Eugene H. Peterson

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Articles & Essays by Eugene H. Peterson

Book Excerpt from A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

A Life Lived Upward Toward God

Published June, 1980 • Featured August 25, 2022

With pastoral wisdom and care, Eugene Peterson explains how the ​“Songs of Ascents” sung by ancient Hebrews can help us hone a pilgrim mindset as we stay the course of discipleship.

Book Excerpt from A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

Help from the Hills?

Published June, 1980 • Featured January 17, 2022

Eugene Peterson examines what Psalm 121 has to say about hardships in the lives of disciples: ​“At no time is there the faintest suggestion that the life of faith exempts us from difficulties. What it promises is preservation from all the evil in them.”

Book Excerpt from The Unnecessary Pastor

Renewing Our Most Basic Commitment

Published November, 1999 • Featured November 9, 2021

Marva Dawn and Eugene Peterson present a counter-cultural call for pastors to honor their basic commitment as Christians over and above professional religious duties, and to embrace an identity as ​“unnecessary” to unhealthy demands of culture, ego, and congregational ambitions.

Book Excerpt

Letter to a Young Pastor

Published June, 2020 • Featured February 10, 2021

“I wonder if one of the greatest things that a pastor can do,” writes Eugene Peterson to his son Eric, ​“is to treat men and women with simple dignity.” This letter is one of many exchanged between father and son, two pastors working out how to best care for the people of God.

Book Excerpt from The Jesus Way

Jesus: the Truth and the Way

Published February, 2007 • Featured October 24, 2018

“Jesus as the truth gets far more attention than Jesus as the way.” Eugene Peterson encourages us to pattern ourselves after the way of Jesus rather than the ways of the world.

Interview from Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

The Re-emergence of Spiritual Theology

Featured February 23, 2017

Richard Foster interviews Eugene Peterson about Peterson’s book Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places. Enjoy this conversation between two old friends.