Last week's meeting was so very meaningful. Thanks to each one for your participation.
This week's chapter reading about the meaning and progression of grace in our journey is so full, that to fully grasp each part, seems to require a lot longer than just a few minutes or a one-time reading. These are complex concepts and folks study many years to fully understand. But, yet, the explanations are fairly short and to the point.
The two descriptions of the progression of grace (our authors' description, and the linking of that to John Wesley's words) were important, and then of course, saying that the progression is not automatic or methodical helps us to understand that one person's experience won't be just exactly like another. This is indeed a journey.
The "means" of grace...that is, how we experience grace or how we become aware of grace are described. These parts help to understand why we do what we do. It links us with historical Christianity. Since the beginning of Christianity, certainly beginning with Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, these have been recognized by our Christian forefathers/mothers as how we become aware of God and His reaching out to us.
Worship, prayer, fasting, scripture, and community---each one has been a part of lives of Christians throughout the ages. Always looking to allow God to touch our lives, allowing ourselves to keep our journey true and on course.
I look forward to our discussion on Sunday.
I hope you will post your comments about the reading if you would like.
"Means of grace" is a term fairly new to me and this lesson has really helped me understand the concept, that these are actions I can take, things I can do, that put me in a better position to receive the full benefit of God's love, to feel his presence, to experience God in relationship. Most importantly, the statement that these "means of grace" (these practices or actions) have no merit in and of themselves. They are tools, vehicles, to lead me into deeper communion with God. A simple truth with profound significance. Often I think a lot of attention is paid to going through the motions, to behavior we believe is expected of Christians, after all it's what we do. But the actual doing of it (prayer, communion, worship etc) is, of itself, meaningless, but rather a "means to an end." And suddenly "means of grace" is no longer just a term in a book. It makes sense to me. Praise God!
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