1. HOW TO GROW CLOSER TO GOD: THE MEANS OF GRACE

2. WHERE ARE WE GOING? Fred Craddock Robert Wuthnow Sam Van Eman
Rodney Clapp: What do we do with our freedom?
Only God can set us free: Free from all that keeps us from life, and free to live a new life

3. WHY CHRISTIANS SETTLE FOR LESS
TWO MISUNDERSTANDINGS:
“Bar code faith” (Dallas Willard)
Being good enough faith
Both focus on the life to come, not this life

4. WESLEY’S ALTERNATIVE:
…there is a better religion to be attained, a religion worthy of God who gave it. And this we conceived to be no other than love: the love of God and all mankind; the loving God with all our heart and soul and strength, as having first loved us, as the fountain of all the good we have received, and of all we ever hope to enjoy; and the loving every soul which God hath made…as our own soul.

5. WHY MEANS OF GRACE?
They keep us focused:
on God
on our neighbor

6. WORKS OF PIETY Keep our focus on God PRAYER SCRIPTURE AND SERMON
CHRISTIAN CONVERSATION
THE LORD’S SUPPER

7. WORKS OF MERCY
Keep us focused on serving our neighbor

8. RELATIONSHIPS REQUIRE:
Being in touch with others (Presence)
Recognizing the uniqueness of others (Identity)
A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD REQUIRES:
PRESENCE: being in contact with and open to God
IDENTITY: knowing who God is

9. WRONG TURN # 1: FORMALISM
Reduces Christianity to a set of duties
The underlying danger: Dissipation
The cure for dissipation: Faith
How can faith be nurtured?

10. DISCIPLINE
Spiritual disciplines keep our focus on God and our neighbor
They keep us open to God’s presence

11. How do we keep this discipline?
WESLEY’S THREE RULES
1. Do no harm
2. Do good to the bodies and souls of others (works of mercy)
3. Attend the ordinances of God (works of piety)
How do we keep this discipline?

12. CLASS MEETING A weekly meeting of 10-12 persons
Held one accountable for keeping the discipline
Was an occasion for Christian conversation (conference)
Fellowship grew as a by-product of accountable discipleship

13. WRONG TURN # 2: ENTHUSIASM
Was concerned with having feelings
The underlying danger:
Self-deception
The cure for self-deception:
Means of Grace
Works of piety tell us who God is
Works of mercy tell us who our neighbor is

14. THE MEANS OF GRACE: THE BIG PICTURE
METHODIST MOVEMENT
CHURCH
Nurtures Faith
Classes/Bands
Discipline
Extemporaneous prayer
Fasting
Scripture
Preaching Lord’s Supper
Prayers of the Church
Opens us to God’s Presence
Tells us who God is
God’s Identity