John Louk

“Christians are made, not born.” Tertullian (c.160-c.225) How do we live as the church? The Early Church Father, Tertullian, said “Christians are made, not born.” That means, living as the church doesn’t come naturally. It takes work and dedication. The kind of people we become is directly related to the habits we practice in life. Our founder, John Wesley, taught us to order our lives with habits. Wesley called these practices the Means of Grace and said they fall into two categories: "works of piety" (spiritual disciplines) and "works of mercy" (doing good to others). Today, the church teaches us many practices for our lives so that we will live as the body of Jesus in the world. The General Board of Discipleship has helpfully defined and expanded on these practices we teach in the church here . I offer this helpful description in its entirety, hoping that we will obey what the Apostle Paul told the church at Philippi, “Keep putting into practice all you l...

The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it. Psalm 24:1 Being stewards means that we are like managers of the household. The word “steward” comes from an Olde English word that referred to the ward, i.e. the keeper, of the pig sty. The steward didn’t own the pigs but was a responsible farm hand with oversight of the entire hog farming operation. The extended farm family, including all the hired help, had enough to eat and a decent livelihood if the steward did his job well. “Steward” translated from the Greek New Testament word oikonomous , literally means “manager of the household.” We are all stewards of God’s household, the divine reign over all creation which Jesus described as “the kingdom of God.” ( Stewardship 2009-2012 . Copyright © 2008 by Cokesbury.) As stewards we manage God’s household, not ours. God, the Creator and owner of all that is, says, “Here, I’m giving you all that I have. Take care of it. Manage it. Be fruitfu...