Love Wins: The Questions

Rob Bell opens his book, Love Wins, with his understanding of Jesus' message, the Gospel (Good News): Jesus proclaimed "the love of God ... for everybody, everywhere."

One's understanding of the message of the Gospel makes a difference. It is a window into the missio dei (the work of God in creation). It makes a difference for the content and method of evangelism (communicating the message). It impacts discipleship (how one lives out following Jesus). And that's the beginning. With respect to redemption/salvation, is there any difference between the communion of saints and the ones saved? What does it mean to be "saved"? Is salvation the message of Jesus? Has afterlife evangelism become too anthropocentric?

Rob Bell explicates his purposes for writing the book:

• To reclaim the plot of the Jesus story;
• To embrace and wrestle with the big questions of faith;
• To bring forth the wide, diverse stream of voices and perspectives from Christian tradition to bear on the questions in this book.

The first chapter gives real world context to the questions posed by these theological concepts. The result is that he sets the stage for us to wrestle with developing what is called practical theologies of the mission of God in creation and all the questions involved in this work.

Fall 2011 Study

This fall, Wesley Grad Study will explore our faithful understanding of who God is and the implications of our understanding of God for the meaning of salvation.

• Tuesday, August 30 8:15 pm - Introduction & Chapter 1
• Tuesday, September 20 8:15 pm - Chapter 2
• Tuesday, September 27 8:15 pm - Chapter 3
• Tuesday, October 18 8:15 pm - Chapter 4
• Tuesday, October 25 8:15 pm - Chapter 5
• Tuesday, November 15 8:15 pm - Chapter 6
• Tuesday, November 29 8:15 pm - Chapter 7
• Tuesday, December 6 8:15 pm - Chapter 8 & Conclusion

Summer 2011 Study

This summer, we are studying the thought of Paul Tillich through his sermons. All sermons will be available online. Since we will not have access to a copier, please bring with you a copy in print or on a tablet/laptop.

• Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: "To Whom Much Is Forgiven..."
• Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: The New Being
• Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermons: The Power of Love and The Golden Rule
• Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: "Is there any word from the Lord?"
• Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: Theology of Creation
• Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 6:45 pm
  All-Star Break; we will watch the game at Caci's house
• Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: Knowledge through Love
• Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: Universal Salvation

Spring 2011 Grad Study: Nag Hammadi Library

Graduate students and friends will study the Nag Hammadi codices this spring. The primary text for the study will be The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts, edited by Marvin Meyer. A sketch of the semester's study follows.

• January 18 - Meet & Greet
• January 25 - Preface (p xi-xiii), Introduction (p1-13)
• February 1 - Snow Day
• February 8 - Thomas Christianity (777-783), Book of Thomas (p235-246)
• February 15 - Gospel of Thomas (p133-156)
• February 22 - Dialogue of the Savior (p297-312)
• March 1 - The Sethian School of Gnostic Thought (p784-789), Gospel of Judas (p755-770)
• March 8 - Mardi Gras Break
• March 15 - Secret Book of John (p103-132)
• March 22 - Spring Break
• March 29 - Melchizedek (p595-606)
• April 5 - The Valentinian School of Gnostic Thought (p790-794), Tripartite Tractate part 1 (p57-77)
• April 12 - Tripartite Tractate part 2 (p77-102)
• April 19 - Gospel of Philip (p157-186)
• April 26 - Hermetic Religion (p795-798), Prayer of Thanksgiving (p419-424)
• May 3 - Gospel of Mary (p737-748)
• May 10 - Meet at Jarlings

Session 8: Methodism

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

It is said that Methodism is holds the "extreme center". This may sound like Methodists are the great fence-sitters in the landscape of Christian tradition. However, as we will discover, Methodists tread a path of balance that embraces heart and intellect, "high church" and "low church" worship, salvation of individuals and of the world, and grace and holiness.

1. What does it mean to you to be part of a Christian movement rooted in the "extreme center"?
2. How do you approach faith with passion and intellect?
3. How is/can God working through you, your congregation, and the ecumenical community to change lives, transform the world, and reform/revitalize the church?

I hope you'll join us in this final session of Christianity's Family Tree, in which we will examine Methodism, including its roots, beliefs, and practices.

Chapter 5: Anglicanism

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Tuesday night we will explore the context and gifts of Anglicanism as it emerged from western Christianity. Our study will include the history of British reformation, Anglicanism's contribution of the via media, and the valuable emphasis on a rich devotional life.

Join us tonight at 8:15 pm in the Wesley Student Lounge (located in the room across from Etc. Coffeehouse in the Wesley Foundation).

Spiritual Disciplines

John Wesley believed in the power of frequently practiced spiritual disciplines. The Balance Group has recently visited this Wesleyan emphasis. I have appreciated the challenging conversations wherein we struggle with how to practice these disciplines amidst the busi-ness of school, work, and homemaking.

My parents recently asked me what I thought of the fringe "church" in Florida with designs on burning a copy of the Quran, Muslims' primary sacred text. Any assumption about the intent of the group's leader is unfair, but I responded quickly with the speculation that the group's leader got what he wanted--media attention. The conversation moved on to questions about Islam. I shared what I knew about the five pillars of Islam. Impressed by the frequency and regularity of spiritual disciplines at the core of Islam, my mom responded (and I'll paraphrase) "Muslims are very good at faithfulness."

Surely embedded in this statement could be a mix of emotions, including guilt and awe.

The grad study recently discussed the eastern Orthodox appreciation for the "cloud of witnesses" who accompany Christians on their journey. I noted that my great grandmother remains one of those witnesses to me for her radical trust in God and the practice of spiritual disciplines as second-nature, even as she struggled with Alzheimers disease.

As we struggle to improve our practice of spiritual disciplines, I see a vision of practice that focuses on awe rather than guilt. Awe of God. Awe inspired by the faithful cloud of witnesses. Then, also, I am encouraged by a recent blog post on Experimental Theology that relates a personal story of how one person has experienced joy in sharing the Book of Common Prayer (a valuable Anglican resource for anyone interested in spiritual practices) to his children.

Who are the witnesses who inspire you? What are the meaningful, effective ways you practice spiritual disciplines?

Christianity's Family Tree: Introduction and Orthodoxy

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Grad Study will commence its study of Adam Hamilton's Christianity's Family Tree. Up first is the Introduction and Chapter One (Orthodoxy). Among the discussion topics will be:

• Nicene Creed
• Orthodox interpretation of the dismissal from Eden story
• Revelation
• Orthodox worship

We will follow up the discussion tonight with a Sunday visit to an Orthodox church.

Welcome!

As you can see (if you're not viewing this in an RSS reader), we have recently redesigned our blog site and also expanded the ways in which you can connect with friends new and old at Wesley. I invite you to browse to see the many activities being offered this year.

You are invited to the many events at the Wesley Foundation this week, including:

• Sunday, August 22 at 7:00 pm - Bonfire & Volleyball on Wesley's front lawn
• Wednesday, August 25 at 6:00 pm - Cookout on Wesley's front lawn
• Wednesday, August 25 at 7:30 pm - Midweek Worship

The official kickoff to the semester for grad students is a meet and greet at Crystal Lake Park at 7:00 pm on August 31. You are encouraged to bring a side dish to complement the main dishes we will offer.

The Grad Study will begin its pilgrimage through American Christianity the first full week of September with a visit to First UMC, Champaign, on September 5 and session one of its study on September 7.

Grads in Action is tentatively scheduled to work on the landscaping project at the Center for Women in Transition on Saturday, August 28 at 10 am, a project we will revisit in October.