The God of the Mundane: Reflections on Ordinary Life for Ordinary People

(Second Edition, freshly edited, with a new Foreword and Preface)

It’s OK to not be a “radical” Christian. Our life is not about what we do for God. It’s about what he does for us.

You’ve heard the message. “If you really loved God, you would be totally committed—do something big, sell your belongings, maybe become a missionary.” Matt Redmond has preached it himself. But here he simply asks: What about the rest of us?

Through stories of pastors, plumbers, dental hygienists, and stay-at-home moms, Matt finds grace and mercy in chicken fingers, classic films, and smiles from strangers. Ultimately, he convicts us of what he has learned himself…

There is a God of the mundane, and our life is not about what we do for him. It’s about what he does for us.

“Nearly everyone I know, including me, is in desperate need of sensing the sacramental nature of daily life—how routines, homework, housework, and every normal, little thing can be a means of grace. In The God of the Mundane, Matt Redmond has done us a wonderful service in infusing the ordinary with glory, helping us slow down, reflect, and praise the Lord who is with us at all times.” — Jared C. Wilson, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Spurgeon College; author, The Imperfect of Disciple

“If anyone is looking for biblical proof that God does His best work in the ordinary, simple, no-fanfare places of life, we need look no further than the life of Christ Himself. Hailing from an obscure, unrecognized town, born to a young and mostly unseen couple, working a blue-collar job, and teaching all those parables featuring the simple stuff of life, Christ demonstrated that God chooses and even delights in ‘the weak things’ as a primary me as by which to save the world. Of all the books written to help us reconnect with this vital reality, I cannot think of a better and more life-giving one than The God of the Mundane.” — Scott Sauls, senior pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church; author of several books, including Jesus Outside the Lines and A Gentle Answer

“Often I’m seduced by the glam, glitter, and glory of the epic life. I’m induced to be an Influencer. When I miss the mark, I’m deflated with the ‘what-if’s’ of my little life. Thankfully, Matt Redmond shakes me out of the lies of chasing the ‘boastful pride of life’ and brings me to a God who calls us to the ordinary glories found only in Him. This book will help you see that glorious God as well.” — Jeremy Writebol, lead campus pastor, Woodside Bible Church; executive director, Gospel-Centered Discipleship

“Too often we act as though living a quiet and godly life is a sad concession, rather than a high aspiration (1 Thess. 4:11). The God of the Mundane helps us recapture a biblical vision of the ‘ordinary’ Christian life in a way that I pray will resonate deep within its readers.” — Aaron Armstrong, Brand Manager, The Gospel Project; author, Epic, and Awaiting a Savior

“At a time when we are encouraged to believe that the next revival is just around the corner if we try hard enough, or that we are wasting our lives if we are not ‘making a significant impact’; and in a contemporary culture where the biggest and best demand our adulation and aspirations, Redmond’s book comes as a breath of fresh air.

“Founded on Scripture and steeped in reality, this book reminds us that we have been listening to the wrong story. God’s extraordinary grace is seen through, not in spite of, the ordinariness of life. Perhaps, just as we need to redeem the word ‘secular’ and develop a more earthy spirituality, it is time also to honor God, the ‘Creator Mundi,’ by choosing to live well in the mundane world He has created for us and inhabits with us.” — Dr. David J. Montgomery, Associate Regional Secretary, IFES Europe (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students)

Matt Redmond was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and lives there today. He attended Southeastern Bible College and Covenant Theological Seminary, and has served in pastoral ministry, taught school, worked in the banking industry, and now does counseling focusing on marriage, anxiety, and anger. Matt and his wife, Bethany, have three children: Emma, Knox, and Dylan. Matt's writing has been published by The Gospel Coalition, He Reads Truth, and other outlets. He also writes at his blog, Echoes and Stars (mattbredmond.com).