Church of the Messiah UMC

Rooted: The Character and Marks of a Methodist, "Knowing What’s True"

Episode Summary

This Sunday, we’ll explore a crucial aspect of our Methodist heritage: How do we, as Methodists, know what’s true, make decisions, and think through things? John Wesley provided us with a unique framework, often referred to as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, which guides us in discerning truth and making faithful decisions. Wesley emphasized four sources: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience--all working together to help us understand God’s will for our lives. Our key scripture for the day will be Ephesians 2:1-10, which speaks of God’s incredible grace and the new life we are given in Jesus. This passage reminds us that we were once dead in our transgressions, but through God’s grace, we have been made alive in Jesus--created to do good works. It’s through this grace-filled lens that we learn to discern truth, make decisions, and align our actions with God’s purpose. Wesley taught that Scripture is primary--our foundation and final authority. But he also recognized the importance of tradition, reason, and experience in interpreting Scripture and applying it to our lives. By engaging all four of these elements, we can navigate life’s complexities with wisdom and faithfulness