John Wesley found some alive churches and some dead ones

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS
DAVE HANSON

John Wesley liked to preach in congregations that were alive together in Christ. But he often found congregations that were dead.

In his journal he would comment about such congregations, saying such things as, “That poor, dumb congregation didn’t understand as much as the benches upon which they sat.” Or, “The mules which brought them to church understood more than they.” He told one church they were “the stupidest, most stubborn congregation he ever saw.”

Sometimes he saw a glimmer of life in these dead congregations. He said such things as, “These dry bones may yet live!” or, “For so long we have plowed in this dry sand, now we begin to see some life.”

How thrilled he was when he found congregations who were alive together in Christ.