The Books
Drawing on his background as a retired United Methodist minister, scholar, teacher, writer and world traveler, Dr. Ourisman has authored two books. His first, published in 2000, was written for clergy and theologians. His latest, “One Life, Four Stories” (now available!), is written for anyone who wants to explore the gospels in a new way.
One Life, Four Stories:
Invitations to Faith and Wonder
In his latest book, One Life, Four Stores: Invitations to Faith & Wonder, to be released in 2026 by Berry Powell Press, Rev. Dr. David Ourisman invites readers into a conversation.
He resists the typical, homogenized treatment of the four gospels. Instead, Ourisman provides an accessible approach to reading and understanding the gospels. His new book helps us understand each author’s unique viewpoint – the history, time, place and challenges faced when each gospel was written.
The idea for the book came from adult continuing education students he recently taught through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Their fascination with the course materials encouraged him to write this book and make it available to a wider audience.
Praise for “ONE LIFE, FOUR STORIES”
“In One Life, Four Stories: Invitations to Faith and Wonder, David Ourisman guides readers into the world of the four Gospels with guiding questions as well as clarity. He invites us to see each Gospel through its own distinct lens, shaped by the cultural and religious landscape of its author. Context matters: the challenges, questions, and communities that formed one evangelist differ from those that shaped another, and as a result, each offers a unique expression of the Jesus story. From this foundation, Ourisman draws out themes and insights that allow the nuances of each Gospel to add texture, depth, and wonder to the larger narrative of Christ. The result is a fresh, inviting companion for anyone seeking to encounter Jesus’ story with renewed curiosity and faith.”
– United Methodist Bishop Karen Oliveto
“This book [‘One Life, Four Stories’] is for readers who sense that the story of Jesus is richer and more complex than a single, harmonized telling can convey. With clarity and pastoral wisdom, David Ourisman shows why the New Testament offers four distinct gospel portraits – and how each one carries its own theological purpose and gift. Writing without academic jargon, he opens the historical, social, and spiritual worlds that shaped these narratives, inviting preachers, teachers, and thoughtful readers to listen more closely. By attending to each evangelist’s distinctive voice, the gospels emerge not as a flattened harmony, but as living, formational witnesses – shaped for real communities and still capable of shaping us today.”
– Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D., Professor of Theology, Northwind Seminary, and author of C.S. Lewis on Scripture
“As a Pastor of a small church, and a few years past seminary, One Life, Four Stories was a wonderful re-entry to the window of time and audience for each distinct Gospel. Both theologically compelling and accessible to everyone, I was able to draw on it in the pulpit—helping the voice come alive for those in the pew. It is also a great Bible study for any congregation wanting to open a deeper read and understanding of the Gospels—making them less cookie-cutter hard forms and more living bread.”
– Rev. Kate Snipes, M.Div., United Methodist Church
“Ourisman has gifted us with a helpful and accessible book that acknowledges the complexity of, and the differences among, the four canonical Gospels. For those who are searching not only for understanding but also for spiritual growth without the need for simplistic answers (such as a “cookie-cutter Jesus”), this book is for you.”
– Tat-siong Benny Liew, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, USA
“The four Gospels were never meant to be homogenized; each one has its unique place and value in the New Testament to inspire faithful dialogue about Jesus and his mission. For anyone wanting to understand the Gospels for all their worth, look no further. Dr. Ourisman has given the church a wonderful gift, indeed a gift of wonder.”
– William P. Brown, Ph.D., Professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary, author of Sacred Sense (Upper Room)
“Whether you engage the Gospel stories from the pulpit, the pew, or the street, this book will make that encounter more real, relevant, and meaningful. Ourisman brings insight from scholarship into an accessible and thought-provoking narrative that sheds light on the good news for a complex world.”
– David Vásquez-Levy, President of Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA
“Ourisman’s work is a captivating read which draws one along a well-developed path from one gospel to another, building connections. I experienced – and recommend – it both as a valuable preacher’s resource and as a teaching/learning tool for persons across a spectrum of church and denominational experiences with Biblical literature.”
– Rev. Carol Barriger, M.Div., M.A. (Biblical Studies), United Church of Christ
“The church has harmonized the four gospels, smoothing over the differences so that we have what appears to be one definitive story of Jesus. But there are four gospels, four stories about Jesus, not one. If you sit with that, where does this insight take you? Could being open to all four viewpoints lead us to a deeper and richer understanding of biblical inspiration?”
– David Ourisman
In this fresh, insightful new book, Ourisman takes readers with him on an exploration of how the four gospel stories are different, where their plots vary and how the same characters are portrayed in various ways. He shows readers how the gospel writers are in conversation with each other … and invites his readers to join the conversation.
From Gospel to Sermon:
Preaching Synoptic Texts
Dr. Ourisman’s first book – From Gospel to Sermon: Preaching Synoptic Texts – was written for seminary students and church pastors. It shows how literary insights from the Bible can enrich sermons and lead to more intriguing preaching.
“Ourisman is an excellent tour guide to direct our trip from gospel to sermon because he is so well acquainted with all of the important sites along the way. From careful readings of each of the synoptic gospels, through the forest of sermon preparation, to the destination of the completed sermon, he points out what we need to know to make the journey easier ourselves.”
– Robert Kysar, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
“While encouraging us and teaching us to consider them ‘stories-of-the-whole,’ David Ourisman offers a fresh reading of the synoptic gospels. His literary insights challenge us to read more carefully, his homiletical queries ask for proclamations with theological depth, and his sermons provide moments of devotion. Those who preach the synoptics frequently will find in Ourisman an interesting and stimulating study partner.”
– Larry Paul Jones, Lexington Theological Seminary
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