"Works of piety", in Methodism, are certain spiritual disciplines that along with the "works of mercy", serve as a means of grace,[1] in addition to being manifestations of growing in grace and of having received Christian perfection (entire sanctification).[2][3] All Methodist Christians, laity and ordained, are expected to employ them.[4] The Works of Piety are:[5]
Prayer
Searching the Scriptures
Holy Communion
Fasting
Christian community
Healthy living
The interior works of piety are paralleled by the external Works of Mercy.[6] John Wesley insisted that the works of piety were important because they "further ensconced believers in a spiritual world of conflict in which humans needed to pursue holiness with the same vigor with which they sought their justification."[7] In relation to soteriology, the grace of God was "all sufficient," and it issued in a universal atonement that made possible a saving "change of heart;" this change of heart required "the influences of divine grace," but it also required "constant exertions."[8]
^F. Belton Joyner (January 2004). Being Methodist in the Bible Belt: A Theological Survival Guide for Youth, Parents, and Other Confused Methodists. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 9780664226855. Retrieved 5 July 2011. Prayer, be it in the congregation, in the family, or in one's closet, was typically listed as the first "work of piety," among which also figured searching the Scriptures (by hearing, reading, and meditating upon them), reception of the Lord's Supper, fasting or abstinence, and "conversation with the children of God." These "ordinances" were understood to be the instituted and usual means by which God's grace was channeled to the church; and all Methodists, but especially the lay leadership and (after the ordinations of 1784) the ministers, were expected to diligently to employ them.
^S. T. Kimbrough (2007). Orthodox and Wesleyan ecclesiology. St Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 9780881412680. Retrieved 5 July 2011. Perhaps Wesley's favorite description of his own calling and that of Methodism was to "spread scriptural holiness." He and his helpers preached "entire sanctification" or "Christian perfection" understood as the single-hearted love of God and neighbor. The twin vehicles and expressions of such love were "works of piety" (prayer, fasting, searching the Scriptures, partaking of the Lord's Supper as "means of grace") and "works of mercy" ("doing good unto all men, to their souls and to their bodies"): "God works [in you]; therefore you can work. God works [in you]; therefore you must work."
^"Christian Perfection: Works of Piety and Mercy". The United Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 2 February 2006. Retrieved 5 July 2011. Christian Perfection is "holiness of heart and life." It is "walking the talk." John Wesley expected Methodists to do not only "works of piety" but "works of mercy"--both of these fused together put a Christian on the path to perfection in love.
^American Methodist Worship. Oxford University Press. 27 April 2011. ISBN 9780199774159. Retrieved 5 July 2011. Prayer, be it in the congregation, in the family, or in one's closet, was typically listed as the first "work of piety," among which also figured searching the Scriptures (by hearing, reading, and meditating upon them), reception of the Lord's Supper, fasting or abstinence, and "conversation with the children of God." These "ordinances" were understood to be the instituted and usual means by which God's grace was channeled to the church; and all Methodists, but especially the lay leadership and (after the ordinations of 1784) the ministers, were expected to diligently to employ them.
^"Mission: The Works of Mercy". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
^Paul Wesley Chilcote (2007). Early Methodist spirituality: selected women's writings. Kingswood Books. ISBN 9780687334162. Retrieved 5 July 2011. The primary means by which the Methodists lived out this holistic understanding of the Christian faith was through works of mercy that paralleled the more interior works of piety.
^Jeffrey Williams (22 April 2010). Religion and Violence in Early American Methodism: Taking the Kingdom by Force. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0253004239. Retrieved 5 July 2011. Wesley insisted that though these actions were neither of the same sense nor degree as the role of faith in bringing about sanctification, they remained significant and thus further ensconced believers in a spiritual world of conflict in which humans needed to pursue holiness with the same vigor with which they sought their justification.
^E. Brooks Holifield (2003). Theology in America: Christian Thought from the Age of the Puritans to the Civil War. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300129734. Retrieved 5 July 2011. The grace of God was "all sufficient," and it issued in a universal atonement that made possible a saving "change of heart." This change of heart required "the influences of divine grace," but it also required "constant exertions."
"Worksofpiety", in Methodism, are certain spiritual disciplines that along with the "worksof mercy", serve as a means of grace, in addition to being...
Piety is a virtue which may include religious devotion or spirituality. A common element in most conceptions ofpiety is a duty of respect. In a religious...
acts is a prudential means of grace. Along with worksofpiety, worksof mercy evidence growth in grace and are characteristic of those who have Christian...
Filial piety is the virtue of exhibiting love and respect for one's parents, elders, and ancestors, particularly within the context of Confucian, Chinese...
entire sanctification, and obedience to God manifested in performing worksofpiety. Scripture is considered the primary authority, but Methodists also...
founder of the Methodist Churches, taught that the keeping of the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments, as well as engaging in the worksofpiety and...
sanctified would be perfect in love, engaging in worksofpiety and worksof mercy—both of which are characteristic of a believer's growing in grace. The First...
engaging in worksofpiety and worksof mercy—both of which are characteristic of a believer's growing in grace. George Fox, the founder of Quakerism (Religious...
framework of three overarching theological covenants: those of redemption, ofworks, and of grace. Covenentalists call these three covenants "theological"...
Indulgentiarum doctrina. EI lists "only the most important prayers and worksofpiety, charity and penance" that have an attached indulgence. Slater, Thomas...
interest of the drink traffic. Fasting is considered one of the worksofpiety. Methodism's principal liturgical book The Sunday Service of the Methodists...
are contained in the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline, its Book of Discipline, and in The Catechism of the Global Methodist Church. The church...
the founder of Methodism, the means of grace can be divided into two broad categories, with individual and communal components: WorksofPiety, such as:...
manifestation of being entirely sanctified included engagement in worksofpiety and worksof mercy. In his Sermon called "The Circumcision of the Heart"...
all of his outward piety, Wesley sought to cultivate his inner holiness or at least his sincerity as evidence of being a true Christian. A list of "General...
important prayers and worksofpiety, charity and penance". The Raccolta was replaced with the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum. While a number of indulgenced prayers...
of the WorksofPiety. "The General Rules of the Methodist Church," written by the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, wrote that "It is expected of all...
construction of monuments and public works. Such public works, known as hayrat or worksofpiety, were often constructed extravagantly in the name of the sultana...
love, engaging in worksofpiety and worksof mercy—both of which are characteristic of a believer's growing in grace. Members of the Conservative Holiness...
committed a mortal sin and to prepare by fasting, prayer, and other worksofpiety. Traditionally, the Eastern Orthodox church has required its members...
from 1807 to 1952, that collected the texts of Roman Catholic prayers and briefly described other acts ofpiety, such as visiting and praying in particular...
most important prayers and worksofpiety, charity and penance". This removed from the list of indulgenced prayers and good works, now called the Enchiridion...
(such as the Church of the Lutheran Brethren) and combine its emphasis on Biblical doctrine with the importance of individual piety and living a holy Christian...
far-reaching consequences in Methodism, culture of the United States, and the growth of the Jesus movement. Notably, news of the revival largely spread on social...
knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. The seven gifts are found in the Book of Isaiah 11:1–2, a passage which refers to the characteristics of a Messianic...
part of his reign. He concentrated on building up his own capital, Vladimir. His Ossetian wife, Maria Shvarnovna, who devoted herself to worksofpiety and...
baptized them and taught them fairly to perform the worksofpiety and expounded to them the faith of the Christians". El-Cheikh, Nadia Maria (1999). "Muḥammad...