Spiritual Happiness

            During the early autumn, I will be preaching a sermon series around the question, “Would You Like to Be a Happier Person?”  Personal happiness has been an important, trending topic for the past few years.  Over a three-month period earlier this year, Amazon.com added over 1,000 new books to their already vast sales inventory on happiness.  Research into personal happiness has increased dramatically by psychologists, as well as neuroscientists who are studying those areas of the brain that become active when we experience joy and happiness.

            In this sermon series, I will explore the keys to true and lasting happiness from the perspective of Christian faith.  In my own personal experience, my Christian faith has been foundational for happiness and flourishing.   My faith gives me comfort in times of trouble, opportunities to serve and make the world a better place, and meaning when confronting life’s major questions.  We know that human persons are multi-dimensional, including intellectual,  physical, social, psychological, and spiritual dimensions.  

            This Sunday, September 15th, we will be exploring the spiritual dimensions of authentic happiness.  In order to live a good and happy life, we must maintain a healthy spiritual life.  Our foundational scripture for the service will be 1 Kings 19: 11-13, which is from the story of the prophet Elijah.  In this story, Elijah has fled out into the wilderness and is living in a cave.  Depressed to the point of being suicidal and all alone, Elijah prays that God will come and speak to him.  Elijah looks for God’s Presence in a fierce wind, an earthquake, and a fire.  Yet, God is in none of these natural events.  Finally, God speaks to Elijah through a “still, small voice,” and Elijah is comforted and rejuvenated.

            Taking some lessons from the story of Elijah, my message will explore the spiritual dimensions of authentic happiness.  I will describe what it means to “be spiritual,” and look at different, individual forms of spirituality.  One of the most difficult challenges for many persons is finding time to nurture and develop our spiritual lives.  I will suggest some strategies for finding time for daily prayer and spiritual growth—and, I will suggest a few spiritual practices which may be helpful for spiritual growth and nurture.  My hope is that this message will help everyone strengthen their spiritual health—and become happier persons.

If you live in the Meriden-area and do not have a regular church home, I invite you to join us this weekend, as we explore the keys to spiritual fulfillment and happiness.  Meriden United Methodist Church is located at the corner of Dawson and Main Streets in Meriden, Kansas.  We have two worship services each weekend:

Ø  Our contemporary service starts at 6 pm on Saturday evenings.

Ø  Our classic service starts on at 10 am on Sunday mornings.

Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.