Summer Sermon Series 2008Begins June 14 & 15
Participating Adult Classes
Weekly Study Topics and Reading Schdedule
Book ISBN# 978-0-310-24695-4
I remember that when I was in high school, we were given a “summer reading list” - books that our English teacher expected us to read during summer vacation. Initially I was never too excited about this “list,” but as I read the books (most of them anyway), I began to appreciate the discipline of staying in the habit
of reading. It felt good to be engaging my mind and heart in something other than the reruns on television. Well, just in case no one has given you a “summer reading list,” I’ve got a book just for you!
At Bethany UMC for the past several summers we have had a “summer sermon series” based on a book that is good “summer” reading. This year’s book is called The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People by John Ortberg. A note from the back cover:
The heart of Christianity is about transformation—about a God who isn’t just concerned with our “spiritual lives,” but who wants to impact every aspect of living… The Life You’ve Always Wanted offers modern perspectives on the ancient path of spiritual disciplines. But this is more than just a book about things we should do if we want to be good Christians. It’s a road map toward true transformation, compelling because it starts not with ourselves but with the object of our journey—Jesus Christ.
Some of the spiritual disciplines we’ll explore include the practices of celebration, of “slowing,” of prayer, of servanthood, of reflection on Scripture, and more. Ortberg’s book is very practical and encouraging. If you’ve ever wondered about spiritual disciplines and what they might look like in your own life, this book is for you.
The sermon series will begin the weekend of June 14/15 and run through the end of August. For the most part the chapters are independent of one another, so if you have to miss a Sunday, you don’t have to miss the series. The books have a study guide in them and several of our Adult Sunday School classes will be following that guide. We’ll also provide some study questions in the bulletin each week.
As you make your plans for the summer, I hope your plans will include joining us for worship and a little summer reading!
- Sheri Clifton