When John and Charles Wesley founded the Holy Club in 1729 during their days at Oxford University, their intention was to create a disciplined fellowship for growing as disciples of Jesus Christ. Their rigorous “method” for that growth led their group to be derided by many of their fellow students who gave them nicknames like” Bible Moths,” “Supererogation* Men,” and, perhaps most galling, “Methodists.” Yes, the movement was originally named for an insult!
The Holy Club rose early for prayer and Bible study, practiced fasting and abstinence, and served the poor and prisoners in the local Oxford jail. But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of their “method” was its focus on self-examination. A practice codified by St. Ignatius in the 16th century, the “Examen” was an opportunity to do some reflection at the end of each day and take stock of how one had lived out their Christian life, with the goal of being better at it the next day.
I’m not sure if the Holy Club modeled their own self-examination on that of St. Ignatius, but the 22 questions proposed by these young Oxford men are striking in their honesty about what it means to live the Christian life in a way that picks up the cross daily, as Jesus says in Luke 9:23. The members of the Holy Club committed to asking themselves these questions daily as part of their “method.” I mentioned these 22 question in this week’s podcast, so I wanted to share them with you here as a possible outline for how you can do some of your own self-examination, if not daily then certainly periodically. We only grow in sanctification if we’re willing to take stock of our past and present and ask the Spirit to help us improve in the future. Take a few minutes to consider each of these questions and how you might answer them today:
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?
How did you do? I know, it’s a humbling exercise but one that helps us focus on where we need to keep growing in grace. I invite you to post these somewhere you can look at them regularly and perhaps even keep a journal with your responses. Beware, however—some might call you a “Methodist” if you do!
*Supererogation - the performance of more work than duty requires
This Week’s Podcast
In this episode of The Aldersgate Experience, Pastors Bob Kaylor and Jeff Markey explore the Wesleyan vision of the Holy Spirit as both power and presence. From John Wesley’s encounters with Moravians to our own spiritual journeys today, we ask: how do we recognize the Spirit at work, and how do we step into the life God empowers us to live?
Coming This Sunday (10.5.25)
When John and Charles Wesley founded the Methodist movement, they didn’t originally intend it to become a separate church. They were instead trying to reform the Church of England toward the faith and practice of the early “primitive” Christian church of the apostles through an emphasis on preaching, sacraments, and accountable discipleship. While Methodists share a lot in common with other Christian churches, the distinctive focus on holiness of heart and life through sanctification means that we orient our church life around helping people to be more like Jesus through everything we do. Join us this Sunday as we learn about the heart of the “method” in Methodism, why it was such a catalyst for growth, and how it could be again.
See you on Sunday at Aldersgate Church!