1. The United Methodist Church A brief survey of the 270 year history of the Methodist movement The Methodist Church is a unique blend of New Testament Christianity, the Protestant Reformation and the influence of John Wesley.” (John Stockman)

2. History of Methodism  Originated with John and Charles Wesley  Name “Methodist” can be traced back to incidents at Oxford University in 1729  Methodist movement did not take shape until 1739 The United Methodist Church John Wesley 1703 – 1791

3. History of Methodism  Methodist religion was a denomination of people who broke away from the Church of England  Other divisions within the Methodist church have taken place over the years The United Methodist Church

4. UMC Organization of UMC  Government closely resembles America’s Democratic Government  Have three Government branches that serve as checks and balances  Legislative Branch  Judicial Branch  Executive Branch The United Methodist Church NOTE: Though some of these offices are familiar in name to us, the Methodist hierarchy has nothing in common with the scriptural organizational pattern, nor of a plurality of bishops in each local church Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1-3

5. Multiple Standards of Authority  Boasts of Methodism – “no peculiar church doctrines are to be bound upon its members” UMC  Wesley and others have contributed writings and statements of belief that have become accepted standards of authority in the UMC The United Methodist Church

6. Multiple Standards of Authority  The Book of Discipline  Twenty-Five Articles of Religion  The Confession of Faith  Fifty-Two Sermons of John Wesley  Notes on the New Testament by John Wesley The United Methodist Church

7. Multiple Standards of Authority  Four Guidelines for Interpreting “Christian” Beliefs  Scripture  Christian Tradition  Experience  Reason The United Methodist Church

8. Doctrines that Contradict Bible Truth The United Methodist Church UMC UMC Doctrines Bible Truth  Old Testament laws have been removed, but moral laws are still binding  Justified by faith only  Baptism is only symbolism and not necessary for salvation  Luke 24; Matt 5:17; Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:6-13; Gal 3:25; Heb 7:11-16  Eph 2:8-10; Jam 2:20-24  1 Pet 3:21; Acts 22:16; 2:38, 47; Gal 3:26-27; Rom 6:3-4; John 3:23

9. The United Methodist Church By practicing the things in the Articles of Faith and Disciplines of the United Methodist Church, one will become a Methodist. By practicing the things contained only in the Bible, one will become a Christian.