Our Wesleyan Roots // M-Note 8.16.25

Part of The Gathering’s commitment is to influence the larger United Methodist Church. I am so grateful that I get to serve the greater church through teaching, preaching, and writing. I especially love working with, and helping to develop, younger pastors. 

Two days ago, I left for England where along with Pastor Adam Hamilton from Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City, I get to help lead a group of about 75 young United Methodist Clergy from all over the country in retracing the footsteps of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. As I send this, we are in Epworth, the small village where Wesley was born and raised. His father Samuel was a classically trained Anglican priest whose career included much hardship. Susanna was a well-educated and deeply spiritual mother who methodically and rigorously taught faith to her children and others in the town.  Each of them influenced Wesley deeply.

From his dad, Wesley learned that believing in God does not exempt you from hardship. Often, following Christ means that we have to travel through adversity, disappointment, and even failure. The qualities of perseverance and faithfulness even when things are not going well must have deeply influenced Wesley’s own sense of commitment even when his own life was hard.

From his mother Susanna, he learned a lot! But at the top of the list was a brash willingness to defy authority when it clashed with your conscience. Susanna was a popular teacher and leader of faith, but women were not supposed to assume those roles. She was regularly reprimanded by local pastors, including her own husband. But, she didn’t care. She knew that teaching the faith was a call from God, and therefore was willing to break the rules in order to stay committed to her faith. John Wesley would grow up to do exactly the same.

As the day drew to a close, I wanted to reflect with the leaders here about who shaped them in faith? Who were the ones that challenged their minds, shaped their hearts, or modeled what it looked like to serve? I ask you the same question. Who shaped your faith? Who helped you to be intellectually curious about God, taught you to pray, modeled what it meant to love, or served others in ways you admire?

As you call to mind those people, I want you to do two things: First, say a prayer thanking God for their presence and role in your life. Secondly, I want you to commit to being a person who helps shape faith in the life of another. Just as we were deeply influenced by others who persevered in their own faith, your own growth in faith is meant to bless and shape someone around you.

This weekend, through the miracle of modern technology, I will be preaching and continuing our series Zoomers to Boomers: Bridging the Generation Gap. I will be talking about millennials and what they have to teach all of us about our own faith and what it means to be the church.

This is a fun series and a great chance to invite a friend. Last Sunday, was the second largest attendance we have had all year. God is doing incredible things at The Gathering. Let’s keep that momentum up, and I look forward to worshiping with you Sunday.

Peace,
Matt