Monday, May 19, 2008

HOLY CLUB

Several people asked me for a copy of the questions that I referred to at the end of my Sermon on Sunday. These were questions that the members of the Holy Club, to which John Wesley belonged, asked themselves each day as a part of their daily devotions:

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?

1 comment:

Bob West said...

Often, what an author writes tells as much about the author, himself, as it tells about the author’s topic. If that premise is true, then it follows that what an author does not write, may also say something about him.

As I paused and pondered your Blog site, Pastor Jerry, and Greg’s, I couldn’t help noticing the alarmingly low number of reader comments. Fantastic, well-written, lucid and scripturally accurate articles, one after another, yet few or, in most cases, no comments have been made about them. Then the Holy Spirit spoke to me (especially when I read Greg's “NO PLACE TO SERVE”), and I sit here guilty and convicted!

Your (both of you) Blogs greatly edify and encourage in so many ways, and I have failed to take a moment and tell that to you and Greg. Several years ago, a member of law enforcement commented to me, “Everybody’s in a great big hurry dot com!”

Serving as an encouragement to one another should be a blessing to all who are in Christ, not a duty to perform, or an unwanted obligation. After all, how much time, really, does it take to simply say, “Thank you for your encouraging words, or your kind deed? I say it to you now, Pastor Jerry and Greg, thank you so much for your concern, your caring, your vigilance and your willingness to yield to the Lord’s will and remain in His service. We cannot speak for anyone else, but please know that you are a real encouragement and a true and valued blessing in our lives. Thank you so very much – Bob and Diane West