JANUARY 2026
THE
SHEPHERD
Friends and Family of Newnan First United Methodist Church,
John Wesley–the founder of the Methodist movement–was a practical theologian. His theology was formed on the ground, in sermons, in study, and in service. His words and his experience were constantly tested. He saw fit to actually engage the words of Jesus with his neighbor! And because of this METHOD, Wesley’s theology changed over time. The John Wesley we meet in his 20s is so different from the Wesley we meet at the end of his career. And this is a good example for all of us. Our faith is not meant to remain static. It is meant to grow, change, and continue to transform as we transform with it. Thus, faith was never meant to remain indoors. It must be active and allowed outside! Wesley preached: “The love of God naturally leads to works of piety…[and] the love of our neighbor naturally leads all that feel it to works of mercy” (The Important Question, Sermon 84). Our faith leads us to experience and participation in the world, and through that experience God works to shape us more and more into closer and closer disciples. Of course, sometimes it feels like engaging the gospel feels too hard. Sometimes I don’t know where to start! How can we ever expect to follow the breadth of Jesus’ teaching and commandments, even as simple as love of God and neighbor? Where do I begin? 19th century Theologian George MacDonald invites us into the immediacy of discipleship: Get up, and do something the Master tells you…make yourself a disciple at once. Instead of asking yourself whether you believe or not, ask yourself whether you have this day done one thing because he said, Do it, or once abstained because he said, Do not do it…you can begin at once to BE a disciple of the Living One–by obeying him in the first thing you can think of in which you are not obeying him. We must learn to obey him in everything, and so must begin somewhere. We must begin somewhere. So BEGIN. Make yourself a disciple at once! Obey Jesus in the first thing you can think of. Don’t hesitate! Live the life of a disciple! In the words of Wesley, “Are you sure of living one year, one week, one day? O make haste to live! Surely the [one] that may die tonight should live today” (The Important Question, Sermon 84).
Rev. Andrew Chappell Senior Pastor
achappell@NewnanFUMC.org 770.253.7400 (x202)
Grace and peace, Andrew
Newnan First United Methodist Church
33 Greenville Street | 770.253.7400 | hello@newnanfumc.org