We are exploring the role of doctrine in Wesleyan catechesis. For Wesley, theology arises out of a response to God’s prior initiative, lest it become a dead letter of endless intellectual speculation un-tethered from a vibrant, warm heart. The third and final aspect of this we will call, The World is My Parish This third […]
Practical side of Wesley’s doctrine: Wesleyan Catechesis, part 6
In the last blog I was exploring a bit about Wesley’s understanding of doctrine. We have seen that Wesley was deeply committed to historic Christian orthodoxy. We have also seen that Wesley had a very generous spirit of cooperation and collaboration with Christians with whom we disagreed about matters of indifference. We are exploring three […]
The Role of Doctrine in Wesley’s “catholic spirit”: Wesleyan Catechesis Part 5
I have been exploring the multi-faceted strands of the genius of Wesleyan catechesis. So far, we have explored the role of God’s prior action in prevenient grace (part 1), Wesley’s notion of “waiting in the means of grace” (part 2), the role of the community in spiritual formation (part 3) and the missional ethos of […]
The missional catechesis of Mr. Wesley: Wesleyan catechesis, part 4
We are examining the multi-faceted strands of the genius of Wesleyan catechesis. So far, we have explored the role of God’s prior action in prevenient grace (part 1), Wesley’s notion of “waiting in the means of grace” (part 2), and the role of the community in spiritual formation (part 3). Today’s blog will explore the […]
“It’s about Community”: Wesleyan Catechesis, part 3
In the introduction to this series (March 28th post entitled “Catechesis is the first step in ‘making culture’”) I noted that we encounter a wide array of models for how the church passed the faith on to the next generation. I briefly highlighted the catechumen-mystagogy model of the Patristics, the monastic/service model of the Celtics, […]
Waiting “in the means of grace”: Wesleyan catechesis, part 2
The last blog explored how we cannot begin the road to catechesis until we first recognize God’s prior action in our lives. For Wesleyans this is normally captured in the doctrine of prevenient grace. This is that grace which “goes before” or “leads the way” whereby God acts to free our human will from the […]
Prevenient Grace as the Foundation for Wesleyan Catechesis: Wesleyan Catechesis, part 1 by Timothy C. Tennent
During these days I am reflecting on how Christians are to “make culture” by reconstructing the grand narrative of the gospel. The grand story stretches from creation to fall to covenant to incarnation to resurrection to ascension to Pentecost to church to return of Christ to New Creation. This big narrative of God’s mighty redemptive […]
The first step in “making culture” is Catechesis!
Andy Crouch, a senior editor at Christianity Today, was at Asbury last week. What a great blessing he was to our community. I first encountered Andy Crouch back a few years ago when he published his book, Culture Making. One of the insights in that book is that it is not enough to simply critique […]
Robust Christianity
In reflecting on the responses to my blog the last four days, I thought it might be helpful for me to share a few of my own reactions. My overwhelming response is gratefulness to God, to our students, various other responders and yes, indeed, to Rob Bell as well for stimulating such a healthy conversation. […]
Part Four: Why Rob Bell needs to return to Seminary… and bring along quite a few contemporary evangelical pastors (cont.)
This is the FOURTH and final part in a series on Rob Bell’s new book, Love Wins, by Timothy C. Tennent, PhD, President of Asbury Theological Seminary Bell’s ecclesiology has collapsed and we are left with an individual sincere seeker after God. The mission of the church has been, at best, stunted, since the other […]