New Book Offers a Fresh Look at the Four Gospels for Modern Christians
One Life, Four Stories: Invitations to Faith & Wonder by Rev. David Ourisman Rejects a “Cookie-Cutter Jesus” and Deeply Explores Each Unique Gospel Story
BERKELEY, Calif. – Feb. 10, 2026 – One Life, Four Stories: An Invitation to Faith and Wonder, a new book written by the Rev. David Ourisman and published by Berry Powell Press, was released today. Drawing on decades of experience as a pastor, scholar and teacher, Dr. Ourisman invites readers to encounter the four Gospels not as a single, harmonized narrative, but as four distinct accounts shaped by different communities, the times they lived in and the unique challenges the authors sought to address.
Rather than blending Mark, Matthew, Luke and John into one unified storyline, Ourisman looks at each Gospel on its own terms, and in conversation with each other as well. One Life, Four Stories offers an inviting and thoughtful guide for progressive Christians, spiritual seekers, and anyone curious about the Gospels. In it, Ourisman encourages readers to engage the texts with reflection, openness and wonder.
“Ourisman has gifted us with a helpful and accessible book that acknowledges the complexity of and the differences among the four canonical Gospels,” said Tat-siong Benny Liew, a professor of New Testament at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. “For those who are searching not only for understanding but also for spiritual growth without the need for simplistic answers, this book is for you.”
The Rev. David Ourisman, a New Testament scholar, spent 17 years in pastoral ministry and earned a doctorate in New Testament studies. He has served on the faculty of the Pacific School of Religion, the Vancouver School of Theology and continues to teach and speak in theological and secular settings.
This is Ourisman’s second book. His first, From Gospel to Sermon: Preaching Synoptic Texts, was written primarily for clergy and theologians. One Life, Four Stories, however, is intended for a broader audience, including lay readers, adult education groups and anyone seeking to renew or deepen their faith through a thoughtful engagement.
“We grow in faith not by reinforcing what we already know but by exploring the Mystery that we do not understand,” Ourisman said. “The four Gospels don’t tell the same story. They tell four distinct stories written for four different communities facing different crises. These differences are often smoothed into a single telling, but their diversity was intentional. Exploring each Gospel’s unique point of view, and the many voices in conversation with each other, offers a compelling invitation to deeper faith.”
To celebrate the book’s release, Ourisman will speak at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, on Feb. 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. The event will include a lecture, a panel discussion and is open to the public in person and via Zoom.
“In a time of deep polarization and contested claims on truth, we need a more nuanced understanding of the core stories of our faith and our communal life,” said David Vásquez-Levy, president of the Pacific School of Religion. “Ourisman makes available work that has shaped the academy for decades but often is missing from public discourse.”
“Whether you engage the Gospel stories from the pulpit, the pew or the street, this book makes that encounter more real, relevant and meaningful,” Vásquez-Levy said. “Ourisman brings scholarly insight into an accessible and thought-provoking narrative that speaks to a complex world.”
One Life, Four Stories: An Invitation to Faith and Wonder is available in hardcover and e-book formats through Amazon and at independent bookstores across the United States.
For more information about the book and the book release event, visit www.davidourisman.com.
To purchase the book on Amazon, go to https://www.amazon.com/dp/1957321288/.