Archive for the ‘Methodists’ Category

Happy Birthday, George Whitefield

Posted: December 16, 2013 by doulos tou Theou in Apologetics and Evangelism, Christianity, Church Planting, Methodists, Puritan Faith, Reformed Theology
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…for a more substantive assessment of Whitefield’s preaching, we turn to a fellow believer, and a fellow evangelical, a fellow Anglican, and a fellow Calvinist: J.C. Ryle (1816-1900). In his short book on Whitefield, Ryle gives six characteristics of Whitefield’s preaching:

1. A Pure Gospel.
First and foremost, you must remember Whitefield preached a singularly pure gospel. Few men ever gave their hearers so much wheat and so little chaff. He did not get into his pulpit to talk about his party, his cause, his interest, or his office. He was perpetually telling you about your sins, your heart, and Jesus Christ, in the way that the Bible speaks of them. “Oh, the righteousness of Jesus Christ,” he would frequently say; “I must bo excused if I mention it in almost all my sermons!” This, you may be sure, is the corner stone of all preaching that God honors. It must be preeminently a manifestation of truth.”

– See more at:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/scriptorium/2009/12/happy-birthday-george-whitefield/

What are the essential elements of a revival?

Posted: November 1, 2010 by limabean03 in Apologetics and Evangelism, Christian Theology, Christianity, Methodists, Puritan Faith, Reformed Theology
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I’m not sure to be honest, although I think I could take a stab at it.  Nevertheless, below are the four essentials of the great Welsh revival of the 18th century.  I found number two particularly convicting as the Gospel that does not include regeneration (the new birth, new creation, etc.) is really only half the Gospel (if that!).  Perhaps the only thing I would ask to this list is prayer.  Would you add anything?

  1. A bold forward spirit, which dared to oppose untruth and extravagance in a determined and public manner.
  2. A clear proclamation of evangelical truths from war, passionate hearts.  In particular, the necessity of regeneration and of the work of the Holy Spirit were emphasized.
  3. The ministry of unordained men, if they possessed preaching skills.
  4. A loving care for the converted, particularly by means of the societies (i.e. small groups)

taken from Jones and Morgan’s The Calvinistic Methodist Fathers of Wales Vol I. pg 17