I have a Methodist heritage. But it's only in the last few weeks that I have felt with deep conviction, "I am a Methodist."

The reason I have struggled with this for so long is that most Methodists I know are the least methodist people I know. Let me explain. 1/

John Wesley defined Methodism as holding to the method of the Bible. At first, this definition made me want to bang my head off a wall. C'mon Wesley! That's extremely unhelpful! Don't all Christians do that?

In one sense, yes. In another, no. 2/

Wesley was after *organized obedience to Scripture's plan for making deep disciples.* Rather than plodding along without a plan or purpose, praying for revival to fix every problem (don't misunderstand—we need revival), Wesley was busy with serious, structured discipleship. 3/

Most Methodists I know think they are Methodists because they believe all men need to be saved, all men can be saved, all men can know they are saved, and all men can be saved to the uttermost. But they're missing the heart of Methodism: METHOD. 4/

Most Reformed folk that I know are more methodical about spiritual formation than contemporary Methodists. True Methodism should be promoting assurance of salvation and growth in holiness through a structured *community.* 5/

And this *community* is one that provides a clear path to "present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Col. 1:28–29). True Methodism is about transparency, accountability, structure, METHOD. 6/

As far as I can tell, we will never see a revival in Methodism unless we get serious about organized obedience to God's reveal plan for deep discipleship in the local church. We need to bring together the questions "How do we make disciples?" and "What is the church?" 7/

This means comprehensive ministry reform. We will never solve our discipleship crisis until we solve other related crises of membership, leadership, etc. It's time to get busy. It's time to be Methodists. 8/8