2024 Summer Devotional

Redeemer Family,

In the past, our summer preaching series has concentrated on a book of the Bible. This summer will be different! We are focusing on the way of Jesus as it relates to spiritual practices. This series is an invitation to pay attention to where you see the gracious and active presence of God in the story of your life. Lean in this summer as we focus on our spiritual formation, both individually and communally. Join us as we practice new things during our worship services that might help us experience God in new ways. We are all being formed by something…let’s pay closer attention to what is forming our spiritual lives.

Please pick up your devotional in the Lobby and feel free to grab one for a neighbor or friend. Make sure to watch Garland Tackett’s video below to here more about Walking the Way and how you can utilize it in a digital version if you’d prefer.

Let the journey begin!
- Adam

How To Use It

This devotional book has been written for both individuals and groups. The book is part of the Redeemer 2024 Sermon Series entitled “Walking the Way,” beginning May 12th and ending August 11th. In years past, Redeemer has always explored a book of the Bible for both the sermon series and the devotion. This year, we are focusing on spiritual practices that help us to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.

For this devotion we will consider six practices: Silence/Solitude, Service, Sabbath, Fasting, Prayer, and Community. For each of these practices, we will first look at the way Jesus incorporated them into his life. Then we will reflect how his way can become our practice. Each week is divided into six subsections.

Invitation

Every week opens with a prayer or poem to reflect upon. Our encouragement is that you start each day of that week with this “encouragement is that you start each day of that week with this invitation Please don’t be in a rush. What do you notice? What stands out to you? Talk to God about what you notice.

Scripture Meditation

There are five scriptures for the week. We have tried to keep them short. Read the passage the first time for information. After the first reading, pause for a moment. Now read the passage for a second time. This time read slower. As with the invitation, what do you notice? Talk to God about what you notice. This is a good opportunity to use your personal journal or the pages at the back of this devotional to write down what you notice.

Reflective Reading

This is the main reading section. You may notice that there is less reading in this devotion compared to those we have done in the past. This is purposeful. Our hope is that with less to read, you will slow down and reflect.

Questions to Consider

We have asked each authors to come up with two or three questions to consider after the reading. Use the space provided “to write down your answers.

A Weekly Practice

Each week, our authors encourage you to introduce a practice into your life. Not all practices are helpful for all people, which is why we are giving you a variety with which to experiment. In fact, you may learn a new practice but make a slight variation according to your stage of life. The purpose of each exercise is not to simply complete the practice. The goal is not to simply do something, but to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Our Children’s Pastor, Hillary Bassham, has contributed additional practices to be exercised by the entire family.

Discuss Together

Finally, each week you will be given four questions to use in a group discussion. The group could be your Small Group here at Redeemer, or it could be with your spouse or a close friend. The point is to discuss what you are learning and experiencing with someone else. Spiritual practices can be exercised individually or in groups. The goal is to talk about your experiences with others. Equally important is a chance for you to hear about the experiences of others. This two-way conversation is critical for spiritual formation.