Dear Southwood Family,

 

As most of you have probably noticed I have not preached in a few weeks. And as the summer preaching schedule shows (click here to see it), I will be out of the pulpit for much of the next few of months. No, I am not on sabbatical, nor am I enjoying a two month vacation (though Julie and I did take a few days off at the pool)! When I was given my new role as your Southwood Teaching Pastor the elders graciously allowed me to keep a portion of my job responsibilities from when I was the Small Group Pastor - I still get to participate in writing our small group curriculum. Variety is the spice of life, and having the opportunity to pause on preaching in order to exercise my passion for writing is proving remarkably refreshing to my soul.
 
So what am I writing, you ask? This summer I am focusing on a wholly new packet on the book of James that we'll go through in small groups next spring. While many correctly think of James as interpretively challenging (especially chapter 2), the book's real challenge comes in its application. Come spring, prepare to be convicted! James pulled no punches in this short but powerful revelation of the true character of religion. None of us (not even pastors) will walk away from James without sensing God's conviction of our sins and His direction for our growth.
 
In addition to writing this packet on James, I will spend a few weeks this summer preparing for our fall preaching series on Galatians, a book consumed with the truth and significance of the gospel. Galatians will serve as our theological fuel as we dedicate ourselves this fall to growing as intentional witnesses for Jesus Christ in our community.
 
Finally, I will continue to see you on most Sunday mornings at Southwood. I will be preaching there the next couple of weeks, and then a couple of weeks at Anderson. But when I am not preaching, I look forward to joining you all in worship and fellowship as I learn from men whom God has graciously provided to speak to us this summer.
 
So to wrap this letter up, I humbly ask for your frequent prayer for my projects this summer. Please pray that God would keep me filled with His Spirit as I study James and Galatians. Pray for His guidance of my work, and for my diligence in these pursuits. And on a personal note, please continue to pray for my eye, which is slow to heal and may require more surgery later this summer, and for our twins (due in November), who continue to develop rapidly.
 
In His love,

Blake Jennings
 
PS: I am crazy excited about this coming Sunday, June 14th. Here's what's going on: