Chapter Two — What Is Spirituality and How Do You Practice it?

My trip away has put us a little bit behind, but I want to thank Jon and Jenny for picking up the slack last week.

In many ways, Chapter two of “The Sacred Way” builds on what Tony wrote in the first chapter. In some ways I find it more helpful in that it offers good definitions for what Marjorie Thompson calls “The Spiritual Life.” Tomorrow we’re going to look at those definitions and talk about what we are seeking in our own journeys.

Here are some random questions to be thinking about:

• Tony suggests that all of us (and all of humanity) is on a quest for something. What are we looking for (which as Bono suggests, we still haven’t found)? Is it simply a search for meaning or is there something more?
• Tony defines spirituality as “to be enlivened by God’s Spirit?” What does it me to be enlivened, and how do you experience God’s Spirit?
• Why do you think that seeking after god requires exercise/practice and doesn’t necessarily come naturally to us?

Throw out any other questions you might have along the way, and if you read this Tony, what would you say is the most important thing you would like folks to take from this chapter.

jv

Class this Sunday

I’m going to be away this Sunday (I’m still in Virginia with my dad) but Jon and Jenny will be leading the class through the first chapter. I hope that you have a great conversation.

Assignment #1: Chapter 1 — The Quest for God

This coming Sunday (March 30, 2008) we will be talking about Chapter 1 of Tony’s book. Since most of you don’t have the book yet (we should have copies available this Sunday during class) Tony has given me permission to post the introduction and first chapter for you to review prior to class. The file is in PDF format so you will need Adobe Acrobat reader or my preference, the free Foxit PDF reader.

The Sacred Way Ch. 1

Welcome to The Sacred Way

Welcome to this discussion site for our class on The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life, a book by Tony Jones. This class is being hosted on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. at the Antioch United Methodist Church in Nashville, and represents an attempt by a group of persons to go deeper in their faith in Jesus Christ.

We are setting up this site as a means of sharing information with class members, as well as inviting conversation among all who have read Tony’s book on practices, and want to talk further about their own quest for God. All are welcome to be a part of this conversation.

Be watching in the days ahead for further information on the class and this conversation.