THE GREAT HERITAGE

As United Methodists, we have a great heritage of faith. Our founder, John Wesley, was a man of great faith. The most important characteristic of Wesley's faith was his love for the Bible. Wesley wrote these words in his Preface to Standard  Sermons: "God himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God." Wesley loved the Scriptures and believed they were the Word of God to mankind that contained all that was needed for salvation and abundant living. 

The United Methodist Church also has a great heritage of evangelism. Wesley believed that the world was his parish, and he always wanted to win just one more soul for Christ. This desire was the soul of early Methodists. Due to the American Methodist Circuit Riders, Campmeetings were established all over the southern part of the United States. Wesley, himself, rode more than 250,000 miles on horseback (a distance equal to ten circuits of the globe along the equator) to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he preached 40,000 sermons. Wesley was serious about bringing souls to Christ.

At Wesley's death in 1791, his followers numbered 79,000 in England and 40,000 in America. In 2012, the church's membership had reached a record of 12.5 million members. In the last few years, we have declined in membership at the rate of around 70,000 per year. I wonder if our fading love for the Bible and evangelism has anything to do with this decline? It is my opinion that this is the case. One of Wesley's greatest concerns about Methodist was voiced in this way: "I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out." I pray this will never happen even though the winds of adversity are upon us. 

God has not rescinded the call to Methodists that was placed on the heart of John Wesley. So I want to encourage you as a United Methodist to reclaim our great and glorious heritage. It is a great heritage and one of which we can be very proud. In our own church, Mt. Bethel, God has blessed us with many talents and resources that can enable us to win souls and make disciples. We have great teachers, organizers, missionaries, and preachers who are equipped with all we need to do the work of God and to do it with excellence.   

I am very excited about the series of sermons for July that will help us to simplify our faith, which will enable us to be better witnesses and better disciples. I hope you will not miss a Sunday in this series. I look forward to seeing you in Church on Sunday!

Glenn Ray 

Associate Pastor