Christianity's Family Tree - Chapter 8 - Methodism (Discussion)

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

Key Insights:

1. John Wesley sought to build bridges between the traditions which had been in conflict for so many generations.  He sought to be wholly committed to Christ and devoted his life to calling people to a radical commitment to Jesus Christ.
2. In his early years, John Wesley knew God in his intellect, but not in his heart. On May 24, 1738, while attending the gathering of a religious society, he felt his heart “strangely warmed.”  From that moment, he had an assurance of his salvation, and his ministry was characterized by new passion and vitality.  
3. Wesley spent the rest of his life proclaiming the goodness of Christ, traveling from town to town on horseback, traveling over 250,000 miles around Great Britain.
4. Methodists were known for an emphasis not only on the call to conversion, but also on what happens after that.  Wesley organized people into “societies” – small groups that met for preaching, teaching, prayer and accountability. These gatherings were called class meetings.
5. Another emphasis was on the social gospel – loving one’s neighbor as oneself.  Wesley brought together the evangelical and social gospels.
6. Methodists are people of the extreme center; they hold on to a theological position that embraces conservative and liberal, personal faith and social outreach, intellect and emotions.  To this day, United Methodists see themselves as people who bring together both a reasonable faith that is intellectually satisfying and emotionally compelling faith that touches the heart.
7. Wesley devoted his life to three passions:
1. He wanted to change lives, inviting people to know Christ and to pour their entire lives into following him.
2. He wanted to change the community, believing in spreading scriptural holiness across the land and in applying the gospel to every part of life.  He opened orphanages and hospitals, and preached to people wherever they lived and worked… outside coalmines and in the middle of fields.  He did not believe that faith could be compartmentalized… you either lived out your faith or you didn't.
3. He wanted to reform and revitalize the church of his day. 

Wesley’s quadrilateral:  scripture, tradition, reason and experience – not personal experience so much as the experience that Christ calls us to live… love of God and neighbor

Christian perfection: full sanctification – holiness of life and heart
Wesley defined Christian perfection in “A Plain Account of Christian Perfection” (1777) as follows: “In one view, it is purity of intention, dedicating all the life to God. It is the giving God all our heart; it is one desire and design ruling all our tempers. It is the devoting, not a part, but all our soul, body, and substance to God. In another view, it is all the mind which was in Christ, enabling us to walk as Christ walked. It is the circumcision of the heart from all filthiness, all inward as well as outward pollution. It is a renewal of the heart in the whole image of God, the full likeness of Him that created it. In yet another, it is the loving God with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves.”

Circuit riding: Over half of United Methodist ministers serve two or more congregations.  On the frontier, pastors might have up to 12 churches.  He would ride from town to town preaching, baptizing, blessing marriages, and presiding over Holy Communion.  Methodists still call this practice as “riding the circuit”.  It is said that Francis Asbury, the first Methodist bishop in America, traveled up and down the eastern seaboard dozens of times, riding by horseback and carriage over 6000 miles per year (over 300,000 miles total) and preached over 16,000 sermons.

Taking it Home:

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was considered by John Wesley to be “the spirit and essence of religion.”  This week you will be reading and meditating on the Sermon on the Mount.

• Read Matthew 5:1-12 – the Beatitudes.  Invite God to help you be what the verses commend.  Read Matthew 5:13-16.  What did Jesus mean when he called his disciples “salt”?  “light”?  Invite God to make you salt and light.
• Read Matthew 6:17-20.  Moses called for external obedience, but Jesus called people to holiness of heart.  Use each section of the following verses as an opportunity to approach God in prayer.  Read Matthew 5:21-26, 27-30, 31-32, 33-37, 38-42, 43-48.  Which verses speak most clearly to you?
• Read Matthew 6:1-4, 5-15, 16-18.  Use these verses as a guide for a time of prayer. Are you ever tempted to do your “acts of righteousness” so that others may see you?
• Read Matthew 6:19-21.  How do these verses speak to you?  Read Matthew 6:22-34.  What does it mean to seek first God’s kingdom?  Read Matthew 7:1-6.  How do you tend to judge others or look for the speck in your neighbor’s eye while ignoring the log in your own eye?  Ask for God’s forgiveness and God’s help in leaving behind this practice.  Read Matthew 7:7-12, which includes the Golden Rule.
• Read Matthew 7:13-14.  What does it mean to say that the way to heaven is narrow as opposed to broad?  Read Matthew 7:15-23.  What is disturbing about these verses?  Pray that God will help produce good fruit in your life.  Read Matthew 7:24-29.  Are you a wise or foolish builder?  Invite God to help you put Jesus’ words into practice.