Sermon Central
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Pioneering Faith
Contributed by Scott Bradford on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon is for the occassion of an Historic Anniversary (150th) of the church, and remembers the pioneers who have gone before us; but also encourages the pioneers of this present day.
might be fixed in the robber’s conscience.
Years later, at the close of a Sunday evening service with the people streaming from the large building, many lingered around the doors to see the aged preacher, John Wesley. A stranger stepped forward and earnestly begged to speak with Mr. Wesley. What a surprise to find that this was the robber of Hounslow Heath, now a well-to-do tradesman in the city, but better still, a child of God! The words spoken that night long ago had been used of God in his conversion. Raising the hand of John Wesley to his lips, he affectionately kissed it and said in tones of deep emotion,
“To you, dear sir, I owe it all.”
Wesley replied softly, “Nay, nay, my friend, not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ which cleanseth us from all sin.” (6)
The most important thing is the pioneering of faith… the reaching of people with the one sure and certain thing that we have to offer – Jesus Christ! Pastor Phil Corbett of the Corrigan AOG (East Texas) (currently in their second year of revival) has as his motto:
It’s got to begin somewhere, why not here!
It’s got to begin in someone, why not us!
It’s got to begin sometime, why not now! (7)
The pioneering of faith for the next generation has got to begin somewhere. It has to begin in someone. And it has to begin sometime. Why not now? Why not in you? We celebrate 150 years of ministry, but we cannot rest on the laurels of yesterday’s pioneers but must take the one thing we have to offer to the world. Who will pioneer of the western frontiers and take the name of Jesus to the frontiers we call Schools. Who will take the one thing we have to offer to families?
(1)http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyctr/books/0201-0300/stevens/0244-4609.htm (HISTORY
of the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (in the United States of America) To Wit: Methodism in the West © By Abel St
(2)http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/PP/fpo28_print.html
(3)The Story of American Methodism, Frederick A. Norwood, p. 69
(4)The Story of American Methodism, Frederick A. Norwood, p. 66
(5)Quoted from Uvalde Leader News article, quoting Bobbie Fly.
(6)John Wesley’s Journal (taken from http://newhopefw.org/documents/DevelopingAPassionthatWillTurntheWorldUpsideDown.pdf )
(7)The Corrigan Revival website: http://corriganrevival.org/
