Church family we’ve made it. We’ve covered all three of John Wesley’s simple rules, with our last one being Stay in Love With Good. This, in my opinion, is the key to being able to follow the other two. It’s so important that after this we’re going to start a sermon series about these practices. It’s based on a study by Adam Hamilton called The Walk.

I know you are all excited to read a little more 18th century writing. So I present to you our third simple rule in John Wesley’s words along with his closing remarks on these rules.

---Thirdly, By attending upon all the ordinances of God. Such are:

The public worship of God;

The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded;

The Supper of the Lord;

Family and private prayer;

Searching the Scriptures; and

Fasting, or abstinence

These are the General Rules of our societies; all which we are taught of God to observe, even in his written Word, the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice. And all these we know his Spirit writes on every truly awakened heart. If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break any one of them, let it be made known unto them who watch over that soul, as they must give account. We will admonish him of the error of his ways. We will bear with him for a season. But if then he repent not, he hath no more place among us. We have delivered our own souls.

This is signed by both John and Charles Wesley.

Next week we’ll start digging deeper into what each of these ordinances look like. In the meantime, may we seek to have hearts that the Spirit may write on each and every day.

Blessings!

Rev Amy