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The Methodist Pew

An All-Church Conversation for 2019

It's an annual tradition at First Church!

Each year, our church family is invited to join together in some year-long study and discussion. We've listed below the various things we've done during the past seven years. And now it's time to sign up for what we'll do together during the coming year.

​"The Methodist Pew" is our theme. We'll travel back to the 18th-century, where the first Methodists back in England sat under the leadership of John Wesley. He passed along to them what he understood to be the fundamental teachings of the Christian life, including a collection of sermons that are generally referred to as "Wesley's Standard Sermons." 

There are 52 of those "standard sermons," which is just right for a year-long study. 

And so, during 2019, we want to read Wesley's standard sermons -- one each week -- and then come together to discuss them with one another. We'll help each other understand and appreciate what Wesley preached. We'll experience the challenge and growth that made those first Methodists such a magnificent group. And we'll let Wesley help us apply the truth of the gospel to our lives.

If you'd like to be part of this special year-long, church family emphasis during 2019, please register using the form below.

Registration

If you would like to participate in our year-long study and conversation of John Wesley's 52 Standard Sermons, please complete the brief registration form below.
Submit

What We've Done in Past Years

How It Will Work This Year

Here is an accounting of what we have done together in previous years:
  • ​2012 -- The 3x5 Club
  • 2013 -- Daily Devotional Journal
  • 2014 -- Singing Through the Year with Wesley
  • 2015 -- Role Models in Righteousness
  • 2016 -- Christian Believer
  • 2017 -- A Conversation with God's Word
  • 2018 -- A Year Without Fear
  • 2019 -- The Methodist Pew
When you sign up to be part of "The Methodist Pew" in 2019, we'll be in touch with you about getting copies of the 52 sermons and the schedule of our reading. 

We'll read one sermon each week. And each week we'll have an opportunity to come together for a group discussion of the current sermon. Those weekly discussions will be provided at different times throughout each month to accommodate a variety of schedules and availability. Any person may attend any discussion group.

Schedule of Sermons and Sessions

The 52 Standard Sermons of John Wesley can be read in various orders. We will follow the theological ordering proposed by Kenneth J. Collins and Jason E. Vickers.  Our order of reading and discussing will be:
  1. Original Sin -- Genesis 6:5
  2. Awake, Thou That Sleepest -- Ephesians 5:14
  3. The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption -- Romans 8:15
  4. The Way to the Kingdom -- Mark 1:15
  5. The Means of Grace -- Malachi 3:7
  6. The Almost Christian -- Acts 26:28
  7. The Original, Nature, Properties, and Use of the Law -- Romans 7:12
  8. The Righteousness of Faith -- Romans 10:5-8
  9. Salvation by Faith -- Ephesians 2:8
  10. Justification by Faith -- Romans 4:5
  11. The Lord Our Righteousness -- Jeremiah 23:6
  12. The New Birth -- John 3:7
  13. The Marks of the New Birth -- John 3:8
  14. The Great Privilege of those that are Born of God -- 1 John 3:9
  15. The First-fruits of the Spirit -- Romans 8:1
  16. The Witness of the Spirit, I -- Romans 8:16
  17. The Witness of the Spirit, II -- Romans 8:16
  18. The Nature of Enthusiasm -- Acts 26:24
  19. The Witness of Our Own Spirit -- 2 Corinthians 1:12
  20. Scriptural Christianity -- Acts 4:31
  21. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Sixth -- Matthew 6:1-15
  22. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Seventh -- Matthew 6:16-18
  23. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Eighth -- Matthew 6:19-23
  24. Upon the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Ninth -- Matthew 6:24-34
  25. The Use of Money -- Luke 16:9
  26. The Good Steward -- Luke 16:2
  27. Self-denial -- Luke 9:23
  28. The Reformation of Manners -- Psalm 94:16
  29. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Tenth -- Matthew 7:1-12
  30. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Eleventh -- Matthew 7:13-14
  31. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Twelfth -- Matthew 7:15-20
  32. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Thirteenth -- Matthew 7:21-27
  33. A Caution Against Bigotry -- Mark 9:38-39
  34. Catholic Spirit -- 2 Kings 10:15
  35. The Cure of Evil-speaking -- Matthew 18:15-17
  36. The Wilderness State -- John 16:22
  37. Heaviness through Manifold Temptations -- 1 Peter 1:6
  38. Satan's Devices -- 2 Corinthians 2:11
  39. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the First -- Matthew 5:1-4
  40. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Second -- Matthew 5:5-7
  41. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Third -- Matthew 5:8-12
  42. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Fourth -- Matthew 5:13-16
  43. Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Fifth -- Matthew 5:17-20
  44. The Law Established through Faith, Discourse I -- Romans 3:31
  45. The Law Established through Faith, Discourse II -- Romans 3:31
  46. On Sin in Believers -- 2 Corinthians 5:17
  47. The Repentance of Believers -- Mark 1:15
  48. The Scripture Way of Salvation -- Ephesians 2:8
  49. The Circumcision of the Heart -- Romans 2:29
  50. Wandering Thoughts -- 2 Corinthians 10:5
  51. Christian Perfection -- Philippians 3:12
  52. The Great Assize -- Romans 14:10
Meanwhile, here is our upcoming schedule of discussion group times:
  1. Tuesday, January 8th at 12:00 PM -- "Original Sin"
  2. Monday, January 14th at 10:00 AM -- "Awake, Thou That Sleepest"
  3. Monday, January 21st at 5:30 PM  -- "The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption"  
  4. Tuesday, January 29th at 5:30 PM -- "The Way to the Kingdom"
  5. Monday, February 4th at 5:30 PM -- "The Means of Grace" 
  6. ​Tuesday, February 12th at 12:00 PM -- "The Almost Christian"
  7. ​Tuesday, February 19th at 12:00 PM -- "The Original, Nature, Properties, and Use of the Law"
  8. ​Monday, February 25th at 10:00 AM -- "The Righteousness of Faith"
  9. ​Monday, March 4th at 12:00 PM -- "Salvation by Faith"
  10. ​Monday, March 11th at 5:30 PM -- "Justification by Faith"
  11. ​Monday, March 18th at 12:00 PM -- "The Lord Our Righteousness"
  12. Tuesday, March 26th at 5:30 PM -- "The New Birth" 
  13. Tuesday, April 2nd at 5:30 PM -- "The Marks of the New Birth"
  14. Tuesday, April 9th at 12:00 PM -- "The Great Privilege of Those That are Born of God"
  15. Monday, April 15th at 12:00 PM -- "The First-fruits of the Spirit"
  16. Tuesday, April 23rd at 5:30 PM -- "The Witness of the Spirit, I"
  17. Tuesday, April 30th at 12:00 PM -- "The Witness of the Spirit, II"
  18. Tuesday, May 7th at 5:30 PM -- "The Nature of Enthusiasm"
  19. Tuesday, May 14th at 12:00 PM -- "The Witness of Our Own Spirit"
  20. Monday, May 20th at 12:00 PM -- "Scriptural Christianity"
  21. Tuesday, May 28th at 12:00 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Sixth"
  22. Tuesday, June 4th at 5:30 PM -- "Upon Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Seventh" 
  23. Monday, June 10th at 5:30 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Eighth"
  24. Wednesday, June 19th at 10:00 AM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Ninth"
  25. Tuesday, June 25th at 5:30 PM -- "The Use of Money" 
  26. Monday, July 1st at 5:30 PM -- "The Good Steward"
  27. Monday, July 8th at 5:30 PM -- "Self-Denial"
  28. Monday, July 15th at 12:00 PM -- "The Reformation of Manners"
  29. Tuesday, July 23rd at 12:00 PM -- Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Tenth"
  30. Monday, July 29th at 12:00 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Eleventh"
  31. Tuesday, August 6th at 5:30 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Twelfth"
  32. Monday, August 12th at 5:30 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Thirteenth"
  33. Monday, August 19th at 12:00 PM -- "A Caution Against Bigotry" 
  34. Tuesday, August 27th at 12:00 PM -- "Catholic Spirit"
  35. Tuesday, September 3rd at 5:30 PM -- "The Cure of Evil-Speaking"
  36. Monday, September 9th at 5:30 PM -- "The Wilderness State"
  37. Monday, September 16th at 12:00 PM -- "Heaviness through Manifold Temptations"
  38. Tuesday, September 24th at 12:00 PM -- "Satan's Devices"
  39. Tuesday, October 1st at 5:30 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the First"
  40. Tuesday, October 8th at 12:00 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Second"
  41. Monday, October 14th at 5:30 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Third"
  42. Monday, October 21st at 12:00 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Fourth"
  43. Tuesday, October 29th at 12:00 PM -- "Upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Fifth"
  44. Tuesday, November 5th at 5:30 PM -- "The Law Established through Faith, Discourse I"
  45. Monday, November 11th at 5:30 PM -- "The Law Established through Faith, Discourse II"
  46. Monday, November 18th at 12:00 PM -- "On Sin in Believers"
  47. Tuesday, November 26th  at 12:00 PM -- "The Repentance of Believers"
  48. Tuesday, December 3rd at 5:30 PM -- "The Scripture Way of Salvation"
  49. Monday, December 9th at 5:30 PM -- "The Circumcision of the Heart"
  50. Monday, December 16th at 12:00 PM -- "Wandering Thoughts"
  51. Monday, December 23rd at 12:00 PM -- "Christian Perfection"
  52. Thursday, January 2nd at 12:00 PM -- "The Great Assize"   

The Three States of the Soul

In Wesley's sermon on "The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption," he sets forth a paradigm about the three states of the human soul. I have created a chart that captures and summarizes what Wesley preaches about each of those spiritual conditions.
States of the Soul
File Size: 391 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Justified and Born of God

In his sermon "The Great Privilege of Those That Are Born of God," John Wesley draws a distinction between being justified and being born of God. According to Wesley, they occur at the same time, and so they are chronologically indistinguishable. But theologically they are different elements of salvation. The PDF provides a chart that captures Wesley's insights on this distinction.   
Justified and Born of God
File Size: 32 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File