What Makes United Methodists?

1
What Makes United Methodists?
2
John Wesley 1703-1791

3
Parental Influences

• John Wesleys parents were both reformers.
• His dad was Rev. Samuel Wesley--a reformer and
  an Anglican Priest.
• Wesleys mother--Susanna-- daughter of a
  minister, also preached to small groups at
  Epworth. She taught John and had great spiritual
  influence upon him.

4
Charles Wesley1707-1788Johns younger brother
5

• 1709 Wesley saved from fire at parish home
• Parents claim John is a brand plucked from fire
  and believe young John has a destiny for God.

6
18th Century British Society

• Rapid Industrialization sparks poverty and unrest
• Church of England doesnt try to ministry with
  poor
• Wesleys Father active in SPCK, an organization
  that offered education and support groups to
  poorer people.

7
1720-Wesley Goes Up to Oxford

• At 17, Wesley enters Christ Church College
• He leads a poor and carefree undergraduate life

8
Wesley Begins His Diary

• J.W. turns serious and searches for real
  holiness

• Uses methods of SPCK and Puritan religious
  societies to journal to examine inner life. He
  explores Calvinism and Lutheran thought in his
  search.

• Journaling/ watching time becomes habit

9
1725-- Spiritual and Intellectual Pilgrimage

• After graduation from Oxford, John prepares for
  ordination in the Anglican Church.
• He continues to read all sorts of theology and
  philosophy, searching for holy living
• All of this searching and learning is so that he
  can strengthen his ministry in the Church of
  England.

10
The First Rise of Methodism Oxford Holy Club
(1729-1735)

• 1729 J.W. Oxford Don

• 1729/1730 Meets regularly with students to read
  such works as Laws Serious Call to a Devout and
  Holy Life, while also working in prisons and with
  poor

• 1732/1733 J.W. leads, defines, and defends
  group from opponents who call them Methodists
  derisively

11
Wesleys American Mission (1735-1737)

• Wesley goes to Savannah to serve as priest and
  missionary to Native Americans
• His encounters with Native Americans lead him to
  believe that faith is best shared through talking
  and relating not through forced baptisms.
• Americas colonies are pretty unstable and John
  ends up leaving after 2 years.

12
London (1738-1739)

• Wesley returns to London, and reconnects with old
  Methodist friends and German Moravians
• On May 24, 1738 at Moravian meeting in Aldersgate
  St, Wesley experiences assurance and his heart is
  strangely warmed

13
Wesleys Burning Heart Propels Him to Preach in
the Open Fields

• Feb. 1739, Wesley preaches in Bristol, England.
  The world became his parish and the poor heard
  Good News

14
The Methodist Revival Begins Social
Transformation-1739-1744

• The Movement locates itself among the poor and
  responds to their sufferings
• The message of assurance that God loves all,
  empowers poor to overcome alcoholism, industrial
  oppression, and encourages education and
  financial liberation

15
Methodist Revival Organization of Classes

• Wesley forms small groups after the Moravian
  model
• Bands based on age/gender
• Classes mixed small groups
• Society all classes in a location together
• They would share, following General Rules of
  piety/service
• The Wesleyan movement was called the United
  Societies of the People Called Methodist (it was
  not a Church)

16
Spread Through Opposition

• 1744-1758Despite persecution from Church and
  Society, Wesley trains lay pastors to spread
  message, which reaches all classes throughout
  England, Ireland, and Scotland

17
John Wesley 1703-1791

• --Wesley responded to a deep spiritual encounter
  at Aldersgate in 1738, by launching a missionary
  transformation in England for over 50 years.
• --He preached to all of Britains social
  classes. His message was simple Repent and flee
  the wrath to come! Christ died for all, Gods
  love can be experienced by all, and that each
  persons Image of God can be completely
  restored in all who accept the gift of salvation
  by grace--through faith.
• --He organized believers into a network of
  small groups calledclasses and societies,
  which nurtured the Wesleyan revival until the
  movement eventually broke free from the Church of
  England and became an independent Church after
  Wesleys death.

18
Rev. Francis Asbury
Asbury was sent to America by JW to serve with
Bishop Coke as Superintendent (later Bishop). He
and Coke didnt always get along, and Asbury
didnt really like the overall structure of the
Methodist conference. Yet, Asburys charisma
and example of travelling further (270K miles)
and preaching more (16K sermons) earned him power
and the title--The Prophet of the Long Road.
19
Asbury Puts Itineracy in Motion
There is nothing like the itinerant ministry for
keeping the whole body alive from the centre to
the circumference, and for the continual
extension of that circumference on every
hand.--Bishop Asbury After the Revolutionary
War, Methodism moved. In 1784, Methodism was
confined by mountains. By 1800, circuits west
were linked. Asbury was first Bishop to cross
these mountains. Methodism was growing westward
in America, because it was going westward with
America.
20
Challenges of the Circuit Riders
1-2 year time limit to reach circuits the size
of some states, pushed mobility. They were
young, mostly single and celibate because they
were paid poorly. Many lost the best years of
their life for earning money for retirement,
andlost family life. Attrition was high, with
many wore out preachers locating, or dying.
20 died before 35.