Pastor John Wright

John Wesley was disturbed early in his ministry when some of his newly formed Methodists began ignoring all Christian means of grace -- "certain outward means for conveying His grace into the souls of humans" (Sermon on The Means of Grace"). Wesley could have none of this. The inner and the outer go together. While the goal of the means of grace is in the formation of love of God and neighbor, "the heart renewed after the image of God", these will not take place without certain means of grace, ordered by Christ.

I'm going to provide three different, short excerpts about these three means of grace that Wesley sees as essential. As I noticed them, they also record the essential elements of a Christian worship service -- in a certain order. While Wesley does not make this connection explicit, I think that it tells us much of what Wesley presupposed about the Christian lifes interaction with the church catholic in worship.

III. 1. First, all who desire the grace of God are to wait for it in the way of prayer. This is the express direction of our Lord Himself. . . .
5. A direction, equally full and express, to wait for the blessing of God in private prayer, together with a positive promise that, by this means, we shall obtain the request of our lips, He has given us in those well-known words: 'Enter into your closet and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father that sees in secret shall reward you openly (Matt vi.6)
. . .

7. Secondly, all who desire the grace of God are to wait for it in searching the Scriptures. Our Lord's direction, with regard to the use of this means, is likewise plain and clear . . . .
8. This is a means whereby God not only gives, but also confirms and increases true wisdom.
. . .

11. Thirdly. All who desire an increase of the grace of God are to wait for it in partaking of the Lord's Supper; for this also is a direction given . . . Is not the eating of the bread, and the drinking of the cup, the outward, visible means whereby God conveys into our souls all that spiritual grace, that righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, which were purchased by the body of Christ once broken and the blood of Christ once shed for us? Let all, therefore, who truly desire the grace of God, eat of that bread and drink of the cup. . . .

IV. 4. In using all means, seek God alone. In and through every outward thing, look singly to the power of His Spirit and the merits of His Son. Beware you do not stick in the work itself; if you do, it is all lost labor. Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul. Therefore, eye Him in all, through all, and above all.
Remember, also to use all means as means; as ordained, not for their own sake, but in order to the renewal of your soul in righteousness and true holiness. If, therefore, they tend to this, well; but, if not, they are dung and dross.