Pursuing Jesus

The biblical teaching on salvation, especially as found in Ephesians 2, shows it to be not just something for individuals. God calls us to follow him together. This has been an important part of the Methodist tradition since the beginning.

In the Methodist tradition we talk about the "Order of Salvation," the trajectory of the work of God's grace in our lives. 

How can we handle conflict in a Christian way?

In Mark 2, what is it about Levi that brings Jesus to say to him, "Follow me?" The pattern I see is neither Levi's exceptional goodness nor badness, but that he was willing to say YES to Jesus.

The closer we get to Jesus, the more we become aware of our sin. Our usual strategies are either to assert our righteousness or to wallow in condemnation. Neither is the way of Jesus. Jesus wants us to receive his grace; then we can share that grace with other sinners.

In Mark 10, we see James & John asking Jesus for positions of authority when he comes into his glory. They have no clue what they're asking for. We're often like them, looking for power, often so we can put people in their place. That's not the Jesus way.

Mark 1 opens with a declaration that it is presenting the "beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ." John the Baptist preaches the gospel. Jesus preaches the gospel. What is that gospel - that good news? How do we respond to it?

When we invite someone "to church," what do we imagine happens there?

The song, We Three Kings, extrapolates from the story of the Magi in Matthew 2. Looking at the gifts theologically, we see them honor Jesus as "King, and God, and Sacrifice."

What can we learn about the shepherd's experience of the angels - and baby Jesus - from the story in Luke 2 and from the Christmas Carol, Angels We Have Heard on High that's based on their story?