Proclamation. This is especially our Methodist heritage. Without
it, the other two activities of the Church are incomplete. Without it Christians
are like a doctor who studied medicine and then spent all his time taking his own
temperature. It is these things that make a Church. A Church without them is a barren
vine, only fit to be thrown on the gardener’s bonfire. And there is one way to this active
Christian life. There is one way in which the branches of the vine can bear fruit. It is by
their abiding in Christ. That is where all the Old Testament metaphors breakdown and
show their incompleteness. He is the unfailing source of vitality and fruitfulness—if
only we abide in Him.— C.K. Barrett
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