Pursuing Social Holiness: in Early Methodism

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1 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Pursuing Social Holiness: Click to edit Master text styles Small Group Formation in Early Methodism

2 CHRISTIAN CONFERENCING CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Christian conferencing is preferable to holy conferencing. Click to edit Master text styles Wesley used Christian conferencing. He did not use holy conferencing.

3 CHRISTIAN CONFERENCING CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Christian conferencing is one of five instituted Click to means edit Master of grace. text styles The others are: prayer, searching the Scriptures, receiving the Lord s Supper, and fasting.

4 CHRISTIAN CONFERENCING CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Christian conferencing is the practice of cultivating Click to growth edit Master in holiness text styles in community through Second conversation level about our experience of God.

5 CHRISTIAN CONFERENCING IS NOT: CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Polite disagreement Click to edit Master text styles Conversation in small groups about controversial issues General Conference, Annual Conference, or other meetings

6 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER When Wesley said Christian conferencing he was Click thinking to edit Master about small text styles groups where people Second talked level directly about the current state of their Third relationship level with God.

7 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER The best example of these in early Methodism Click to edit were: Master text styles The class meeting The band meeting

8 SOCIAL HOLINESS CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Holy solitaries is a phrase no more consistent Click to with edit the Master gospel text than styles holy adulterers. The gospel of Christ knows of no religion Third but level social; no holiness but social holiness. John Wesley, (1739)

9 THE CLASS MEETING CLICK TO EDIT MASTER About 12 people Click to edit Master text styles Every Second member level of Methodism was in a weekly Third class level meeting. Key question: How does your soul prosper?

10 THE CLASS MEETING CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Weekly attendance was required in American Methodism Click to edit for decades Master text in order styles to be a member Second of level the church!

11 THE BAND MEETING CLICK TO EDIT MASTER 3 5 people Click to edit Master text styles Divided by gender and marital status. Required prior experience of justification by faith and the new birth. Key question: What sins have you committed since our last meeting?

12 THE BAND MEETING CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Confess your sins to one another, and pray for Click one another, to edit Master so that text you styles may be healed. James 5:16

13 BELIEFS THAT INFORMED WESLEYAN CLICK TO SMALL EDIT MASTER GROUPS Wesley identified the constant doctrine of Methodism Click to edit as Master text styles salvation by faith, preceded by repentance, and followed by holiness.

14 ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Methodists pursued holiness to its logical end, Click entire to edit sanctification, Master text which styles Wesley believed Second was level the core truth that God had raised Third up level Methodists to preach and teach.

15 ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION CLICK TO EDIT MASTER It means perfect love. It is love excluding sin; Click love to filling edit the Master heart, text taking styles up the whole capacity Second of level the soul. John Fifth Wesley, level Scripture Way of Salvation

16 QUESTIONS ORDAINED CLERGY CLICK IN TO THE EDIT UMC MASTER MUST ANSWER: Click to edit Master text styles Are you going on to perfection? Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life? Are you earnestly striving after perfection in love?

17 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER The class meeting was at the Click to edit Master text styles epicenter of the explosive growth of American Methodism.

18 THE CLASS MEETING CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Francis Asbury viewed the class meeting as the Click pillar to of edit Methodism Master text and styles the universities for Second the ministry. level He also believed class leaders were as important to the revival of the work of God as were the preachers.

19 THE CLASS MEETING CLICK TO EDIT MASTER The class meeting declined in the mid to late 1800s. Click to edit Master text styles As this decline occurred Methodists shifted to learning about their faith instead of practicing their faith.

20 CLASS MEETINGS CLICK TO EDIT MASTER TITLE Promote STYLE active faith. Help Christians learn to speak the Click to edit Master text styles language of their souls. Encourage every Christian to actively follow Jesus and support others. Provide a simple way to ensure that no one is overlooked or lost in a church.

21 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER The class meeting is the most Click to edit Master text styles tested and effective approach to small Third groups level that Methodists have.

22 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Vital congregations have transformation-driven Click to edit Master text small styles groups where people are talking about their faith Fourth and level seeking transformation by God s grace.

23 TABLE DISCUSSION: CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Where do you see this history Click to edit Master text styles as most relevant for your church s present?

24 FROM TABLES TO THE ENTIRE GROUP CLICK TO EDIT MASTER What is the most urgent Click to edit Master text styles question you have based on what Third we ve level discussed so far?

25 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER We need to move from informationdriven Click small to edit groups Master to text transformationdriven styles Second small level groups like the class meeting and the band meeting.

26 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER From Click to edit Master text styles What do I need to know? To How can I become more like Jesus?

27 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER The truth is that the Click to edit Master text styles curriculum driven approach to small Third group level formation is not working.

28 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Click to edit Master text styles

29 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER Class Meetings help laity Click to edit Master text styles learn to speak the language of their souls and take steps in their faith.

30 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER As Methodists, have been made stewards Click to of edit audacious Master text optimism styles for what God Second wants level to do in the lives of those who have Third been level created in God s image, but who Fifth are level completely and utterly unable to save themselves.

31 CLICK TO EDIT MASTER On a scale of 1-10: How close have you felt to God in the past week? Why? Click to edit Master text styles How is it with your soul? How does your soul prosper?

32 DEBRIEF AT TABLES CLICK TO EDIT MASTER What was most challenging to you about this experience? Click to edit Master text styles What did you learn? What was most helpful?