WESLEY SERMONS #9

THE DUTY OF CONSTANT COMMUNION

Do this in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19)

This verse is a clear command. Whenever we have opportunity to obey it, we must! The early church received the Lord’s Supper almost every day. This was not only an act of obedience, but an indication that they recognized its value as a means of grace.

I use the word ‘constant’ rather than ‘frequent’ because the latter is not meaningful. Since this is a command, we should aim to obey it as often as possible (as with all commands). Why wouldn’t we want to do it constantly?

Some suggest that they are (sometimes) unworthy to receive the Lord’s Supper. Of course! And yet God has commanded us to come! Stop worrying about your unworthiness. Worry about disobeying a clear command!

Some say they don’t feel prepared to partake. What preparation is necessary but a repentant heart and a commitment to Christ? If you’re not prepared in such ways, you’re not a Christian in the first place!

Some say doing it too often makes it less special. So what? It’s commanded. Some say it hasn’t benefited them? Again, so what? It’s commanded. Some say the church only requires frequent communion. Once more, so what? Who is our ultimate commander?

We must receive communion constantly.

WESLEY SERMONS #8

In this series, 60 of Wesley's sermons will be summarized into about 250 words. I'm using the work of Collins/Vickers as my source (for transcripts and order), but the summaries are mine (so any misrepresentations of Wesley may be attributed to me). 

THE MEANS OF GRACE

The early church recognized certain channels through which the grace of God enters the souls of men and women, but since that time the pendulum has swung in both directions in regards to these ‘means of grace.’

One way the pendulum swings treats the means of grace as powerful in and of themselves (thus turning the ‘means’ into the ‘end’). People replaced heart religion (love) with surface level religion (ritual observance).

Eventually, the pendulum swung the other way. In confronting ritual based religion, some declared that the recognized ‘means of grace’ were of no value at all!

We must find balance in this! These means by which God’s grace flows are, of course, not powerful in themselves. But they chosen by God! The ‘means of grace’ are ordinary channels of God’s grace. The chief of these are prayer (private and corporate), scripture (reading, hearing, meditating), and the Lord’s Supper.

But a big question remains: Should I partake of these means before I have an assurance of salvation… or should I wait? And the answer is… wait for assurance BY these means! Talk to God until God talks to you! Search the Scriptures until you are found! Eat and drink until your soul is satisfied that you are in Christ!

God has directed us to wait in these ways.

WESLEY SERMONS #7

In this series, 60 of Wesley's sermons will be summarized into about 250 words. I'm using the work of Collins/Vickers as my source (for transcripts and order), but the summaries are mine (so any misrepresentations of Wesley may be attributed to me). 

ON WORKING OUT OUR OWN SALVATION

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13)

Let us begin by discussing the work of God (after all, that is where salvation begins!). God is the source of both our good desires and behaviors. This fact removes any sense of merit or room for pride in people. God provides the power, so God gets all the glory!

Clearly, however, we are to work as well. We need to pray, fast, search the Scriptures, partake in the Lord’s Supper, Fellowship together with God’s family, serve the needy, deny ourselves, etc. In other words, we need to willingly embrace every means of drawing near to God.

But there is a tension between these two points that some call a contradiction. Does God do the work of salvation or do we? Let’s clarify…

God’s work enables us to work. Without God working first, it is impossible for us to do anything good. And God has indeed worked in the life of every human being (through, at least, prevenient grace). We, therefore, have no excuse but to follow-up on His work with our own.

But even this subsequent work, which we must do, is powered by God. We do it by the Spirit. The Scriptures clearly teach that God begins the process of salvation independently, but refuses to finish in like manner.

 

WESLEY SERMONS #6

In this series, 60 of Wesley's sermons will be summarized into about 250 words. I'm using the work of Collins/Vickers as my source (for transcripts and order), but the summaries are mine (so any misrepresentations of Wesley may be attributed to me).

THE WAY TO THE KINGDOM
The kingdom of God (which is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, Romans 14:17) is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15).

The kingdom of God refers to true religion. It is all about God reigning in your heart.

True religion is not about what you do with your hands (whether it be rituals or good works). Certainly bad behavior (or the absence of good deeds) is evidence one does not have true religion, but good behavior is no guarantee of a person’s true religious state.

True religion is also not a matter of mere mental assent to the right creeds, doctrines, and opinions. It’s not about what’s in your head (after all, the devil holds the right religious opinions). Rituals, good works, and right beliefs have their place, but they are not true religion.

True religion is about righteousness. Righteousness is inseparable from love… love for God and love for your neighbor. Love is a matter of the heart. True religion is a matter of peace and joy in the heart due to the presence of the Spirit. True religion is in the heart.

The way to this ‘true religion’ is, first, repentance (a deep sense of personal sin and hopelessness) and then believing the Gospel (trusting in Jesus Christ). True religion is confirmed by a loving relationship with God.

WESLEY SERMONS #5

In this series, 60 of Wesley's sermons will be summarized into about 250 words. I'm using the work of Collins/Vickers as my source (for transcripts and order), but the summaries are mine (so any misrepresentations of Wesley may be attributed to me).  

THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AND OF ADOPTION

To put it simply, there are 3 kinds of people in this world.

Most people are in the natural state. They are spiritually asleep. They do not realize the precariousness of their position. They may be pleased with their lives. They neither fear nor love God. They have no light. They have a false sense of peace. They are heathens. They sin, but they likely don’t realize it or think much of it.

Many people are in the legal state. They are spiritually awake. They realize their present danger. They are miserable. They live in fear. They experience the pain of a new bright light. They have no peace. They are as Jews, under the law. They sin unwillingly. They fight with sin, but cannot conquer it.

Few people are in the evangelical state. They are even more awake- awake to the great love of God. They are joyful. No more guilt, anguish, bondage, etc. The strive against and conquer sin. They love God. They experience glorious light and true peace. They are Christians. Now under grace, they cease from sinning.

Examine yourself! What is your primary attitude toward God? Love? Fear? Neither? What is your primary relation to sin? Victory? Defeat? Indifference? Only those who love God and are experiencing victory over sin are truly in Christ. Of course, this sermon is over-simplified. Each individual may experience various states at once, but by all means strive to wholly live in the evangelical state!