Wesley

Don mentioned on Sunday (4/15) the importance of understanding ourselves and our motives.  Self deception runs rampant in our culture via social media and the world's understanding of happiness.   Such illusions are common to humanity, though, and not new.  John Wesley (1703-1791) recognized the rebellion in his own heart and sought to confront his failures in truth.  Knowing who we are in Christ (secure, safe, and loved) allows us to face our deceptions and allow the light of God to bring healing.

In addition to preaching to crowds and larger congregations, Wesley often taught in small groups, encouraging small group meetings among Christians.  He provided reflection questions to discuss which required complete honesty.  Anything less was a cause for dismissal from the small group. While the standards may seem harsh to us today, take time to read through the questions below.  Ask God to help you answer truthfully, if only to yourself and to Him.  As He gently guides you, ask for His forgiveness and for His power to work in you toward change.  

• Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
• Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
• Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
• Can I be trusted?
• Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
• Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
• Did the Bible live in me today?
• Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
• Am I enjoying prayer?
• When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
• Do I pray about the money I spend?
• Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
• Do I disobey God in anything?
• Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
• Am I defeated in any part of my life?
• Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
• How do I spend my spare time?
• Am I proud?
• Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
• Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
• Do I grumble or complain constantly?
• Is Christ real to me?
• Have I told the truth in all my responses?