The third sermon “Rule #1: Do No Harm” in the “Blueprint for Becoming Disciples” sermon series is now up. You can listen to it on my podcast here.
This sermon discusses the first General Rule, “Do No Harm.” The sermon looks at the idea that in order for Christians to grow in their relationship with God, they first have to stop doing things that cause them to move away from God. In other words, before you can move forward in your faith, you have to stop going backwards. I relate a way that I learned this lesson when first learning how to drive a stick shift and coming to a stop just below the top of a hill. I had to stop going backwards before I could get the car to go forward.
As always, I would love to hear your feedback. What do you think are some particular areas where Methodists are called today to provide a witness in “doing no harm?” Is there anything that you particularly resonate with? Anything that you particularly disagree with?
Kevin M. Watson 
Kevin – I listened to your sermon yesterday. Not doing harm is such an important thing for us to hear. It always surprises me when I finally feel like I am not rolling backwards at the red light and start doing good the doing harm seems to creep in again. It more like an iterative process that a make it through and you have arrived. I guess I can be pretty slow on the uptake as I always forget how it works.
bart
I’m confident at least for me Rule #1 is Not possible without Rules #2 and #3. To truly Do No Harm I think we must walk in love. For years I have desired a closer walk with God. Recently a speaker pointed our 1 John 4:12-16. When we love others God abides. It completes the circle. So many times I have felt moved in church only to stop by the grocery and compete for the shortest line or the best parking spot. Do no harm goes to the heart of our every action. It is walking in love, (driving and talking in love too) loving others as we love ourselves and for that my friend, we must stay in love with the source, our heavenly Father.