This week we begin a new worship series called Wesleyan Rooted, exploring some of the unique theological ideas of our denomination and Wesleyan tradition. The goal is not to offer a history lesson or make sure we are all in agreement like some loyalty check, but a celebration and reminder about the unique message of Christ and how we have come to understand its formative work.
The first week, Grow Deeply, is all about love. We believe God loves us enough to meet us wherever we are, and loves us enough to not leave us there. An expression that the gift of God’s grace is not a one-time thing, but a lifelong journey. And praise God for that.
I’ve been reading some of John Wesley’s sermons in preparation for the series, this week revisiting his “The One Thing Needful” which plays on the language of Luke 10:42. Wesley defines the one thing we need as evidenced by Mary in Luke’s Gospel as “the renewal of our fallen nature.”
That’s no small thing, and I know I’m not the only one that has at least a lifetime of work ahead of them around it, so I’m grateful to experience God’s grace every step of the way. To know the presence and work of God’s love as how I am perceived during the work, how I am encouraged to pursue the work, and how I am empowered to do the work. In other words: it’s all about love.
Or as John Wesley puts it later in the sermon: “love is the very image of God; it is the brightness of his glory. By love [humankind] is not only made like God, but in some sense one with him.”
As we continue into this new year, each of you are in my prayers and I thank you for yours. I pray that this series, and all that is ahead of us – as individuals and as a body of Christ – would be surrounded, supported, and formed by the ever-present gift of God’s love. See you Sunday.
Ben
