Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)
Synopsis: Explore Wesley’s plan of salvation in light of God’s grace for us…with the ultimate goal of discovering and imitating Christ’s love for us.
But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Exploring ways to stay in love with God through spiritual disciplines and growing the body of Christ.
Exploring Our Heritage: Do Good
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. (John 6:1-2)
Bishop Ruben Job wrote: It is God who loves all and permits the rain to fall on all. So, this decision will mean that I must seek good for all. I must seek what is best for those whose position and condition may be far different than my vision for them. It will mean that I will seek to heal the wounds of my sisters and brothers, no matter if their social position, economic achievement, or lifestyle is radically different from mine. It will mean that the words and acts that wound and divide will be changed to words and acts that heal and bring together. It will mean that movements that seek to divide and conquer will become movements that seek to unite and empower all. It will mean that the common good will be my first thought and what is good for me will become a secondary thought .
Jesus modeled doing good…and John Wesley followed in his footsteps. We will explore how John W. did good…and look at ways we are needed today.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. (Ephesians 2:13-14)
Explore the three simple rules first put forward by John Wesley, rules that have guided the Methodist movement from its inception. The first: Do No Harm.
He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. (Mark 6:31-32)
Rest is important to your spiritual walk with the Lord, and many Christians today don’t appreciate the value of rest or keeping the Sabbath day holy. Rest allows our mind, body, and soul to renew and start with even more strength and focus. Scripture is filled with God’s promises to provide rest when we seek God in times of Sabbath. God is an endless source of peace and strength if we would just slow down and find that rest, even if for a moment in God’s presence.
Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10)
The Sabbath is a perfect time to take stock of our lives, and open ourselves up to reflection and renewal as we let go of our own desires for our lives and let God move within us and for us.
Exploring Sabbath: Re-Orienting
One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?”And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” (Mark 2:23-28)
We hear of many rules pertaining to Sabbath-keeping, but the Sabbath was created for far more than what not to do on a particular day. Mark helps us understand that we need to look more deeply into the meaning of Sabbath.
And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)
The first part of understanding Sabbath is knowing the one who created it…the one whom even the wind and sea obey. It is remembering and celebrating God in our midst.
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Seeing the beauty of creation, including ourselves, from God’s eyes opens us up to the new and wonderful things God is doing in God’s world.
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. (2 Corinthains 4: 16-18)
All around us things are changing…like the seasons, the waves on the sand, a mountain stream. All the changes in nature, as in life, prepare us for what is to come.
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