To begin our Lenten series spotlighting aspects of our United Methodist identity and beliefs, Rev. David Eardley begins with why our understanding of God’s grace might be the defining theological touchstone of Methodism.
REV. DAVID EARDLEY
Grosse Pointe UMC
Editor’s note: This year, the Michigan Conference is focusing on rediscovering what sets us apart as United Methodist Christians. Conference leadership invites every local church to plan a study of Laceye Warner’s “Knowing Who We Are: The Wesleyan Way of Grace.” This book offers a clearer picture of our Wesleyan way of following Jesus. Read this article to learn more.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NRSVUE).
We love origin stories. They tell us about our beginnings and first priorities, and they give us a starting point for the adventure in which we are active participants. Truly, the origin story for all United Methodism is a journey of finding, receiving, and sharing the grace of God in the world around us.
Grace, in so many ways, grounds our first stories. As Laceye Warner states in “Knowing Who We Are: The Wesleyan Way of Grace,” “The Methodist movement emerged as a renewal movement within the Church of England” (p. 1). From the very beginning, grace was at work. How? Because the essence of this renewal, begun by the first Methodists, was missional and evangelistic. Here we see the power and presence of grace calling our forebears to live and love like Jesus.
For John and Charles Wesley, the journey toward Methodism would begin at home, shaped by the teachings of their parents, Susanna and Samuel. Grounded in the faith as preacher’s sons, called into ministry as clergy in the Church of England, continually guided by their mother’s wisdom and deep faith, and immersed in a deep appreciation for the breadth and depth of Christian belief and practice, John and Charles found themselves in a time and place where grace birthed a renewal movement that would change the world.
“For Methodists, not only do we share in God’s mission as disciples sent in ministry to the world, but our origin story emerges from a missional imperative to share God’s love with them” (p. 5). We see early examples of such sending in the activities of “The Holy Club” at Oxford, which included “reading Scripture, praying, fasting, attending public worship, as well as visiting and caring for the incarcerated, impoverished, and vulnerable persons” (p. 7). We see a faith inspiring action to help those who are hurting and suffering, and this, my friends, is all the result of God’s amazing grace, flowing freely through these first Methodists.
A particular genius of Methodism, highlighted in Warner’s first chapter, is its understanding of God’s grace. The ever-present and inviting nature of grace reflects a God who is likewise ever-present and inviting. As the Apostle Paul states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith . . . it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
Because of grace, we discover God at work in our lives and in the world (what United Methodists call “prevenient grace”). Because of grace, we grow to claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, seeking forgiveness and salvation through him (“justifying grace”). Because of grace, through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, we live faithful lives that reflect and share that very grace in the world around us (“sanctifying grace”). Simply put, there is no Methodism without God’s grace. Read this article to learn more.
As we find grace, we are motivated to share it. One of the powerful connections Warner makes in the first chapter is the interrelationship between grace and being missional. We sing about this reality in the hymn “Freely, Freely” (“The United Methodist Hymnal,” 389): “He said, ‘Freely, freely you have received; freely, freely give. Go in my name, and because you believe, others will know that I live.’”
As we live our grace-filled lives, the fruits we bear become blessings to the world around us. These good works, inspired by faith, become signs of God’s grace for others to notice. Truly, being missional and evangelistic in the Methodist tradition is grounded in and fueled by grace.
So, how did you find grace? How have you experienced it in your life? How have you seen God’s grace at work in the world around you? I invite each of us to reflect on how grace has been part of our faith journey and how our faith journey has been a sign of God’s grace.
As I reflect on the presence of grace throughout my life, I think of the ways I’ve seen grace shared in my home church and in the churches I’ve served as a pastor. I think of how grace flowed through Senior High Camp at Lake Louise, the Board of Ordained Ministry, and the Commission on the Annual Conference. I’ve seen men, women, youth, and children give their best to help others, create community for those who have been excluded, offer space for forgiveness and reconciliation, enthusiastically say yes to a new idea, and allow God to use them for good.
For me, vacation Bible school (VBS) has always been one of the most powerful ways that I have seen grace at work in our church and in my life. At its core, VBS really is missional and evangelistic. The time we spend together learning about God and God’s way through worship, activities, games, and, of course, snack times, spills over with grace. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but the joy is in the experience.
For a week in the summer, we have an incredible opportunity to share God’s grace and love with children of the church and children in our community. For some children and parents, this may be one of their rare “church” experiences. So, VBS is always grace-filled seed planting. But it is more than that. It is also an opportunity for church members to deepen their faith as we learn together. I know of several adults who tell me that their faith has grown because of their involvement in VBS. I love that God can work in so many different ways through such a ministry . . . and it’s all because of grace. Praise God!
In conclusion, I’m grateful for this first chapter of Laceye Warner’s book. “Finding Grace” is an apt title for our beginnings as United Methodists. In many ways, the “finding” continues as we open our hearts, minds, lives, and churches to the work of God’s grace. May we live out God’s grace in such a way that others may find it as well.
The publication of this article was made possible thanks to generous financial gifts from local United Methodist churches in Michigan through Ministry Shares. Thank you! Learn about the impact of Ministry Shares on mission and ministry in Michigan and around the world.
Last Updated on February 13, 2026