Five Marks of a Methodist - eBook [ePub]
The Fruit of a Living Faith
Five clear practices for anyone who identifies as a Christian.
Five marks confirm our identity as genuine and fruitful followers of Christ:1. A Methodist Loves God
2. A Methodist Rejoices in God
3. A Methodist Gives Thanks
4. A Methodist Prays Constantly
5. A Methodist Loves Others
This brief book, suitable for sharing with others, provides a meditation on each of these characteristics. Prayerfully apply them to your journey with Jesus. If you are part of the worldwide Methodist or Wesleyan family, these five marks will grant a greater knowledge and appreciation for why and how you follow Jesus. If you are located in another part of the body of Christ, you can emerge with a solid foundation to keep your spiritual house standing strong. Christians marked by these five habits, when taken together, have character.
Each chapter ends with questions for reflection or discussion.
“Steve Harper goes to the very heart of faithfulness as he describes and then calls upon all those who follow Wesley to live. It is lives of integrity that are the result of following these marks. Harper rightly says this will give the ring of truth to our daily living. He then goes on to identify the “marks” or “practices” that when followed will result in a life of righteousness, goodness, peace, and joy. It is a way of living in God’s gracious presence that he encourages for everyone, and it is a way of living I choose for myself.”
—Rueben P. Job, author of Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living
About the Author
Steve Harper
Steve Harper is a retired United Methodist Elder in the Florida Annual Conference, and a retired seminary Professor who taught for 32 years in the disciplines of Spiritual Formation and Wesley Studies. He is the author of 22 books, the co-author of 19 others, numerous articles, and a frequent speaker in churches, conferences, and retreats. Harper’s ministries have included youth minister, evangelist, pastor, professor and seminary administrator. He and his wife Jeannie oversaw A Foundation for Theological Education, and they co-founded Shepherd’s Care, a ministry to ministers. Steve also served as Dean of the Chapel and Director of the Pathways Initiative at The Upper Room in Nashville. He lives in Winter Springs, Florida.