How does the Scripture nurture and convict you to
This "plain account" by John Wesley was intended for those "who desire to know all 'the truth as it is in Jesus.'" Wesley's hope was that this account would inspire and convict people to lead a life intimately intertwined with Jesus Christ.
"tempers"? How does this purity of intention conform to or differ from your own intentions of faith?
Note the questions Wesley asks after J 2 and J 4.
What is your personal response? Why do you think and feel as you do?
B. Study Scriptures on Holiness. Review [J 5 and 6, on pages 12-13. Individually or in teams, consider the related Scriptures (see the endnotes). Read enough of the passages to get a sense of the whole.
Discuss how these passages describe for you what it means to be holy, to be perfect as God is perfect, and to have the mind that was in Christ.
During Each Study Session e Inquire and Pray. Begin each time together by inquiring in love about how participants are doing— personally, vocationally, and in their relationship with God. Take time to pray at the beginning and conclusion of each session to keep the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives at the center of your consideration of Wesley's account.
For further examination, see "That Pesky Word Perfection" in Chapter 2 of Suchocki's theological reflection, pages 116-117. e Sing Together. Charles Wesley contributed thousands of hymns to the service of God's people. Use the index of your hymnal to find and either sing or say some of those hymns (or others of your choosing) in your devotional time. On occasion, a hymn text will be a part of the study text.
C. Examine God's Claims. Read J 10, on pages 15-17, an excerpt from The Character of a Methodist. Have each person look up two or three of the brief Scripture references. We relate to God in many ways. Identify what this excerpt says about God and God's claim on you ¢ Choose Activities. This treatise by John Wesley was written as a seamless account, but for the convenience of study it is divided into sections. Choose from among the following questions and activities to study and reflect on Wesley's text, section by section. As you go, notice references to Marjorie Suchocki's theological reflection on John Wesley's book, beginning on page
as you think about your beliefs; ¢ as you hold God's love in your heart; ¢ as you reflect on God's vastness and eternal goodness;
as you see God at work through church and society as an agent for justice and change.
101. Think about the list of John Wesley's "Operating Principles," on page 5, which will be helpful in explaining Wesley's thought and vocabulary.
How does the Scripture nurture and convict you to be a "perfect Christian"? By what fruits are you known? How do you love your neighbor? In what ways are your power, strength, and talents employed according to God's will?
Section | The general theme of the first section is to present the theological boundaries of what perfection is and what it is not.
D. Debate "Perfection on Earth." Review J 11, on pages 17-18. In two teams debate whether you think there is "perfection on earth." What is the theological and biblical basis, so far, for your position?
A. Describe Decisions and Intentions. Review paragraphs ({J) 1-4, on page 11. How would you describe Wesley's decision for Christ? How would you describe his "purity of intention" regarding his
E. Study "Imperfection." Study J 12, on pages 18-21. Review "(1) In what sense Christians are not
perfect." Be sure that you understand Wesley's understanding of perfection in this sense. transformed ..
. by the Lord" (Psalm 84:7; 2 Corinthians 3:18); ¢ Their "competence is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5);
See also the first four paragraphs under "What Christian Perfection Is Not," in Chapter 2 of Suchocki's theological reflection, page 117.
Their souls are even and calm; peaceful beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7); ¢ They can withstand trials and suffering (1 Peter 1:6-7);
The "love of God is poured into their hearts"
F. Distinguish Between "Sin" and "Sins." Review the lengthy argument in (2) on the ways Christians are perfect (pages 18-21) and note Wesley's "Operating
Principle #2," on page 5. First examine the distinction between sin (alienation and separation from God) and sins (the "garden variety" transgressions inherent in an imperfect world) and what the "privileges of Christians" means (see the sidebars). Skim through this section to identify the points in which Scripture indicates the presence of sins (transgressions, mistakes). Then note how Wesley counters with passages indicating how the action of God's grace through the gift of Jesus Christ has perfected humans in love by cleansing us from all sin.
(Romans $:5).
After a time of study and discussion, spend ten to fifteen minutes in introspection, either privately or in teams of two or three. Consider the following activities to focus that time and reflect on how you feel and what you think: e Write a journal entry or personal testimony about aligning your life to God's perfect will.
Pray about this alignment with a partner, and lay hands on the person being prayed for. e Either with quiet music or in silence, envision what a perfected world would be. e Write out an action plan for matching your own sense of God's will with a social ministry that needs your particular gifts, or a plan for improving such a relationship.
Read 1 John 1:1-2:6, in which the author explains that those who accept the gracious love and gift of the Savior and abide daily in that love are brought into a righteous relationship with God ("made perfect"). What would it take for you to live daily so immersed in God's love and will for you that you would be "perfect"? Is this something that you want? Do you believe that it is attainable for yourself? for others? Why or why not?
Develop a timeline using touch points in your own life when God was urging you closer to the divine will and purpose.
J. Examine Grace and Renewal. Identify the process that Wesley outlined for the "renewal of believers."
(See the last part of J 13, "Now, this is not to condemn those who are not renewed in love... ," starting on page 24, fifth paragraph.) Where do you see prevenient grace (God's preparation of the individual), justifying grace (God's action for redemption and renewal), and sanctifying grace (God's sustaining actions toward one's holiness)? How would you explain in your own words this process of God's renewal? Where have you seen God at work in your own life as you have been "assaulted again by some
G. Sing About the Perfected Life. Sing or say together "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" (The United Methodist Hymnal, 384). How does this hymn explain or extol the perfected life?
Section Il The general theme of Section II concerns how prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace lead to Christian perfection.
... old enemies"? What are those enemies, and what Scriptures help strengthen you against them?
(See those listed in the endnotes for this section.) H. Pray Together. Pray together the words of the hymn in { 14, on pages 25-26, as a devotional introduction to this section.
K. Practice the Ordinances of God. Read J 15 and the sidebar note "ordinances of God," pages 27-28.
These ordinances are also referred to as the instituted means of grace, or Christian practices. Brainstorm for four or five minutes and list as many examples of specific Christian practices as you can. Then look for logical categories into which you can cluster the pracI. Look for the "Image of God." Divide into several small groups, or work individually, and examine the various claims of the perfected life, in which the "image of God" is "stamped afresh upon our hearts" (see J 13). Look up the Scripture references that support each claim, for example: tices (such as compassion, justice, worship, devotion).
¢ "God has laid the axe .
. purifying their hearts"
(Luke 3:9; Acts 15:9); Choose one or two practices that are new (or atypical) for you. With a partner or two, covenant some specific e They "go on from strength to strength .
. being OA
Way you can practice those ordinances during the next week or month. Agree on how you will check in and support each other in maintaining the practice for the designated time, and then how you will reflect on what difference, if any, it has made for you. (You will work with this in the next section, as well.)
N. Share Your Own Insights. After the initial examination, share any of your own ideas, convictions, or information that nurtured your relationship in the "connexion" and with God. If you would like to continue this experience, consider establishing a Covenant Discipleship Group. See Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups, by Gayle Turner
Watson (Discipleship Resources, 2000).
L. Commission Your Covenant. Commission your covenant by saying with your partner(s) one of the three hymn fragments in J 16, on pages 28-30.
O. Create Your Benediction. Conclude your time together by choosing one or more of the hymn verses ({ 18, pages 37-39) that speak to your own situation before God. Write the verse or verses on an index card or piece of paper to keep with you. Use the verse or verses as a prayer or benediction now and for the days ahead.
Section Ill The general theme of Section III is Wesley's teaching and review of sanctification (Christian perfection) with the pastors at three different conferences.
M. Engage in Christian Conferencing. Throughout your consideration of this section, imagine that you are John Wesley and his group of preachers (take turns being Wesley), and that you are together for mutual support, renewal, theological reflection, and accountability for your ministry. Above all, remember that you are together in love, not judgment.
Whatever is said or done must be upbuilding in some way. Consider the questions in {J 17 (pages
33-37) that deal with sanctification. Also consider substantive questions that you identify regarding
Section IV The general theme of Section IV is how to recognize when someone has gone on to perfection in this life.
P. Tell About Your Faith Experience. Begin with a brief time for telling one another how you have lived and worked to have your mind fully in Christ since your last meeting. Use the list of five judgments of those "who met at Bristol" (page 42, mid-page) to evaluate what beliefs, thoughts, or actions were mistakes or evidence of sin. Discuss what Wesley means that "those who are most perfect have constant need of the merits of Christ." What difference do the mer- "how it is with your souls" and with your ministry, including the Christian practices you agreed upon in the previous section, for example: its of Christ make in your life, day by day?
In what ways have you loved God with heart, mind, and soul?
Q. Understand and Illustrate John 15. Read John e What has tempted you to fail to love in some way,
15:1-11 and the two sets of five responses to the questions, Does a person living without sin continue to need a Mediator? Does he or she cease to need
Christ in his priestly office? (pages 42-43). First discuss the offices of Jesus Christ in order to be clear about these general ways of understanding how he relates to humankind. (See the sidebars on pages 42 and 87.) How would you explain the priestly office or mediation of Jesus Christ on our behalf? What does it mean to you? On page 43, how does Wesley distinguish actual sins from faults or mistakes? How does his distinction here affect your own journey toward perfection in love? and what have you done to resist that temptation? e What Scriptures, spiritual friends, and Christian practices have helped you in your daily walk with God?
How have you shared your faith with someone else since you last met? Whose testimony has inspired you and in what way?
How have you kept your agreed-upon Christian practices and with what result? What support do you need?
What gifts do you have, and what gifts have you employed, for the good of the church and community? (Feel free to identify the gifts you see in others.)
Create a visual representation of the vine and branch image in John 15. This could be an artistic rendering of the text, an "organizational chart" with Jesus at the head, a flow chart showing cause and effect of abiding or not abiding in love, or something of your own choosing. Can you see yourself in this illustration? How does this illustrate (or not illustrate) your relationship with Jesus Christ? How might you
Inquire also about joys and concerns, and make time to pray about them. Plan to spend at least thirty to forty minutes in this examination and make use of the Scripture references in your reflection. If the group is large, form smaller groups of no more than six Or seven persons.
Death to sin: What is inbred sin? What does it mean to be dead to sin? How would you describe the testimony of the Spirit? While God's perfecting action may be instantaneous, personal renewal is most often a process of growth in grace. How would you describe the gradual, day-by-day changes that might take place? In your own spiritual journey, what incremental steps do you see toward a more intimate relationship with God? rework the illustration to show your actual, and your hoped for, relationship with Christ and with others in the Christian community?
R. Examine Marks of Christian Perfection. The remainder of Section IV contains a series of questions about how one might know if another person has attained Christian perfection in his or her lifetime. These are some of the key points:
Should one speak of this attainment? (pages 44-45) Treating the "Perfect": How would you regard someone who claims to have attained perfection in love? If you are this spiritually mature, what has been your experience of how others have regarded you? Spend some time reflecting on the harm or grief that our harsh judgments have inflicted on those who are on their own way to God. What does
Wesley say to you about the course of dealing graciously with others? e What is reasonable proof? (pages 45-46) e What danger is there in pleasure? (page 46)
What obstacles might prevent me from seeing the perfection of another? (pages 47-48) ¢ How does one judge what it means to be dead to sin? (pages 48-49) ¢ How should one treat those who think themselves perfected? (page 50-51) Read in Suchocki's theological comment the entire section "Christian Perfection in Practice," pages
S. Share and Compare Insights. Compare notes from the findings and insight from each discussion group, and choose one or two points that urge you onward in your own journey toward Christian perfection.
Sing or say together "Jesus, Thine All-Victorious Love" (The United Methodist Hymnal, 422).
118-120, about how perfection operates (or doesn't) in our daily lives.
Form several small groups to examine each of these topics and consider these questions, using the following questions to guide your discussion. Look up the Scriptures in the endnotes that fall within the pages cited above, and discuss how they persuade you of Wesley's argument.
Section V The general theme of Section V is the personal stories of those who have experience of Christian perfection.
Speaking: What are the potential benefits and liabilities of speaking of such attainment? If a person has attained such holiness of heart, one might assume that his or her witness would be edifying, not selfagerandizing. Can you think of anyone whose life witness is inspiring? How has that witness influenced you?
T. Celebrate Pivotal Moments. Read {J 20 and 21 (pages 53-54). Has there been some pivotal year or moment in which you saw "a great increase in the work of God" either in your own life or in the community? Describe that experience. What did you think and feel? What prompted that moment? In the aftermath, what distortions or doubts occurred? Can you attribute them to Satan sowing "weeds among the wheat of Christ"? Why or why not?
Seeking Proof: What might be the point of requiring or expecting proof that one is saved from all sin?
What might be the danger in not asking for some kind of proof or explanation? What proof can you offer for your own spiritual life? Would the experience of fear or doubt contradict spiritual maturity?
Why or why not?
Note Wesley's friend's comment on "limiting the Almighty" (J 21). What does it say to you about the way God works in the world? in your life? How would you describe the difference between God's
Pleasure: What, do you think, is the place of pleasure in your spiritual development? Is something pleasurable necessarily tempting or inherently sinful or counter to God? Why? How can pleasure inspire or attract one to the Christian faith?
"usual method" and God's "sovereign will"? What opportunities do you see in the faith community and in your life for "improvement in the spiritual life"?
Obstacles: Think about the obstacles to Christian perfection and to recognizing such holiness in another person. What can be done to overcome these obstacles? Do you think this is possible in your own life? Why or why not?
U. Respond to Wesley's Questions. Read JJ 22 and 23 (pages 54-55). In seven small teams, consider questions 1 through 22 in J 23 as follows:
Group 1—questions 1 and 2 ¢ Group 2—questions 3 and 4 OA
Group 3—questions 5 through 7 Have you found Jesus to be a trusted friend to you in times of struggle or pain? How might you strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ so that you experience his ongoing sustenance?
Group 4—questions 8 through 12 ¢ Group 5—questions 13 through 16 e Group 6—questions 17 through 20 ¢ Group 7—questions 21 and 22 Y. Read and Sing of Love. Close by reading aloud
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and singing "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" (The United Methodist Hymnal, 384).
With your understanding of Christian perfection so far, how would you respond to the questioner?
V. Seek Inspiration From Stories. Spend most of your time in this section with the personal stories.
Imagine yourself a friend of Jane Cooper, who has sent the "memorial" in J 24 (pages 56-57) to you.
In small groups of two or three, talk about what Jane's story means to you, how it has affected or Section VI The general theme of Section VI is the biblical and theological basis that establishes the core of what it means to be perfected, that is, renewed in God's love, with advice on how to keep from falling away from that love. It begins with J 25. may affect your life, how it speaks to your soul and spirit, and how it recalls a story or other experience of your own with God. After each team member has spoken, spend two minutes in silence just to rest in God's presence.
Z. Study Law, Love, Need, Temptation. Paragraph 25 is a lengthy series of questions and answers that continues into Section VIII. Though there is overlap, questions 1-3 (pages 61-62) speak about the law; questions 4-8 (pages 62-63) discuss love; questions
9-13 (pages 63-65) deal with the need for Christ; and questions 14-21 (pages 65-68) concern temptation and corruption. Form four small groups to consider these issues and the Scripture references mentioned. Use the questions that follow as discussion starters.
Suchocki provides a theological commentary on personal perfection. See the sections "The Effects of Christian Perfection" and "Christian Perfection:
Wesley's Lifelong Conviction," in Chapter 2, pages 120-123. However much this may help your understanding, though, use it only as a faint backdrop for the personal, affective approach to this activity.
W. Join the Eyewitnesses. Next look at the eyewitness account (the remainder of J 24, pages 57-59).
It appears in JJ 1 through 4 that Jane was having what could be described as a mystical experience of God, a kind of union that transcends earthly explanation. Imagine yourself by her side, hearing this account. What did that experience seem to mean to her? What does it mean to you? Have you ever had this kind of union with God? If so, tell a partner about it (if you wish). Or take a few minutes to write a journal entry about it.
You may want to check the endnotes for other references that Wesley did not identify in the text. How do they further the explanation of what it means to go on to perfection? What questions are raised for you in your own experience and understanding of this faith journey? After the smaller groups have met, come together to compare and discuss your responses. e Law: What is the distinction between Mosaic law, adamic law, angelic law, and the law of faith?
What does it mean to be "dead to the law"? Since the coming of Christ, how are we to understand the law and its influence on us? (For further consideration, see Suchocki's theological reflection on Question 1, beginning with the paragraph "Wesley had a grand scheme .. ." and the two paragraphs following it, page 106.) X. Keep Vigil. Paragraphs 5 through 10 (pages
58-59) report on Jane's last few days as friends kept vigil with her. Again, imagine that you are one of these trusted friends. What are you thinking and feeling as you witness Jane dying well? What legacy is she leaving her friends in attendance? Have you had an actual experience like this? If so, what treasure of faith was presented to you?
Love: How does love fulfill the law? How would you describe the fruits or properties of this love?
How are mistakes understood (as opposed to sin)?
(See also Suchocki's theological commentary beginning at the bottom of page 112 with the paragraph,
Read the Scriptures that sustained her (those mentioned and quoted in the text of her letter; see endnotes for references) and the surrounding verses for context. Jane suffered greatly, yet her faith carried her through. What Scriptures sustain you or hold you in love, especially when life is difficult?
"And so Wesley says that we now .. ." and going through the end of Chapter 1 on page 114.
¢ Need for Christ: In what ways do we need Christ?
What role does the Atonement play in our process YF