John Wesley Covenant Service 1781 (Condensed Part One)

I once attended a John Wesley sermon by an impersonator who promised that he would shorten the original two- hour sermon into one hour. We start the new year at church with an even shorter John Wesley covenant service. I am shortening it still again. Read the words carefully and commit yourself to the Lord again this year.

Leader- We understand that we must come to Jesus, our High Priest.

People-We are dead if we stay this way. What must we do to be saved?

Leader-We are sinful and cannot fix ourselves.

People- Determination will not fix us. Jesus is our only answer.

Worship music and hymns.   Leader-Let us pray The Lord’s Prayer together.

Scripture- For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. (From 2 Timothy 1 6-12)

Let’s repeat the Apostles’ Creed together.  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; He descended into Hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; And sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

(Continued tomorrow!)

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *