Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for John Wesley

John Wesley’s Small Group Agenda

January 10, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen 12 Comments

Every small group has its own to-do list. When I was a university student I would work up questions for inductive Bible study. We would try to guide our groups from details of the day’s text, to its meaning, and onward to ways to live it. Since then some of the richest small groups I’ve […]

Filed Under: Community, Theology, Wesley Tagged With: Accountability, community, John Wesley, Methodism, Small groups

My First Year in Blogging: Top Posts of 2013

December 30, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

I’ve now been blogging for a year! I’m very grateful to you, dear readers, for your interest. The numbers stun me: Well over 10,000 page views Visitors from 72 countries Most from the USA of course but hundreds from New Zealand Canada the United Kingdom Germany Finland How I wish I could know how you […]

Filed Under: Community, Heidelberg Catechism, Saints, Theology Tagged With: Basic Christianity, Best of 2013, Bible, Christian Community, community, Guest Posts, heidelberg catechism, John Wesley, Martin Luther, Saints

How John Wesley Marketed His Small Group Program

November 4, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 10 Comments

Try to start a program in your church and I bet some of these ideas will be in the conversation: Tell people it will be fun. Let them know it won’t be too demanding — we’re busy people. Make sure they see it is going to make their lives happier. Emphasize that they will meet […]

Filed Under: Community, Wesley Tagged With: Accountability, John Wesley, Marketing, Small groups

Want to Join John Wesley’s Small Group?

October 11, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

The pastor had decided to start a small group. Everyone says it is the way to grow your church, or to grow a deeper sense of community. Thursday night a dozen people showed up. They met. They left in frustration. What went wrong? They all brought conflicting expectations. Some wanted the group to be a […]

Filed Under: Community, Wesley Tagged With: Accountability, Bible Study, John Wesley, Methodism, Prayer Groups, Small groups

John Wesley’s “Plain, Old Christianity,” or “The Marks of a True Methodist”

September 4, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

I recently posted on John Wesley’s “Basic Christianity,” looking at the rock-bottom standards he insisted on for members of the early Methodist movement. True enough, Wesley’s baseline was to avoid obvious sin, do a lot of good, and practice basic Christian spiritual disciplines. However, Wesley was very clear that toeing the mark on these things […]

Filed Under: Community, Wesley Tagged With: Holiness, Ideals, John Wesley, Methodism

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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