Why I am a United Methodist Part 2: Theology
1 Corinthians 2:15 1And i, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Many denominations have distinctives that identify them. People like identifying with things. Identification sets them apart from others..MU fan, KU fan...
Baptist......something about baptism
Presbyterian........their form of organization
Methodist.....?
Brand X preacher -- Lisa Pritchett
Many types of theology.....
natural theology, Biblical theology, ontotheology, transcendental theology, practical theology, process theology, constructive theology, moral theology, ascetic theology.....and systematic theology.
Wesley was a practial theologian. That means that he was only interested in you learning something if it helped you in your every day life.
1. Methodist theology is clear and simple......1 Cor 2:1-5
Clear, simple gospel message.
God created men and women. They sinned. They were unable to repair the relationship. God sent Jesus to restore the brokenness. He loved you, suffered and died on the cross for you and rose from the dead. All who believe and receive this are forgiven of their sins. The Holy Spirit comes into their hearts and they begin to live a new life.
Nothing is added.
College, sign the paper of what we believed.....no drinking, no dancing, ya ya ya
We believe that Jesus is going to come back like this.
We believe that Jesus is going to come back in this place
We believe that this particular spiritual gift is the most important.
We are a part of the Christian church, the gospel is important, not UMC doctrine -- if the UMC closes.....
2. Methodist theology is Biblical 2 Tim 3:16-17
16All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Man of one book
I am a creature of a day, passing through life, as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God: just hovering over the great gulf; till a few moments hence, I am no more seen! I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven: how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He has written it down in a book! Oh, give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri: "A man of one book." Here then I am far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: only God is here. In his presence I open, I read this book; for this end, to find the way to heaven.
Purpose of the scriptures.....point us to God
Clear sense of the text -- don't twist it to make it fit your view....
Scripture interprets scripture.
3. Methodist theology is Grace-driven
Prevenient, justifying and sanctifying grace
Ephesians 2:8-10 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God---9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Hebrews 4:16 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Grace is unmerited favor.
Grace is the power of God at work.
To know grace is to focus on the good, not the wrong
Trouble in a family....Jeff, do something....
Not on the sin of the person, but on the power of God to act.
4. Methodist theology is love-focused 1jn 4:15-16
15If anyone adknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
In Wesley's theology, love is central..........
What does this new word "Methodist" mean? Does it represent a new religion? Nothing could be further from the truth. Methodist, so called, is the old religion, the religion of the Bible, the religion of the early church, the religion of the church of England. This old religion is no other than love, the love of God and of all persons the world around.
Who is a Methodist? A Methodist is one who has the love of God filling the heart. This comes by the Holy Spirit. One who loves the Lord God with all the heart, with all the soul, and with all the mind and strength, that one is a Methodist.
God becomes the joy of the heart, and the desire of the soul. This makes the soul cry out, "I desire only God in heaven or earth. My God! My all. You are the strength of my heart, and I need forever.
This is what I would like to see in our members at WCC:
A love for God....that you are seriously engaged in loving Him
A love for your family....grow in grace....better husband, wife, neighbor
A love for all God's children....near, far away, a caring for the poor, a living outside of yourself....
Simple, clear, Biblical, grace-based, love-directed
Does this feel good to you?
Is this the kind of church you want to be a part of?
Is this the kind of faith that you want in your life?
Let us pray
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