If you would like a reading challenge, I would suggest getting acquainted with John Wesley’s sermons. These sermons are a part of our doctrine and have the power to inspire and guide us into a new season of faithfulness – as individuals and as a church.
With this motivation, I suggest this series that starts with Advent and goes through the liturgical year. In each chapter there is a paraphrase of one of Wesley’s Sermons, a devotion on the same theme, and resources for reflection. In terms of scholarship, one thing that makes this series attractive is the way Wesley’s sermons have been rearranged to fit within our regular liturgical rhythms. We can truly go through the year with Wesley in a way that connects us to worship and to the seasons of our lives.
The journey starts with Wanting More: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany Inspired by the Teachings of John Wesley. The next book, Awakening Through Wilderness takes us through Lent, Easter, and up to Pentecost. The third book – Radically Blessed – takes us through the sermon on the mount. And a fourth book will be coming out for the Fall focusing on practical divinity. The title will be Heart to Holiness.
As we move into a new season of faithfulness and hopefully fruitfulness, spending some time in our roots and history may be an important key. I believe this is true.
Give it a try. There is a sample of the first book on Kindle. Or it can be purchased through Market Square Books, Cokesbury, or Amazon/Kindle. I pray that this will be challenging, inspiring, and will help you and all of us bear good fruit into a new season.
Connected In Christ 