Certificate in Pastoral TheologyChurch History

Lecture 31 MethodismLecture 32 The Great

Awakening in the USA

The Brand From the Burning

Rev 3:14-22. John Wesley was a young Anglican clergyman who enjoyed the “holiness club” at University but who lacked strong personal faith that would handle the challenge of ship wreck. He saw the Moravians handle everything and was rebuked, but only after many more mistakes and foolishness found God in Romans 1 from a nearly illiterate preacher and he was saved that night in London 24 May 1738.

The “Failed” Missionary

Wesley had failed in America and yet was led to the Lord in the most unlikely way. From here he rebuilt his theology and practise, and began to preach outdoors to increasing crowds. In 1739 he preached to 30,000 in a natural amphitheatre in Cornwall. He rode 4500 miles per year on horse back. Preached several sermons every day and wrote every morning. His books paid for other missionaries. He built up the Methodist Church as a powerful evangelical group, with strong social and missionary zeal. He dies in 1791 at 88 years.

Attitude

1. Every believer faces the daily battle for the mind; Is 55:6-9, Jas 1:7-8.

2. What you think is what you are/become, Prov 23:7 3. Think in tune with Jesus, 2 Cor 10:4-5, Rom

12:1- 2, Phil 2:5, 2 Tim 1:7 4. Fresh Knowledge of the Word daily renews our

mind like Christ’s. 5. God’s Word in the mind produces joy, Phil 2:2,

confidence, 2 Cor 5:1-8, stability, Is 26:3-4, Phil 4:7, giving, 2 Cor 9:7, love, 1 Cor 13:5.

6. The alternative is to have the mind occupied with thoughts of this present world = worldliness, Matt 9:4, Gal 6:3, Col 3:2. Misery, Prov 15:13.

Eternal Security

1. Positional Approach – In Him, Rom 8:38-39 2. Logical Approach – enemies, now friends, Rom

5, 8:28-32, 2 Pet 3:9 3. God’s hands – Jn 10:28, Ps 37:24 4. Experiential Approach – 2 Tim 2:12-13 5. Family Approach – Jn 1:12, Gal 3:26 6. Inheritance Approach – 1 Pet 1:4-5 7. Sovereignty Approach – Jude 24-25 8. Body Approach – 1 Cor 12:21, Col 1:18 9. Greek Verb tenses – Eph 2:8-9 10. Sealing of the Spirit – 2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13, 4:30

The Great Awakening - USA 1720-1760 Jn 16:8-11, Acts 1:14, 2:36-41 – The prayer

meeting of the church transformed the people and positioned them for the Holy Spirit to move in power. Jn 3:3-18. Jonathan Edwards like Wesley spent 12+ hours a day in Bible study, and the prayer meetings were regular!

Revival is the great separator of the local churches; the saints and the “aints” are clearly seen when the Spirit moves in power. Note the people in the Church Chronology through these years. Church splits follow all revivals.