Many of us have experienced that moment when someone calls our name three times before we finally hear them. Maybe you were absorbed in your phone, lost in thought about work, or—let’s be honest—pretending to be asleep while your spouse asked about taking out the trash. Think about those times in a crowded restaurant when […]
Next month, we’ll experience the annual ritual of “falling back.” Daylight Saving Time ends, and many of us will wake up feeling like we’ve been gifted an extra hour. Some of you may already be planning how to spend this bonus time—extra sleep, catching up on projects, maybe just enjoying a longer Sunday morning coffee. […]
Wesley identified the means of grace as channels through which God conveys preventing, justifying, and sanctifying grace to believers. These ordinary practices—prayer, Scripture study, communion, fasting, and Christian conferencing—become extraordinary when met with faith. As ministry increasingly includes digital dimensions, we must thoughtfully consider how technology can facilitate access to these means of grace while […]
The class meeting—Wesley’s genius innovation for spiritual formation—remains one of Methodism’s greatest gifts to Christian discipleship. These small groups of twelve people meeting weekly for mutual accountability transformed individual believers into a movement that changed the world. Today, AI and digital tools can enhance this proven model while preserving its essential relational character. Here’s how […]
Have you ever missed an important phone call because you didn’t recognize the number? You let it go to voicemail, only to discover later it was exactly the opportunity you’d been hoping for. We live surrounded by notifications, yet often miss the most important messages – especially when God is calling. Here’s what I’ve learned […]
Deep engagement with Scripture remains the foundation of Wesleyan ministry. AI tools can enhance biblical study by providing linguistic insights, historical context, and interpretive perspectives that might take hours to research manually. However, these tools supplement rather than replace the Spirit-guided work of interpretation. Here’s how to use AI effectively for biblical study while maintaining […]
Many of us have mastered the art of the uncomfortable church nap. You know the one – where you’re trying to stay respectfully upright while your eyelids wage war against consciousness. Maybe it happens during the pastoral prayer, or when someone is explaining a financial report. Your head starts that telltale bob, and you jerk […]
September in Kansas brings its annual comedy show—watching neighbors simultaneously run their air conditioners and heaters on the same day. Maybe you’ve overheard someone say, “I wore shorts this morning and needed a jacket by lunch!” This weather whiplash mirrors something deeper in our lives. We constantly adjust, trying to control our comfort and security. […]
Wesley’s doctrine of Christian perfection—understood not as sinless perfection but as being perfected in love—provides the ultimate standard for evaluating any ministry tool or method. When it comes to artificial intelligence, this distinctive Wesleyan teaching offers both a goal and a measurement: does this technology help people grow in perfect love for God and neighbor? […]
Sermon – Short September always feels like January’s overachieving sibling, doesn’t it? New school supplies smell better than any candle, and we convince ourselves that color-coding our schedules will somehow create more hours in the day. Is that just me? Here in McPherson, as harvest season approaches and school activities ramp up, we pack our […]
The Methodist movement has always been marked by innovative approaches to spreading the Gospel. From its earliest days, Methodists have embraced new technologies and methods when they served the mission of making disciples. This heritage of holy innovation provides both precedent and wisdom for today’s engagement with artificial intelligence. John Wesley’s decision to preach in […]
When John Wesley began preaching in fields because churches wouldn’t welcome his message of grace, he wasn’t just breaking social conventions—he was pioneering the use of innovative methods to spread the Gospel. Today, as artificial intelligence transforms how we communicate, learn, and connect, Wesleyan theology offers profound wisdom for embracing these tools while maintaining our […]
Rev. Andrew Conard 