John Wesley

July 31, 2020

What is Sin? – Susanna Wesley

John Wesley one day walked to his mother and asked: “Mum, define sin for me”. Her aswer was this: “Whatever weakens your reasoning, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things, in short, if anything increases the authority of the flesh over the spirit, that to you becomes sin, however good it is in itself.”

– Susanna Wesley –

June 28, 2020

Form of Religion Without the Power – John Wesley

I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.

– John Wesley –

April 15, 2020

The Living Example of Theology – John Wesley

I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians of England.

– John Wesley –

January 6, 2020

Not Asked to Preach – John Wesley

From the journals of John Wesley:

Sunday a.m., May 5 – Preached in St. Ann’s; was asked not to come back any more.
Sunday p.m., May 5 – Preached at St. John’s; deacons said, ‘Get out and stay out.’
Sunday a.m., May 12 – Preached at St. Jude’s; can’t go back there either.
Sunday p.m., May 12 – Preached at St. George’s; kicked out again.
Sunday a.m., May 19 – Preached at St. Somebody Else’s; deacons called a special meeting and said I couldn’t return.
Sunday p.m., May 19 – Preached on the street; kicked off the street.
Sunday a.m., May 26 – Preached out in a meadow; chased out of meadow when a bull was turned loose during the service.
Sunday a.m., June 2 – Preached out at the edge of town; kicked off the highway.
Sunday p.m., June 2 – Afternoon service, preached in pasture; 10,000 people came.

– John Wesley –

December 27, 2019