The following post is from my good friend and John Wesley authority, Dr Bob Whitesel. I had the tremendous privilege of traveling with him on a UK tour to study the “Footsteps of John Wesley.” This immersion was so powerful that I invited Dr. Whitesel to speak for a half day on the church growth principles of John Wesley (we recorded it all – see the PS below for more on his powerful new resource). Here is an excerpt from that teaching:
An important aspect of John Wesley’s world is discipleship, and discipleship by making people students of the word, and students of themselves. By students of the word, I mean that they would be involved in a small setting of around 12 to 15 people that will have as their purpose regular meetings to learn more about the word. Not learn about doctrine, not learn about theology — learn the word.
In Wesley’s day and age, people were biblically illiterate. I’ll make the argument that today, in America, and around the world, is very similar to the time of Wesley. For Wesley, it was the Industrial Revolution. People were moving from the farmland into the cities, they were uprooting their families. They did not have family in the city. They were working, many times, 14‑16 hours a day. Children were working these 14‑16 hours. They had no time for church. They lost their parish church system. They were moving to the city, and Wesley knew they needed more. They needed more than just spiritual conversion. They needed also a physical transformation; they needed to have people helping them form new relationships.
The discipleship was getting into the world, because the people were very ignorant about what the Bible said. Most people hadn’t a clue what the Bible said or how it was comprised or the books that made it up, so much of Wesley’s time was spent acquainting people with the Bible.
Discipleship was about learning the Bible, and then also learning about yourself. This was sharing with this small group what you were struggling with.
Somebody said to me at one of my conferences, “Dr. Whitesel, that’s hard for people in America, to share their feelings or what they’re struggling with, even in a small group.” I said, “Have you ever been to England and tried to get something out of one of them?” Talk about stiff upper lip.
This is the environment that Wesley came into. His challenge was to make people students of the word and students of themselves, and ask themselves, “What are you struggling with? What are the sin problems that challenge you?” and then have a small group that helps you with those.
If Wesley can get the English people talking about their needs and their hurts and everything, even better so than Oprah does, then we can use this method today, and get people opening up and becoming students of themselves and students of the word.
Your partner in ministry,
Nelson
P.S. Hear more from Dr. Whitesel and leadership lessons from Wesley in his brand new resource on The Church Growth Principles of John Wesley. Whitesel will engage you with colorful narratives of his travels across England studying original Wesley writings in the actual locations where Wesley wrote them!
Plus you’ll hear about growing churches today that have recaptured Wesley’s biblical principles and are growing exponentially.
So as an introductory special – so you have the greatest opportunity for success in applying Wesley’s leadership lessons to your own church growth – today you can save over 89%! The total retail value of this package is $1,899.70 – but you can download everything for only $99 TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY, June 26th!
Share This Post
© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.
About Nelson Searcy
