Methodism

John Wesley (1703-1791): “John Wesley was an 18th century theologian, preacher and the founder of the Methodist denomination of Protestant Christianity. When he and his brother, Charles Wesley, joined with George Whitefield, his Methodist movement began the first widely successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom. Methodists, under Wesley’s direction, would become leaders in prison reform and abolition movements. ...”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley

Charles Wesley (1707 - 1788): “A leader of the Methodist movement, the younger brother of John Wesley. Charles Wesley is chiefly remembered for the many hymns he wrote.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wesley

“The Aldersgate Experience”: “Following a difficult and discouraging mission trip to America, John Wesley questioned his faith. In 1738, at the age of 34, John Wesley attended an evening worship service in London which moved him deeply. In his journal, Wesley described his ‘Aldersgate experience:’: ‘In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while the leader was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.’” http://www.gbgm-umc.org/aldersgate-wheaton/aumcname.html

“The Great Awakening”: “Between 1720 and 1750 a widespread and intense revival of interest in religion occurred in [England and] the American colonies, a phenomenon that supporters called the Great Awakening. The most famous contributor to this contagious religious response was the English itinerant preacher George Whitefield, who became the leader of Calvinistic Methodism. ...”
www.cvhs.com/CVHS%20Inet/academics/history/apus/ch3.html

Arminianism: “The extension of the views of late sixteenth-century Dutch theologian Jacob Arminius .... Arminianism generally holds that man is not totally depraved, that God chooses men to salvation on the basis of some foreseen faith or goodness in them, that Christ died in order to save every man, that God’s grace and will can be resisted, and that Christians can forfeit their salvation.” www.reformationonline.com/glossary.htm “17th century theology (named after its founder Jacobus Arminius) that opposes the absolute predestinarianism of John Calvin and holds that human free will is compatible with God’s sovereignty.” wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

DATE	READING	DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
	JOHN WESLEY AND THE ORIGINS OF METHODISM
June 3	What is Methodism?	Why are you Methodist? What seems to make our denomination—at least as practiced here in Jackson—distinctive?
June 10	John Wesley and the “Aldersgate Experience.” Willimon, pp. 10-11, 37. Sermon 85 excerpt.	Do you think a person must have an “Aldersgate Experience” in order to be saved, or at least believe to be saved? Why do you think Wesley put so much stock in such an experience? Have you ever had an “Aldersgate-like” experience? See Philippians 2:12-13: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
June 17	John Wesley Film Excerpts. Willimon, p. xi.	In the film we will see Wesley and his followers be derided as mere “methodists”—persons systematically practicing Christian devotion. If you were at Oxford in the 1730s, would you have been among the “mere methodists” or among the scoffers? Why?
June 24	Guest Speaker: Prof. Gene Davenport.	TBA
	METHODIST THEOLOGY
July 1	Chapter 2: We Believe in Salvation through Jesus Christ. Also, Willimon, pp. 54-55.	When I was in junior high I read Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl and vividly remember this quotation: “It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” Set against this encouraging optimism about human nature is Willimon’s discussion of human depravity which necessitates salvation through Jesus Christ (pp. 14-15). My question is this: Can we acknowledge our sinful nature and still believe, like Anne Frank, that humanity is basically good at heart?
July 8	Chapter 4: We Believe in Christ’s Universal Church.	In this chapter Willimon explores the openness of Methodism and the extent to which it has freely borrowed from other denominational traditions. As discussed a few weeks ago, to what extent is this denominational openness a strength or a weakness of Methodism?
July 15	Chapter 6: We Believe in Transforming and Perfecting Grace.	Read p. 74 on the different concepts of grace. To what extent are these categories of grace helpful in understanding this concept? Have you ever felt or recognized the work of prevenient, justifying, or sanctifying grace in your life?
July 22	Chapter 7: We Believe in Faith and Good Works. Recommended: Chapter 5: We Believe in Practicing Theology.	If nothing else, one thing we can take from this study of Methodism is that it is a denomination of action, of movement, of doing. On pp. 92-93 Willimon discusses the Methodist Social Principles (http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1686) of the church. To what extent should Methodists become involved in political systems to affect the world? To what extent is such politicization beneficial or destructive to a life of faith and to the church?
July 29	Chapter 8: We Believe in the Coming of God’s Realm and Reign to the World.	On page 107 Willimon comments on the decline in church numbers and challenges readers to do more to reverse this trend if we really believe the promise of salvation and eternal life. Similarly, on June 3 Pastor Don sent out this email: “Today, I ask you to be in prayer for the Memphis Annual Conference which begins at 4 pm this afternoon. Our conference is not growing, in fact, it is declining swiftly, like much of the church world in the USA. Pray that as we make decisions about the future that they will be what God knows will help us recover the desire to share the love of Christ and make disciples for him.” Why do you think our Methodist conference is shrinking? Aren’t we in the Bible Belt? What can we do to address this situation?
	METHODISM & CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
August 5	Social Principles/Book of Discipline I.	TBA. For “official” Methodist positions on a number of social concerns, see: http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1686 or go to www.umc.org and click on the link to OUR FAITH>CHURCH AND SOCIETY and find the link to SOCIAL PRINCIPLES.
August 12	Social Principles/Book of Discipline II.	TBA
August 19	Pastor Don: Methodist Q&A	TBA
	WESLEYAN WRAP-UP.
August 26	What is Methodism? Chapter 9: Thinking Like Wesleyans.	To what extent, if any, has your understanding of Methodism changed? Are you more resolutely Methodist in your convictions? Are there any aspects of Methodism which trouble you?

“Methodism or the Methodist movement is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity. It originated in 18th century Britain, and through vigorous missionary activity, spread throughout the British Empire, the United States, and beyond. Originally it appealed especially to workers, agricultural workers, and slaves. Theologically most Methodists are Arminian, emphasizing that Christ accomplished salvation for every human being, and that humans must exercise an act of the will to be saved (as opposed to the Calvinist doctrine of limited atonement); and low church in liturgy (although this varies greatly in individual chapels; the Wesleys themselves greatly valued the Anglican liturgy and tradition). There are also a number of Calvinistic Methodists in Wales. In 2006 Methodism claimed some seventy-five million members worldwide.

“The Methodist revival originated in England. It was started by a group of men including John Wesley and his younger brother Charles as a movement within the Church of England in the 18th century, focused on Bible study, and a methodical approach to scriptures and Christian living. The term “Methodist” was a pejorative college nickname that was given to a small society of students at Oxford, who met together between 1729 and 1735 for the purpose of mutual improvement. They were accustomed to communicate every week, to fast regularly and to abstain from most forms of amusement and luxury. They also frequently visited poor and sick persons and prisoners in the prison.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodism

Recommended websites:

A fascinating timeline of John Wesley’s life, including links to his personal journals: