Discipleship

Methodism is essentially a discipleship movement. It was originally a group of Christian believers who, seeking a deeper life in Christ, were organized by their leader John Wesley into small groups called Classes. Each Class was overseen by a pastoral leader, the Class Leader. In the Class (and the wider Society of which it was a part) each growing Christian was encouraged to guard his or her spirituality and continually examine himself or herself: “Is it well with my soul?” The modern expression “Be patient. God is not finished with me yet.” sums up the Methodist attitude to discipleship. Methodists are acutely aware that we are pilgrims on a journey, seeking a desire to love God with heart and soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

That is why, as I move into a new circuit, I resist the urge to answer the question, “Reverend Meade, are you settled yet?” “Now that you are nearing the end of your first quarter in the Netherlands, have you settled in yet?” My Methodist answer is, “No. I don’t plan to. I have settled in well, with good support from the members. But the idea of ​​”settling in” suggests to me stagnation, not the movement that should be part of the life of a believer and the community of which she is a part.”

I want us to be continually aware of our need to grow in grace, using all the means of grace at our disposal to become more of a people willing to testify of the power and presence of God among us. It is our desire that we become better equipped to fulfill the task of being and making disciples and the presence of God among us.

That is why we continue to be guided in our discipleship program by the DOTA manuals that the Circuit used with your previous pastor, Rev. Dr. Keith B. Lewis. I am unable to offer our sessions online, and I encourage you to attend sessions in Amsterdam on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, or in Rotterdam on the second Tuesday and third Thursdays of each month. What you will find in this time slot are excerpts from our exploration during discipleship sessions. I hope these can be helpful to those who truly cannot attend.

And, as I have found, one thought based on Scripture leads us to broad areas where we can exercise our character as Christian disciples. It is my prayer, then, that your visit to this site will inspire you to further explore and express your role as a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the name of the Lord be praised.