We're looking at some of Wesley's helpers from the early days of Methodism, and one was John Berridge, a great scholar of Cambridge who had an amazing conversion experience and became a great evangelist.
John Wesley himself speaks with great enthusiasm about what Berridge was doing, and true to the Methodist way, Berridge believed not only in theology but in the importance of community.
The Power of Christian Community
He said this: "Preaching kindles the fire, but societies nurse and keep the flame alive." That's a great quote, and it reminds us of the importance of gathering together as believers and connecting with people of the faith to stay accountable.
This was really the strength of the Methodist movement - that Wesley organised the Methodists into societies or churches, and then into smaller groups of classes, and even smaller groups called bands, where believers would lean on each other, ask each other questions, and help each other in their week-to-week life as Christians. That, as Berridge said, is what really keeps the flame alive.
Keeping the Flame Alive in Faith
I'm quite sure you know the story of the minister who went to visit a man who hadn't been to church for a while. As they sat at the fireplace, the man said, "I don't need to come to church to be a Christian." The minister took the tongs and lifted a single glowing coal from the fire and placed it alone on the hearth, and soon it stopped glowing and turned to ash. The man said, "Oh, I see your point."
As Christians, when we withdraw from the community and try to do it by ourselves, we lose the fire very quickly. I wonder how many of us listening are in that place. Maybe a great bit of teaching inspired us in our faith at one point, but now - especially with the lockdowns - we've just neglected being with the church family, be it online or in person, and our fire has gone out.
Berridge was right: being in community is the only way to keep the fire going. Can I encourage you to connect with your community today? Maybe send somebody a message in your church and check in. Maybe decide to go to church on Sunday, whether online or in person, and try to connect with the people there.
Friends, don't make the mistake of separating yourself from the flock, because your flame will definitely grow cold if you do.
Paul closes with a call to treat ministers fairly, and with a reminder of who the church is really about. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Good Shepherd, today.