“What?” – Pastor Brown

Sermon 3 Awake, Thou That Sleepest

“Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Eph. 5:14.

IN discoursing on these words, I shall, with the help of God, —

First. Describe the sleepers, to whom they are spoken:

Secondly. Enforce the exhortation, “Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead:” And,

Thirdly. Explain the promise made to such as do awake and arise: “Christ shall give thee light.”

My brethren, it is high time for us to awake out of sleep before the “great trumpet of the Lord be blown,” and our land become a field of blood. O may we speedily see the things that make for our peace, before they are hid from our eyes! “Turn Thou us, O good Lord, and let Thine anger cease from us. O Lord, look down from heaven, behold and visit this vine;” and cause us to know “the time of our visitation.” “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name! O deliver us, and be merciful to our sins, for Thy name’s sake! And so we will not go back from Thee. O let us live, and we shall call upon Thy name. Turn us again, O Lord God of Hosts! Show the light of Thy countenance, and we shall be whole.”

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages; world without end. —Amen!”


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“The Net’s in The Water” – Pastor Brown

Spiritual narcissism…

By L.L. Martin

Hebrews 12:2 instructs us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” It seems so easy to fix our eyes on ourselves: our goals, our purpose, our victory. This certainly does not mean we should be aimless and without goals in our Christian life! But where is our ultimate focus? Fixing our eyes on Jesus should bring many things into proper perspective and balance.


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“A Good Investment Strategy” – Pastor Brown

Sermon 108 On Riches

By John Wesley

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 19:24

O let your heart be whole with God! Seek your happiness in him and him alone. Beware that you cleave not to the dust! “This earth is not your place.” See that you use this world as not abusing it; use the world, and enjoy God. Sit as loose to all things here below, as if you were a poor beggar. Be a good steward of the manifold gifts of God; that when you are called to give an account of your stewardship, he may say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“How’s It Going?” – Pastor Brown

Sermon 8 THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

By John Wesley

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Rom. 8:1

Lastly. Since a believer need not come into condemnation, even though he be surprised into what his soul abhors; (suppose his being surprised is not owing to any carelessness or wilful neglect of his own); if thou who believest art thus overtaken in a fault, then grieve unto the Lord; it shall be a precious balm. Pour out thy heart before him, and show him of thy trouble, and pray with all thy might to him who is “touched with the feeling of thy infirmities,“that he would establish, and strengthen and settle thy soul, and suffer thee to fall no more. But still he condemneth thee not. Wherefore shouldest thou fear? Thou hast no need of any “fear that hath torment.” Thou shalt love him that loveth thee, and it sufficeth: more love will bring more strength. And, as soon as thou lovest him with all thy heart, thou shalt be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.” Wait in peace for that hour, when the God of peace shall sanctify thee wholly, so that thy whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!”


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Focused Faith"—Jacob Hedden

Sermon 6 The Righteousness of Faith

By John Wesley

Whosoever thou art, O man, who hast the sentence of death in thyself, who feelest thyself a condemned sinner, and hast the wrath of God abiding on thee: Unto thee saith the Lord, not, “Do this,” — perfectly obey all my commands, — “and live;” but, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” “The word of faith is nigh unto thee:” Now, at this instant, in the present moment, and in thy present state, sinner as thou art, just as thou art, believe the gospel; and “I will be merciful unto thy unrighteousness, and thy iniquities will I remember no more.”


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Oh God, Why?"-- Pastor Brown

Suffering and Becoming Holy: Insights from John Wesley’s Pastoral Counsel

By Mark K. Olson

Abstract: The problem of human suffering has conflicted many people. The eighteenth century was no different, for it was rife with suffering and death, with the average life span a short 37 years. John Wesley was moved by the suffering he saw. around him opening medical clinics in London and Bristol. He understood that our suffering is rooted in Adam’s Fall but that God’s redemptive work is a process of healing and restoration. But he also saw suffering as one of the means God uses to sanctify his people. This article explores how he counseled people to see the work of God in their sufferings.


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Out of Gas"-- Pastor Brown

Sermon 13 -- On Sin in Believers

John Wesley

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”

2 Cor. 5:17

V. 1. The sum of all is this: There are in every person, even after he is justified, two contrary principles, nature and grace, termed by St. Paul the flesh and the Spirit. Hence, although even babes in Christ are sanctified, yet it is only in part. In a degree, according to the measure of their faith, they are spiritual; yet, in a degree they are carnal. Accordingly, believers are continually exhorted to watch against the flesh, as well as the world and the devil. And to this agrees the constant experience of the children of God. While they feel this witness in themselves, they feel a will not wholly resigned to the will of God. They know they are in him; and yet find an heart ready to depart from him, a proneness to evil in many instances, and a backwardness to that which is good. The contrary doctrine is wholly new; never heard of in the church of Christ, from the time of his coming into the world, till the time of Count Zinzendorf; and it is attended with the most fatal consequences. It cuts off all watching against our evil nature, against the Delilah which we are told is gone, though she is still lying in our bosom. It tears away the shield of weak believers, deprives them of their faith and so leaves them exposed to all the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

2. Let us, therefore, hold fast the sound doctrine “once delivered to the saints,” and delivered down by them with the written word to all succeeding generations: That although we are renewed, cleansed, purified, sanctified, the moment we truly believe in Christ, yet we are not then renewed, cleansed, purified altogether; but the flesh, the evil nature, still remains (though subdued) and wars against the Spirit. So much the more let us use all diligence in “fighting the good fight of faith.” So much the more earnestly let us “watch and pray” against the enemy within. The more carefully let us take to ourselves, and “put on, the whole armor of God;” that, although “we wrestle” both “with flesh, and blood, and with the principalities, and with powers, and wicked spirits in high places,” we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

Cemetery Dedication Service

Sermon 119 -- On Worldly Folly

John Wesley

“But God said unto him, Thou fool!”

Luke 12:20

9. Let every one who readeth these words, narrowly search his own heart. Where hast thou laid up thy treasure hitherto? Where art thou laying it up now? Art thou labouring to be rich toward God, or to lay up earthly goods? which takes up the greater part of thy thoughts? Thou that art careful for outward things, diligent in doing good, and exact in outward duties, — beware of covetousness; of decent, honourable love of money; and of a desire to lay up treasures on earth. Lay up treasure in heaven! A few days hence, thou wilt step into a land of darkness; where earthly fruits will be of no avail; where thou wilt not be capable of eating and drinking, or gratifying any of thy senses. What benefit wilt thou then receive from all thou hast laid up in this world? What satisfaction in all which thou hast treasured up, — all thou hast left behind thee? Left behind thee! What! couldest thou then take nothing with thee into the everlasting habitations? Nay then, lay up treasure, before thou go hence, which fadeth not away.


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

Sermon, "Power"

Sermon 4 -- Scriptural Christianity

John Wesley

“Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.”

Ezek. 33:4.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 4:31.

Ye venerable men, who are more especially called to form the tender minds of youth, to dispel thence the shades of ignorance and error, and train them up to be wise unto salvation, are you “filled with the Holy Ghost?” with all those “fruits of the Spirit,” which your important office so indispensably requires? Is your heart whole with God? full of love and zeal to set up his kingdom on earth? Do you continually remind those under your care, that the one rational end of all our studies, is to know, love and serve “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent?” Do you inculcate upon them day by day, that love alone never faileth (whereas, whether there be tongues, they shall fail, or philosophical knowledge, it shall vanish away); and that without love, all learning is but splendid ignorance, pompous folly, vexation of spirit? Has all you teach an actual tendency to the love of God, and of all mankind for his sake? Have you an eye to this end in whatever you prescribe, touching the kind, the manner, and the measure of their studies; desiring and labouring that, wherever the lot of these young soldiers of Christ is cast, they may be so many burning and shining lights, adorning the gospel of Christ in all things? And permit me to ask, Do you put forth all your strength in the vast work you have undertaken? Do you labour herein with all your might? exerting every faculty of your soul, using every talent which God hath lent you, and that to the uttermost of your power?


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“The Fatherhood Element” Pastor Brown

Sermon 94 -- On Family Religion

John Wesley — text from the 1872 edition

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Josh. 24:15

It is undoubtedly true, that if you are steadily determined to walk in this path; to endeavour by every possible means, that you and your house may thus serve the Lord; that every member of you family may worship him, not only in form, but in spirit and in truth; you will have need to use all the grace, all the courage, all the wisdom which God has given you; for you will find such hinderances in the way, as only the mighty power of God can enable you to break through. You will have all the saints of the world to grapple with, who will think you carry things too far. You will have all the powers of darkness against you, employing both force and fraud; and, above all, the deceitfulness of your own heart; which, if you will hearken to it, will supply you with many reasons why you should be a little more conformable to the world. But as you have begun, go on in the name of the Lord, and in the power of his might! Set the smiling and the frowning world, with the prince thereof, at defiance. Follow reason and the oracles of God; not the fashions and customs of men. “Keep thyself pure.” Whatever others do, let you and your house “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.” Let you, your yoke-fellow, your children, and your servants, be all on the Lord’s side; sweetly drawing together in one yoke, walking in all his commandments and ordinances, till every one of you “shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour!”


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

"“Fire of the Holy Spirit”" Pastor Brown

Sermon 141 -- On the Holy Spirit

John Wesley — Preached at St. Mary’s, Oxford, on Whitsunday, 1736

“Now the Lord is that Spirit.”

2 Cor. 3:17

“O God, who in all ages hast taught the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.”


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

"Transformed Into the Visible Love of Jesus" Pastor Brown

Sermon 18 -- The Marks of the New Birth

Wesley — text of the 1872 edition

“The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters covers the sea.”

Isa. 11:9.

1. How is every one that is “born of the Spirit,” — that is, born again, — born of God? What is meant by the being born again, the being born of God, or being born of the Spirit? What is implied in the being a son or a child of God, or having the Spirit of adoption? That these privileges, by the free mercy of God, are ordinarily annexed to baptism (which is thence termed by our Lord in a preceding verse, the being “born of water and of the Spirit”) we know; but we would know what these privileges are: What is the new birth?

2. Perhaps it is not needful to give a definition of this, seeing the Scripture gives none. But as the question is of the deepest concern to every child of man; since, “except a man be born again,” born of the Spirit, “he cannot see the kingdom of God;” I propose to lay down the marks of it in the plainest manner, just as I find them laid down in Scripture.


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Let Your Light Shine – the Visible Love of Jesus” Pastor Brown

Sermon 3 Awake, Thou That Sleepest

Preached on Sunday April 4, 1742, before the University of Oxford, by the Rev. Charles Wesley, M.A. Student of Christ-Church.

“The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters covers the sea.”

Isa. 11:9.

IN discoursing on these words, I shall, with the help of God, — First. Describe the sleepers, to whom they are spoken: Secondly. Enforce the exhortation, “Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead:” And, Thirdly. Explain the promise made to such as do awake and arise: “Christ shall give thee light.”


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Called to Be the Visible Love of God” Pastor Brown

Sermon 63 The General Spread of the Gospel

by John Wesley — text of the 1872 edition

“The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters covers the sea.”

Isa. 11:9.

1. In what a condition is the world at present! How does darkness, intellectual darkness, ignorance, with vice and misery attendant upon it, cover the face of the earth! From the accurate inquiry made with indefatigable pains by our ingenious countryman, Mr. Brerewood; (who travelled himself over a great part of the known world, in order to form the more exact judgment;) supposing the world to be divided into thirty parts, nineteen of them are professed Heathens, altogether as ignorant of Christ, as if he had never come into the world: Six of the remaining parts are professed Mahometans: So that only five in thirty are so much as nominally Christians!


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Mom’s Day” Pastor Brown

Sermon 96

On Obedience to Parents

by John Wesley

8. But as for you who are little concerned about this matter, who do not make it a point of conscience to obey your parents in all things, but sometimes obey them, as it happens, and sometimes not; who frequently do what they forbid or disapprove, and neglect what they bid you do; suppose you awake out of sleep, that you begin to feel yourself a sinner, and begin to cry to God for mercy, is it any wonder that you find no answer, while you are under the guilt of unrepented sin? How can you expect mercy from God till you obey your parents? But suppose you have, by an uncommon miracle of mercy, tasted of the pardoning love of God, can it be expected, although you hunger and thirst after righteousness, after the perfect love of God, that you should ever attain it, ever be satisfied therewith, while you live in outward sin, in the wilful transgression of a known law of God, in disobedience to your parents? Is it not rather a wonder, that he has not withdrawn his Holy Spirit from you? that he still continues to strive with you, though you continually grieve his Spirit? O grieve him no more! By the grace of God, obey them in all things from this moment! As soon as you come home, as soon as you set foot within the door, begin an entirely new course! Look upon your father and mother with new eyes; see them as representing your Father which is in heaven: Endeavour, study, rejoice to please, to help, to obey them in all things: Behave not barely as their child, but as their servant for Christ’s sake. O how will you then love one another! In a manner unknown before. God will bless you to them, and them to you: All around will feel that God is with you of a truth. Many shall see it and praise God; and the fruit of it will remain when both you and they are lodged in Abraham’s bosom.


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“First and Last"-- Pastor Brown

From the Beginning to the End: John Wesley’s Doctrine of Creation

Article by Mark K. Olson

The Golden Chain

To appreciate Wesley’s theology of creation we must pause and take a closer look at his ontology of creation. From his reading of works, like John Ray’s The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of Creation and Charles Bonnet’s Contemplation de la Nature, Wesley embraced the popular idea that all creation is structured according to a hierarchical system reminiscing of a great chain. Simpler and more elemental beings are located at the bottom and more complex beings at the top. A basic chart of the chain looks like this:

  • God

  • Angels

  • Humans

  • Animals

  • Vegetation

  • Minerals

This “golden chain,” as Wesley calls it, profoundly shaped his understanding of creation and the new creation.


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Jesus, the Almighty"-- Pastor Brown

TO SPREAD SCRIPTURAL HOLINESS AND TO REFORM THE NATION: THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE THOUGHT OF JOHN WESLEY -- Kingdom of God as Orienting Concern

Article by Philip R. Hamner

What one finds in Wesley’s doctrine of the kingdom of God is a broad and cohesive focus on the full work of God in this world. Personal and corporate aspects of redemption make up the soteriological concern, while the entire doctrine is covered with eschatological concern. Given the broad appeal of the kingdom of God in Wesley’s theology is it possible to use the kingdom as a lens through which to view the shape and scope of other theological doctrines? Some have argued that the best thing to do with Wesley is to recapitulate his arguments as an ordo salutis. Others, like Randy Maddox have argued for an orienting concern which holds in tension the soteriological initiative of redemption in the grace of God with the necessary requirement of human response-ability. Perhaps another orientation in Wesley’s theology with a different focal point, namely the kingdom of God, becomes possible. Although this argument remains at an early stage of evaluation, it might be helpful to review questions that help evaluate this possibility, based on the initial evidence. First, does the kingdom maintain a sufficient place in Wesley’s writings to warrant such a claim? Certainly, the lengthy and extensive work by Wesley on the Sermon on the Mount and his growing interest in the New Creation toward the end of his life give scholars plenty of room to consider the kingdom as a central concern for Wesley. Second, does an orientation around the kingdom of God offer a fuller and richer expression of the various nuances of Wesley’s thinking? It appears reasonable to think of the kingdom as providing a more central role for political theology. However, does this orienting concern provide a suitable focus for the soteriological burden which Wesley’s work carries?


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Seeing the Risen Christ"-- Pastor Brown

Then he appeared to James

Article by Dan LeRoy

Ask James — he’ll tell you it is life changing.

History records that some 30 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christians in Jerusalem were causing so much uproar with their life-changing message that a group of Jewish leaders came to James. They acknowledged how well respected and influential he was in the city and asked him to address the people, assuring them that this business of Jesus being the divine Messiah was not true. They put James up high on the temple wall during Passover and called the people to attention.

When they gave James the opportunity to speak, he declared with force and conviction that Jesus was indeed the risen Lord and was their only way to salvation. Enraged, the leaders threw him off the high ledge into the valley below. The fall did not kill him, and struggling, he gathered himself up on his knees and prayed for the forgiveness of his persecutors. This even further enraged them, and they began stoning him. He was dispatched from this life to the next when a man stepped up and crushed his head with a vicious swing of a wooden pole.

Tradition says that when James’ family and friends retrieved his battered body and began to prepare it for burial, they discovered enormous callouses on his knees. He had spent so much time in prayer, his knees looked like the knees of a camel.


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Palm Sunday"-- Pastor Brown

The Problem of Palm Sunday

Article by Jonathan Parnell

Pastor, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! (Luke 19:38)

Some Pharisees try to get Jesus to make the crowd stop. They ask him to rebuke the people for what they’re saying — the whole “Blessed is the King” bit.


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️

 

“Decide"-- Pastor Brown

John Wesley organized the people into three types of groups: societies, which we spoke of yesterday, where larger groups of Christians in one area would gather to worship, pray, and hear the Word; and then there were also classes, which were smaller groups of 10-12, where the people could discuss things and talk about their own Christian walk over the last week; and then there were bands, which were small groups of 3 or 4 people of the same gender and age usually, who would get very serious and honest with each other to keep each other accountable in their quest for Christian perfection.

Some people think that the small group phenomenon in church happened in the last 30 years. But Wesley was doing it 260 years before! He believed strongly in Christian people watching over each other and helping each other along the road.


Click here for Video of Sunday Message

〰️

Click here for Video of Sunday Message 〰️