Methodism 101 Small Group

What is Methodism? We will primarily be reading some of John Wesley’s sermons and Don Adams’ book Top 10 United Methodist Beliefs as our guides. You can order Adams’ book here. The group will meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM starting May 27th in the fellowship hall. Wearing a mask is required if you attend in person, and we will be social distanced in our seating. If you’d like to participate but don’t want to attend due to health risks, Stephen will give a recap of the group meeting Thursday mornings on FAcebook Live and you can participate in that way. There is a lot of reading attached to each session. Please come even if you haven’t read everything.

May 27th–The Method of Wesleyan Theology and The Pathways (Means) of Grace

• Session Overview

  • An Appraisal of John Wesley

  • Holy Love as the organizing principal of Wesley’s theology

  • Wesleyan Quadrilateral (STER= Scripture, Tradition, Experience, and Reason)

  • Works of Piety

  • Works of Mercy 

• Read These Wesley Sermons: The Means of Grace; The Use of Money

• Read the Introduction and Beliefs 1-2 of Adams

June 3rd–Salvation and the Shape of Grace

• Session Overview

  • Prevenient, Justifying, Sanctifying Grace. Witness of the Spirit/Assurance. 

  • Backsliding, apostasy, difference from Reformed theology and some aspects of Baptist theology.

  • Church Groups structured around different people’s need of Grace

  • Sacraments–Communion (Why Open Table?) and Baptism (Why infant baptism?)

• Read These Wesley Sermons: The Scripture Way of Salvation; The Witness of the Spirit Discourse I

• Read Beliefs 3-6 of Adams

• Read here on the small group structure of early Methodism (classes and bands)

• Optional: Read This Holy Mystery for a UM understanding of Holy Communion and By Water and the Spirit for a UM understanding of baptism

June 10th–Christian Perfection and the Organizational Structure of United Methodism

• Session Overview

  • Christian Perfection discussion

  • Episcopal system

  • Clergy–Elders, Deacons, Local Pastors

  • Structure: Local church, district, annual conference, jurisdictional conference, general conference

  • Itineracy of Elders and Local Pastors

• Read These Wesley Sermons: Christian Perfection; Sermon on the Mount Discourse III 

• Read Beliefs 7 and 10 of Adams

June 17th–Methodism through the Years

• Session Overview

  • Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury in America, development and spread (circuit riders), division over slavery, largest denomination in America, Phoebe Palmer and Frances Willard (Prohibition–Welch), beginning of some disconnect between church and academy, wider family/offshoots from the Methodist movement, reunification of the Methodist Church in 1939, full clergy rights to women in 1956, formation of UMC in 1968, global church, United Methodism today.

• Read These Wesley Writings: Thoughts Upon Slavery; Catholic Spirit

• Read Beliefs 8-9 of Adams

• Read this Keener article on Women in Ministry