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Kevin M. Watson

Kevin M. Watson

Tag Archives: General Rules

The General Rules and a Holy Lent

09 Wednesday Mar 2011

Posted by Kevin M. Watson in Accountability, Christian Living, links, Methodist History, Ministry, Wesley

≈ 3 Comments

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Christian living, discipleship, General Rules, Michael Cartwright, Wesley


One of many highlights of last week’s annual meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society was a conversation I had with Michael G. Cartwright about a new resource on the “General Rules.” Cartwright and Andrew D. Kinsey have developed “Watching Over One Another in Love: Reclaiming the Wesleyan Rule of Life for the Church’s Mission” which is a 28 day day study of the “General Rules.” I have not had the chance to read through this resource, but it looks excellent and I am looking forward to getting into it. (My first impression, when I was given a copy was that the design and layout is beautiful!)

And the price of this resource is right. You can download it here for free! For more, you can also go to The Indiana Annual Conference’s Wesleyan ConneXion page to download another free resource that contains articles by Richard P. Heitzenrater and William J. Abraham on the relevance of the Wesleyan tradition for contemporary United Methodism.

As I write this on Ash Wednesday, I can’t help but think that using “Watching Over Another in Love ” could be a great way to help you have a holy Lent in preparation for the good news that we will hear again on Easter Sunday. In fact, it would be a great way to take on John Meunier’s recent challenge to focus on what it would look like to “be Methodist” during the forty days of Lent.

3 Free Books Left

23 Monday Feb 2009

Posted by Kevin M. Watson in Life, links, Wesley

≈ 4 Comments

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Blueprint for Discipleship, General Rules, Methodism, Wesley

I have 3 copies left of A Blueprint for Discipleship: Wesley’s General Rules as a Guide for Christian Living. If you haven’t claimed your copy yet, here is what you have to do to receive a free copy:

1. Have a blog.

2. Be willing to blog about the book after you read it.

3. Post a comment in this post with your name and your blog url in the comment. (Books will be given to the first 25 people to leave a comment.)

4. Send an email to deeplycommitted (at) gmail (dot) com with the subject “Free copy of Blueprint for Discipleship.” In the body of the email include the address that you would like the book mailed to.

Update: The 3 remaining copies have been claimed. Thanks so much for your interest.

Blueprint for Discipleship – Cover

20 Monday Oct 2008

Posted by Kevin M. Watson in Wesley

≈ 11 Comments

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Blueprint for Discipleship, General Rules, Wesley

A Blueprint for Discipleship

02 Wednesday Apr 2008

Posted by Kevin M. Watson in Ministry, Wesley

≈ 14 Comments

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Blueprint for Discipleship, General Rules, Methodism, Wesleyan

I recently submitted a book proposal to Discipleship Resources for a book called A Blueprint for Discipleship: Wesley’s General Rules as a Guide for Christian Living that has been accepted for publication. The sermon series that I recently preached, “A Blueprint for Becoming Disciples”, was based on the work I had already done on the book. (You can listen to those sermons on my podcast by clicking here.)

A Blueprint for Discipleship offers a concrete and practical approach to Christian discipleship that is distinctly Wesleyan. This approach is built on the foundation of the General Rules (do no harm, do good, and practice the spiritual disciplines) and the practice of “watching over one another in love” through small group accountability. The book is primarily aimed at reaching a lay audience. I think it will specifically appeal to members of Wesleyan denominations, but it will have relevance for laity who are interested in growing in their faith from other mainline denominations as well. The book seeks to challenge longtime Christians to take risks and practice their faith, and fan the flames of new Christians who want to know how they can become deeply committed Christians. I believe that there are many people who sense that there is more to being a Christian than where they are currently at, but they are not exactly sure how to move forward. This book seeks to outline an easy to follow method for moving forward in your faith.

The book will consist of the following chapters:

1. Grace: The Foundation for Wesleyan Faith

2. Participation in Our Growth as Disciples: The Goal of Grace

3. The Method Behind the Madness: The Wesleyan Blueprint for Discipleship

4. The First Rule: Do No Harm

5. The Second Rule: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

6. The Third Rule: Practice the Spiritual Disciplines

7. Finding the Balance

8. Watching Over One Another in Love: The Importance of Christian Community

9. Where Are You Going?

Thus far, writing is going very well. I am getting close to finishing a solid draft. A Blueprint for Discipleship is currently scheduled to be published next spring (2009). I will periodically provide updates about the progress of the book.

Blood:Water Mission, Doing Great Work

29 Friday Feb 2008

Posted by Kevin M. Watson in Ministry

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Blood:Water Mission, General Rules, giving, Jars of Clay

I have been trying to make some practical applications that are specific to the General Rules in my recent sermon series on Wesley’s General Rules. When I preached on the second rule, “Do all the good that you can,” I wanted to think of a concrete way for our church to “do good” to others throughout the season of Lent.

The result of this was the decision to start a campaign at our church during Lent to give to Blood:Water Mission. If you are not familiar with Blood:Water Mission, it is an excellent organization, doing wonderful work. You should go to their website in order to get the most accurate and comprehensive information available, but here is some random info about Blood:Water Mission:

  • $1 provides clean drinking water for one person for one year! That is amazing, and reason enough to want to support Blood:Water Mission.
  • $3,000 will build a well that will provide clean drinking water for a village. Again, this is a pretty amazing result that you could see with a generous, but for many people not completely unimaginable amount of money. (If it seems unimaginable, maybe we need to get a lot more imaginative about ways that we can spend less on ourselves and more on those who lack basic necessities like clean drinking water.)
  • They also work to provide safe blood for blood transfusions. (I have to admit, I am not as clear on the “blood” side of Blood:Water Mission… but it is a part of what they feel called to work toward.)
  • I believe Blood:Water Mission started due to the burden of the members of Jars of Clay, when they were faced with the need during a trip to Africa. (I am not positive that they are the “founders,” but they are definitely involved with it.)
  • Did I mention that $1 will provide clean drinking water for one person (who would not otherwise have clean drinking water) for an entire year?!?
I would encourage you to prayerfully consider giving during this season of Lent (and beyond) to Blood:Water Mission. Can you find ways to cut a few corners and send the money that you save to Blood:Water Mission so that a brother or sister who is thirsty can have a cup of clean, safe, uncontaminated drinking water? You can give directly through their website here.

The General Rules

24 Thursday Jan 2008

Posted by Kevin M. Watson in Ministry, Wesley

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General Rules, Wesley

The Nature, Design, and General Rules of the United Societies
in London, Bristol, Kingswood, and Newcastle upon Tyne
(1743)

1. In the latter end of the year 1739 eight or ten persons came to me in London who appeared to be deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for redemption. They desired (as did two or three more the next day) that I would spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath to come, which they saw continually hanging over their heads. That we might have more time for this great work I appointed a day when they might all come together, which from thenceforward they did every week, namely, on Thursday, in the evening. To these, and as many more as desired to join them (for their numbers increased daily), I gave those advises from time to time which I judged most needful for them; and we always concluded our meeting with prayer suited to their several necessities.
2. This was the rise of the United Society, first at London, and then in other places. Such a Society is no other than ‘a company of men “having the form, and seeking the power of godliness”, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation’.
3. That is may the more easily be discerned whether they are indeed working out their own salvation, each Society is divided into smaller companies, called Classes, according to their respective places of abode. There are about twelve persons in every class, one of whom is styled the Leader. It is his business:
(1). To see each person in his class once a week at the least; in order
To receive what they are willing to give toward the relief of the poor;
To inquire how their souls prosper;
To advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort, as occasion may require.
(2). To meet the Minister and the stewards of the Society once a week, in order:
To pay in to the stewards what they have received of their several classes in the week proceeding;
To show their account of what each person has contributed; and
To inform the Minister of any that are sick, or of any that walk disorderly and will not be reproved.
4. There is one only condition previously required in those who desire admission into these societies, ‘a desire to flee from the wrath to come, to be saved from their sins’. But wherever this is really fixed in the soul it will be shown by its fruits. It is therefore expected of all who continue therein that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,
First, By doing no harm, by avoiding all evil in every kind — especially that which is most generally practised. Such is:
The taking the name of God in vain.
The profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work thereon, or by buying or selling.
Drunkenness, buying or selling spirituous liquors; or drinking them (unless in cases of extreme necessity).
Fighting, quarrelling, brawling; brother ‘going to law’ with brother; returning evil for evil, or railing for railing; the ‘using many words’ in buying or selling.
The buying or selling uncustomed goods.
The giving or taking things on usury.
Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation, especially speaking evil of ministers or those in authority.
Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us.
Doing what we know is not for the glory of God, as,
The ‘putting on of gold or costly apparel’, particularly the wearing of calashes, high-heads, or enormous bonnets;
The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus,
The singing those songs, or reading those books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God;
Softness, and needless self-indulgence;
Laying up treasures upon earth;
Borrowing without a probability of paying: or taking up goods without a probability of paying for them.
5. It is expected of all who continue in these societies that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,
Secondly, by doing good, by being in every kind merciful after their power, as they have opportunity doing good of every possible sort and as far as is possible to all men:
To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that are sick, or in prison.
To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all they have any intercourse with; trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine of devils, that ‘we are not to do good unless our heart be free to do it.’
By doing good especially to them that are of the household of faith, or groaning so to be; employing them preferably to others, buying one of another, helping each other in business — and that so much the more because the world will love its own, and them only.
By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed.
By running with patience the race that is set before them; ‘denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily’; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ, to be as the filth and offscouring of the world; and looking that men should ‘say all manner of evil of them falsely, for their Lord’s sake’.
6. It is expected of all who desire to continue in these societies that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,
Thirdly, By attending upon all the ordinances of God. Such are:
The public worship of God;
The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded;
The Supper of the Lord;
Family and private prayer;
Searching the Scriptures; and
Fasting, or abstinence.
7. These are the General Rules of our societies; all which we are taught of God to observe, even in his written Word, the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice. And all these we know his Spirit writes on every truly awakened heart. If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break any one of them, let it be made known unto them who watch over that soul, as they that must give account. We will admonish him of the error of his ways. We will bear with him for a season. But if then he repent not, he hath no more place among us. We have delivered our own souls.

John Wesley
Charles Wesley

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