Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living [Hardcover]

Rueben P. Job (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2007

In Three Simple Rules, Rueben Job offers an interpretation of John Wesley's General Rules for today's readers. For individual reading or group study, this insightful work calls us to mutual respect, unity and a deeper daily relationship with God.


This simple but challenging look at three commands, "do no harm, do good, stay in love with God," calls us to mutual respect, unity, and a deeper relationship with God.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Every year I review the three general rules of the United Methodist Church with those who are being ordained. Now I have a wonderful ordination gift to give them in Bishop Job's, Three Simple Rules, to start and deepen the conversation as they enter a new relationship with the church. Bishop Job has described by attending upon all the ordinances of God to be to stay in love with God. It s a fresh language that speaks especially to long-time Christians and United Methodists. --Sally Dyck, Resident Bishop, Minnesota Area<br /><br />Three Simple Rules is a new catechism for everyone wanting to follow Jesus Christ. These practices for holy living should replace the membership vows in every church! Don't let the title fool you. Bishop Job writes, The rules are simple, but the way is not easy. Only those with great courage will attempt it, and only those with great faith will be able to walk this exciting and demanding way. --John Hopkins, Resident Bishop, East Ohio Area

Three Simple Rules is a new catechism for everyone wanting to follow Jesus Christ. These practices for holy living should replace the membership vows in every church! Don't let the title fool you. Bishop Job writes, The rules are simple, but the way is not easy. Only those with great courage will attempt it, and only those with great faith will be able to walk this exciting and demanding way. --John Hopkins, Resident Bishop, East Ohio Area

About the Author

Rueben P. Job, a retired United Methodist bishop, was formerly World Editor of The Upper Room publishing program.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 77 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687649668
• ISBN-13: 978-0687649662
• Product Dimensions: 3.9 x 0.4 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Protestantism > Methodist

More About the Author

Rueben P. Job, a retired United Methodist bishop, was formerly World Editor of The Upper Room publishing program.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Three Simple Rules April 13, 2008

By Michael Kear VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This is a wonderful little hardcover volume which, if implemented, will revolutionize your life. John Wesley espoused three simple rules: Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God. Though these rules sound amazingly simple - and they are - yet to actually practice them may indeed be the hardest thing you've ever done. This small book shows how difficult the instructions of Jesus (and Wesley) can be in real life, and yet how rewarding they can also be both in this life and in the life to come, if we simply take them to heart.

The main point is to stay in love with God. If we do this, the rest will follow. As Bishop Job says, "Holy living will not be discovered, achieved, continued, and sustained without staying in love with God. And while staying in love with God involves prayer worship, study, and the Lord's Supper, it also involves feeding the lambs, tending the sheep, and providing for the needs of others (John 21:15-16). Feeding the lambs and tending the sheep are the signs of love that we exchange with God. And they are signs of the love that the world can understand. Spiritual disciplines not only include practices that bind us to God every day but they also include actions that heal the pain, injustice, and inequality of our world. It is impossible to stay in love with God and not desire to see God's goodness and grace shared with the entire world." (p. 58).

This inexpensive little volume, taken seriously by the Church of Jesus, could well ignite a holy reality that burns hot with the fire of God in our day.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wesleyan Self-Help June 14, 2008

By Readalots

Format:Hardcover

Retired United Methodist Bishop Rueben Job's "Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living" (2007, 77-page pocket sized hardback) is a handy quick read commentary for John Wesley's General Rules. This small book suggests to believers the profound nature of boldly loving God. Indeed, the good bishop is determined that his readers return love for love, in Jesus Christ.

Along with Wesley, Job begins with Deuteronomy 6:5 and Mark 12:29-31 as the biblical warrants for Christian love. We believers are to love God and others unconditionally! This book reminds that there are no other rules for Christians as important.

In three chapters (on doing no harm, on doing good, and on loving God) and one appendix (litanies for the use of prayer in drawing oneself closer to God) pastor Job offers a daily guide that encourages and matures the Christian walk. This is a Wesleyan spiritualist's self-help.

The downside of this great little book is its dearth of stories and illustrations for making the good bishop's points. One wishes for more narrative from Job's long and accomplished career as he speaks for Wesley's rules. A few stories would have barely increased the length of this book while broadened its scope (helping, perhaps, to make the General Rules more preachable and shareable). Narrative scarcity, here, prevents more stars.

This book is recommended to all new to Wesley's General Rules, novice Christians, Christian spiritualists, seminarians, and Christians-in-training.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My Church Groups Love It September 26, 2008

By Edna M. Boardman

Format:Hardcover

Several small groups in my church are using this little book, augmenting the book with the DVD in which Bishop Job talks about the three simple rules--Do no harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God. We are buying it by the boxful and hope to use it as a starting place in building a congregation that practices the faith in a more deliberate way.