Wesley's Doctrinal Standards: The Sermons With Introductions, Analysis, and Notes

by John Wesley

Genres: Christianity, Theology, Nonfiction

543 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1988

About the author

John Wesley is recognized as the founder of Methodism. An acclaimed preacher, Wesley travelled extensively on horseback and drew large crowds for his outdoor sermons. A contemporary of William Wilberforce, Wesley was a strong voice opposing slavery in England and the United States. His influence upon modern Christianity can be seen by the large number of Methodist organizations in the Wesleyan tradition all over the world.

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020 review: The burning desire of John Wesley (1703-1791) was that no Christian live beneath his potential of godliness. He firmly believed that there is “no happiness without holiness.” His definition of holiness does not carry the puritanical implications of the modern understanding of the word, but is simply a call to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind and strength.

These sermons were intended to cover the basic beliefs and teachings of the early Methodists. It is regrettable that the archaic language will intimidate most modern readers because there is so much rich theology in each one. Every message is saturated with scripture. Many verses are woven and re-woven into the messages such as Romans 14:17 – “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peach and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

If you have never read Wesley, I would suggest sermons 2 (The Almost Christian) and 7 (The Way to the Kingdom) as good starting places. His sermons are well worth the effort.

2014 review: It's amazing how "modern" these sermons are even though they were written over 150 years ago. Wesley's ideas are thoroughly biblical and doctrinally sound so they don't go out of date. Well worth the effort, especially his discourses on The Sermon on the Mount. (#21-33)

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every few years, I pull this collection out and read one sermon per week for the year as a spiritual discipline.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re interested in a theology that offers a compelling alternative to Calvinism, then read this collection of John Wesley’s 52 select sermons. Though the language is archaic and the arguments verbose, the admonitions to understand God’s grace as more than just unmerited mercy to me, a sinner, are clear and powerful.

Wesley preaches that through the merits of Christ we can now be reconciled to God. And in that reconciliation, God’s grace grants the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, where his pardoning love is manifested to our souls, and which consequently works in us both to will and to do his good pleasure. We can now perform, through God, what to man was impossible. We can live lives pleasing to God, directing all our words and works to His glory.

Wesley preaches hope and encouragement and love that spurs us to holiness, in contrast to the popular preaching of today, which excuses many from conducting themselves in a manner truly worthy of the gospel of Christ.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Commit your souls, bodies, substance, all, to Him, 'as unto a merciful and faithful Creator.'"
Wonderful messages from a faithful man from almost 300 years ago. God's truths are eternal.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Standard Sermons are required reading and a test is to be passed on them in English Methodism for pastors. In American Methodism they are not required by pastors to read.

However, I have been fascinated by John Wesley, perhaps because I am a Methodist but was introduced to his theology in seminary and followed that up with studies over the years.

These sermons may not have all been preached the way they are writted because they are written more for the theological content than the preaching content.

Find more in my book:

J. Robert (Bob) Ewbank’s book “John Wesley, Natural Man, and the ‘Isms’ has been published. The ‘Isms’ are Heathenism, Judaism, Deism, Roman Catholicism, Quakerism, and Mysticism. The questions being answered are: how does each of them differ from John Wesley’s idea of True Christianity, and what are the prospects for those holding these views being saved.

Written for the layperson as well as the scholar, there is a Study Guide in the back of the book to help individual or group study. The Guide has questions in the front, which are answered later in the Guide.

Bob has a B.A. from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas and an M.A. from Garrett-Evangelical. He is currently Lay Leader of St. Mark UMC, in Mobile, AL.

Bishop Rueben P. Job of the United Methodist Church has written some kind words on the back cover.
Sam Royappa District Superintendent of the Coulee District in Wisconsin has recommended this book to his clergy and laity. A review of the book has also been published in the October 15, 2009 copy of The Laity Link which is the newsletter of the Alabama-West Florida Conference Board of Laity.

The book is being used by one local Sunday School, divided into 14 sessions.

To find the book go on the internet to:

1. www.wipfandstock.com (Wipf and Stock) 2. The book is now available at Cokesbury, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, WJE at Yale (The Jonathan Edwards Center), Kalahari.net, Paddyfield.com,www.deepershopping.com, Booktopia, abdbooksellers.com; Christianbooksbibles.com, IBS.it, Webster.it, Bibleknowledgebookstore.com, Angus & Robertson.com.au, JabezChristianStore.com, Boonbridgebooks.com, Alibris.com, Infibeam, and Amazon.com among others.

Have read this book over and over.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is difficult for me to rate. On the one hand, there are many wonderful and glorious things that uplift the heart(these should get a five star rating). On the other hand, I felt terribly convicted much of the time and wanted to avoid reading further (a two star rating for this). This last one is less about the book and more about the person reading it (thus a four star rating). Wesley wasn't afraid to say what he thought and he thought a lot. I should say much more about this wonderful book, but I'm not entirely sure what to say at the moment. If you are Wesleyan-Arminian, I highly recommend that you read these sermons in order to better grasp Wesley's theology. If you are of the Reformed persuasion, I also highly recommend that you read these sermons to better grasp a Wesleyan understanding of justification and sanctification. Many Calvinists would be shocked to know that Wesley believed in sola fide. Some of Wesley's recent interpreters have tried to construe him in purely co-opperant grace terms (or synergism). Wesley reveals that the people called the Methodist are anything but Pelagians.

[song er k · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable.