, Hidden in Christ. I'm grateful for the chance to work on the new books with Jim and his Aprentis team in Wichita, and I'm confident they, too, will challenge, encourage and equip readers in significant ways."

Listen to Smith's Things Above Podcast and follow him on Twitter: @jamesbryansmith.