Wesleyan Threads

About Wesleyan Threads

Exploring the roots of grace and the mission of discipleship in the Methodist tradition What holds us together as people of faith? What threads run through our doctrine, our history, and our everyday life in the church? Hosted by Pastor Britt, Wesleyan Threads is a podcast grounded in the United Methodist tradition and woven with deep theological curiosity. With seminary-level depth and everyday accessibility, each episode explores the shape of our connection—from class meetings to conferences, from baptismal grace to the work of mission and justice. But the threads don’t stop there. As we follow these strands, we encounter broader questions of Christian theology: about suffering, Scripture, community, and what it means to follow Jesus in a world that is both wounded and beautiful. Always rooted in Wesleyan soil, Wesleyan Threads is a space for learning, for wrestling, and for grace. New episodes released regularly Join our community: https://discord.com/invite/2EKEuHTBBk (https://discord.com/invite/2EKEuHTBBk) Visit the website: https://www.wesleyanthreads.org (https://www.wesleyanthreads.org/) https://www.wesleyanthreads.org/ (https://www.wesleyanthreads.org/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Wesleyan Threads Ministries

Category

education · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Jan 2025

Latest episode

24 May 2025

Latest episodes

6 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 May 2025

   Special Episode - The Cross Is Not A Flagpole

   What kind of Messiah are we following—and what happens when the Christ we expect isn’t the Christ who calls? In this special episode of Wesleyan Threads, Pastor Britt steps into the tension of Mark 8:27–9:1 to ask hard questions about discipleship, power, and the cross. Jesus doesn’t affirm Peter’s vision of messianic glory—he rebukes it. He doesn't wield the cross like a banner of conquest. He carries it—and invites us to do the same. Drawing from trauma theory, narrative theology, and exegetical work from NT 602 with Dr. Brian Blount, this episode dismantles triumphalist visions of Christianity and reclaims the cross as a site of vulnerability, resistance, and solidarity with the wounded. This is not about glorifying pain—it’s about following a Messiah who stands with the suffering, not above them. For those disillusioned with nationalistic Christianity or a church that avoids the cost of compassion, this is an invitation: to take up not a flagpole, but the cross. Key Threads Cruciform discipleship and the redefinition of messianic power The cost of truth-telling and resistance to imperial expectations Mark 8 as narrative hinge and theological confrontation Trauma-informed readings of rejection, suffering, and hope Why Jesus’ call to take up the cross is a comfort to the wounded, not a glorification of harm Explore More R. Alan Culpepper, Mark: Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary M. Eugene Boring, Mark: A Commentary (New Testament Library) Cynthia Jarvis & Elizabeth Johnson, Feasting on the Gospels: Mark Ched Myers, Binding the Strong Man Brian K. Blount and Gary W. Charles Preaching Mark in Two Voices Craig A. Evans, Word Biblical Commentary: Mark 8:27–16:20 Link to episode recap: https://www.wesleyanthreads.org/blog/special-episode-recap-the-cross-is-not-a-flagpole (https://www.wesleyanthreads.org/blog/special-episode-recap-the-cross-is-not-a-flagpole) Join the conversation in our Wesleyan Threads Discord community (https://discord.com/invite/2EKEuHTBBk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   30 Apr 2025

   Special Episode - Wounded Yet Risen

   Episode Description: In this special episode of Wesleyan Threads, Pastor Britt explores Mark 15 through the lens of trauma theory, wrestling with how suffering, abandonment, and survival shape the Passion narrative. Drawing on insights from biblical trauma studies and theological voices like Jürgen Moltmann, this reflection invites us to see the scars of Christ not as signs of defeat, but as testimonies of enduring hope. Recorded as part of the NT 501 final project at Candler School of Theology. Key Themes: Trauma theory as a lens for biblical interpretation Fragmentation, silence, and abandonment in Mark’s crucifixion narrative Resurrection as survival with scars Moltmann’s The Crucified God and the theology of wounded hope Living as a scarred and hopeful Christian community Special Thanks: This episode was created as part of coursework for NT 501: Introduction to the New Testament Special thanks to Dr. Q and TA Allison for their support, encouragement, and guidance. Bibliography: Caruth, Cathy. Unclaimed Experience: Trauma, Narrative, and History. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996. Erikson, Kai. Everything in Its Path: Destruction of Community in the Buffalo Creek Flood. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1976. Garber, David G. Jr. "Trauma Theory and Biblical Studies." Currents in Biblical Research 14, no. 1 (2015): 24–44. Malbon, Elizabeth Struthers. "Gospel of Mark." In Women’s Bible Commentary, 3rd ed., edited by Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, 478–481. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012. McDonald, Joseph. "Hermeneutics of Trauma and the Bible." Oxford Bibliographies in Biblical Studies, 2020. Moltmann, Jürgen. The Crucified God: The Cross of Christ as the Foundation and Criticism of Christian Theology.Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2015. Rich, Matthew A. "Between Text and Sermon: Mark 15:25." Interpretation 70, no. 2 (2016): 200–203. Stevenson, Peter K. "The Crucified God: Mark 15:25–39." Ministry Compass (2005): 149–164. West, Donald S. "How Is Jesus’s Cry from the Cross in Mark 15:34 Answered?" Expository Times 132, no. 8 (2021): 329–343. Link to episode recap post: https://www.wesleyanthreads.org/blog/wound-yet-risen-special-episode-recap (https://www.wesleyanthreads.org/blog/wound-yet-risen-special-episode-recap) Join our Wesleyan Threads Discord community (https://discord.com/invite/2EKEuHTBBk)! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   30 Apr 2025

   Threads of Methodism: History and Polity in Context - Episode 2

   Episode 2: John Wesley and the Birth of the Method(ist) Summary: This episode explores John Wesley’s life, not through a standard biography, but by focusing on the spiritual and pastoral crises that gave birth to the Methodist movement. Pastor Britt details the decline of the Church of England, Wesley’s formative experience with the "Holy Club" at Oxford, his transformative Aldersgate experience, and the organizational genius that allowed Methodism to flourish. The story emphasizes Wesley’s insistence that grace must be lived out in disciplined, communal life. Key Topics Covered: Spiritual Decline in 18th-Century England The Oxford "Holy Club" and the Formation of Methodist Discipline The Aldersgate Experience and the Theology of Assurance Wesley’s Organizational Vision: Societies, Classes, and Bands Lay Leadership and Women’s Roles in Early Methodism The Move to America: Wesley’s Bold (and Controversial) Ordination Reflection Questions: Where in your life have you experienced a "heart-warming" moment of assurance? How can churches today recover small-group discipleship for formation, not just fellowship? Link to episode recap post: https://www.wesleyanthreads.org/blog/episode-2-recap-john-wesley-and-the-method-ist (https://www.wesleyanthreads.org/blog/episode-2-recap-john-wesley-and-the-method-ist) Join our Wesleyan Threads Discord community (https://discord.com/invite/2EKEuHTBBk)! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   26 Jan 2025

   Threads of Methodism: History and Poilty in Context - Episode 1

   Rev. Britt explores the life and vision of John Wesley, tracing how his theological breakthroughs and pivotal moments birthed the Methodist movement and continue to shape discipleship today.

5. 

   25 Jan 2025

   Threads of Methodism: History and Polity in Context - Trailer

   Rev. Britt explores the foundational history and principles of the Methodist tradition, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of the church's identity and its relevance today.

6. 

   25 Jan 2025

   Episode 0

   Rev. Britt explores the roots of grace and the mission of discipleship within the Methodist tradition, setting the stage for engaging conversations and practical takeaways.

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