Spiritual drifting was a concern for many churches way before the pandemic kept parishioners at home…
Here to help Christians re-evaluate and reaffirm their spiritual journeys is senior pastor Alan Davey. “We forget him so quickly,” Davey says, referring to Jesus. “The commonplace platitude ‘out of sight out of mind’ applies not just to people we see and know, but also to our Father in heaven.”
Our noisy world constantly pulls our attention in new directions and prompts us to pursue other interests and desires, he notes. “Subsequently, we become tired Christians who suffer from a lack of conviction, authenticity and prophetic insight,” he says.
In his new book, Walking the Line: Embracing the Imperatives of Jesus, Davey shares insightful commentary, perspectives from a rich variety of Christian sources and authors, and lessons from Jesus himself to create an accessible guide to viewing the Bible and Christ’s teachings in a fresh light. Included are original drawings from the late artist Joy Kim and study questions at the end of each chapter to help reinforce the messages.
Davey underscores the value and importance of understanding and following the rules of Jesus — not just for individuals but for entire communities of faith.
“The rule of Jesus articulated in Matthew’s Gospel is neither obscure nor archaic,” Davey says. “Jesus’ imperatives speak powerfully to the contemporary issues of our day, and do so by illuminating a way of clarity, simplicity and love.”
Author Alan Davey is the senior pastor of Weston Park Baptist Church, an inner-city church in Toronto, and Adjunct Professor of Christian Spirituality and Worship at Tyndale University and Seminary. He is co-author of Climbing the Spiritual Mountain (Wipf & Stock, 2014), Abba’s Whisper (Wipf & Stock, 2017) and The Passionate Bride (Wipf & Stock, 2019).
Davey is also an avid scuba diver, hiker, singer, guitarist and art lover. While writing Walking the Line, Davey was asked to officiate at the funeral for his wife’s niece, the late artist, teacher and musician, Joy Kim. While leafing through a collection from her final exhibition, “Have You Walked in My Shoes?”, Davey was inspired to include some of her oil pastel drawings of shoes, boots, and slippers in his book to represent the disciples who embrace Jesus’ imperatives in the every day of their lives.
www.daveybooks.com
