Modern day Christians are often confused about a number of questions that are answered in this sermon. Specifically, are humans born bad, or are they morally neutral? Can we do good works without having a right relationship with God through Jesus? How important is it that we hate ourselves, our sin, and the forces of wickedness? Who is going to hell? For whom did Jesus die, and on what conditions can his death be applied to us?
Many may be surprised to find that John Wesley speaks quite clearly about these things in ways that contradict what many Methodist preachers preach today. If we are to reclaim the form and power of righteousness, then it is right that we should work to reclaim the theological framework that once gave great power to our movement. God bless you as you meditate on these important things with me!
Debra Baty is the head of Resources 4 Redemption, which is an effort aimed at spreading good information about sexual orientation and gender identity. She recently published an article about “sexual fluidity” and how it impacts our sanctification in Firebrand Magazine. It is a good piece, and Debra does worthy work. All believers in the West have to contend with the artificial ideas of the sexual revolution. There is nowhere we can go that these issues do not impact us. The only way out is through.
Debra has a personal story that is quite compelling. She is a trustworthy, thoughtful, and conscientious resource. All covenant Christian bodies need to know where they stand on these things, lest the evil one sow confusion. Now is the time to reflect upon these things. Days are coming when what we believe will be put to the test. If we have not prepared, then we cannot expect to prevail.
Resources 4 Redemption can be found at https://substack.com/@resources4redemption
If you would like to ...
I didn't realize until I finished this morning's live stream that it got cut off pretty early in the stream. It should have made me suspicious when the viewer count stayed the same and I wasn't getting any more comments. Anyway, I recorded the whole thing and have reposted it here for you. I'll clip up the two main portions and post them on YouTube later today. Sorry for the snafu, y'all. There was a small power surge and something about that threw Rumble off. Tomorrow should be normal. God bless you all!
Yesterday I gave a pseudo-sermon on my missional context in Nowata. While it is particular to my own community, the social realities and challenges described therein can easily be applied to thousands of other contexts across the rural US. I think many of you will appreciate my reflections here: https://nowatamethodists.substack.com/p/diagnosing-the-patient
I don't usually post my sermons here. I get insecure about annoying y'all with a bunch of posts. But I put out a lot of content in various places that I actually feel pretty decent about.
This proclamation of the Word from this last Sunday dealt explicitly with right relationship with the Holy Spirit for a prolonged period of time. I would like to think this message is implicit in everything I preach. I was told yesterday that a man present had grown up going to church, but after this sermon he remarked that he hadn't ever encountered this clear understanding of the person and work of the Holy Ghost before.
So in that spirit, I wanted to offer my contribution for the edification of the saints from this last Sunday. Consider my words about the Comforter:
