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 […]
Want to Join John Wesley’s Small Group?
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 […]
John Wesley’s “Plain, Old Christianity,” or “The Marks of a True Methodist”
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 […]
John Wesley’s Basic Christianity, or, How Does a Methodist Stay a Methodist?
I’m at the plate. The ball whizzes by, right at elbow height. That’s one. The second pitch goes the same way. That’s two. I swing at the third, but I don’t know if the “whoosh” of the ball or the “whoosh” of the bat is clearer in my ears. “You’re outta there!” Baseball has clear […]
John Wesley’s OTHER Secret to Building Community
Once upon a time there was a kite. It had a wonderful time when a certain little kid would take it to the park. It caught the wind and soared high. It loved to be close to the clouds — but it longed to fly higher. “This kid is holding me back. I could go […]