In the seventh part of our ten-part series, The Making of Methodism, Austin and Andrew explore John Wesley’s introduction to field-preaching. There, standing on a hill outside Bristol, Wesley realized that God was not limited to the walls of a church. The gospel was not bound by tradition or geography or respectability. The Spirit of God was alive, moving through fields and towns, through lives that had been overlooked and hearts that had been forgotten.

That moment became one of the great turning points in his ministry. Wesley later wrote, “I submitted to be more vile and proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation.” To “be more vile” wasn’t about being rebellious or crass, it was about surrender. It meant letting go of comfort, reputation, and control in order to join God’s mission in the world. It meant modeling the same movement we see in Jesus Christ, who didn’t wait for people to come to him, but went to them.

History reminds us that the Methodist movement was born in a time when people were weary of religion that felt cold, corrupt, or distant. John Wesley offered something different: a faith that spoke both to the mind and the heart, a church that cared about personal holiness and social renewal, and a movement that gave people a way to live out a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

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In the sixth part of our ten-part series, The Making of Methodism, Austinand Andrew explore the Wesley Brothers’ heartwarming experiences. They wereable to come to a place of assurance in their faith and accept God’s gracefully into their lives. The Wesleyan understanding of grace is one thing thatdefines the Methodist movement and makes it distinct from other denominations.

History reminds us that the Methodist movement was born in a time when people were weary of religion that felt cold, corrupt, or distant. John Wesley offered something different: a faith that spoke both to the mind and the heart, a church that cared about personal holiness and social renewal, and a movement that gave people a way to live out a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

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Listen to me here: Methodical Methodist

Website: andrewcurtislay.com

YouTube: youtube.com/@methodicalpod

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In the fifth part of our ten-part series, The Making of Methodism, Austin and Andrew explore the Wesley Brothers’ time in Georgia. Their mission was to minister to the English settlers and, if possible, work among the Native Americans in the region, particularly the Creek and Cherokee. This was a brand-new colony. Georgia had only been established a few years earlier. This wasn't like being appointed to a comfortable parish in England. There were no established churches, no familiar communities, no comfortable rectory waiting for them. They were going to a frontier.

History reminds us that the Methodist movement was born in a time when people were weary of religion that felt cold, corrupt, or distant. John Wesley offered something different: a faith that spoke both to the mind and the heart, a church that cared about personal holiness and social renewal, and a movement that gave people a way to live out a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

Be sure to subscribe, rate, andreview!

Listen to me here: Methodical Methodist

Website: andrewcurtislay.com

YouTube: youtube.com/@methodicalpod

Substack: substack.com/@methodicalpod