. . . and that’s unusual.
And not because I don’t like Wesley. I do. Very much. Thank God he believed in free will.
But it’s unusual because I find that most people coming into the church have no awareness of him or his influence.
Even lifelong Methodists have only a passing knowledge. So given that context, I typically spend more time talking about Jesus than John Wesley.
But yesterday was the exception. And I quoted these entries from his diary:
Sunday a.m., May 5 — Preached in St. Ann’s; was asked not to come back anymore.
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 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 p.m., June 2 — Afternoon service, preached in pasture . . . 10,000 people came.
That’s perseverance, isn’t it?
And it goes to show the people most often opposed to a great move of God are . . . the people of God themselves.
It all supported yesterday’s idea: your critics are REALLY just the motivators of your ambition.
———————————————-
*From More Perfect Illustrations, Tyndale House, p. 206
There are 3 comments
Hi Talbot,
Do you have a preferred biography of John Wesley that you can recommend?
Thanks.
Luann
Colin Williams wrote the gold standard of Wesley biographies back in the 1960s, I believe.
I also like Maxie Dunnam’s A Wesleyan View Of The Christian Way, which is more theological than biographical. Very readable.
Hope that helps!
Talbot,
I recently read, John Wesley, A Biography, by Stephen Tomkins and thought it was excellent. Just 200 pages, very readable and very informative. Published by Eerdmans, 2003. I guess this year was a very “Methodist” year for me because I also read Darius L. Salter’s book, America’s Bishop, The Life of Francis Asbury, Francis Asbury Press, 2003. I think EVERY Methodist preacher ought to read this book. I doubt there would be a Methodist Church in America were it not for Asbury, what a life of sacrifice.
Blessings,
Cam Conover