the means of grace means of grace, means of growth february 27, 2014

The Rev. Kathy Noble

Editor, Interpreter

•The Upper Room, www.upperroom.org

•Interpreter Magazine, www.interpretermagazine.org

THE MEANS OF GRACETHE MEANS OF GRACE

GUESTSGUESTS

The Rev. Beth Fender

Illinois Great Rivers Conference

The Rev. Stephen BryantGeneral Board of Discipleship

GUESTSGUESTS

Howard WoolardDisciple Bible Outreach

Ministries

The Rev. Steve Manskar

General Board of Discipleship

A Grace-Filled MemoryA Grace-Filled Memory

The Rev. Stephen Bryant

Singing for evening services

Deep conversations under a blanket of stars

A first experience of Christian conferencing

A Grace-Filled MemoryA Grace-Filled Memory

The Rev. Beth Fender

Fasting freed me to feed another

The Spirit surprises with opportunities

A Grace-Filled MemoryA Grace-Filled Memory

Howard Woolard

Disciples filled my childhood who practiced, encouraged, taught and equipped

Prepare to act when God nudges

A Grace-Filled MemoryA Grace-Filled Memory

The Rev. Steve Manskar

Bread and juice made a ‘special meal’

Receive Holy Communion as often as possible

A Gracious TraditionA Gracious Tradition

Scripture

Early Christians

Protestant Reformation

Pietism

Church of England

Religious Societies

A Gracious TraditionA Gracious Tradition

The Wesley Brothers “Holy Club” experiences in Oxford

Coming to Georgia and the Moravians

Ways to help us to connect with God

Enable us to love God and neighbor

A Gracious TraditionA Gracious Tradition Practices that open

the heart, mind, and hands to God and where God promises to meet us

A Gracious TraditionA Gracious Tradition

Practices that cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work of forming “holy tempers” in the soul

The General Rules

Do no harm.

Do good.

Attending upon all the ordinances of God (works of piety).

16

Works of Piety(ordinances of God) Prayer Public Worship The Lord’s Supper Searching the

Scriptures Ministry of the Word Fasting or Abstinence

Works of Mercy(Do no harm & Do good) Feeding the hungry Clothing the naked Welcome the stranger Visiting the prisoners Caring for the sick Peacemaking Witness to Christ

17

Piety and MercyPiety and Mercy Work together

Challenge us to go deeper and live more authentic lives

Piety and MercyPiety and Mercy I pray for the prisoners I

visit.

God will use what they learn to form disciples serving each other, other inmates, their families.

Encouragement to GrowEncouragement to Grow

Accountability Groups

A Disciple’s Journal

Encouragement to GrowEncouragement to Grow

Special Events or Retreats

Encouragement to GrowEncouragement to Grow

Deeper Still Event

Encouragement to GrowEncouragement to Grow

Practices around the world

Encouragement to GrowEncouragement to Grow

“Opening Ourselves to

Grace”

A 4-session small-group study on the Means of Grace in the

Wesleyan tradition

http://bookstore.upperroom.org

The Means of Grace in The Means of Grace in LentLent

Consider the meaning of the baptismal covenant.

“Renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness.”Do no harm.

“Accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil.”Do good.

“In union with the church …Attending upon all the ordinances of God (works of piety).

29

The Means of Grace in The Means of Grace in LentLent

What spiritual practice(s) are you feeling led to begin or resume during this Lent?

What might you encourage others to consider?

Lenten Resources for Lenten Resources for Individual Individual

or Small Group Studyor Small Group StudyBookstore.upperroom.org or 1.800.972.0433

The Awkward SeasonOnline Lenten Retreat

March 5 – April 20Audio, video, group

discussion

Prayer practices for each day of Lent

http://MyUpperRoom.org

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

Steve Manskar

Beth Fender

Howard Woolard Stephen

Bryant