This Sunday I’ll be kicking off a new sermon series titled, "The Method in Methodism." The theology and practice of the Methodists were instrumental in shaping 18th century England and Methodist preachers were among the first to bring the Gospel to the American frontier, including here in Park City. The message of God’s grace extended to all, the practice of spiritual disciplines, singing their theology, and the crafting of vital communities of faith were all aspects of the movement that drew people into a relationship with God through Christ.
In this series, I will be spending a lot of time focusing on the message and practice of the Methodists, with my basic premise being that our own faith and practice can be revitalized by studying and embracing the best parts of this movement. Many of the people who attend our church are unfamiliar with its heritage, but beyond the history is a way of understanding Christian faith that, I believe, provides a life-giving alternative to the polarization that permeates postmodern religion. As we move through these six weeks together, my prayer is that we’ll experience our own brand of revival!
I hope that you’ll plan to join us in person over the next six weeks or listen in online to the sermon audio or read the sermons posted here in the blog. I’ll also be leading a class on Tuesday nights at 7:00PM using Steve Harper’s book The Way to Heaven: The Gospel According to John Wesley as a springboard for getting deeper into the discussion.
Having spent a couple of weeks in England this summer studying early Methodism I can tell you that my own faith and resolve has been strengthened. This is an important time in the life of our church, both here and in the larger Methodist family, and I’m convinced that one of the most effective ways we can move forward and recapture the passion and spirit of "scriptural Christianity" is by looking back at our roots.
As always, your comments and questions throughout the series are very welcome!
