Articles Archives | World Methodist Evangelism

Living a Life of Advent Light: When a Wreath Is More Than a Wreath by Priscilla Hammond

Priscilla Hammond November 29, 2018

Many churches are currently setting up Advent wreaths to mark the weeks leading up to Christmas. The four candles that encircle the wreath illuminate the area around them as they point toward the center candle. Those outer candles relate to prophecy, Bethlehem, shepherds, and angels, while the center candle alludes to Christ. The prophecy candle represents the expectation of the

Transaction vs Transformation: The Nature Of Blessing by Elizabeth Glass Turner

elizabeth.turner November 28, 2018

Recently, I noted someone online putting forward the idea that God blesses organizations, traditions, or denominations depending on their public positions on certain topics, or that God retracts a blessing on an organization, tradition, or denomination, if they do not issue a public position on one of a number of topics. Let’s delve into some of the assumptions here and

Desperate for Mercy: Shouting All the More by Michelle Bauer

Michelle Bauer November 26, 2018

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he

An Emptier Yet Fuller Life by Shalom Liddick

Shalom Liddick November 22, 2018

My hike begins like many others for me: time spent talking with God and listening to his voice being carried in the wind. My ordinary day is about to change. As the giant orange orb crests between heaven and earth, I hear God say “happy birthday,” and my heart explodes with joy because without a doubt I knew why. It

Suffering Through Thanksgiving by Suzanne Nicholson

Suzanne Nicholson November 22, 2018

This is the time of year when advertisements inundate us with images of happy families gloriously celebrating the holidays. Women in velvet dresses clink champagne glasses with men in suits and plaid bowties. Their beautifully decorated homes overflow with relatives who eat turkey and all the fixings from holly-themed china plates. You can almost smell the cinnamon and nutmeg wafting

When It’s Not Just the Turkey That’s Stuffed by Carrie Carter

Carrie Carter November 21, 2018

It’s late November and you’re mostly through your daily “Thankful For…” list, or daily “Thankful” reading from the Psalms. By this point, you have your Thanksgiving menu planned, whether it means eating in or eating out. November is pretty predictable, as far as months go. What do you do, then, when November is not predictable? What if your “Thankful For…”

Choosing Thankfulness in a Harsh World by Karen Bates

Karen Bates November 20, 2018

Occasionally, I pay for people’s coffee while I’m buying my own. Not because I’m rich, but because it’s a nice thing to do. Recently, I decided to buy coffee for the man behind me, but contemplated whether the kindness was warranted after he was less than kind to the person serving us and to another person in line. I remembered I

Receiving the Mercy of Jesus Christ by Michelle Bauer

Michelle Bauer November 8, 2018

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” – The Jesus Prayer The Jesus Prayer has been prayed around the world in various forms since the early sixth century. One way to pray this prayer is to repeat, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God” on the inhalation of each breath followed by, “have mercy on me,

Prayer: A Source Of New Life by Edgar Bazan

Edgar Bazan November 7, 2018

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to South Korea and visit some of largest churches in the world: Kwanglim Methodist Church with 85,000 members and Yoido Full Gospel Church with 900,000 members. We met with their senior pastors and leaders and learned about their leadership. We were, so to speak, drinking from a fire hydrant all week. The food

Think your pastor’s preaching is ‘too political’? Try listening to Jesus by Mark Wingfield

Wesleyan Accent November 5, 2018

“Pastor, why can’t you just preach the gospel and stay away from all this controversial stuff?” It’s likely your pastor has heard this question dozens of times in recent years, yet he or she may be reticent to speak about it for fear of calling out certain members of the congregation or appearing to respond to specific criticism of recent

Bucking the System by Jeff Rudy

Jeff Rudy March 14, 2018

Why didn’t Jesus take up the sword? Why isn’t that the means by which to overcome evil? Walter Wink says something quite remarkable about Jesus’ point here: “Violent revolution fails because it is not revolutionary enough. It changes the rulers but not the rules, the ends but not the means.”

Dying Well by Faith Parry

Faith Parry March 12, 2018

The early Methodists were known as people who died well. They had grace and assurance of God’s love and forgiveness for them, so they did not fear death. Furthermore, Wesley made it a point to share the stories of those who died and went on to glory.

Why Pilgrimage Is Part Of Discipleship: Discovering Lindisfarne by Tammie Grimm

Tammie Grimm March 8, 2018

Northumbria. Nether Springs. Lindisfarne. Holy Island. For years I casually entertained the hopes I might visit the Northumbrian Community that produced Celtic Daily Prayer. Inquiries to the community recommended a minimum stay of two nights and three days. Required trips to the United Kingdom for PhD residency never quite afforded the wiggle room on either end to steal away for

The Problem With Praying For Open Doors by Elizabeth Glass Turner

elizabeth.turner March 5, 2018

One of the prayers I heard a lot growing up was a simple if loaded take on, “thy will be done.” Praying, “thy will be done,” is not only biblical, Jesus himself prayed it in the Garden of Gethsemane, which is a pretty compelling model to follow. The prayer I heard repeatedly was this: “open and close doors as You

Lent with a Wesleyan Accent by Matt Sigler

Matthew Sigler March 1, 2018

A celebration of Easter without a prior descent into the grave is dishonest and naïve, just as observing Lent without the uncompromising proclamation of the Resurrection is hopeless.

Real Prayers For Real People by Carolyn Moore

Carolyn Moore February 26, 2018

I didn’t immediately fall in love with the Psalms. I found them to be hard to understand and a little dusty. Then some hard things happened in my life and I landed on a few Psalms that became prayers when I didn’t know what to pray. When my mother died, Psalm 42 became my lifeline. Psalm 116 was my testimony in a season when

Scripture You Forgot You Knew by Elizabeth Glass Turner

elizabeth.turner February 21, 2018

It happens to all of us. An old song or movie comes on, and somewhere, out of the depths of your dusty brain, a reflex kicks in. Before you know it, you’re singing words you didn’t know you remembered, or you’re quoting a line right before the actor says it. It’s like muscle memory, hidden deep beneath years of doctor

Learning to Love by Michelle Bauer

Michelle Bauer February 19, 2018

What damage can be done if people exercise their spiritual gifts without love?

Lent: There Is a River and There Is a City by Justus Hunter

Justus Hunter February 15, 2018

Lent is a season of clarity. We already sit among the ashes. We already sit in cities made in our own image.

From Dust And Ashes To The Image Of God by Carolyn Moore

Carolyn Moore February 14, 2018

Simcha Bunim was a Jewish rabbi who lived in Poland in the 1700s. He is best known for what might be called the parable of the two pockets. The parable begins with two slips of paper. On one slip is written, “I am dust and ashes.” On the other slip is written, “For my sake the world was created.” These

Subscribe

Get articles delivered directly to your inbox as soon as they come out.

Search:

categories: