Good overview of John Wesley's teachings
593403
I wasn't sure on this book as Wesley was Arminian and I am a Calvinist. :-) But the book brings out that he was very big on the gospel and bringing people to faith - justification was by faith alone. He also seemed to work well with others, even if they didn't agree theologically. Overall, I had a hard time reading this book, which is why it is only 3 stars instead of 4. There were parts I enjoyed but other parts just didn't grab me.
John Wesley was a huge influence in the Great Awakening and revival of the 1700's. Though he remained an Anglican all his life, it appears he was influential in the Methodist denomination getting started. I did not know that his marriage was an unhappy one or that he never had children. He also was a theologian on the book of 1 John and taught that Christians should ever be striving onwards toward perfection. Yet he made a clear distinction between justification and sanctification.
For those who are interested in learning more about what John Wesley taught (and also some of his brother Charles' hymns), this would be a good book to give an overview of Wesley's teachings. I did not agree with all of what Wesley taught, but he was passionate about people getting saved.

Quotes:
"It is crucial to remember that Wesley took the doctrine of original sin and trumpeted it to an eighteenth century that preferred to believe in the essential goodness of humanity, the inevitable march of progress, and the bright future of decent people rightly governed. Wesley begged to differ. Even the otherwise sound churchmen of his day preached a message that was too weak and too soft, too much like a series of recommendations for how to behave better...The weakness of their preaching was rooted in their failure to understand how bad humanity really was."
"We are not basically good, with a few external failings. We are radically fallen...Wesley taught that original sin is 'the fundamental point which differences heathenism from Christianity.' In contrast to all forms of paganism, even the highest and noblest forms, Christianity alone has an accurate understanding of the depth and extent of human sin, of 'the entire depravation of the whole human nature...' The human predicament goes to the heart of man."
"If we were only a little bit sick, we would need only a little bit of salvation. But being desperately disordered and sick all the way to the heart, we stand in need of true religion, heart religion."

*I received a copy of this book free from the publisher Crossway in exchange for my review.
1903552
I feel some of the John material is misplaced, but, overall a good thing to read as a "complete" account of the Life and teachings of Jesus.
4949879
PRetty much anything by Martyn Lloyd-Jones is going to get 5 stars from me. His books (most of which are collections of sermons preached in one of his two pastorates)are the most important in my library next to the Holy Scriptures themselves. For me to read him is to experience personal revival with each page. This collection of sermons from 2 Peter is not exception, however there are some marked differences to point out. He preached this series of sermons right after assuming the preaching duties at Westminster Chapel from Dr. Morgan. Morgan, who was a great devotional preacher and author, was not the analytical, verse by verse expositor that Dr. Lloyd-Jones was becoming. Lloyd-Jones knew this so to begin to ease the congregation in to his style he did this series in which he covers more verses per message (in his magesterial expositions of Ephesians & Romans he could spend weeks on a single word or phrase!)and also did not attempt to fully expound every verse.

For this reason this book will serve as a great introduction to the Doctor for the newcomer, and for those familiar with his preaching it is an interesting & educational glimpse at his development as an expositor.
220634
I recently watched as a church board wrestled with aspects of worship practice.  They were decideing how often to offer communion.  They decided to poll their congregation.  They were interested in what sort of music to offer.  They decided to poll their congregation.  They had questions concerning cantatas, special concerts, liturgical dancing, and drama.  Each time, they decided to find out what their congregation wanted.
Such a church may become very popular, but it has not discovered what worship is nor why it should be done.  Webber's book doesn't ignore historcial or contemporary forms of whorship, but it does try to lay a solid foundation that there is theology in worship.
This book is not the last word on the subject, but it offers a good introduction to worship theology.
1602792
I like the way Jakes delivers what the reader is expecting from the title. He is simple in delivering the message without a whole lot of big words that some preachers use to impress or for effect. This is great guide through the bible on what God says about your purpose and, yes, your destiny. Good book for preachers, teachers and searchers. Amen?
3547676
Very helpful, if short, work applying the insights of Vos, Ridderbos, and John Murray on soteriology by way of the developments of Dr. Gaffin to articulate an understanding of Paul's ordo salutis. Naturally, this comes across in terms of the relationship between the historia salutis as Paul's controlling paradigm and the ordo salutis as each individual believer's experience of being united to Christ in his death and resurrection. The realized-eschatological dimension of Paul's soteriology is emphasized and utilized to answer some contemporary questions about future aspects of justification in a balanced, biblical way that's very helpful.

My two wishes for more material in this book were: helpful ways of articulating the experience of salvation for OT saints prior to the incarnate Christ to whom New Covenant believers are alone truly existentially united (although I've been privileged to hear Dr. Gaffin address this question more thoroughly live in lectures, and very helpfully so); and a more extended discussion of James' explanation of justification in comparison to Paul's doctrine of justification, especially in reference to the various points of Abraham's faith journey in Genesis that are referenced in Paul and James (Genesis 15 as over against Genesis 22).

Still, if brief, an excellent summary of Paul's basic categories of Christian soteriology, and how these structures help to address a few contemporary issues in Pauline studies.
1910794
While a reprint of *very* old publication, this commentary on the New Testament has lost little of its brilliance and relevance.  Specifically, John Wesley's annotated meditations on the N.T. provided me the intellectual and spiritual justification for breaking with/leaving the seemingly air-tight-but-soul-killing arguments of hard-core Calvinism.  Wesley is one of the few men with the moral stature to take on (though always indirectly, and even unintentionally) the abuses/perversions of the Calvinistic interpretations of Scripture--especially St. Paul's Letter to the Romans (and his Letter to the Ephesians)!  If you're a conflicted believer struggling to hold onto your faith in the God who is Love but generally persuaded by the Calvinists' proof texts and argumentation, please do not hesitate to pick up and read John Wesley's commentary, which (I believe, correctly) redefines and breathes new life into the classic "predestination" passages of the Christian Bible...and into the New Testament in general!
337808
Thematic Preaching doesn't really have anything new to say about preaching but it is well organized and includes some helpful reminders that faciliate making the worship experience more spiritual for those in the congregation.  These reminders were refreshing to me as they helped refresh my own spirituality.
4070075
Fred Sanders does an outstanding job of explaining John Wesley' s approach to the Christian life. In a clear and entertaining way, he explains how Wesley promoted "heart religion."  Wesley understood that right doctrine and "going through the motions" is not enough.  The author starts by explaining how Wesley' s grasp of salvation by faith alone through grace alone freed him to truly preach sanctification. Wesley believed, and preached, that justification and sanctification go hand in hand. Exploring both the clear and the controversial, Dr. Sanders expertly dissects Wesley' s theology to show that Wesley considered  salvation more than just fire insurance. He taught that God's grace and salvation included allowing the Christian to live a full life in Christ here on Earth.  This is an approach to the Christian life that is often lost in the quest to evangelize new believers. Fred Sanders has done the Church a service by sharing Wesley' s beliefs with the modern reader.
2498946
It would do this fine little volume an injustice to call it "The Book of Discipline Lite" but it does do a fine job of summarizing the big volume without forcing the uninterested party to plow through material about the United Methodist Church's administrative structure and procedures.

Don't expect a profound philisophical discourse on the similarities between Wesley's concept of "sanctification" and the Eastern Orthodox concept of "Theosis" in this book.  But DO expect a nice, clean, concise history of the Methodist denomination, a good explanation of its eccumenicalism, a summary of Wesley's values, and all the promised essentials about what role communion, baptism, and clerical orders play in the modern UMC. The end of the book has a tidy summation of Wesley's "rules" and the general principles of the UMC.

For anyone thinking of joining a Methodist church, seeking information about Methodism, and for those Methodists who want a good, concise reference and explanation, this is THE book.  Go hit that "add to my shopping cart" button if you fall into one of these categories!
686688
Born out of a sabbatical, Revival follows the life of John Wesley, but is more than a biography.  Hamilton is throughout explaining why Wesley matters, and how his life speaks to us todayin our failures, our hopes, our strivingsand offers clear counsel on how one can be renewed in faith, and why such renewal needs to be updated frequently.  We might cry out, Revive us again and again, O Lord!

And since the author journeyed to places of Wesleyan significance, he includes photos and travel tips.  Hamilton doesnt talk much about his own journey, and I wish he had, but readers will certainly benefits from his travels.

This is not a thorough biography, but an overview, with devotional thoughts gleaned from Wesleys ministry.  Nothing is said of his failed marriage, and very little about his relationship to his mother, brother Charles, or George Whitfield.  Nonetheless, it is a good introduction for laity to the founder of Methodism.  I suspect this is for UMC study groups and there is a DVD series I did not see that accompanies the book.
2933968
As the subtitle suggests, A Reader's Guide to the Book of Revelation, this is not a commentary or a prophecy interpretation book. It is a reader's guide focussing on two things within Revelation: its concept of God and what it means to worship him. Spilsbury does not examine the minutia of Revelation but surveys the overall message that it conveys, although he does focus in on certain points that have long been debated such as the identity of the Beast; 666=Caesar Nero. Everything is examined in the context of the first century and how John's original audience would have understood the message. He acknowledges that John really did see the vision that he records but keeps in mind that John then framed that vision for us in written form using the literary devices available to him at that time.

This is an excellent introduction to reading Revelation and includes a brief bibliography for those looking to learn more about the details of this revelation.
3970434
The Anglican minister John Stott's excellent book The Epistles of John is a fine read for the beginning Bible student. He begins each section with an overview, and then dives into a deep analysis of each  individual verse.  When not analyzing a particular verse, he often leaves the study of the epistles themselves to discuss a relevant theological point, while taking into consideration various competing views.  Although dry at times, the information he presents is most valuable, and his method is effective.  I read the book for less than thirty minutes a day and finished it in a month.
4526308
A nice little book focusing on the Calvinism and evangelism of one of the Lord's greatest preachers.
I would highly recommend it.
1283857
This book is an excellet review of John Wesley's social and ethical views and actions.  The author suggests that Wesley, in many ways, saw injustice as an evil to be combatted by Christians (anticipating more recent Liberation Theology and praxis).  Jenning's study should be recommended for any one concerned with social and economic issues of today; he is not just discussing 18th century history.
3360788
I am not finished with this book but I already feel that I've learned a lot about John Wesley and his approach to theology, and I feel a closer kinship with Wesley as a result.  It is also becoming clearer to me just how far off course the United Methodist Church has drifted from the Wesleyan "way" - especially in the western U.S.  But sometimes the author gets a bit too wordy or repetitive in trying to make a point and that hurts the quality of his work, I think.  Maybe I'll change my mind on this point after I've finished the book and I'll return to this review to update it as appropriate.  Meanwhile, I recommend this book to anybody who wants to learn more about Wesley's theological positions and who/what influenced him as he developed his understanding of how reason, tradition, and experience can support our understanding of Scripture but must never replace Scripture as an authority in our faith.
1525046
A good overview for anyone wanting a basic understanding of the present condition of the world around us and what we as Christians must understand, fight for in spirit world, and how to help others in distress. A few editing errors. Well worth the time to read for those wanting to reach the unsaved.