A Shared Christian Life

This book is for is for everyday Christians who seek to love God and offer charity toward others by celebrating spiritual practices in their congregation. It is meant to encourage you to be an integral part of the body of Christ --working and serving together, loving God with hearts but also with hands and feet-to be formed as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

In the Wesleyan tradition, we believe that Christian formation happens best "when two or more are gathered." So focus is the body of Christ gathered--worshiping; sharing, learning, fellowshipping, taking Holy Communion, and doing works of piety and charity--together. In addition, a relationship with God is not primarily an individual's lonely personal quest for transcendence. It is not about becoming more self-centered, more self-focused, but it is about becoming more self-forgetful.

The book outlines spiritual practices that involve individual and congregational transformation through learning and loving, fellowship and worship, by being lifted up in spirit and being enlightened in mind. A normal Christian life needs balance not only between work and rest and play, but also between worship, sacraments, doing, and learning. It needs balance between being alone with God and time with significant others.