The genius of the Methodist movement, which enabled it to conquer the raw lives of workingmen in industrial England, and the raw lives of men and women on the American frontier, was the "class meeting" -- ten members and their leader, meeting regularly for mutual encouragement, rebuke, nurture, and prayer.
You May Also Like / View all maxioms
THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE Persons that are well affected to religion, that receive instructions of piety read more
THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE Persons that are well affected to religion, that receive instructions of piety with pleasure and satisfaction, often wonder how it comes to pass that they make no greater progress in that religion which they so much admire. Now the reason of it is this: it is because religion lives only in their head, but something else has possession of their heart; and therefore they continue from year to year mere admirers and praisers of piety, without ever coming up to the reality and perfection of its precepts.
He who loveth God with all his heart feareth not death, nor punishment, nor judgment, nor hell, because perfect love read more
He who loveth God with all his heart feareth not death, nor punishment, nor judgment, nor hell, because perfect love giveth sure access to God. But he who still delighteth in sin, no marvel if he is afraid of death and judgment.
Concluding a short series on prayer We Christians too often substitute prayer for playing the game. Prayer is read more
Concluding a short series on prayer We Christians too often substitute prayer for playing the game. Prayer is good; but when used as a substitute for obedience, it is nothing but a blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism... To your knees, man! and to your Bible! Decide at once! Don't hedge! Time flies! Cease your insults to God, quit consulting flesh and blood. Stop your lame, lying, and cowardly excuses. Enlist!
Maundy Thursday Perhaps we feel that we do not see much to encourage us. "I do not envy those read more
Maundy Thursday Perhaps we feel that we do not see much to encourage us. "I do not envy those who have to fight the battle of Christianity in the twentieth century," wrote Marcus Dods. "Yes, perhaps I do; but it will be a stiff fight." Of course, he did, and anybody with his valiant spirit would. There was a day when our Lord passed through cheering streets wildly enthusiastic; and another day when He watched the crowds deserting Him, till even the disciples themselves seemed to be withering, and He looked at them sadly. "Will you also go away?" He said. And Peter strode across the sudden empty spaces widening around Him, and put his back to Christ's. "No", he cried; "there are two of us, at least", and faced the world, Christ's poor minority of one. I would rather have been Peter than one of the shouting mob. And today, perhaps, we may get our chance of that.
Commemoration of John Calvin, renewer of the Church, 1564 It behooves us to accomplish what God requires of read more
Commemoration of John Calvin, renewer of the Church, 1564 It behooves us to accomplish what God requires of us, even when we are in the greatest despair respecting the results.
A virtuous and a Christianlike conclusion--
To pray for them that have done scathe to us.
A virtuous and a Christianlike conclusion--
To pray for them that have done scathe to us.
What was invented two thousand years ago was the spirit of
Christianity.
What was invented two thousand years ago was the spirit of
Christianity.
See in the meantime that your faith bringeth forth obedience, and God in due time will cause it to bring read more
See in the meantime that your faith bringeth forth obedience, and God in due time will cause it to bring forth peace.
The Old-Testament doctrine of salvation gives us no encouragement, on strictly hermeneutical grounds, to argue from what was true politically read more
The Old-Testament doctrine of salvation gives us no encouragement, on strictly hermeneutical grounds, to argue from what was true politically of Israel to what could or should be true of any modern political state. Even if we were first to grant the presence of a "Christendom" situation [where] Church and State would be virtually coextensive, the nation of Israel would still remain unique. The focus of salvation is on the historical action of God in forming a people for Himself, and there is no indication anywhere in the Bible that God promises political salvation even inside the context of the full salvation of His people, let alone outside it.
