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The Methodist Church is a unique blend of New Testament Christianity, the Protestant Reformation and the influence of John Wesley.” (John Stockman). The U nited M ethodist C hurch. A brief survey of the 270 year history of the Methodist movement. History of Methodism.
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The Methodist Church is a unique blend of New Testament Christianity, the Protestant Reformation and the influence of John Wesley.” (John Stockman) TheUnitedMethodist Church A brief survey of the270 year historyof the Methodist movement
History of Methodism TheUnitedMethodist Church • Originated with Johnand Charles Wesley • Name “Methodist” can be traced back to incidents at Oxford University in 1729 • Methodist movement did not take shape until 1739 John Wesley 1703 – 1791
History of Methodism TheUnitedMethodist Church • Methodist religion was a denominationof people who broke away from the Church of England • Other divisionswithin the Methodistchurch have takenplace over the years
TheUnitedMethodist Church Organization of UMC • Government closelyresembles America’sDemocratic Government • Have three Government branches that serve aschecks and balances • Legislative Branch • Judicial Branch • Executive Branch NOTE: Though some of these offices are familiar in name to us, the Methodist hierarchy has nothing in common with the scriptural organizational pattern, nor of a plurality of bishops in each local church Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1-3
TheUnitedMethodist Church Multiple Standards of Authority • Boasts of Methodism – “no peculiar church doctrines are to be bound upon its members” • Wesley and others have contributed writings and statements of belief that have become accepted standards of authority in the UMC
TheUnitedMethodist Church Multiple Standards of Authority • The Book of Discipline • Twenty-Five Articlesof Religion • The Confession of Faith • Fifty-Two Sermons ofJohn Wesley • Notes on the New Testament by John Wesley
TheUnitedMethodist Church Multiple Standards of Authority • Four Guidelines for Interpreting “Christian” Beliefs • Scripture • Christian Tradition • Experience • Reason
TheUnitedMethodist Church Doctrines that Contradict Bible Truth • Old Testament laws have been removed, but moral laws are still binding • Justified by faith only • Baptism is only symbolism and not necessary for salvation Bible Truth UMCDoctrines • Luke 24; Matt 5:17;Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:6-13; Gal 3:25; Heb 7:11-16 • Eph 2:8-10; Jam 2:20-24 • 1 Pet 3:21; Acts 22:16; 2:38, 47; Gal 3:26-27; Rom 6:3-4; John 3:23
By practicing the things in the Articles of Faith and Disciplines of the United Methodist Church, one will become a Methodist. By practicing the thingscontained only in the Bible,one will become a Christian. TheUnitedMethodist Church