A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
by Eugene Peterson | Book Summary
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Author: Eugene Peterson
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This is the challenge of Christian discipleship and formation. Millions make decisions for Jesus every year. These decision-only Christians can be thought of as tourists who drop in to see the sights, then check out and go back to normal life. The goal of Christian discipleship is to create pilgrims, not tourists. A pilgrim is someone committed to "going someplace, going to God, and whose path for getting there is the way, Jesus Christ" (p. 17). The task of pastoral ministry is to help people embrace their identity as a pilgrim and to help people walk as disciples of Jesus. All of Scripture is useful in helping pilgrims walk with Jesus, but one of the most helpful sections of Scripture is the group of Psalms known as the Songs of Ascent. These songs are found in Psalm 120-134, and they contain a treasure of truth for pilgrims. |
Eugene Peterson was born in 1932 and died in 2018. He spent his adult life as a professor, pastor, and author. He authored more than thirty books, including The Pastor (Peterson's memoir), Run with the Horses, and As Kingfishers Catch Fire. He was also the author of The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language.
In addition to his work as a scholar and author, Peterson was the founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He served as pastor of this congregation for 29 years.
Peterson was educated at Seattle Pacific University, New York Theological Seminary, and Johns Hopkins University. He was a professor of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia until he retired in 2006.
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
by Eugene Peterson
[ Book Summary ]
| Author | Eugene Peterson |
| Publisher | IVP |
| Date | 2000 (2nd Ed) |
| Pages | 212 |
Overview:
"We assume that if something can be done at all, it can be done quickly and efficiently." (p. 16) However, those who have served God's people in a local church setting know better. "It is not difficult in such a world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terribly difficult to sustain the interest." (p. 16)
This is the challenge of Christian discipleship and formation. Millions make decisions for Jesus every year. These decision-only Christians can be thought of as tourists who drop in to see the sights, then check out and go back to normal life.
The goal of Christian discipleship is to create pilgrims, not tourists. A pilgrim is someone committed to "going someplace, going to God, and whose path for getting there is the way, Jesus Christ" (p. 17). The task of pastoral ministry is to help people embrace their identity as a pilgrim and to help people walk as disciples of Jesus.
All of Scripture is useful in helping pilgrims walk with Jesus, but one of the most helpful sections of Scripture is the group of Psalms known as the Songs of Ascent. These songs are found in Psalm 120-134, and they contain a treasure of truth for pilgrims.
Eugene Peterson was born in 1932 and died in 2018. He spent his adult life as a professor, pastor, and author. He authored more than thirty books, including The Pastor (Peterson's memoir), Run with the Horses, and As Kingfishers Catch Fire. He was also the author of The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language.
In addition to his work as a scholar and author, Peterson was the founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He served as pastor of this congregation for 29 years.
Peterson was educated at Seattle Pacific University, New York Theological Seminary, and Johns Hopkins University. He was a professor of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia until he retired in 2006.