Sermon Tone Analysis

(S1) — SERIES — Scripture — Salvation

When I met Jesus — Mountain — Life change — Questions

(S2) — Am I a really a Christian?

The Apostle Paul had been confronted with similar questions after his conversion...

“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.

Instead, I do what I hate.”

Romans 7:15

This question, plagued John Wesley as well, in his effort to live a Christian life.

Asked by the Moravian leader...Did he, have faith in Christ?

Was he a real Christian?

Wesley said he did, but later reflected, "I fear they were vain words."

“It was this uncertainty in Wesley’s soul; his need for assurance of salvation and his fear of eternal judgment, that perpetuated his desire to learn more of God’s mercy and grace and how he was to live that out as a Christian.”

28...Yet my own conscience beareth me witness in the Holy Ghost, that all this time I was but almost a Christian

Am I really a Christian?

Today’s scripture, the apostle is making his case before King Agrippa…listen to the assurance in his words...

Read 19-23

(S3) — So persuasive is his confidence, that he himself is a Christian, that the king, responds…

Acts 26:28 Agrippa interrupted him.

“Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”

The kings response to Paul, is the foundation for Wesley’s message preached at St Mary’s of Oxford, only weeks after his conversion…Not only having doubts of how he was living his own life as a Christian, Wesley saw evidence of what he called, being an almost Christian, in his church.

He addresses this question of how a Christian is to live a Holy or sanctified life, by using as an example many of his colleagues at Oxford; those who he spoke of as only “Almost Christian.”

The church that had become ineffective at producing the fruit of repentance needed for salvation, and in it witness to the spirit in loving God and neighbor.

What we refer to today as, Making Disciples...

(S4) — The premise for Wesley’s strong discourse, comes from 2 Tim.

where Paul warns the early church, to be wary of, those who only look good on the outside...

2 Timothy 3:5 “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.

Like the cicada...having only the shell of a Christian...

You can see why Wesley was not popular…and eventually bared from preaching in the churches.

Yet, that did not stop him from sharing the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus, what it had done in him —

He would go on to claim, ‘The World is my parish’

John Wesley’s fear for Methodism and the church

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.

J.W. Thoughts Upon Methodism, Watson Kevin

In many ways, the American church has diminished in its effectiveness in bringing people into the saving grace, and the sanctifying spirit that comes in a relationaship with Jesus.

We have gotten good at mission, loving all people, inclusiveness, creating programs…but are we changing lives by leading people to faith in Jesus?

(S5) — National Study of youth and religion

“Teenagers consistently demonstrate an openness to religion, but few of them are deeply committed to one.

Tending to young people may be way of reclaiming our own altogether faith.

This lackadasical faith is not young people’s issues, but ours — Church (parents).”

The study reveals a theological fault line running underneath american churches; an adherence to do good, feel good spirituality that has little to do with the Triune God of Christian tradition and even less to do with loving Jesus Christ enough to follow him into the world.”

NSYR

This almost Christian religion has come about because of the churches ineffectiveness at making disciples of Jesus who follow him into the world.

A form of religion without the power.

(S6) — What is needed?

Wesley, coins the term... ‘The ‘ALTOGETHER’ Christian

What we believe about the Christian life as Methodists?

How are we supposed to live as followers of Jesus?

What is an ALMOST Christian and ALTOGETHER Christian?

The Christian life was never meant to be just about one moment — Some may have come to faith very mountainous way, while for others its more subtle.

“It’s when you know in your knower that you know” (J.G)

That is where the apostle was...and Wesley was... on their faith journey — Knowing in their heart of hearts, that Jesus loved, died, and rose for their sins and lived to show them how to live as one who follows...

The ALMOST Christian

They have some sense of RIGHT and WRONG, TRUTH and JUSTICE, a set of common virtues.

They Look Good on the outside, in their practice of faith...

(S7) —

“the almost Christian does nothing that the gospel forbids.

He or she does not make wrongful use of the name of God, but blesses others and refrains from judging them.

They do not swear oaths, they speak with a simple yes or no.

They do not desecrate the Lord’s Day or even permit it to be defiled by their guests.

The almost Christian avoids adultery, fornication, and unchaste behavior or even the slightest word or glance that tends toward these things.”

One who is in all accounts RESPECTABLE in nature; and a GOOD PERSON (“the high-minded hypocrite.”)

(S8) — He goes on to describe this almost Christian as,

“one who is just to another, respectable of their neighbor, who tends to the needs of the poor, honest in his dealings with others, and owes no man anything.”

He doesn’t take the Lords name in vain, he honors the Sabbath; He avoids all the evils (and lists them), he abstains from wine wherein is excess, from revealing and gluttony, he does not lie, willingly judge, seek revenge or intentionally hurt another.

His goal he says is to live at peace with all people.

He is by all means and in the view of the world, “A GOOD PERSON”

Do you know any good people?

Paul before he was Paul — Saul of Tarsus — Schooled as a Pharisee — A tentmaker— he was a good man of faith

(S9) —

“As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem.

If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.”

Acts 26:4-5

He practiced all the religious rules — Worshiped, Prayed — Esteemed in his life and profession by the religious...

“Are they Hebrews?

So am I. Are they Israelites?

So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham?

So am I.” 2 Cor.

11:22

Wesley’s pedigree was pretty impressive as well...

Son of Samuel Wesley, educated at Oxford, appointed Rector of South Ormesby, a small Lincolnshire parish in the patronage of the Marquis of Normanby in 1691.

Most impressive is his mother Susanna Annesly Wesley...Who methodically and regularly schooled all the children in education and of the bible...

From birth they were “put into a regular METHOD of living,” At a year old they were taught to fear the rod and to cry softly.

They were confined to 3 meals a day and had to eat such things as were provided for the family.

At six in the evening after family prayers, they had supper, were washed and put to bed where they were left alone.

“One of Charles’s sons wrote later of his Grandmother,

She had the happy talent of imbuing a child’s mind with every kind of useful knowledge in such a way as to stamp it indelibly on the memory.”

It is little wonder that the Kitchen in the Old Rectory at Epworth is referred to as “The powerhouse of Methodism.”

(1)

Wesley a man of faith and yet would really not know it in his heart until his conversion, that he himself was but an almost christian”

(S10) — Is GOOD good ENOUGH?

Jesus was approached by many such as these; those whose love was only an outward expression of duty and whose state of soul was of greater concern.

The parable of the “Rich Young Ruler” who asks, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”

Teaching his disciples, it is difficult for some like these to enter the kingdom.

What Wesley is here implying by being “almost a Christian” Those whose walk appears holy, but possess not the power of God, are like an

Apple that appears tasty on the outside...

On the face of it, it looks almost impossible to be even a decent “almost Christian” doesn’t it?

We must careful to not hang our hat on the worlds truth that being GOOD is good ENOUGH.

(S11) — What then is the ALTOGETHER Christian?

Acts 26:17–18 (NLT)

I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.