Wesleyan Core Term - Acceptance

Acceptance

John Wesley, like all Christians, recognizes that the Lord is “our righteousness” (Sermon 20: “The Lord is Our Righteousness”). We are acceptable to God not because of what we do but because of what Jesus did for us. Wesley also insists that God’s gracious acceptance of us both enables and requires cultivation of inner righteousness which he understands to be perfect love. We cannot claim the Lord is our righteousness unless righteousness becomes ours as well as God’s. Wesley warns Christians not to think they are accepted if they are not also being made righteous. Without this, he proclaims, “the righteousness of Christ will profit them nothing”. Matthew’s Gospel is the essence of this righteousness for it moves from Jesus’ proclamation of happiness (Matt 5) to the command be perfect (Matt 7:48). Wesley deems this movement from happiness to perfection as “righteousness.” It is first Christ’s righteousness, but it is also ours. Together they constitute our acceptance before God. -Wesley Study Bible pg 1191

Scripture Nugget 10.8.2015

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes ones such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:1-5

Scripture Nugget 10.7.2015

“Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another both will fall into a pit.’” Matthew 15:10-14

Scripture Nugget 10.6.2015

“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundred-fold, in another sixty and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23

Wesleyan Life Application Topic - Sowing Seeds

Sowing Seeds

Why is today’s harvest so poor? Why does today’s harvest yield hunger, violence, and war? We reap what we plant. What seeds are we spreading around the world: crass individualism, selfishness, irresponsibility, lack of accountability, oppressive power, our-way-or-no-way? Those are the seeds some are planting. O God, let the birds devour these seeds, let them be scorched by the sun, choked by the thorns. Help us, loving God! Help us to do whatever is needed so we can fill our sacks with seeds of justice, love, care, tenderness, reconciliation, and peace. Only then will be able to reap the abundance of life. -Wesley Study Bible pg 1179

Scripture Nugget 10.5.2015

“Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37

Wesleyan Core Term - Humanity

                                                       Humanity

According to Wesley, humans are valuable because we are created in the image of God. God endows humans with aspects of the divine image, which allows us to relate to God (natural image), to benevolently govern creation (political image), and to make holiness a possibility (moral image). But Wesley saw the image of God less as a human possession and more as a relational process by which humans relate to God and the world. Humans, like the Trinitarian God, are relational beings. Being in right relationship with God, the world, others, and oneself is not only the will of God but also the essence of holiness. Of course the human race is fallen; therefore, new birth becomes the process of renewing the image of God with the person through God’s grace. To be renewed in the image of God is to love as God loves through Christ Jesus. -Wesley Study Bible pg 1177

Scripture Nugget 10.4.2015

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. … Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10: 28 & 32-33

Scripture Nugget 10.3.2015

“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners’” Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man/woman called (insert your name) (insert where he sees you and what you are doing); and he said to (insert your name), Follow Me. And I got up and followed him. The key to repentance is giving up that which separates you from God and following after/joining with God in relationship. Notice what happens, your friends – those who do the same things as you – come to Jesus as well, they give up sinful behavior and join in relationship, not only with you but more importantly with Jesus.

Praise God for He calls sinners to righteousness!

Wesleyan Life Application Topic - Giving

Giving

The true meaning of giving – charity – is solidarity. We are in solidarity with the poor when we recognize how we are all interrelated. What we have is related to what the poor do not have. We must give of who we are and all we have, not of what we have left over. We are in solidarity with the poor when we risk our material and social privileges so that poverty, living on one dollar a day, can be eradicated. Solidarity – giving – is living simply: opposing consumerism, not turning wants into needs, living with less comfort so the poor can simply live. -Wesley Study Bible pg 1169