How To Make the Most of Our Summer Break
Josh Pool
CBC family, as our church calendar slows for the next few weeks, here are a few suggestions:
1. Rest
Many of us, including me, can easily fall into an incessant busyness. But busyness is a poor substitute for spiritual growth.
The goal of rest should not be selfish, but rather, selfless. Rest’s purpose is to fuel up, to be spiritually rejuvenated, so that we can fulfill our ministry assignments with excellence and God-glorifying productivity.
So, church family, take these next few weeks to intentionally rest. This doesn’t mean loosen spiritual disciplines. It doesn’t mean waste your time in the abyss of social media. It does mean taking time, setting aside longer periods of reading, praying, and enjoying a slower pace.
2. Read
One of the best ways to rest is to read. Read good books this summer. Find books that engage the mind and warm the heart. Fill your mind with the prayer-immersed writing of fellow saints past and present.
A few suggestions from my recent reading (all accessible and brief):
And also, take the summer to memorize Scripture! I’m slowly working on Colossians in preparation of a preaching series coming this fall. Anyone want to join me?!
3. Relationships
Take the summer (and perhaps Wednesday nights in particular?) to have folks in the church over for dinner. Grow in hospitality, one of the great marks of Christian faith. Have folks over that you’ve long desired to invite, but just couldn’t seem to find the time. Schedule it into your week.
Again: don’t over-do it, but don’t under-do it either. Find a good rhythm that works for your work, responsibilities, family and stage of life, and just do it! (And do the same with folks in your neighborhood, or from work.)
A challenge
Invite 5 members/member-families over for dinner before August 1st. See how the Lord uses it!
And if you’re looking for how to make the most of this relational time, look no further than Thomas Watson’s counsel in his book, The Great Gain of Godliness:
Christians, when they meet together, should use holy conference [= have intentional, godly conversations]...
Have not you matter enough in the Word to furnish you with something to say? Let me suggest a few things to you.
When you meet, speak one to another of the promises. No honey is so sweet, as that which drops from a promise! The promises are the support of faith, the springs of joy, and the saints’ royal charter.
Are you citizens of heaven, and yet do not speak of the preciousness of Christ? He is all beauty and love; he has laid down his blood as the price of your redemption. Have you a friend who has redeemed you, and yet you never speak of him?
Speak one to another of sin, what a deadly evil it is....
Speak of the beauty of holiness, which is the soul's embroidery, filling it with such...splendor, as makes God and angels fall in love with it...
Speak one to another of your souls: enquire whether they are in health.
Speak about death and eternity: can you belong to heaven and not speak of your [heavenly citizenship]? (see footnote)
In other words, when we come together let’s enjoy one another. Let’s laugh. Let’s tell stories. But most of all, let’s speak of Christ, enjoy the gospel, pray together, and check in on one another. Let’s talk about things that matter most—matters of eternity.
Lord willing, your table and couch will be well worn by summer’s end!
Make the most of your summer, beloved!
Your brother, with the love of Christ (Phil 1.7-8),
Josh Pool
Footnote: I read this excerpt in Brian Hedges’s excellent little book, Watchfulness.