Back to our Wesleyan roots
By the Rev. Rick Vance
As I began this new year, I reflected on the best practices for me to embrace on my spiritual journey.
As a good Generation X person, I began to look for the “new.” New devotionals, new online materials, new applications of scripture all were available, but in the end, I found myself going back to our Wesleyan roots.
I challenge you to join me.
John Wesley laid out a plan for us to become spiritual disciples of Christ and a way to make spiritual disciples of others. Below you will find a list of these practices.
Works of Piety
Individual Practices – reading, meditating and studying the scriptures, prayer, fasting, regularly attending worship, healthy living, and sharing our faith with others
Communal Practices – regularly share in the sacraments, Christian conferencing (accountability to one another), and Bible study.
Works of Mercy
Individual Practices - doing good works, visiting the sick, visiting those in prison, feeding the hungry, and giving generously to the needs of others.
Communal Practices – seeking justice, ending oppression and discrimination (for instance Wesley challenged Methodists to end slavery), and addressing the needs of the poor. (http://www.umc.org/how-we-serve/the-wesleyan-means-of-grace).
By practicing these spiritual disciplines, I believe we will not only personally grow in our spiritual life, but we will also be a witness to our church and community that will “help men grow closer to Christ, so others may know Christ.”
Your brother on the journey,
The Rev. Dr. Rick Vance, director of men’s ministry
General Commission on UM Men