JESUS: The Lord is Near

Whenever I begin to teach about our Wesleyan heritage as United Methodists, I am usually a little afraid of losing some of my audience. I imagine that some will think it's a lot of boring information about a stuffy old English guy from the 1700s who doesn't matter anymore. I imagine some folks groaning that they'd rather hear about contemporary, lively, and biblical Christianity rather than all that dead religion. Ironically, it is precisely that kind of complaint that led John and Charles Wesley to exercise a new (then) undertaking that intentionally infused biblical precedence and Spirit-driven energy into their old religion. This message is meant to inspire us toward such a revival in the coming year and to set the stage for our Wesleyan Covenant Prayer of commitment:  I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.