We live in an increasingly complicated, fast-paced, and frenzied world. Technology brings the world to us and makes us available 24/7 – cell phones, text messages, e-mails – which is generally a good thing. But this is not always in our soul’s best interest. By being available 24/7, we’re always “on.” As a consequence, we can feel “trapped” into becoming something we don’t really wish to be. And we can get pulled in so many directions that we lose touch with any core sense of meaning and direction in life. Is there a way, we wonder, to cut through the complexities and turbulence of our modern lives and put our feet on some bedrock?

As United Methodists, we have a life-enhancing treasure from our Wesleyan heritage: 3 simple rules that have dramatically changed the world and which, when applied to our lives, can dramatically change us. These 3 simple rules are ... 1) Do no harm, 2) Do good, and 3) Stay in love with God.

3 SIMPLE RULES: TREASURES FROM OUR METHODIST HERITAGE

  1. Our Methodist heritage is like “Gibson” - treasure hidden beneath our noses.
    1. John Wesley taught his Methodists to live by 3 simple rules ( he called them “the General Rules”) which can restore a sense of meaning and purpose to our lives in our technologically advanced yet polarized world.
  2. What is the GOAL, the DESIRED RESULT of salvation?
    1. Salvation is the renewal of our fallen nature by becoming restored to the image in which God created me, that is, to become who God created me to be (Gen. 1:27).
    2. This is the “one thing needful” Mary was learning (Luke 10:38-42).
    3. Jesus is the “puzzle box picture” of that image (Colossians 1:15). Salvation’s goal is becoming like Jesus; loving God and others like Jesus loved.
    4. Salvation, for a Methodist, is more a PROCESS than a moment in time.
  3. We CAN and MUST CO-OPERATE with the Holy Spirit Who is at work in us. (“Work out your own salvation” – Phil. 2:12)
    1. Salvation is completely God’s work. But we have a role, a responsibility to respond.
    2. God’s work is called grace: prevenient, justifying, sanctifying
    3. Our role is to respond to God’s grace.
    4. Salvation is grace and response, grace and response.
  4. This where the 3 SIMPLE RULES come in – do no harm, do good, stay in love with God.
    1. Works of Mercy [outer] – feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, caring for prisoners, widows and orphans, doing justice, etc.
    2. Works of Piety [inner]  –  prayer, fasting, searching and meditating on the scriptures, receiving the Lord’s Supper, holy conversation, self-denial, etc.
    3. These 3 simple rules are what we do to manifest faith, to give evidence that we have faith (James 2:14-17) as we respond to God’s grace.
    4. They are NOT a way to earn God’s favor!
  5. Distinction between “the Almost Christian” and “the Altogether Christian”
    1. Almost Christian – keeps the 3 simple rules out of duty and guilt
    2. Altogether Christian – keeps the 3 simple rules out of love for God
  6. “Gibson” is a metaphor of our life with God!

Follow my experiment of living the 3 simple rules in July. Read my blog at brobob53.wordpress.com!