Summary
John Wesley believed that Jesus is God's means of grace. For him, the means of grace were also "works of piety" (spiritual disciplines) and works of mercy (doing good to others). He said that means of grace are; outward signs, words, or actions, ordained of God, and appointed for this end, to be the ordinary channels whereby he might convey to men, preventing,justifying, or sanctifying grace. The chief of these means are prayer, whether private or with the public; searching the scriptures; which implies reading, hearing, and meditating thereon; and receiving the Lord's Supper, (Holy Communion) eating bread and drinking wine in remembrance of Him. John Wesley taught that he believe these symbols (See my paper on role of sacrament in the UMC) to be ordained of God, as the ordinary channels of conveying his grace to the souls of men.
He also emphasized the importance of fasting and participating in Christian community. John Wesley considered prayer an essential part of Christian living, calling it, in many of his writings, the most important means of grace.
John Wesley believed that Jesus is God's means of grace. For him, the means of grace were also "works of piety" (spiritual disciplines) and works of mercy (doing good to others). He said that means of grace are; outward signs, words, or actions, ordained of God, and appointed for this end, to be the ordinary channels whereby he might convey to men, preventing,justifying, or sanctifying grace. The chief of these means are prayer, whether private or with the public; searching the scriptures; which implies reading, hearing, and meditating thereon; and receiving the Lord's Supper, (Holy Communion) eating bread and drinking wine in remembrance of Him. John Wesley taught that he believe these symbols (See my paper on role of sacrament in the UMC) to be ordained of God, as the ordinary channels of conveying his grace to the souls of men.
He also emphasized the importance of fasting and participating in Christian community. John Wesley considered prayer an essential part of Christian living, calling it, in many of his writings, the most important means of grace.
Christians were to pray constantly, without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer he emphasis in this sermon is not that which is said in the congregation. “Whether we think of; or speak to, God, whether we act or suffer for him, all is prayer, when we have no other object than his love, and the desire of pleasing him.”All that a Christian does, even in eating and sleeping, is prayer, when it is done in simplicity, according to the order of God, without either adding to or diminishing from it by his own choice. Do we as Methodists agree with Wesley that it is the most important means of grace, more important than the Bible? I want to lament in this summary that the Methodists of whom I am have neglected this import means of grace, Prayer.
He also in this sermon emphasis on reading the bible as a means to find that grace. In this sermon gives his listeners advice on how to read the Bible. "Read Wesley's advices"and try it. He himself was a man of the book He further says in this sermon that scripture is inspired, thus a means of grace to the readers. The other means of grace he emphasis in this sermon is fasting. Although fasting has been lost in today's Methodism. Many United Methodists may be surprised to learn that John Wesley fasted two days a week, as a mean of grace Wednesdays and Fridays, in his younger days. Later he fasted on Fridays. Grounded in the Bible. This he says in this sermon is means of grace that that Christians should desire.
