FM History & Polity – Assignment 1

Post a reflection on your reading of John Wesley’s Class Meeting by D. Michael Henderson.  Don’t for get to come pack after Wednesday and add comments to at least three of your fellow students posts.

19 Responses to “FM History & Polity – Assignment 1”

  1. Thomas Werstler says:

    I enjoyed learning the early history or genesis of the “method”. I was also surprised as how tight Wesley held the reins on the going ons in the meetings. The ticket system really surprised me. I think it showed a real love for seeing people grow by not just farming everything out to someone else, but a true desire to ensure his methods were being properly implemented. The beginnings of Methodism really did mirror the structure of the early church with the “personal care” method. I think in this day and age, the original Methodist ideology is not practiced nearly as deeply as it was then. I did learn quite a bit about the foundations of the Methodist movement, and understand the origins and concept much better.

    • Pamela Truesdale says:

      I too was surprised about the ticket system. After reading it, I think when it comes to having groups that desire authenticity and to live out James 5:16 of confessing sins to one another in order to be healed, that there should be some strict adherence to confidentiality and everyone needing to participate in said groups. We could benefit from bringing this back and encouraging real growth in each other.

    • Sue palz says:

      I agree I was also surprised at his “control” of things but, I look at the support groups I have facilitated and remember the rules I put in place. Confidentiality was the most important and if that was broken they had to leave the group. His attention to things really did show a real love to give people a safe place to grow.

    • Shawn Pierce says:

      These are all things our church has been doing since I have been attending. I did not recognize exactly what it was, but now that we’ve gone through this book, I also understand much better!

    • Dan says:

      Like you had said that the control Wesley held as his groups were meeting, I believe, played a huge role in their success. There was much to gain from these meetings and as Sue alluded to, rules were an important part of that. I look at how our church is using the “microchurch” ideology and putting them into practice. These churches go beyond just a short group, but a true growing connection to those around us and an even deeper growth in God. Its amazing to see all of this come full circle.

  2. Shawn Pierce says:

    Having personally seen this method first hand in many different contexts, I feel this can be an extremely useful foundation to help new Christians feel more free to share their thoughts and/or personal experiences more openly without fear of judgement or ridicule. We’ll use our micro churches as an example. In these small structured groups, we are able to dig in to things a little bit deeper, and this often gives us a chance to unpack sermons, books of the bible, or just plain discuss how our overall crazy busy lives are going and what we can do to hold each other accountable so we can ensure we’re living life according to God’s plan and not our own. I basically gathered from this that being in smaller groups allows us to be more vulnerable to the teachings and guiding of the Holy Spirit by being able to trust one another, and to lean more into him.

    • Pamela Truesdale says:

      Great point. I think it not only gives new Christians a place to be more vulnerable in sharing but also in asking questions to really learn. Sitting in church listening to the Pastor doesn’t leave for space to ask for further clarification and understanding but the small groups make that possible.

    • Tom Werstler says:

      Your correlation of the micro church to the class meetings is something I never thought of. Very good observation!

    • Dan says:

      Like you have stated it is interesting to really see the parallels that our small groups and microchurchs have with this class meeting process. I certainly didn’t think that it was created out of thin air but didn’t realize that it was so closely tied to the methodist ideology and did thought process.

  3. Pamela Truesdale says:

    As a therapist, I really valued and appreciated reading about John Wesley’s class meetings, especially the bands. I can remember when I first returned to Christ and I was attending bible study at church, I was hungry for something deep. I was hungry to be authentic, to be known, and to have others share that I was not alone in this struggle. The bible study, however, was very surface level and I made them very uncomfortable with my desire to actually discuss how to apply things we were learning to our lives and to discuss areas of sin we were struggling with. I ended up leaving and starting my own bible study just so people could come and bring their questions, doubts, fears, and misunderstandings. I really desire to have relationships with other believers in which we can live out James 5:16 and confess our sins to one other, which has been difficult to find. The few that I have found, I thank God for and continue to cultivate those relationships. I found it really interesting how Wesley was able to start groups like that, get people engaged, and keep them engaged. That is very impressive to me.

    I also did not realize that the Methodist’s played such a vital role in helping bring about reformation to the lower class in England. I found it very interesting that rather than targeting higher levels of society and the leaders, Wesley and others targeted the lower class and those that others just looked down on. I have recently been praying that God would bring revival in the prison system starting with the ground level. That He would reach inmates and transform their lives to in turn transform the lives of other inmates and the staff. I have begun to realize that I, as a staff member, am only there so many hours each week and that we really need people who live there 24 hours a day to really begin to make the difference. It also just reminds me how God uses the most unlikely people to do His work. He takes the ones the world looks down on believes are incapable of anything good and He transforms their lives and uses them mightily to confound the wise.

    • Sue Palz says:

      I understand about finding a group. It’s hard to find people that are truly willing to be vulnerable. I also agree with how God uses unlikely people to do His work. I repeatedly see God work and use people from the population I serve.

      • Shawn Pierce says:

        I can agree to many different things here. One of the best things with our microchurch is the fact that we hold each other accountable. We actually share life together! We celebrate our wins, and we carry each others burdens. But most important, we do it together! And the best part, ALL ARE WELCOME!!!!

  4. Dan Robinson says:

    John Wesley’s Class Meetings: A Model for Making Disciples by D. Michael Henderson provides a comprehensive overview of the Class Meeting, a key component of the Methodist movement that was initiated by John Wesley in the 18th century. The author examines the history and significance of the Class Meeting, as well as its relevance for contemporary Christians seeking to deepen their relationship with God and grow in their faith.

    One of the key sections of the book that Henderson explores is the historical background of the Class Meeting. He delves into the origins of the Class Meeting within the Methodist movement, highlighting how John Wesley’s emphasis on small group accountability and spiritual growth was a response to the spiritual malaise and moral decay of his time. By creating a structured environment for believers to gather, share their struggles, and support one another in their faith journey, Wesley sought to foster a sense of community and accountability that would lead to a transformation of hearts and lives.

    Another important aspect of the Class Meeting that Henderson discusses is its structure and purpose. He outlines the format of the Class Meeting, which typically included elements such as prayer, scripture reading, personal testimonies, and mutual confession of sins. Henderson demonstrates how these practices were designed to create a safe and supportive environment for believers to share their joys and struggles, receive encouragement and accountability, and grow in their faith. By fostering deep relationships and a sense of community among believers, the Class Meeting served as a catalyst for spiritual growth and transformation.

    The final section of the book that Henderson delves into is the relevance of the Class Meeting for contemporary Christians. He argues that the principles and practices of the Class Meeting are just as applicable and necessary in today’s world as they were in Wesley’s time. Henderson emphasizes the importance of small group accountability, spiritual disciplines, and community in fostering spiritual growth and maturity. He points to studies that suggest that involvement in small groups can lead to increased spiritual growth, a deeper sense of community, and a greater commitment to the church.

    In conclusion, John Wesley’s Class Meetings: A Model for Making Disciples by D. Michael Henderson offers a thorough examination of the history, structure, and relevance of the Class Meeting within the Methodist tradition. By highlighting the importance of community, accountability, and mutual support in the spiritual growth of believers, Henderson invites readers to consider how they can implement the principles and practices of the Class Meeting in their own lives and churches. This book serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to deepen their relationship with God and grow in their faith through the power of Christian community and accountability.

    • Shawn Pierce says:

      Well put Dan. This whole method I’ve seen multiple times in various different aspects. I just didn’t realize it at that point.

    • Sue Palz says:

      I agree with the Class Meeting Model. Personal experience has shown me through testimonies, encouragement and accountability I’ve grown more in my walk with God than church alone.

  5. Sue Palz says:

    What made an impression on me is how Wesley keeps going back to “primitive church.” Just like first century Christians, meeting people where they are. Matthew 28:19 says “therefore go and disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the name of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Wesley changed and shaped his presented material in a way his target population could understand. He also based it on scripture instead of “intellectual dialogue.” These changes opened it up to everyone. The very people that were looked down on at that time and still now were used in a mighty way. They not only learned standing in those fields but it became experiential through the Holy Spirit, which was a new concept to them.
    Wesleys major concepts also went along with the first century Christian teachings. He believed and taught through the grace of God, hearts can be healed and made anew. We need to do life together and not alone. We need to hold each other accountable and give when someone is in need. The way Wesley describes the small groups is like our current micro churches and support groups. They are places to study scripture and grow spiritually. They are a place to be encouraged or corrected in love, helped through struggles and become an intimate family of believers preparing to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

    • Shawn Pierce says:

      Ya nailed it Sue! We can witness to this exact thing having led both small groups and micro churches. At that point, I didn’t realize what was going on with the small groups when each one would pick a book and lead the growth groups. Back then my thought was “these guys are reading books together? I’m out!” Having those people to share life with though, is one of the greatest things to have in my arsenal!

    • Pamela Truesdale says:

      When he talked about the primitive church, I thought about the Acts church and how we’ve been saying we want to live like that. We’ve been praying for our church to live like the Acts church.

    • Dan says:

      Meeting people where they are is where most churches i have attended have gotten it wrong. They expected people to elevate to their level and then you were loveable. In that growth I remember feeling alone and unworthy of any love that could have been around me.

      It is also interesting to see how the cycle of religion and church is very cyclical It seems to ebb and flow through the same problems and triumphs no matter the time. I thought it was rather funny that first the religion start out to be illegal to even practice and then was illegal to NOT practice. I can see why some people have a mistrust for churches and religions because they are based off of man’s perception rather than a relationship with God.

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