The God of the Garden: Thoughts on Creation, Culture, and the Kingdom

Andrew Peterson examines the connection between Christian faith, local geography, and the stewardship of nature. He framing the physical world not as a temporary backdrop, but as a central part of God’s redemptive work. Using the trees in his own Nashville backyard as anchors, Peterson recounts personal histories of planting and loss to argue that caring for a specific plot of land is a spiritual discipline. He discusses the biblical concept of the New Earth, suggesting that the resurrection involves the restoration of physical landscapes rather than an escape from them.

This book serves readers interested in creation care and the intersection of environmentalism with theology. It appeals to people seeking a grounded, place-based spirituality that values physical labor and local community. Readers finish the book with a framework for viewing their own neighborhoods as sacred spaces. They gain a perspective that links the act of planting a tree or tending a garden to the broader hope of restoration, moving beyond abstract belief into a tangible relationship with the dirt and life beneath their feet.