Arthur Jones
Senior Pastor, St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Leader, Visionary, Author
Arthur’s Story
Pastor, Leader, and Visionary
Arthur Jones is the Senior Pastor of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas. His passions involve preaching a real and practical faith, engaging people with the Bible and current issues that affect day-to-day life, and providing leadership and vision for the next phases of church life.
Arthur is a fifth-generation Methodist preacher who grew up in churches across North Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas and Duke Divinity School, and also the co-author of Ask: Faith Questions in a Skeptical Age. Arthur is married to Becky. They are the parents of two children.
Solid Souls (Paperback)
Your small, everyday choices have eternal effect.
Philosophers from Plato to Pixar all assume we have a soul. But what does that actually mean, and why does it matter? In this bold new work, pastor Arthur Jones weaves together Scripture, history, theology, and pop culture to reclaim the ancient concept of a soul. A soul is not afterlife vapor but something very real and very specific: the resurrection of the body. Jesus’ message is that the kingdom of heaven is here now.
Some think the state of our soul only comes down to one big spiritual decision in life. However, while we depend on the grace of God, our soul is shaped by life’s little everyday decisions, not just a few big ones. These small decisions in our relationships, in our work, and for ourselves put us on a trajectory towards a more solid soul, or a more shriveled soul, one that is isolated from others and God.
The choices that we make in every moment lead us toward heaven or away from it. In Solid Souls, learn to see your life and the lives of others with eternal eyes, and learn how to live life in such a way that you find yourself on a trajectory toward fulfillment and flourishing. Discover how to make your soul more solid today.
Reviews
I wasn't aware how badly my own soul needed these words in this book. Solid Souls by Arthur Jones speaks to passion, purpose, and what it means to live a life fully and abundantly. I love the way Arthur sees the world and brings the scripture to life within the pages of this story. Highly recommend this read. Your soul will thank you for it.
Mark Sorenson
Senior Pastor, The Woodlands United Methodist Church, The Woodlands, TX (as of 7/1/2021)
Arthur Jones powerfully melds theology with every day spiritual practices leading to abundant life--now. In the tradition of the pastor scholar, Jones brings deep spiritual truths to the arena of daily life, identifies what is truly transformative, and presents eternal mysteries of God in ways that are at once simple and profound. A must read for anyone wishing to pursue growth of God’s grace in their lives!
Gaston Warner
CEO, Zoe Empowers
What is tended thrives. What is neglected withers. Arthur Jones offers a salient reminder of what is truly important in life and an exhortation to tend those things...with intention.
Rev. Shane Bishop
2010 Distinguished Evangelist of the United Methodist Church and Senior Pastor, Christ Church, Fairview Heights, IL
St. Augustine famously said, I want to know two things, God and the soul; for therein lies true self-knowledge. Arthur Jones offers a modern spin on that ancient quest. Through a thoughtful engagement with popular culture, cognitive science, and Scripture, Jones challenges us to see how our choices for things substantial or insubstantial determine the character of our soul - whether it is solid or shriveled - which determines our ability or inability to receive the real gifts of God - now and in eternity.
J, Warren Smith
Professor of Historical Theology, Duke Divinity School
Jim Rohn famously wrote about suffering either “the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” In Solid Souls, Arthur Jones masterfully and practically invites us to either choose the discipline of cultivating a solid soul or living with the regret of a shriveled soul.
Jorge Acevedo
Lead Pastor, Grace Church of Southwest Florida
Ask
Faith Questions In A Skeptical Age
We live in a skeptical age. People—especially young people—express doubts about Christian faith. In this thoughtful eight week study Bishop Scott Jones, author of The Wesleyan Way, partners with his son Rev. Arthur Jones, to address hard questions that all of us face when considering faith, religion, and the church. The questions include:
Can only one religion be true?
Why is there suffering and evil?
How can I believe in science and creation?
How can I believe in a God I can’t prove?
Can I trust the Old Testament?
Are marriage, sex, and family life religious issues?
Was Jesus' resurrection real?
Why do Christians disagree about so many things?
The message is strong and clear: Don't let your questions stop you from accepting God's invitation to faith. Engage your doubt, and you may find you are closer to God on the other side.