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The Spirit of Methodism: From the Wesleys to a Global Communion
"I felt my heart strangely warmed."
That was how John Wesley described his transformational experience of God's grace at Aldersgate Street on May 24, 1738, an event that some mark as the beginning of the Methodist Church.
Yet the story of Methodism, while clearly shaped by John Wesley's sermons and Charles Wesley's hymns, is much richer and more expansive. In this book, Methodist theologian Jeffrey W. Barbeau provides a brief and helpful introduction to the history of Methodism--from the time of the Wesleys, through developments in North America, to its diverse and global communion today--as well as its primary beliefs and practices.
With Barbeau's guidance, both those who are already familiar with the Wesleyan tradition and those seeking to know more about this significant movement within the church's history will find their hearts warmed to Methodism.
That was how John Wesley described his transformational experience of God's grace at Aldersgate Street on May 24, 1738, an event that some mark as the beginning of the Methodist Church.
Yet the story of Methodism, while clearly shaped by John Wesley's sermons and Charles Wesley's hymns, is much richer and more expansive. In this book, Methodist theologian Jeffrey W. Barbeau provides a brief and helpful introduction to the history of Methodism--from the time of the Wesleys, through developments in North America, to its diverse and global communion today--as well as its primary beliefs and practices.
With Barbeau's guidance, both those who are already familiar with the Wesleyan tradition and those seeking to know more about this significant movement within the church's history will find their hearts warmed to Methodism.
205 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2019
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April 22, 2023I just closed The Spirit of Methodism, which I have been savoring by small bites over the last two months or so.
I LOVED it. Of course, partly, that was because it was so NEEDFUL for me: I've been reading it almost the same length of time that I've spent in a position as Contemporary Worship Leader at Marengo United Methodist Church. The denomination has been unfamiliar to me, except through my own preschool experience (they did have a really good sandtable even in 1981, though, I'll tell you, which ought to have boded well) and little stories from Methodist theologian friends here and there. In a new job and a new denomination, I needed an introduction to Methodism as a way to handle a vague, yet certainly judgy unease with mainlineness. I'd read Elisabeth Jay's Religion of the Heart, Anglican Evangelicalism and the 19th-C. Novel in college, and that was wonderful, but I don't remember anything about it other than its seeming wonderfulness to my 20 year old brain.
Anyhow, back to the book. What stood out to me from the history, aside from the frankly THRILLING ("prophetic" seems not too strong a word!) concluding chapter (more on that in a sec), was first of all learning about Methodism as a renewing movement rather than one (at the beginning) developed through schism. The thought that JW stayed Anglican was somehow comforting to me, that made this whole thing a moving after Jesus rather than a moving after a new clubhouse. That's too stark a way to put it, but I found I was glad of it. The idea that Christians would join together just to seek God more wholeheartedly, because they really NEEDED that grace and entire sanctification, well, I can get behind that.
I found so many things helpful—all those things that seemed to me strange about Methodism found context and reason (that sanctification thing, the moving of the ministers, the role of bishops and the episcopacy, the difference between British and American methodism, etc.). And then, too, how amazing it was to hear about the reach of the global communion. My favorite part there was learning about the Indian church and E. Stanley Jones--"I weave my formulas about him and he steps out beyond them" was a great line. Too, his distinction in evangelism between teaching about Christ and introducing people to Christ felt helpful.
The last chapter was surely my favorite. I love how it set out the main concepts of Methodism in tension, helpfully conglomerating them for a sort of sum-up and help: grace and responsibility, biblical and sacramental, societies and classes, laity and clergy, social concern and personal piety. The definitions were useful, too. BUT OH MY GOSH, the very end looks ahead to what was/is going to divide the church and preaches out to it: "division diminishes the effective ministry . . .[and] it's the children who suffer most." The sense, too, that reception of the gracious work of the Spirit is the key to an ongoing presence of the Methodist movement in the world was thrilling to a person raised Pentecostal.
I LOVED it. Of course, partly, that was because it was so NEEDFUL for me: I've been reading it almost the same length of time that I've spent in a position as Contemporary Worship Leader at Marengo United Methodist Church. The denomination has been unfamiliar to me, except through my own preschool experience (they did have a really good sandtable even in 1981, though, I'll tell you, which ought to have boded well) and little stories from Methodist theologian friends here and there. In a new job and a new denomination, I needed an introduction to Methodism as a way to handle a vague, yet certainly judgy unease with mainlineness. I'd read Elisabeth Jay's Religion of the Heart, Anglican Evangelicalism and the 19th-C. Novel in college, and that was wonderful, but I don't remember anything about it other than its seeming wonderfulness to my 20 year old brain.
Anyhow, back to the book. What stood out to me from the history, aside from the frankly THRILLING ("prophetic" seems not too strong a word!) concluding chapter (more on that in a sec), was first of all learning about Methodism as a renewing movement rather than one (at the beginning) developed through schism. The thought that JW stayed Anglican was somehow comforting to me, that made this whole thing a moving after Jesus rather than a moving after a new clubhouse. That's too stark a way to put it, but I found I was glad of it. The idea that Christians would join together just to seek God more wholeheartedly, because they really NEEDED that grace and entire sanctification, well, I can get behind that.
I found so many things helpful—all those things that seemed to me strange about Methodism found context and reason (that sanctification thing, the moving of the ministers, the role of bishops and the episcopacy, the difference between British and American methodism, etc.). And then, too, how amazing it was to hear about the reach of the global communion. My favorite part there was learning about the Indian church and E. Stanley Jones--"I weave my formulas about him and he steps out beyond them" was a great line. Too, his distinction in evangelism between teaching about Christ and introducing people to Christ felt helpful.
The last chapter was surely my favorite. I love how it set out the main concepts of Methodism in tension, helpfully conglomerating them for a sort of sum-up and help: grace and responsibility, biblical and sacramental, societies and classes, laity and clergy, social concern and personal piety. The definitions were useful, too. BUT OH MY GOSH, the very end looks ahead to what was/is going to divide the church and preaches out to it: "division diminishes the effective ministry . . .[and] it's the children who suffer most." The sense, too, that reception of the gracious work of the Spirit is the key to an ongoing presence of the Methodist movement in the world was thrilling to a person raised Pentecostal.
October 15, 2023
Well written insight to the Methodist church. We need to recall what the Methodist believed and what brought about the growth of the church. It’s focus was on Jesus and the Gospel. The book shows us what is needed in the church today.
March 26, 2021
Excellent and insightful!
January 6, 2026
A crisply and comprehensively crafted account of a faith with many surprises.
April 22, 2024
Barbeau tells the story of Methodism from its origins with the Wesley brothers, to its expansion to the US, and the rest of the world. He also looks at the unique gifts that Methodism present to the church today - both Methodist and beyond.
An inspiring read that evoked in me a hunger to see the renewal of the Spirit in our churches today!
An inspiring read that evoked in me a hunger to see the renewal of the Spirit in our churches today!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews