“The Means of Grace”
John Wesley Sermon Series
(taken from John Wesley on Christian Beliefs, The Standard Sermons in Modern English, Vol. 1, Abingdon Press:2002)
II Timothy 3:10-17
July 20, 2003
Purpose: This sermon is intended to introduce the three of the many important ways that we can find God’s grace – through prayer, the searching of Scripture, and the Lord’s Supper. John Wesley lifted these three as the “chief means of grace as they are ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of conveying his grace to our souls.”
I. Introduction –
Have you ever heard the term “means of grace?” Where did you hear it?
I never did until recently at Emmaus. In fact, I could have missed it, but I don’t remember it even in seminary.
Let me try to explain it to those who haven’t heard of it.
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you needed God there?
Do you believe that God is everywhere, all-knowing, omnipotent?
Then what did you do in those situations to realize God’s presence with you?
These are the “means of” (the way to get to, the directions, the opportunities for)
grace. They can be anything that draws us closer to the realization that
God and all of his grace is right there with us.
Examples – prayer, confirmation, marriage, ordination, forgiveness, healing, the
Sacraments – but not limited to these. Our means of grace may sometimes be our children….sometimes. Our means of grace could be the car actually starting on a cold morning, or the love someone feels when they’re remembered on special days, when they feel the special touch of someone helping instead of hurting. Means of grace are literally all around us.
In Wesley’s day – the “means of grace” were handled by the church, therefore the idea of the means of grace being open to the people was unheard of and often dismissed….
In fact, the Moravians (modern-day Quakers come from this tradition) however, didn’t believe in them at all. Calling them a farce because the true means of grace are not physical but spiritual only.
In our day – we believe that the church should be about the “means of grace” business, but we also hold that God can touch each person individually as he so chooses. And we follow Wesley in that we see three particular means as “chief” among them all….prayer, searching the Scripture, and Communion.
Let’s look at these a little bit closer this morning….
II. Prayer
Scripture – I John 5:14-15 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know we have what we asked of him.”
Experience – AMBS labyrinth – Wakelee Prayer Walk
How to Live Out – devotions, corporate prayer, Wakelee Prayer Walk,
III. Searching the Scriptures
Scripture – II Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Experience – My time of reading the Psalms in St. Petersburg.
How to Live Out – In study private and corporate, in worship hearing it read and
proclaimed, and in applying it to our lives.
IV. Communion
Scripture – I Corinthians 11:26 says, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Experience – Communion is the time when we remember the life, death, and resurrection
of Christ. It is the time when we can celebrate the astounding gift given. It is the
time when the Spirit of grace pervades everything we do.
How to Live Out – by being a “communion people” not only physically, but also
Spiritually. I respect the Morovian tradition because it has at least its emphasis on
the right thing – it’s not what we do, but why we do it that makes it real. It’s not the simple act of eating bread and grape juice, but the Communion with Christ and one another it represents in our spirit.
Conclusion
To conclude this morning, I want to leave you with four cautions that Wesley gave in his sermon as to the use of these means of grace….He says….
“As to the manner of using the means of grace, if they are to convey any grace at all to those who use them, we must remember several things. First, always retain a keen sense that God is above all the means we may use to seek him. Take caution, therefore not to limit the Almighty.
Second, before you use any of the means of grace, let it be deeply impressed on your soul that they have no inherent power in themselves. A means is, in itself, a poor, dead and empty thing. But because God invites, I respond. Because he directs me to use these means to wait on him, I will use them and wait for his free mercy, from which comes my salvation.
Third, in using all the means of grace, seek God alone. Look only to the power of his Spirit and the merits of his Son. In everything, fix your eye on him who is “above all and through all and in all.”
Finally, after you have used any of the means of grace, be careful how you evaluate yourself. Do you congratulate yourself as having done a great thing? This attitude turns everything to poison! If God were there and if his loved flowed into your heart, you will quickly forget the means as you experience his grace. You see, you know, and you feel that God is all in all. Humble yourself. Kneel down before him. Give him all your praise.”
Through prayer, the searching of Scripture, and the Lord’s Supper, and many other ways, we have the opportunity to physically experience God’s grace. John Wesley said that these are the “chief means of grace as they are ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of conveying his grace to our souls.”
May it be so. And the church says…Amen.
Will you join me in prayer?
Heavenly Father,
We want to experience your grace.
When the times get tough, and the way unclear, we want to feel your presence with us.
We give you thanks for the many times you have walked with us.
Even during the times when we’ve failed to recognize you along side.
Through prayer, searching the Scriptures, and Communion, Lord, it is our attempt to feel your grace with us when we may need it the most as well as when we think we need it the least.
For we know that whatever comes our way…whatever persecutions and afflictions may occur…we know that through our manner of life, our purpose, our faith, our long-suffering, our perseverance, and our love of the faith…your grace abounds.
And without it, we could do nothing.
May we experience your grace when we need it the most, search out your means of grace as our first option, and live out your grace, so that others may feel the same joy that we have through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
#513 – Soldiers of Christ Arise
Benediction…
In Acts 2 we hear that the church “continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayer (42)”
Just as the church of 2000 years ago put their faith in the grace-filled teaching, fellowship, prayer, and Communion with one another, may we leave this place knowing that God goes with us.
His grace is ahead of us, behind us, beside us, and most importantly, in us.
Go now, as the grace-filled people of Jesus Christ,
to a world that needs to hear the grace-filled message.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Spirit, we pray this to be the case. Amen.
Note: If for any reason you did not find this sermon helpful, please let me know by contacting me at gb@clergy.net. Your input will help me personally and my congregation as I learn professionally.
