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.
n
nOriginally 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:
n
nPrayer-Directing: Song of Songs
nStory-Making: Ruth
nPain-Sharing: Lamentations
nNay-Saying: Ecclesiastes
nCommunity-Building: Esther
n
nPointing 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.