Wesley Covenant Service

Introduction

Video...

In 1775, John Wesley introduced a covenant service as an important part of spiritual life in the Methodist Societies. This renewal service was a time for the Methodists to gather annually in a time of self-examination, reflection, and dedication, wholly giving up themselves and renewing covenant with God. Repentance through confession and commitment was a key focus of the service, demanding humility from those willing to submit themselves to the dynamic words stated within the liturgy.

According to Wesley’s journal, though the covenant renewal service was held on various occasions throughout the year, by the end of his life, the service was observed typically on or the Sunday nearest January 1st.

Wesley found the service rich and meaningful, as expressed in his Journal: "Many mourned before God, and many were comforted" (April 1756); "It was, as usual, a time of remarkable blessing" (October 1765). "It was an occasion for a variety of spiritual experiences ... I do not know that ever we had a greater blessing. Afterwards many desired to return thanks, either for a sense of pardon, for full salvation, or for a fresh manifestation of His graces, healing all their backslidings" (January 1, 1775). In London these services were usually held on New Year's Day. Around the country the Covenant Service was conducted whenever John Wesley visited the Methodist Societies.

The covenant renewal service is a practice that continues in churches and Christian communities today, often near the beginning of the new year. It has undergone many revisions and adaptations, but its purpose as an evocative ceremony of commitment to ongoing discipleship and Christ-like character has always remained intact.

The covenant renewal service is a practice that continues in churches and Christian communities today, often near the beginning of the new year. It has undergone many revisions and adaptations, but its purpose as an evocative ceremony of commitment to ongoing discipleship and Christ-like character has always remained intact.

I know we are a mixed bag in here. I get that. I am unapologetically Wesleyan. Literally Wesleyan theology saved my life. However, I know we come from all over the place so I try to lead in a way that is open. Allow me to approach, even this, in a way that shows that it is valuable.

Growing up, Wesley more than God.

Genesis 15:9–20 NIV

So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

Genesis 15:

The Invitation

Leader:     Let us gathered here before the Lord now in covenant commit ourselves to Christ as his servants. Let us give ourselves to Him so that we may fully belong to Him. Jesus Christ has left us with many services to be done. Some of these services are easy and honorable, but some are difficult and disgraceful. Some line up with our desires and interests, others are contrary to both. In some we please both Christ and ourselves, but then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.

Jesus Christ, we offer You this prayer:

People:    Let me be Your servant. Let me follow your commands. I will no longer follow my own desires. I give myself completely to your will.

Leader:     The power and strength to live as true servants is given to us in Christ. We accept the place and work that He gives us, acknowledging that He alone will be our reward.

People:     I am not my own. I am Yours alone. Make me into what You will. Rank me with those You will. Put me to use for You. Put me to suffering for You. Let me be employed for You. Let me be laid aside for You. Let me be lifted high for You. Let me be brought low for You. Let me be full or let me be empty. Let me have all things or let me have nothing. With a willing heart, I freely give everything to Your pleasure and disposal.

Leader:     Christ is Savior to those who are His true servants. He is the source of all salvation to those who obey. To be His servant is to consent fully to His will. Christ accepts nothing less. Christ will be all in all, or he will be nothing.

Now confirm this truth in holy covenant. Make it a reality in your life in these ways: Teach these out....

First, set apart time in your day, more than once, to be spent alone with the Lord. Seek to perceive God’s special care for you and gracious acceptance of you. Carefully think through the words of this covenant and its conditions. Examine your heart, even if you have freely given your life to Christ. Name the sins in your life. Reflect on whether you are willing to choose Christ’s holy laws and strict commands. Be sure you are clear in all of these so you do not lie to God!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, famous poet:

Earth is crammed with heaven and every common bush a fire with God. But only he who sees will take off his shoes. The rest will just pick blackberries. -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sermon from AJ Swoboda a professor and scholar at fuller seminary sharing about the differences between WW2 and Vietnam.

They had space to stop and process. Our culture, Swoboda claims, has done away with “space”

God is speaking a lot and we just are listening.

Second, uphold a serious spirit of holy awe and reverence.

A few weeks ago, I got a call from one of my band mates…not that kind of band. Accountability. And I could tell he felt awkward about the call. He then proceeded to tell me he felt burdened to call and just encouraged me to consider the times I take the Lord’s name in vain. Like apparently in my share earlier in the week I said God in a couple passing ways that were irreverent. So I rolled my eyes and accepted this weird slap on the wrist. I knew he was uncomfortable so I tried to receive it willingly. But honestly, I got off the phone going… “ok, really?”

It was over the next few days that I realized something else was at work. I was picking blackberries at burning bushes… missing God’s work and power around me. Becoming inoculated with his power and work...

Do you have a serious spirit of holy awe and reverence?

Third, claim God’s covenant. Do not trust in your own strength and power but rely upon God’s promise of giving grace and strength. In this way, He will empower you to keep your promise.

It is time again for us to claim God’s covenant. To acknowledge the partnership and prioritize it. In a little bit we will share the words of communion liturgy like we do every week. We will say, take this and drink, the blood of the new covenant.

summation....

The price of admission has been paid. The stipulations of the contract have been taken care of and fulfilled.

Corrie Ten Boom, sister Betsy, reading that Paul was plagued.

Common room with fleas and it was disgusting. Betsy is teaching Corrie about faith all through out the story and there is a comical scene where Betsy forces Corrie to even thank God for the fleas. This flea infested room though was the one place where they could lead bible studies and they would have worship every day. Witnessing to all that were around them. Corrie was still struggling with selfishness and wanting to care for herself and really her sister first. She even finds herself reading scripture in the daily worship in a lifeless way, going through the motions. Then God reveals to her what she had been doing as she read about Paul’s thorn in the flesh and his thankfulness of the weakness because it showed God’s strength.

Later as Betsy is dying, they learn that the reason the guards never went into that room was because of the fleas.

Claim the covenant today. Christ is our strength.

Fourth, be determined to be faithful. You have given your heart and life to God. You have opened your mouth to dedicate yourself to the Lord. With God’s power, never go back to your former way of living.

What kind of things do you make determined action towards? Why not this? It’s that time of year for it, isnt it. I have learned to not make such fantasy goals. In the past read 50 books or teaching myself intermediate Greek… But I make these goals every year and make honest runs at them. I do it each day....setting up check lists and organizing my time. What if one of the things we did was be determined to be faithful. And yes maybe at the end of the year we have only read 35 books…remember it isnt about your performance, Jesus took it, it is about your partnership with him.

And last, be prepared to renew your covenant with God. Fall on your knees. Lift your hands. Open your hearts.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Apostles creed:

Traditional Version

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;* the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.