Nothing New Under the Sun

Before there was Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Andy Stanley, Adam Hamilton or Mike Slaughter there was John Wesley who knew that the main thing was not about the people already in the church but it was about the people outside the church. Wesley and the Methodist got in trouble for taking the Gospel to the people in the fields through what was known as field preaching.

Each morning as part of my devotional time I read a little Wesley (part of his sermons, letters, etc.). I am currently in parts of the minutes of the early Methodist conferences where the minutes are recorded in a question and answer format. Check out this from Thursday, June 18th from the Fourth Annual Conference in 1747.

Q. 1. Have we not limited field preaching too much?
A. It seems we have:

1. Because our calling is to save that which is lost. Now, we cannot expect the wanderers from God to seek us. It is our part to go and seek them.
2. Because we are more peculiarly called, by going out into the highways and hedges (which none of us will do if we do not) to compel them to come in [cf. Luke 14:23).
3. Because that reason against it is not good, "The house will hold all that come." The house may hold all that will come to the house, but not all that will come into the field.
4. Because we have always found a greater blessing in field preaching than in any other preaching whatever.