John Wesley gave the Methodist movement (and all Christians in general) a discipleship pathway to follow. Wesley began with Three Simple Rules (or “General Rules”), and followed this instruction a year later with the Five Marks of a Methodist (or “Character of a Methodist”). Wesley observed the need for continuous renewal of relationships with God and others, so he established a recurring annual process for God’s people to make One Faithful Promise: The Wesleyan Covenant for Renewal. The study by Heath turns to the practices at the center of Wesley’s understanding of spiritual growth: the means of grace.
This book/study guides readers through the five means of grace that John Wesley called “instituted,” meaning these are spiritual practices in which Jesus himself participated and which he encouraged his followers to do. One of the beautiful aspects of Wesley’s theology is that spiritual practices are seamlessly integrated with practices of loving our neighbors well. This is why Wesley said there is no holiness but social holiness. A life of genuine prayer inevitably leads to a life of hospitality, mercy, and justice.
Through this book/study participants will consider how each of the five means of grace help us as communities of faith to pray more deeply and live more missionally as followers of Jesus Christ. These means are the ordinary channels that God uses to draw us into a fruitful relationship. These five means or channels are:
1. Prayer
2. Searching Scripture
3. Receiving the Lord’s Supper
4. Fasting
5. Conferencing (communion, fellowship)
"Surely John Wesley wanted his teachings to be presented in clear and understandable ways. Elaine Heath’s teaching on the
Five Means of Graceare simple and engaging with deep truths. Your group will love it!" -
Jennifer Cowart (Executive pastor at Harvest Church, a United Methodist
congregation in Warner Robins, GA, near Macon. She co-preaches and
directs Discipleship and Emerging Ministries at Harvest UMC.)
"Elaine
Heath is one of the church’s great teachers and prophets. With engaging
stories and clear understanding of Scripture she invites us to
experience God’s love through ancient practices that we desperately
need. I will be using
Five Means of Grace with my congregation
as an invitation for those seeking a deeper pathway into discipleship."
- Rev. Jacob Armstrong, Providence United Methodist Church, Mount
Juliet TN.
"Methodists are followers of Jesus who are guided by a “rule of
life”, a set of common spiritual practices that put us in a place where
we are more likely to experience God’s transforming grace. This brief
volume is deceptively filled with guidance for those who would allow the
Holy Spirit to guide them. I am grateful to Elaine Heath, who
continues to lead us again to the ordinary channels where the streams of
mercy, justice and righteousness flow.” - Ken Carter, Resident Bishop,
Florida Area, The United Methodist Church and co-author,
Fresh Expressions: A New Kind of Methodist Church for People Not in Church
