Judah Smith is known to many as Justin Bieber's pastor, the best friend of Bubba Watson and Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson, and the leader of the rapidly-growing City Church in Seattle. The pastor will follow up his NewYorkTimes bestseller "Jesus Is ___" with the his new book "Life Is ___ ."

With an exploding online platform and a New York Times Bestseller on the charts, Smith continues to defy the stereotypes of ministry and share the message of Jesus with a wide and diverse following.

Life Is ___, Smith's follow-up book to the bestselling Jesus Is ___, will hit shelves on March 3, 2015. Mirroring the format of his first book, released two years prior, this new title asks readers to fill in the blank on an age-old question of the purpose of our existence.

Smith directs readers to four key truths about the purpose of life. In this new book, Smith completes the sentence "Life Is" over and over, revealing how:

• Life is to be loved and to love.

• Life is to trust God in every moment.

• Life is to be at peace with God and yourself.

• Life is to enjoy God.

Within the pages of Life Is ___, Smith calls readers to see that the love of God defies human logic. That radical love is the centerpiece of our purpose and existence here on earth. He speaks to the question of the ages "What is life?" by unpacking Biblical stories with humor and relevance.

Smith's unique style resonates with readers, Christians and non-Christians alike, as proven by sales of Jesus Is  , which has sold more than 170,000 units since its release in Winter 2013.

He says, "When I preach and write, I try to retell biblical stories in modern language. It's not a new translation; it's a paraphrase. It is my attempt to put myself in the shoes-well, sandals-of the original audience."

In the introduction to Life Is ___, he writes to readers, "Maybe you aren't sure what you believe about the Bible, and I'm fine with that. But we can all learn from it. It was written to help real people facing real issues. It has stood the test of time, and its teachings have shaped cultures, governments, and nations."

"When I read about Jesus' passionate love for people and his commitment to his purpose and cause, I am inspired to live the kind of life he lived. He is the perfect example of how to live life-with all its adventures, surprises, and delights-to the fullest," he writes.

Judah's platform and influence have grown enormously since the release of the best-selling Jesus Is ___. He now has nearly 300,000 followers on Twitter and more than 100,000 likes on Facebook. The City Church is one of the fastest growing churches in the country, and more than 50,000 people listen to Judah's sermons remotely each month.

Following the success of two sold-out Jesus Is ___ tours, the release of Life Is ___ will be celebrated by a 10-city speaking tour in Spring 2015.

Points to consider:

* Life Is ___ offers a space for readers to consider how they would fill in the blank. It's theologically sound while offering space for questions and conversation.

* The Jesus Is ___ brand continues to see strong book sales, and the associated tour attracts thousands. Judah's tribe is eagerly awaiting a second book.

* Judah is involved in the faith movement within the Hollywood community, such as with Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Jason Kennedy, and others.

* Judah has more than 327,000 followers on Twitter alone.

* Foreword is written by NFL Player and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, quarterback for the

Seattle Seahawks.

Foreword by Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks player, Super Bowl XLVIII champ
From book's conclusion:

"I don't think any human has figured life out completely. We're on a journey of self-discovery and God-discovery. My goal in this book has not been to tell you how to live, but rather to point you to the source and the focus of life itself: Jesus. When we see Jesus for who he is, when we begin to learn from him and follow him, we discover satisfaction, joy, and peace that we never imagined."
About Judah Smith:

Judah and Chelsea Smith are the lead pastors of the City Church in Seattle, Washington. Judah is a well-known speaker at conferences and churches around the world. His humorous yet poignant messages demystify the Bible and show people who Jesus is in their everyday lives. Judah is the author of the New York Times bestseller Jesus Is ___ . Prior to assuming the lead pastorate in 2009, Judah led the youth ministry of the City Church for ten years. He has authored several books and is a popular voice on Twitter. Judah and Chelsea have three children: Zion, Eliott, and Grace. Judah is an avid golfer and all-around sports fan. He believes the Seahawks are God's favorite team and is praying for the Sonics to come back to Seattle.