Wesleyan Discipleship:

Integrating Vital Piety and Social Holiness

The Difference between Choosing and Being Chosen

Dr. Nick Campbell

In a Discipleship We Chooseg	The Rhythm of salvation is g	Our actions – God’s response
Discipleship as a Connection We Choose Emphasis Individual’s experience of forgiveness and belonging Defining Question “Have you asked Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior?” Weakness apart from full discipleship Does not require a growing understanding of the faith, or an accountability to the neighbors God gives us to love Example of over-emphasis “Sunday” faith that is not reflected on Monday	Discipleship as a Formation We Accept Emphasis A set of principles that one believes, or a set of actions that one performs Defining Questions “What does the Bible say?” “What would Jesus do?” Weakness apart from full discipleship Does not necessarily require a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, or anticipate a further growth in love Example of over-emphasis “Burned out” members who quit and “Fed up” members who leave	Discipleship as a Direction We Seek Emphasis Individual’s progression in faith, seeking “new” gifts and experiences Defining Question “Do you trust the Holy Spirit to protect you and equip you?” Weakness apart from full discipleship Does not require growth in Christ-like love, or a connection to a community that holds them accountable in love Example of over-emphasis Spiritual thrill-seekers Snake handling in worship
In a Discipleship of Being Choseng	The Rhythm of salvation is g	God’s action – our response
Prevenient Grace and Connection Depending on God To hunger for God is to know that we are not God. To thirst for God is to know the deadly dryness of our sin. To be awakened to our need for God is to discover all the ways we fall short of the glory and perfect love of God, as well as our inability to save or redeem ourselves. The fruit of this conviction is a poverty of spirit that enables us to receive the kingdom of God as an unmerited and underserved gift – as grace. Corresponding Wesleyan Rule Do no harm	Justifying Grace and Formation Conforming to Christ Christian formation is not primarily concerned with the “thou shalt nots,” which can lead to a religion of avoidance. Wesley considered this the least part of religion. The “thou shalt nots” are based in a fear of the wrath of God, from which we are released through the justifying grace of Jesus Christ. Instead, authentic Christian spiritual formation is concerned with the active “love your neighbor as your self” that conforms our living to the life of Christ. Corresponding Wesleyan Rule Do good	Sanctifying Grace and Direction Confidence in the Holy Spirit Confidence in God means sharing with God our hopes, our fears, our dreams, and our doubts, just as we would confide in a trusted friend. We do this in confidence so that we are not afraid to hide anything from God; and we do this with confidence that God will guide and direct us by the Holy Spirit. We can have assurance that this is the guidance of the Holy Spirit as the witness of our spirit confirms the witness of the Holy Spirit Corresponding Wesleyan Rule Stay in love with God

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