The Sovereignty Of God by Jerry Walls

September 29, 2014

The sovereignty of God is a vitally important truth Wesleyans badly need to recover. This is not only because it is crucial for understanding the biblical drama, but also because many Wesleyans have tended to neglect it because Calvinists often give the impression that it is one of their distinctive doctrines. But the sovereignty of God is not a Calvinist doctrine, it is a biblical doctrine, and no one who wants to be faithful to Scripture can afford to ignore or downplay this great truth.

Lost Relationships by Talbot Davis

September 27, 2014

Because of a stand he took and a truth he spoke, Elijah is suddenly cut off from his family. From his hometown. From his kosher diet. From everything and everyone. And this is at a time in human history when there was no “you” apart from your group. In his exile the loss of relationships for Elijah was all-encompassing – a moment of courage, followed by season of loss.

And a lot of you know what that’s like…

Stolen: How Much Do You Own? by Elizabeth Glass Turner

September 25, 2014

How much do you own? If you’re well-established (in whatever cultural context you find yourself), you likely have a general…

Knowing What We Have: The Methodist Liturgical Heritage (Part III) by Matt Sigler

September 24, 2014

“The efforts at Methodist liturgical revision that culminated in the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal and 1992 Book of Worship were often disregarded by those seeking to make their worship services more “contemporary.” As “contemporary worship” became an increasingly viable option for Methodists, many completely rejected the hymnal or anything that appeared to be rooted in the past. While Methodist “contemporary” worship frequently infused life into dry services, it often looked just like the Baptist “contemporary” service down the street. In rejecting the historic forms of their worship, Methodists suffered from an identity crisis in their worship services.”

Christian Perfection: Problem Or Promise? by Kevin Watson

September 22, 2014

“Sanctification is not about something that I either have to do to make myself better, or for which I have to feel guilty about not being good enough. It is a ‘work of God’s grace.’ Entire sanctification is really nothing more than
God’s grace freeing us from everything that has kept us chained to sin and death. The Triune God has given his children everything they need to live the kind of life for which they were created, in this life. And this is not only for spiritual elites or super Christians.”

Maxie Dunnam ~ Prayer and Fasting: Embracing Voluntary Weakness

September 18, 2014

Fasting is more than denying ourselves food. It is choosing to act out, by temporarily denying ourselves food, that we do not live by bread alone. We are completely dependent upon God, and we deliberately choose voluntary weakness. We become identifiably humble in the face of the problems with which we are dealing. We admit to each other, and primarily to God: only you can get us through this “mess.”

Holy Communion: Celebrating God With Us (Part 1) by Ken Loyer

September 17, 2014

The more Christians link Communion with spiritual formation and daily faith practice, the more likely the church will be invigorated and empowered to carry out its missional mandate to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Through the service of Communion, the church remembers and celebrates the presence of God with us.

Truth, Beauty & Tragedy: How To Be Happy by Elizabeth Glass Turner

September 15, 2014

“Jack, take your hands off of your ears.” “But I don’t want to hear what you are saying!” This is…

Rise Up! by Carolyn Moore

September 13, 2014

Some time ago, I was called to an assisted living home. The staff wanted me to talk with a guy…

Knowing What We Have: The Methodist Liturgical Heritage (Part II) by Matthew Sigler

September 11, 2014

At issue was the question of what made Methodist worship distinctly Methodist. Drawing from Wesley’s example, Summers argued that form and freedom should go hand in hand in Methodist worship. Even today these disagreements over what makes Methodist worship “Methodist” continue. For all the talk over “high” and “low” church; “spirit-led” and “ordered;” or “contemporary” and “traditional”—whatever the current iteration of the debate—we might do well to take a page from Wesley and Summers who both understood that form and freedom are two sides of the same coin for Methodists.