Over the coming months in Karis Church, we’ll spend time asking the Lord to give us deeper joy in Jesus. God has provided us so many great opportunities for ministry in our new neighborhood. We want any work we do to be motivated by joy in Him. More than anything, we want to glorify God by our joy in Him.  

Our MCs will enter a season of sabbath in June and July - eating, celebrating, and playing as gospel communities together. 

We’ll also take a break from our walk through the gospel of John. We’ll have a special series on Sundays entitled “Sing for Joy.” We’ll talk about the role of singing in the Christian life and how it’s tied to the joy we have in the gospel.

We’re additionally excited for you to join in on our annual summer “One Read.” We’ll be walking through Tim Chester’s Enjoying God. I think you’ll find it to be a very practical book. Chester does an exceptional job of tying who God is and what He’s done in the gospel to our everyday lives. You can pick up copies of this great book beginning next Sunday at our Ridgeway location. Normally $15, we’ll have the first thirty copies available for $8. Grab it and read it with us. The chapters are short. However, they’re filled with truths that are truly life-changing.

Let’s commit to pray together during this summer, and really in the year ahead, for our joy. Karis believes that delight in God brings glory to Him. (In fact, if you’re looking for another book for the summer, jump into this classic.) Would you join with me, asking God to work as we kick off this One Read and our summer together? Would you fast and pray with me? 

I’m going to spend from dinner on Friday, May 31st to dinner on Saturday, June 1st fasting and praying. Would you join with me? If that time doesn’t work, choose another. However, I think there is something great that happens when God’s people come together, fasting and praying. God tells us, if we make requests in accordance with His will, He is pleased to answer (1 John 5:14). What could God be more pleased to grant us than this? Join with me, please.

Enjoying God - Summer One Read 2019 - Suggested Schedule

June 2 - intro, chapter 1

June 9 - chapter 2

June 16 - chapters 3

June 23 - chapters 4-5

June 30 - chapters 6-7

July 7 - chapters 8-9

July 14 - chapters 10-11

July 21 - chapters 12-13

July 28 - 14, afterword

Here are a few ideas you may want to implement during the summer as we read Chester’s book together:

1. Read it with a friend. Meet up for coffee or spend time at a park. Discuss the questions at each chapter’s conclusion. Pray for each other.

2. Chester gives some great actionables at the end of each chapter. Set up reminders on your smartphone to remember those truths. Text MC family members and ask them how they’re doing appropriating and applying those truths to their lives.

3. Memorize Scripture together. Choose passages that speak of our joy. I’m going to work hard on putting Psalm 16 in my heart. Perhaps you could join me in that.

I’m excited to see what God will do in our church family this summer. Pray with me. May the Lord be glorified by our joy in Him!