Sermon
A transcript of John Wesley's Sermon 138, 'On Grieving The Holy Spirit,' originally written in 1733. This version is an abridged and revised edition of the 1872 Thomas Jackson edition, edited by George Lyons with minor corrections by Ryan Danker for the Wesley Center for Applied Theology at Northwest Nazarene University. The sermon provides an exegetical commentary on Ephesians 4:30, exploring the nature of God's 'grief' as a disposition of His will arising from love and abhorrence of sin. Wesley outlines how sins offend the Holy Spirit through His immediate presence in the believer, as acts of contempt toward divine love, and as a failure to achieve the sanctification intended by the Spirit's work.
Ephesians 4:30 · 1 Corinthians 6:19 · 2 Corinthians 1:22
Bible Study
A study of 1 Peter 1:1-2 by Dan Powers, focusing on the Trinitarian foundations of salvation and the identity of the early Christian community. The text examines the roles of the Father's foreknowledge, the Spirit's sanctifying work, and the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Key themes include the concept of Christians as 'resident aliens' or 'scattered strangers,' the application of Israelite covenant imagery to Gentile believers, and the nature of sanctification (hagiasmos) as both a process and a result of the Holy Spirit's activity. The document also contains editorial notes/correspondence regarding the refinement of theological terminology (e.g., 'historic Christian theology' vs. 'basic') and suggestions regarding eschatological themes.
1 Peter 1:1-2 · Matthew 28:19 · 2 Corinthians 13:14
Bible Study
A study guide or lesson plan focusing on the relationship between faith and actions in James 2:14-26. The document addresses the apparent theological contradiction between Paul's teaching on justification by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and James's assertion that a person is justified by works (James 2:24). The text incorporates commentary from Jeanne Serrãos to explore historical perspectives, including Martin Luther's critiques of the Epistle of James and his views on the necessity of charity. The author divides the passage into three parts, analyzing the themes of 'action-less faith' and the use of Old Testament examples to demonstrate how true faith is evidenced by deeds. The document also notes the use of the term 'actions' as a contemporary alternative to 'works' and references the 'royal law' of loving one's neighbor.
James 2:14-26 · James 2:24 · Ephesians 2:8-9
Bible Study
A Bible study manuscript focusing on the themes of speech and self-control in James 3:1-12. The author explores the dangers of an unbridled tongue, categorizing harmful speech into lying, unnecessary, and unkind words. The text incorporates references to the Desert Fathers, Gregory the Great, and the Psalms to discuss the virtue of silence. The study provides an exegesis of James 3, examining the heightened accountability of teachers (vv. 1-2), the uncontrollable nature of the tongue (vv. 3-6), and the inconsistency of praising and cursing from the same mouth (vv. 7-12).
James 1:19 · James 1:26 · James 3:1-12
Academic Paper
An academic paper exploring the relationship between John Wesley's spiritual experience and the concept of 'dark faith' as defined by the Spanish mystic John of the Cross. The author compares Wesley's use of light and darkness metaphors—which Wesley typically applied to sin and ignorance—with the apophatic tradition of the mystics. The text examines Wesley's complex relationship with mysticism, noting his aversion to 'bad' mystics who bypass the means of grace, while acknowledging his deep engagement with 'practical mystics' such as Madame Guyon and Brother Lawrence. The author suggests that while Wesley avoided the terminology of the 'dark night of the soul,' his personal experiences shared similarities with the contemplative traditions of John of the Cross.
1 John 1:5-7 · Ephesians 5:8
Book Chapter 2014
A lecture or paper titled "John Wesley’s Dark Night of the Soul?" presented between August 4-8, 2014. The text explores the intersection of John Wesley's theology with the mystical tradition, specifically comparing Wesley's use of light and darkness metaphors with the works of John of the Cross. The author discusses Wesley's complex relationship with mysticism—noting his warnings against mystics who bypass the means of grace while acknowledging his use of 'practical mystics' like Madame Guyon—and reflects on a personal scholarly essay comparing Wesley and John of the Cross regarding sanctification.
1 John 1:5-7 · Ephesians 5:8
Book Chapter
A draft or revision of a commentary on 1 Peter 1:1-2, focusing on the theological implications of the text. The author discusses the presence of Trinitarian foundations in the opening verses, noting the roles of the Father's foreknowledge, the Holy Spirit's sanctification, and the atoning death of Jesus Christ. The text explores Peter's use of Israelite imagery to describe Gentile Christians as 'elect' and 'scattered,' and examines the concept of believers as 'resident aliens' in the world. Additionally, the document provides a theological analysis of sanctification (hagiasmos) as both a result and a process of the Holy Spirit's work, and concludes with a discussion on resisting spiritual opposition from the devil through the strength of God.
1 Peter 1:1-2 · Matthew 28:19 · 2 Corinthians 13:14
Article
A personal journal documenting travel and reflections from July 21, 1996, to August 12, 1996. The entries track a journey beginning in Kansas City, moving through Scotland and Germany, and conclude in Buesingen, Germany. The text records personal observations regarding academic and spiritual transitions, interactions with various individuals (including Stan Ingersol, David Hayse, and the Baileys), and reflections on biblical texts such as Ephesians 4 and 6. The author notes details of travel logistics, local sightseeing in Scotland (including Edinburgh and Glasgow), and the beginning of linguistic work on syllables in Germany.
Ephesians 4:1-6 · Ephesians 6:5-6 · Psalm 25:5
Bible Study
A study titled 'The Essence of Wesleyanism,' originally delivered as a talk at a 1993 Wesley Festival at Point Loma Nazarene College and later published in The Preachers’ Magazine (1996). The author explores the theological foundations of Wesleyanism, focusing on the concept of 'free grace.' The text examines John Wesley's dual understanding of grace: as God's undeserved favor and as the power of the Holy Spirit enabling human participation and renewal. Key theological themes include prevenient grace (described as 'free in all and free for all') and the relationship between grace, faith, and holiness. The document includes references to Wesley's sermons, the 1745 Conference Minutes, and H. Ray Dunning's work on Wesleyan systematic theology.
Ephesians 2:8 · 2 Corinthians 8:9 · Hebrews 4:16
Lecture 2004
A lecture transcript by Bruce McCormack, Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, delivered to a class taught by Sam Powell on November 19, 2004. The lecture, titled 'Called unto Holiness: The Doctrine of Sanctification,' explores the definition of sanctification as the transformative work of the Holy Spirit to destroy the dominion of sin. Drawing on Karl Barth's 1919 commentary on Romans, McCormack describes the 'sin nature' as a state of autonomy and alienation from God and others resulting from the Fall. The text discusses the transition from a 'being-with' to a 'being-over-against' God and others, and posits that sanctification involves the overcoming of this 'old self' to create a redeemed self.
Hebrews 12:14 · Galatians 5:16-18 · Ephesians 2:3
Sermon
A sermon by Frank G. Carver exploring the theological core of Wesleyanism, defined as 'free grace.' The text examines John Wesley's dual understanding of grace: first, as the undeserved favor of God (similar to the Reformers), and second, as the power of the Holy Spirit enabling human participation and renewal. Carver focuses heavily on the doctrine of prevenient grace—described as 'grace free in all, grace free for all'—and its role in enabling human response to God. The document further discusses the resulting spiritual graces of the assurance of salvation (referencing Wesley's Aldersgate experience) and the transformation of life.
Ephesians 2:8