| Acknowledgments | ix |
| Preface | xiii |
| Introduction: Recovering a Tradition | xv |
| Eventful Legislation | xv |
| The Genius of Methodism | xv |
| Clergy and Class Leaders | xvi |
| A Focus on Class Leaders | xvii |
| Small Groups | xviii |
| The Horse Before the Cart | xix |
| Covenant Discipleship | xix |
| An Echo of the Class Leader | xx |
Chapter 1 | The Need for Leaders in Discipleship | 1 |
| The Mystery of Christian Discipleship | 1 |
| Loose Discipleship | 2 |
| Moments of Resentment | 3 |
| More Discipline? | 4 |
| The Two-Fold Ministry of Jesus | 5 |
| Feed My Sheep | 6 |
| A Shepherd's Secret | 6 |
| Too Much Expertise | 7 |
| Getting the Job Done | 8 |
| Practicing the Basics | 8 |
| Delaying Tactics | 9 |
| First Steps | 10 |
| More Delaying Tactics | 11 |
| Leading the Flock | 12 |
| Guidance in the First Steps | 12 |
| Leadership Credentials | 13 |
| A Leadership Question | 14 |
| A Touchy Question | 15 |
| Amateurs and Professionals | 15 |
| A Model from Early Methodism | 17 |
| For Reflection | 18 |
Chapter 2 | The Origin of Class Leaders | 19 |
| The Early Methodist Movement | 19 |
| Affection for the Church | 20 |
| True Freedom of Discipleship | 20 |
| Privileged Servanthood | 21 |
| Spirit and Structure in the Church | 22 |
| Spiritual Renewal | 23 |
| Obedient Discipleship | 24 |
| Religious Common Sense | 25 |
| Pastoral Oversight | 25 |
| Mutual Accountability | 26 |
| The Need for Mutual Support | 27 |
| The Class Leader | 28 |
| Disciplinary Oversight | 28 |
| Resistance to Discipline | 29 |
| Matters of Heart and Life | 30 |
| Spiritualized Discipleship | 31 |
| Disciplined Relationships | 31 |
| Companionship with Christ | 32 |
| An Early Methodist Class Leader | 33 |
| A Return to Class Leaders | 36 |
| For Reflection | 38 |
Chapter 3 | The Class Leader in North America | 39 |
| Across the Atlantic | 39 |
| Pastoral Concern | 40 |
| Class Leaders in Their Prime | 42 |
| Literature on Class Meetings | 42 |
| The Duties of Class Leaders | 43 |
| Signs of Decline | 44 |
| From Society to Church | 45 |
| The Mother Church of Methodism | 45 |
| Uncertain Identity | 46 |
| Churchly Responsibilities | 47 |
| A Question of Leadership | 47 |
| An "Unnecessary Wheel" | 49 |
| An Unfortunate Irony | 49 |
| Loss of Leadership | 50 |
| Displacement of the Class Meeting | 51 |
| The Question of Slavery | 52 |
| Loss of Integrity | 52 |
| Keeping the Tradition Alive | 53 |
| African American Methodism | 54 |
| An Extract from A.M.E. Polity | 55 |
| African American United Methodists | 56 |
| Other Methodist Traditions | 57 |
| The Korean Tradition | 58 |
| Mutual Learnings from a Common Tradition | 59 |
| For Reflection | 60 |
Chapter 4 | Recovering the Tradition of Class Leaders | 61 |
| Tradition and Traditioning | 61 |
| Faithful Traditioning | 62 |
| The Presence of the Risen Christ | 63 |
| The Methodist Tradition | 63 |
| A Detraditioned Office | 64 |
| Retraditioning the Office | 64 |
| The United Methodist Church and Its Context | 65 |
| A Counter-Cultural Office | 66 |
| Careful Traditioning | 67 |
| The Importance of the Pastor | 67 |
| First Things First | 68 |
| A Climate of Accountability | 69 |
| Covenant Discipleship | 69 |
| The General Rule of Discipleship | 70 |
| Extending the General Rule | 71 |
| Classes as Pastoral Groupings | 72 |
| "Tracking Them Down" | 73 |
| Why Not Class Meetings? | 74 |
| A "New Frontier" | 75 |
| The Class Leader as Coach | 75 |
| The Class Leader as Drill Instructor | 76 |
| The Class Leader as Guide | 76 |
| The Class Leader as Co-Pastor | 77 |
| Why Class Leaders? | 78 |
| A Foundation and a Catalyst | 79 |
| Hearing the Call | 80 |
| For Reflection | 81 |
Chapter 5 | Discerning the Call: Preparing for the Task | 83 |
| The Inward Call | 83 |
| The Outward Call | 84 |
| A Good Reason to Hesitate | 85 |
| A Good Reason Not to Hesitate | 86 |
| Seemingly Impossible Standards | 87 |
| The Most Important Question | 89 |
| He Did the Best He Could | 90 |
| They Did the Best They Could | 91 |
| Ready to Go Professional | 91 |
| Preparation through Covenant Discipleship | 93 |
| A Condition of the Office | 94 |
| Accepting the Office | 94 |
| Prayerful Preparation | 95 |
| The Leaders' Meeting | 97 |
| Co-Pastor of the Congregation | 98 |
| Your Accountability | 98 |
| Getting to Know Your Congregation | 99 |
| Getting to Know Your World | 100 |
| Training "On the Job" | 100 |
| Forming Your Class | 101 |
| For Reflection | 103 |
Chapter 6 | Getting to Know Your Class | 105 |
| Diversity of People | 105 |
| An Open Mind | 106 |
| Diversity of Gifts and Graces | 106 |
| Human Qualities and Talents | 107 |
| Spiritual Gifts | 108 |
| The Fruit of the Spirit | 109 |
| Diversity of Needs | 110 |
| Diversity of Faith | 112 |
| Faith as a Human Universal | 112 |
| Religious Faith | 113 |
| Religious Beliefs | 113 |
| Stages of Faith | 114 |
| "Degrees of Faith" | 115 |
| The Christian Life | 116 |
| The New Birth | 116 |
| Growth in Christ | 118 |
| Maturity in Christ | 119 |
| Constancy of Grace | 121 |
| Diversity of Discipleship | 122 |
| Growth in Discipleship | 123 |
| Christ-Centered Discipleship | 123 |
| A Word of Encouragement | 125 |
| For Reflection | 126 |
Chapter 7 | Forming the Discipleship of Your Class | 127 |
| Establishing Contact with Your Members | 127 |
| The First Visit to Your Members | 127 |
| The Agenda of the Visit | 128 |
| The General Rule of Discipleship | 130 |
| This Is Just the Beginning | 131 |
| An Intensive First Few Weeks | 132 |
| What Not to Do with Your Class | 133 |
| At Ease and Alert | 135 |
| Reactive Resistance | 136 |
| In Covenant with an Active God | 137 |
| Joyful Surrender | 138 |
| Getting Caught in the Crossfire | 139 |
| A Christ-Centered Relationship | 139 |
| Becoming Informed about Your Congregation | 140 |
| Further Contact with Your Members | 141 |
| Applying the General Rule | 142 |
| Witnessing to Jesus Christ in the World | 142 |
| Acts of Compassion | 143 |
| Acts of Worship | 143 |
| Acts of Justice | 144 |
| Acts of Devotion | 146 |
| The Guidance of the Holy Spirit | 146 |
| Connecting Your Class Members | 147 |
| For Reflection | 148 |
| Conclusion: In Harmony with One Another | 149 |
| Knowing Who You Are | 149 |
| Spiritual Discernment | 149 |
| A Dangerous Gift | 150 |
| Deal Charitably with Your Members | 151 |
| Deal Charitably with Your Pastor | 152 |
| A Question of Calling | 152 |
| True Christian Collegiality | 153 |
| A Final Word | 154 |
| Endnotes | 155 |
| Resources | 163 |