The Friday Five (3.6.26)
A Few Things for My Friends
Hey!
Every week, I share five things to encourage and equip in daily life with God.
This week:
Faith that Overcomes
A Picture of Spiritual Formation
Christ as a Light, Christ as a Shield
The Pace of Peace
WordGo
Enjoy!
MK
⬇️ Read my book on spiritual disciplines! ⬇️
Read the forward and introduction | Grab a copy here | Here’s a Discussion Guide
1. Faith that Overcomes
Here’s my latest sermon, it’s over 1 John 5:1-12 and what the faith is that conquers the world. It has been such a joy to study this epistle the last few months!
2. A Picture of Spiritual Formation
I encountered something this week that I can’t stop mulling over, and I didn’t know to explain it other than shooting a video, so here you go.
Here is the picture I described in the video above. Take some time and sit with it, listen to the explanation, and look at the drawing again. I’d love to hear what you think about it. I’ve been chewing on it since John shared it Tuesday night.
John Bryant is a wonderful man, and I really enjoyed having him at The Training Collective this year. You can find his book, A Quiet Mind to Suffer With here. John is a chaplain in the Anglican Church, and he serves the homeless, those with mental illness, and those struggling with addictions in Pittsburgh. His way of talking about the Good News of Christ is shaped by having the same conversation with someone suffering from schizophrenia, with a narcotic addict, and his parents. What is it to communicate the Good News of Christ them in a way that registers with clarity and grace? This is the question he has answered in beautiful, simple but ever deepening language and symbols.
3. Christ as a Light, Christ as a Shield
This song showed up in a worship set this week, and then I listened to it while walking through the airport yesterday. It offered peace after a stressful hour. Finding five minutes in the midst of a crowd to pray through this song was a gift.
4. The Pace of Peace
Jay Y. Kim has a short post describing his next work, The Pace of Peace. It seems like it’s dealing with the Ignatian Examen, and I’m eager to see how he discusses the stewarding of our attention. The book releases in September, but never too early to pre-order.
You can read his description here.
5. WordGo
I’m spending time with the Bible Study Fellowship staff this morning, and as I was preparing for the time I came across their Bible Study app, WordGo, which offers Bible study courses for groups and individuals - all for free. Give it a look!
Thanks for Reading
If someone forwarded this to you, I write two kinds of emails: one on select Tuesdays about life with God and the other every Friday, where I share things I’ve found during the week. If you want to subscribe but can’t afford it, email me, and I’ll take care of it—no questions asked.
I pastor, teach, and lead at The Village Church, serving as an Elder and the Executive Director of Discipleship. In my spare time (ha!), I’m working on a Ph.D. in Church History, studying Jonathan Edwards and character formation. Also, I’ve written A Short Guide to Spiritual Disciplines: How to Become a Healthy Christian.
Thank you for reading and supporting my work as I seek to shepherd with compassion and wisdom, equipping people to embody God’s truth for all of life.
Talk soon,
Mason
