Presentation ©Jim Harnish
for the 5 Talent Academy Event, 11/10/15 “God is a Methodist”
On the Way to Perfection
Making Disciples in the Wesleyan Tradition
5 Talent Academy
November 10, 2015
Branch Rickey’s Witness
“Stir Up the Fire”
“Methodism is easy…”
“Wake up the fire-breathing
beast within you.”
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Presentation ©Jim Harnish
for the 5 Talent Academy Event, 11/10/15 Wesley’s Warning
“Start with ‘Why?’”
“Iamnotafraidthatthepeoplecalled
Methodistshouldeverceasetoexisteither
inEuropeorAmerica.ButIamafraidlest
theyshouldonlyexistasadeadsect,
havingtheformofreligionwithoutthe
power.Andthisundoubtedlywillbethe
caseunlesstheyholdfastthedoctrine,
spiritanddisciplinewithwhichtheyfirst
setout.”
–JohnWesley
Who? Why? What?
Your Mission…
If You Choose to Accept It
 Who are you?
 Why are you here?
 What hope or question do you bring?
“French taste” vs “Military
Function”
The Way of Grace
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Presentation ©Jim Harnish
for the 5 Talent Academy Event, 11/10/15 God…Church…Individual
Disciple’s Role
Church & Family Role
As We Grow…
Christian Perfection
Jesu, thine all-victorious love
Shed in my heart abroad!
Then shall my feet no longer rove,
Rooted and fixed in God
Love can bow down the stubborn neck,
The stone to flesh convert;
Soften, and melt, and pierce, and break
An adamantine heart.
Adamant: a stone of impenetrable hardness; rigid;
unyielding
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Presentation ©Jim Harnish
for the 5 Talent Academy Event, 11/10/15 Christian Perfection:
A Song of Ascents
“My song of the pilgrimage I am
making from what I was to
what God is making of me. I say
‘what God is making of me,’ for
the best that I can say about
myself is that I’m a Christian-inthe-making. Not yet ‘made,’ but
only in the making at eightythree.”
--E. Stanley Jones (1884-1973)
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Presentation ©Jim Harnish
for the 5 Talent Academy Event, 11/10/15 Wesley on Class Meetings
“I am more and more convinced, that the devil himself
desires nothing more than this, that the people of any
place should be half-awakened, and then left to
themselves to fall asleep again. Therefore I determine, by
the grace of God, not to strike one stroke in any place
where I cannot follow the blow.”
“Many now happily experienced that Christian
fellowship of which they had not so much as an idea
before…As they had daily a more intimate acquaintance
with, so they had a more endeared affection for, each
other. And speaking the truth in love, they grew up into
Him in all things, who is the Head, even Christ.”
Let’s Talk…
 When have you experienced spiritual growth in a
small group?
 What is the biggest challenge you face in growing a
small group ministry in your church?
 What is the next step you plan to take to move in
this direction?
There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return,
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
Growing Small Groups
 Begin with “Why?”
 Teach discipleship and spiritual growth.
 Start with what you have, i.e. start small.
 Choose resources carefully.
 Meet people where they are.
 Plan for a church-wide study
 Focus outward.
Charles Wesley’s Prayer
O Thou who camest from above,
the pure celestial fire to impart
kindle a flame of sacred love
upon the mean altar of my heart.
Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
to work and speak and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up thy gift in me.
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