Common Questions

The Bible is a collection of sacred texts written by many people over several centuries.  Aside from New Testament letters that are attributed to a common author, each writing comes from a different author or group of authors.  For example, the first book of the Bible, Genesis, is thought to include contributions from different communities over several generations.  Also, the writings from the prophet Isaiah were written by three different people in three different time periods.  It is also important to remember that the original writings were mostly written in Hebrew or ancient Greek.  None of the Biblical texts were originally written in any version of English.

For more information, see the preface information of each text in a reliable study Bible, such as The New Oxford Annotated Bible, 5th edition, edited by Michael D. Coogan.

Holy Communion is a sacrament instituted by Jesus in the last supper with his disciples on the evening before his crucifixion.  It is served in remembrance of his death and resurrection, acknowledging Christ's presence in our lives and the grace we are given through atonement.  John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, describes a sacrament as "an outward sign of inward grace, and a means whereby we receive the same."  It is served in the community of believers where bread, representing Christ's body, and unfermented grape juice, representing his blood, are served to each person present who desires to experience the risen Christ.  All are invited to participate in this means of grace regardless of their church membership, social circumstances, or baptismal status.

For more information, see "This Holy Mystery."

Baptism is the sign of a covenantal relationship between God, the church, and the person being baptized.  The United Methodist understanding of baptism, as described in the document "By Water and the Spirit," "involves dying to sin, newness of life, union with Christ, receiving the Holy Spirit, and incorporation into Christ's church."  Infants can be participants in this covenantal relationship for which baptism is a sign, with the understanding that the church and a parent or sponsor (godparent) will nurture the child in Christian faith as they grow.  As the child matures, they may make a personal profession of faith in the ceremony of Confirmation.

For more information, see "By Water and the Spirit."

Prayer is acknowledging and connecting to God, and it has many forms.  Prayer can be expressed through words, music, movement, artwork, or any other means of conveying your relationship with God.  One of the ways Jesus taught his disciples to pray is using the Lord's Prayer which is recited in each service at the First United Methodist Church of Chicago:

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
And the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

There is an infinite number of ways to pray.  What is important is authentically connecting to God.

The United Methodist Church is a Christian denomination that was formed in 1968 when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren merged.  We are a mainline denomination that traces our heritage through the Anglican church to the early biblical church communities.  For more information about what we believe, how we serve, ways we grow, and who we are, see the United Methodist Church website.