John Wesley has been rediscovered! This rediscovery has resulted in numerous publications reflecting his enormous contribution to the Christian faith in general and Methodism in particular. This book is intended as a spiritual reader that gives a taste of Wesley's thought and spirit. Each week's reading includes excerpts from Wesley's writing around a particular theme. Scripture readings and contemporary reflection on each theme provide the content for a daily time of prayer and reflection. While these selections do not adequately cover the immense scope of Wesley's thought or writing, they do make original material available for the contemporary reader. The twenty-six themes addressed here are not exhaustive but illustrative of the wisdom and insight provided by the founder of the Methodist movement.

What is gathered here is an introduction to the mind and heart of one of the significant spiritual leaders of the Christian faith. The material is best approached as spiritual reading, permitting the reader to listen for and hear God's voice in the contents of daily readings and to see their application to the everyday experiences of life. John Wesley was convinced that holiness is discovered in the practice of our faith in the practical and everyday routines of life. Therefore he fashioned for himself a way of living that included time for reading and reflecting upon scripture and other spiritual works and methods for putting into practice what he believed and what he heard God calling him to do.

Spiritual reading is a new discovery for many Protestants. There is an increasing hunger for resources that can offer spiritual guidance. While spiritual reading can never replace a spiritual director, spiritual friend, or spiritual community, it is a practice that can tie our separate lives to the larger community of faith and, ultimately, to God.

Through spiritual reading we can become connected to the saints who have gone before us. They can become for us companions on our journey and we can learn from them, be guided and directed by their experience and witness. Their voices can address our lives with insight and wisdom gained by faithful living and tested by centuries of examination and practice.

Through spiritual reading we can also become connected to and companions with our contemporaries who are discovering helpful insights into our shared journey towards God. They are familiar with our contemporary world but bring wisdom gained in disciplined search, as they have listened and responded to God's gracious initiative to be our companion in life and death.

These companions from many generations can introduce us again and again to the One all Christians seek to follow. Their wisdom, gained from their own efforts to live in faithfulness, can often give us insight, encouragement and direction. Spiritual reading can put us in touch with the great spiritual directors of all time.

Trying to travel the spiritual path alone is foolish, risky, and will ultimately end in failure. Spiritual reading makes that lonely journey unnecessary. Many find that such reading is done best in connection with a time of prayer and reflection.