John Wesley S Scriptural Christianity

This important work condenses the teachings of John Wesley--18 massive teachings and writings--into one remarkably consistent, highly accessible volume for the masses. This first book in a series is based primarily on Wesley's sermons. Later books will deal with his pastoral and ethical teachings. *Lightning Print On Demand Title

A Real Christian: The Life of John Wesley fills a void in available books in Wesleyan studies by providing a brief, solid biography that focuses on Wesley himself. While exploring Wesley's ancestry, birth, death, and every major biographical and theological event between, Collins also explores the theme of John Wesley's spiritual growth and maturation. Wesley came to the conclusion that real Christians are those whose inward (and outward) lives have been transformed by the bountiful sanctifying grace of God -- what he termed real Christianity--and this he strove to obtain for himself. Real Christianity, as Wesley understood it, embraces both works of piety and mercy, the person and the social.

Taking its title from one of John Wesley's most important sermons, The Scripture Way of Salvation explores the soteriological content of Wesley's entire literary corpus (sermons, letters, theological treatises, journals, and the notes on the Old and New Testaments). Fundamentally a doctrinal study, it is historically sensitive to the subtle shifts and nuances of Wesley's continuing reflections about the processes of salvation and the nature of Christian life. Collins provides a clear discussion of Wesley's emerging views about the development and maturation of Christian life, and in so doing highlights the essential structure that undergirds and provides the framework for Wesley's way of thinking about the processes of salvation.

John Wesley led one of the greatest Christian revivals in the history of England, and his open air preaching saw many thousands of conversions all across Great Britain. The 44 Sermons which he compiled for use by Methodist Local Preachers remains a timeless classic, and a definitive collection of core Wesleyan doctrine, along with his Notes on the New Testament. Forty-Four Sermons was first published in 1759, over 250 years ago, and since then the English language has changed and evolved to the point that his works can no longer be as easily read and understood in their original dialect, and so to preserve Wesley's message, and to make it come to life for a new generation, this project has been undertaken. The sermons are translated sentence by sentence, carefully and prayerfully. The aim has been to communicate both word-for-word and thought-for-thought, choosing clarity of communication in simple English over archaic word order where necessary, and preferring the original word order when there is no difference.Whereas Wesley used the King James Bible, in keeping with the word-for-word and thought-for-thought method used in translation, the NIV and Bibles have been used to replace Wesley's original scripture quotations, and to communicate the heart of his message as clearly as possible. Gender inclusive language has also been favoured over the archaic use of the word 'he' to indicate 'everyone'. The word 'humanity' has also been favoured over the word 'mankind', as this latter word now carries with it gender implications which were not present in Wesley's time.Each sermon will be translated and published in order, from 1 to 44, and when the series is completed, they will be published as one volume.

“These lectures cannot claim to be more than a first, sketchy introduction to the theology of Wesley (without, in the main, discriminating between John and Charles). To those who know him they say nothing new; the others, of course, and the Methodists among them in particular, one would wish to convince at least that they ought to know him. For this purpose it seemed advisable to let Wesley speak freely for himself, even where he speaks against modern Methodism; but to keep in mind, and point out where necessary, that the last word about Christianity must be, here as always, not ‘according to the Wesleys’, but ‘according to the Scriptures’. The semi-homiletic style is chiefly due to the unregenerate nature of a preacher not really converted to academic garb, and can only partly be ascribed to the setting of the beautiful Garrett Chapel where the lectures were delivered, and to the generosity of those who had them recorded for me.” —From the Author’s Note

The Rev. John Wesley (1703-1791), the founder of the Methodist Church, was an enthusiastic preacher for the Lord, a prolific writer, and a prestigious Oxford scholar. For over two centuries, his treasured sermons have provided keen insight, deep analysis, and provocative applications of the great truths of the faith for minister and layperson alike. Utilizing both primary and secondary works, John Wesley's 52 Standard Sermons: An Annotated Summary presents a concise yet useful report on each of his messages. Additionally, other pertinent historical and theological information on Wesley's life, culture, intrinsic/extrinsic influences, his understanding of Christianity, and his powerful exhortations of spiritual (re)formation and public philanthropy are presented--all with the goals of helping readers understand Wesley's call for Christian Perfection, developing proficient evangelism, and pursuing personal sanctification and piety. For pastors, for theologians, and for everyday Christians, this book is a handy resource for understanding Wesley, his doctrine, and, moreover, it provides insight into the great biblical truths that Wesley considered relevant for following Christ's great commandments of loving God and one's neighbor.

Despite wide acceptance of the "Wesleyan quadrilateral", significant disagreements have arisen in both academic and church circles about the degree to which Scripture stood in a place of theological primacy for Wesley, or should do so for modern Methodists, and about the proper and appropriate methods of interpreting Scripture. In this important work, Scott J. Jones offers a full-scale investigation of John Wesley's conception and use of Scripture. The results of this careful and thorough investigation are sometimes surprising. Jones argues that for Wesley, religious authority is constituted not by a "quadrilateral", but by a fivefold but unitary locus comprising Scripture, reason, Christian antiquity, the Church of England, and experience. He shows that in actual practice Wesley's reliance on the entire Christian tradition - in particular of the early church and of the Church of England - is far heavier than his stated conception of Scripture would seem to allow, and that Wesley stresses the interdependence of the five dimensions of religious authority for Christian faith and practice.