Best Selling Books by Eugene H. Peterson

The fourth volume in Peterson''s best-selling "conversations" in spiritual theology Just as God used words both to create the world and to give us commandments, we too use words for many different purposes. In fact, we use the same language to talk to each other and to talk to God. Can our everyday speech, then, be just as important as the words and prayers we hear from the pulpit? Eugene Peterson unequivocally says "Yes!" Peterson''s Tell It Slant explores how Jesus used language, particularly in his parables and prayers. His was not a direct language of information or instruction but an indirect, oblique language requiring a participating imagination — "slant" language. Tell It Slant beautifully points to Jesus'' engaging, relational way of speaking as a model for us today.

Together for the first time in one devotional, experience daily readings from such bestselling and respected voices as Frederick Buechner, Brennan Manning, Henri Nouwen, Eugene Peterson, James Bryan Smith, A. W. Tozer, Dallas Willard, and N. T. Wright. Faith That Matters was designed to help you confidently walk in faith every day of the year. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get lost in a never-ending list of projects and demands. We become distracted with what’s urgent instead of what matters most. And in the process, we lose sight of who we are . . . and who God is. Faith That Matters is a beautifully designed devotional that reminds us of the timeless truths of Scripture. Each reading offers powerful stories and inspiring insights from trusted Christian communicators such as: Frederick Buechner Brennan Manning Henri Nouwen Eugene Peterson James Bryan Smith W. Tozer Dallas Willard N. T. Wright All 365 devotions also include a relevant Bible verse, practical suggestions for living out that day’s reading, and a brief closing prayer. The variety of contributors provides a treasure trove of unique perspectives on issues ranging from God’s love, mercy, and hope to themes of grace, provision, and peace. These well-known authors have sold a combined total of millions of books. Now, for the first time, their writings have been brought together in one devotional. Whether you seek to understand the foundation of our faith tenets or simply need a daily dose of spiritual encouragement, your heart and soul will be refreshed anew with each reading. Draw closer to God every day of the year with Faith That Matters.

Like Eugene Peterson''s other books on pastoring, Under the Unpredictable Plant is full of stimulating insights, candid observations, and biblically grounded prescriptions. Yet this book emanates with a special poignancy out of Peterson''s own crisis experience as a pastor. Peterson tells about the "abyss," the "gaping crevasse," the "chasm" that he experienced, early in his ministry, between his Christian faith and his pastoral vocation. He was astonished and dismayed to find that his personal spirituality, his piety, was inadequate for his vocation -- and he argues that the same is true of pastors in general. In the book of Jonah -- a parable with a prayer at its center -- Peterson finds a subversive, captivating story that can help pastors recover their "vocational holiness." Using the Jonah story as a narrative structure, Peterson probes the spiritual dimensions of the pastoral calling and seeks to reclaim the ground taken over by those who are trying to enlist pastors in religious careers.

Color with Friends. Be Drawn In to Scripture. An unlikely queen. A murderous enemy. A miraculous turnaround. The story of Esther is breathtaking. Through study, coloring, and conversation, discover how to find your voice and grow your faith during times of trouble. Deepen your friendships as you gather around Scripture for coloring and conversation. Drawn In offers simple four-week Bible studies--perfect for groups or personal devotions. Coloring quiets your heart and mind so you can enter fully into Scripture''s stories. The Bible''s passion and personality come through in The Message, surprising new and old Bible readers alike. Discover the delight of being Drawn In.

The Jesus Way — part of Eugene Peterson''s meaty "conversations" on spiritual theology A way of sacrifice. A way of failure. A way on the margins. A way of holiness. In The Jesus Way Eugene Peterson shows how the ways of those who came before Christ — Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and Isaiah — revealed and prepared the "way of the Lord" that became incarnate and complete in Jesus. Further, Peterson calls into question common "ways" followed by the contemporary American church, showing in stark relief how what we have chosen to focus on — consumerism, celebrity, charisma, and so forth — obliterates what is unique in the Jesus way.

Biblical direction and encouragement for graduates. The Christian life is a process of becoming, and that process can begin at any time and has no point of ending in this life. Who you are today, this day, is the person Jesus invites to follow him. That said, there are transition points in every life. Graduation is such a transition point: It marks the end of one life stage and the beginning of another. The demands on your life, the complexities of your challenges, the things that bring you joy and the things that cause you stress--they''re different once you''ve moved from student life to this new season. This book helps you through that transition. It is made up mostly of the words of God--passages from the Scriptures that speak to this season of change, that point to the way of faithfulness, that anticipate and prepare you for the life ahead of you. The Word of God is a faithful guide to life, and a life with God is the best kind of life available. This book is meant to help you lean into that kind of life. Features Included: "Getting Started" Practices at the end of each chapter Topical Index for Recent Graduates The Making of the Message

Find Your Way in Scripture.Scripture is another world. One we find our way into. And one that finds its way into us. Steeped in Scripture, Eugene Peterson''s faith-filled reflections open the door.The Message Devotional Bibleinvites you on a journey--call it practicing resurrection, call it eating this book, or call it simply a long obedience in the same direction. From the pastor who translated the entire Bible, The Message Devotional Biblesets you on the right path--devoted not just to the Bible but to God, who, in Jesus, became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.Open the door between Scripture and your world.From Eugene . . . Over 600 scriptural insights 52 contemplative readings Introductions to the books and genres of the Bible Plus . . . Large print for relaxed, enjoyable reading More than 400 reflection questions 9 neighborhood-themed articles

A devotional prayer book focusing on one year with the Psalms, the most sensitive and honest words written about daily stress and daily blessings. Prayer is both our most human action and our most human language. But, as with any other language, we may find ourselves clumsy and undisciplined in our attempts at it. Praying with the Psalms can help Christians become fluent in the language of prayer, encouraging us to pray even when we don''t feel like it, and to learn prayers that are both honest and right. Based on the life and words of David, the Psalms provide insightful reflections on depression, anger, frustration, fear, and insecurity, as well as joy, exhilaration, triumph, and gladness. Praying with the Psalms offers daily readings to guide us in expressing to God the wide range of human emotions. Through this enriched communication with God, we are led to deeper understanding—and a truer following—of his will.

God Wants to Meet You in These Pages. A generation of Christians grew up with Message Bibles in their hands. It was the translation of choice for many churches seeking to draw the next generation into the transformational power of the Scriptures. It''s time for a new generation to have that same opportunity to read God''s Word in a conversational and down-to-earth cadence. New supplemental features make this a highly useable and engaging resource for contemporary students as they seek to discover the way of Jesus in the pages of the Bible. A carefully selected network of youth ministry professionals provide devotional content for this portion and the full Bible. Key features of this edition include: Genre and book introduction tailored to students, 26 devotions with guided reflection on key Bible passages, Eugene''s introduction to The Message with a supplemental essay on the Bible''s relevance to today''s students, Guide for how to get the most of the Student Devotional Bible, Text of The Message in a highly readable typesetting.

Whereas much of the current literature on pastoring stresses up-to-date training and new techniques stemming from the behavioral sciences, Eugene Peterson here calls for returning to an "old" resource--the Bible--as the basis for all of pastoral ministry. Originally published in 1980 and now being reprinted to meet continuing demand, Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work shows how five Old Testament books provide a solid foundation for much of what a pastor does: Prayer-Directing: Song of Songs Story-Making: Ruth Pain-Sharing: Lamentations Nay-Saying: Ecclesiastes Community-Building: Esther Pointing to the relevance of ancient wisdom, adapting Jewish religious tradition to contemporary pastoral practice, and affirming a significant link between pastoral work and the act of worship, this book opens up to pastors a wealth of valuable practical-theological insights.

Eat This Book challenges us to read the Scriptures on their own terms, as God''s revelation, and to live them as we read them. With warmth and wisdom Peterson offers greatly needed, down-to-earth counsel on spiritual reading. In these pages he draws readers into a fascinating conversation on the nature of language, the ancient practice of lectio divina, and the role of Scripture translations; included here is the "inside story" behind Peterson''s own popular Bible translation, The Message.

The renowned Christian pastor and author of The Message and Run with Horses shares his spirituality in a very personal collection of poetry. Eugene H. Peterson had long been known as a pastor, professor, and provocateur. With his first-ever collection of verse, Peterson became known as a poet, too. Holy Luck emerged over many years, initially as individual poems sent to family, friends, and church congregations. Now, the translator of the bestselling Bible paraphrase The Message has collected his poems into three thematic sections of verses—on the Beatitudes, the kingdom of God in the ordinary, and following Jesus everyday—here released as one transcendent volume.

Spiritual reading has fallen on bad times. Today, reading is largely a consumer activity, done for information that may fuel ambitions or careers -- and the faster the better. Take and Read represents Eugene H. Peterson''s attempt to rekindle the activity of spiritual reading, reading that considers any book that comes to hand in a spiritual way, tuned to the Spirit, alert to intimations of God. Take and Read provides an annotated list of the books that have stood the test of time and that, for Peterson, are spiritually formative in the Christian life. The books on this list range from standard spiritual classics to novels, poems, and mysteries, and include an equally broad spectrum of authors -- from Augustine and C. S. Lewis to William Faulkner and Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Annotations following each entry offer Peterson''s own significant insights into the power of each work.

Cool vintage covers and a lower price make these Bibles perfect gifts.

The Life with God Bible combines the depth of a study Bible with the warmth of a devotional Bible, offering a new way to discover the full riches of the Scriptures. According to Richard Foster, bestselling author and the project′s editor, the Bible is all about human life "with God." As we read Scripture, we should consider how God is with us in each story and allow ourselves to be spiritually transformed. Many people are looking for a new way to read the Bible, not as a text to be mastered. but as a story to enter into and a lifestyle to pursue. This unique Bible, previously published as The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible and spearheaded by bestselling authors Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline) and Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy), introduces the concept of life with God - or the "with-God life" - a model for seeing the whole of Scripture as the unfolding story of God′s plan for our loving relationship with the Creator. This central theme weaves throughout the essays, introductions, notes, and exercises, powerfully revealing how God is present to his people today and throughout history. Yet our relationship with God should not be passive. Concrete practices - Spiritual Disciplines - have been used throughout church history to guide disciples of Jesus. This Bible integrates the Spiritual Disciplines into the Christian life by showing how they are central to the Bible′s teachings and stories. Abraham and Ruth, Moses and Deborah, Jesus and the disciples all provide amazing examples of the life-changing power of prayer, worship, fasting, celebration, and many other Spiritual Disciplines. Scripture thus becomes a primary means for the discovery, instruction, and practice of these disciplines as well as a tool for spiritual formation. Combining the highest possible biblical scholarship with the deepest possible heart devotion, this new Bible project seeks to nourish inner transformation by unlocking and revealing the profound resources within Scripture for changing our hearts and characters and bringing them in line with what God wants for our lives. The Life with God Bible will redefine what the Bible means for Christian discipleship.

The Life with God Bible combines the depth of a study Bible with the warmth of a devotional Bible, offering a new way to discover the full riches of the Scriptures. According to Richard Foster, bestselling author and the project′s editor, the Bible is all about human life "with God." As we read Scripture, we should consider how God is with us in each story and allow ourselves to be spiritually transformed. Many people are looking for a new way to read the Bible, not as a text to be mastered. but as a story to enter into and a lifestyle to pursue. This unique Bible, previously published as The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible and spearheaded by bestselling authors Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline) and Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy), introduces the concept of life with God - or the "with-God life" - a model for seeing the whole of Scripture as the unfolding story of God′s plan for our loving relationship with the Creator. This central theme weaves throughout the essays, introductions, notes, and exercises, powerfully revealing how God is present to his people today and throughout history. Yet our relationship with God should not be passive. Concrete practices - Spiritual Disciplines - have been used throughout church history to guide disciples of Jesus. This Bible integrates the Spiritual Disciplines into the Christian life by showing how they are central to the Bible′s teachings and stories. Abraham and Ruth, Moses and Deborah, Jesus and the disciples all provide amazing examples of the life-changing power of prayer, worship, fasting, celebration, and many other Spiritual Disciplines. Scripture thus becomes a primary means for the discovery, instruction, and practice of these disciplines as well as a tool for spiritual formation. Combining the highest possible biblical scholarship with the deepest possible heart devotion, this new Bible project seeks to nourish inner transformation by unlocking and revealing the profound resources within Scripture for changing our hearts and characters and bringing them in line with what God wants for our lives. The Life with God Bible will redefine what the Bible means for Christian discipleship.

Best-selling authors Marva Dawn and Eugene Peterson offer encouragement to pastors. Pastors are strategically placed to counter the culture. No other profession looks so inoffensive but is in fact so dangerous to the status quo. Their weapon? A gospel that is profoundly countercultural. But standing firm in today''s world isn''t easy. Powerful forces, both subtle and obvious, attempt to domesticate pastors, to make them, in a word, unnecessary. In this book, two of today''s most respected authors help pastors recover their gospel identity and maintain a pure vision of Christian leadership. Marva Dawn and Eugene Peterson reconnect pastors with the biblical texts that will train them as countercultural servants of the gospel. Marva Dawn looks to Paul''s letter to the Ephesians for instruction for churches seeking to live faithfully in today''s world. In turn, Eugene Peterson explores Romans, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus, drawing from them the correct view of pastoral identity.

''''Over 200,000 Copies Sold''''. Since Eugene Peterson wrote this spiritual formation classic more than forty years ago, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been inspired by its call to deeper discipleship. Our society is still obsessed with quick fixes. But Peterson''s time-tested prescription for discipleship remains the same-a long obedience in the same direction. Following Jesus requires a deepening life of prayer, and throughout history Christians have learned to pray from the Psalms. Peterson finds particular encouragement for today''s pilgrims in the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). With prophetic and pastoral wisdom, he shows how the psalms teach us to grow in worship, service, joy, work, humility, community, and blessing. Now including a bibliography of Peterson''s works, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction is available as part of the IVP Signature Collection, which features special editions of iconic books in celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of InterVarsity Press. A companion Bible study guide is also available.