Every Job a Parable: What Walmart Greeters, Nurses, and Astronauts Tell Us about God

Based on years of research and interviews, Van Sloten (The Day Metallica Came to Church) explores how Jesus speaks to individuals and to the world using vocation as parable. He urges readers to stop and consider how character traits of God are reflected in the things that make us good at the work we do, and to experience God more on the job. The book is organized around four key questions, with chapter groupings around particular themes. Van Sloten weaves in vignettes from various occupations that reflect aspects of God’s image in the traits that help people excel in those professions. He delves into what it means to live in the image of God, how work is a parable, what God reveals to people about himself through their work, and how people can become closer to God through work. In some places Van Sloten diverges considerably from the topic at hand, but he faithfully returns to the image-bearing nature of day-to-day work. His writing will be best suited for pastors and others with a broader interest in vocational topics.

Deeply thoughtful about the most important things while also drawing on the best of the Christian tradition, Every Job a Parable is for every man and every woman who cares about the work of work.

A greatly needed resource that pastorally weaves together biblical teaching and rich theology in the context of a wide diversity of occupations.

John Van Sloten gives us eyes to see that our work is not only designed to serve others but is also essentially formative on our journey to greater Christlikeness. I highly recommend this book.

All work is meant to be God honoring. I have long believed that and taught it. But in this marvelous book John Van Sloten brings it all alive for me in new ways. I will be ready to read a parable from the Lord every time I see a sanitation worker or a Walmart greeter!

John Van Sloten’s book presents a wide-ranging and deeply practical theology of vocation, helping readers see how God speaks and works through jobs we might never have thought were “sacred.” A treasure trove of insights and a great resource for the church.

Filled with startling insights and fascinating characters, Van Sloten’s book will help you see that what you do Monday through Friday truly is a sacred calling, one in which God wants to speak to you and to the rest of the world. Highly recommended!

Here are stories of regular people who are discovering the bubbling ferment of God’s Kingdom in their callings and vocations. Read this and be encouraged that the Spirit really is out ahead of us in our work lives and callings.