The Adventure Begins

The Grace Event For Us: Healing, Teaching, Cross, and Empty Tomb
Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday (Easter) bring with them a new sensitivity to God's love, suffering, guidance and power. We hear the story of Jesus Christ as calling, ministry, teaching, example, cost and glory of God's passion for us, all condensed into this particular week spent in Jerusalem.

If ever there was cause given to stir up the flames of the Spirit in the churches, and the fired-up spirits within us, this must be it! "Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1, 2).

Our Grateful Reply to Grace
One can always hope that gracious and costly acts of forgiveness and compassion will stir up grateful replies. God knows, it does not always happen that way. But when it does, something magnificent and humbling can begin! Souls are delivered. Disciples are formed. Quarrels are ended. Churches begin again. Nations are reformed. Justice, mercy and peace break out. The adventure of life in God-Christ-Spirit launches.

An Emerging Movement of Gratitude Glorifying God--A Wesleyan Christian's Path
For some useful reference and correlation between our Wesleyan legacy or DNA as a structure for practice and renewal, and the emerging church movement, you might appreciate Hal Knight’s “John Wesley and the Emerging Church”(Google it). My summary is below:

Seven Features of Emerging Churches in Post-Modern Culture v/v Wesleyan DNA

1. As in Wesleyan DNA, emerging churches understand discipleship is “following closely and emulating the person and ministry of Christ," present forgiveness in Christ with evangelical commitment to ministries with the poor.
2. As in Wesleyan DNA, emerging churches are pre-eminently missional, called to reform the nation.
3. As in Wesleyan DNA, emerging churches are radically incarnational, all culture is subject to transformation and renewal by the reign of God
4. As in Wesleyan DNA, emerging churches are alternative communities, mission-created—networked small groups—accountability—distinctive lifestyle and disciplines
5. As in Wesleyan DNA, emerging churches find “truth” through biblical narrative, more than rational/propositional reading of Scriputure.
6. As in Wesleyan DNA, emerging churches  are practitioners of ancient/future worship, drawing from apostolic as well as contemporary sources (e.g. Covenant Services, Love Feasts, etc. were borrowed innovations in Wesley’s day).
7. As in Wesleyan DNA, emerging churches are humble, yet confident, advocates of “generous orthodoxy” (what Wesley called in his day, “catholic spirit”), holding to the few essentials of faith and to a life marked by love of God and neighbor.

As a last note, Knight commends Wesley’s “orthopathy” (or “right heart”) to the emerging churches, not simply that they are orthodox in doctrine (right belief) or orthopraxis (right practice), but that these come as praise and prayer from a right heart, one “formed, governed and motivated by love” from God in Christ for “our God, our neighbor and the creation itself."

Holy God, may our hearts be strangely warmed by the power and suffering of Passion and Resurrection events this week and for our lifetimes and beyond. May our churches be startling enlivened by the One risen from the dead, and may our communities demonstrate kingdom compassion. Amen.