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The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction (The Pastoral #4)
Peterson, who has been gaining a growing reputation as a "pastor's pastor", speaks words of wisdom and refreshment for pastors caught in the busy-ness of preaching, teaching, and "running the church". Chapters include poetic reflections on the Beatitudes, advice on spiritual direction "between Sundays", and the language of prayer.
Paperback, 179 pages
Published
November 28th 1993
by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
(first published 1989)
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Eugene Peterson is gift to the body of Christ! I have personally always enjoyed the work of Peterson. He holds a special place within my devotional and spiritual life. His translation of the bible, titled The Message, has brought scripture alive for me. His collections of commentaries, books, and articles are no different in their effectiveness. In his book The Contemplative Pastor, Peterson speaks as a clear prophetic voice to the leaders of the church today. He speaks from a wealth of persona...more
Jamaal Bell
rated it
Recommends it for:
pastors, ministers, christian counselors
Shelves:
christian-applications
Eugene Peterson’s “Contemplative Pastor” was not a difficult read for me, however, was difficult to reflect on mainly because I’m not a full-time pastor nor do I have experience pastoring in a capacity the Peterson suggests. His text assumes that the reader is a full-time pastor. If found myself agreeing with most of everything he suggested and found that dangerous because I lack the experience to discern if his assertions were applicable or not applicable in my ministry where I am more of a s...more
I really would not have ever picked up a Eugene Peterson book if it had not been recommended to me by a pastor friend/mentor.
Peterson really does have a lot to offer in this area. This book was really helpful to me.
Here's something that spurred a whole lot of thought:
"The happy result of a theological understanding of people as sinners is that the pastor is saved from continual surprise that they are in fact sinners."
It was a great and challengi...more
Peterson really does have a lot to offer in this area. This book was really helpful to me.
Here's something that spurred a whole lot of thought:
"The happy result of a theological understanding of people as sinners is that the pastor is saved from continual surprise that they are in fact sinners."
It was a great and challengi...more
To be honest I found this book very tough.
It was written in a style that did not sit well with me and found myself drifting off, many times.
I think it was the fact that the author felt he had to use extreme long "impressive" words all the time, which was very off putting.
If you are the "academic" type, then you will most likely like this book a lot more than I did.
I found the content a little messy and honestly found it hard to see what...more
It was written in a style that did not sit well with me and found myself drifting off, many times.
I think it was the fact that the author felt he had to use extreme long "impressive" words all the time, which was very off putting.
If you are the "academic" type, then you will most likely like this book a lot more than I did.
I found the content a little messy and honestly found it hard to see what...more
This is my favorite of Peterson's pastoral books. His message is to keep it simple. A pastor is more contemplative than active and he should attend to the basics of word, prayer, and counsel. Anything beyond that is extra-curricular.
This was a great read. From poetry, to prayer, to pastoring people and everything in between, this was a great book. His observations regarding rest and sabbath were particularly insightful.
Insightful message that pastors need to hear, but gets drowned out by emphasis on leadership and other roles of contemporary pastoral ministry.
A must read for any pastor -- his chapter on the "unbusy" pastor is brilliant.
Great, and just awful. Depending.
I've known about Peterson for years, but am just now getting around to reading him. Phenomenal stuff that I'm looking forward to digesting as I get further into reading.
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Really liked this book - we read it as a pastoral staff. Peterson is a beautiful writer. He is also a pastor that I don't feel is a very good model -- he limits his church size, he doesn't go to meetings, he doesn't participate in community events. It would be easy to be contemplative if you spent your time like he does. Except, I just don't have the same kind of time . . .
I'm glad God made someone like Eugene Peterson. I'm grateful for this book. This will not be the only time I read it.
This is not only a great book for people in vocational ministry, but it is also a great book for anyone who wants their life to be in service for others.
Peterson has very eloquently argued for a basic loving way to care for people that is very counter-cultural and very Kingdom oriented.
Peterson has very eloquently argued for a basic loving way to care for people that is very counter-cultural and very Kingdom oriented.
Refreshing read. Poetic and insightful.
This book is fabulous. It makes every argument I've wanted to about slowing down as a prophetic act of pastoral leadership. I LOVE IT. As I move forward in the ordination process, this is a priceless resource to return to.
I am not a pastor, but I do think this is a wonderful book either for fulltimer priest or for lay people who seek to understand the contemplative pastoring
Like Eugene Peterson, I was born in Montana; and I like his plain common sense and heart to communicate Christ weekly through word and sacrament.
Really probably deserves 5 stars, but the insightful message is slowed by a less than engaging style. All pastors need to read this book.
One of the best books I have read on pastoral ministry and the pastor's role as a spiritual guide.
Very influential in shaping my understanding of what the Christian ministry should look like.
Rich
marked it as to-read
one I have had forever and only heard good things about, but haven't read yet.
Blake Sabiston
is currently reading it
Jason
marked it as to-read
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Eugene H. Peterson is a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. For many years he was James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He has written over thirty books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language a contemporary translation of t...more
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