Adult Confirmation - Session 7: Sanctification and Our Wesleyan Heritage

A summary of Session 6 will be posted later this week, but here is the look ahead for next week's session:

Prayer of the Week:
Lord God in Heaven, You humbled Yourself upon the cross so that we might be exalted in heaven. Through Your Son we have been given new life, and through the movement of Your Holy Spirit, we experience Your perfecting grace. Give us the will to submit ourselves to You each day, that we might live our lives transformed and bear witness to our salvation. Amen.

Opening Thoughts:
The 18th century was arguably one of the most chaotic, transformative centuries in history. The European continent was ravaged by on-going wars. Empires in the Middle East and South Asia were rising and falling, and colonization of the Americas, Africa, and the South Pacific dominated the economic and political thinking of the time. This was a century of turmoil was spawned tremendous bursts of creative energy from musicians, thinkings, writers, and artists. It was an era of rapid change both in landscape and world-view, and the church was no exception.

In England, there was an Anglican priest who was led by God to preach The Gospel to the people who were being tossed and battered by this change. John Wesley began a movement within the Church of England that expanded throughout the country and across the sea that was centered on salvation by grace through faith. He created and implemented a systematic approach to discipleship - the process of growing in grace - so that as hundreds and thousands of people entered into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ; they could be formed into His disciples. The focus for this week of study, discussion and exercise is to explore our heritage as United Methodists, our call to intentional discipleship, and the movement of God's grace among us, so that we may better understand who it is God has called us to be in the world.

Suggested Scripture Readings:

• Exodus 34:29-35 - "The Shining Face of Moses"
• Joshua 5:1-9 - "The New Generation Circumcised"
• 1 Samuel 16:1-13 - "David Anointed as King"
• Matthew 10:5-15 - "The Mission of the Twelve"
• Romans 5:1-11 - "Results of Justification"
• Philippians 3:12-4:1 - "Pressing Toward the Goal"
• Hebrews 12:1-13 - "The Example of Jesus"

Reflection Questions:

• What does it mean to grow in faith?
• How do you know whether or not you are growing in faith?
• Read Ephesians 2. What does this tell us about God? About us? About our relationship?
• Read the "Wesleyan Core Term" attached to Ephesians 2. What is more difficult for you, loving God or loving your neighbor?
• Reflect on where you were in your faith at the beginning of Adult Confirmation. Does your faith look different now?

Yours,

Michael C. Andres

Director of Discipleship