The Greatest Story Never Told
Revive Us Again
By Leonard Sweet Published
A Methodist, a Methodist will I be
A Methodist will I die.
I’ve been baptized in the Methodist way
And I’ll live on the Methodist side.
What “genius” of Methodism inspired this kind of love and loyalty in the earlier years of the faith? What did it mean to live in “the Methodist way” and to die on “the Methodist side?” Perhaps it is time to resurrect a neo-Wesleyan identity and to challenge the prevailing “one-calorie Methodism” that characterizes so much of our tribe today.God raises up Methodists for such a time as this.
Here is a ditty Len Sweet’s Methodist grandfather used to sing:
A Methodist, a Methodist will I be
A Methodist will I die.
I’ve been baptized in the Methodist way
And I’ll live on the Methodist side.
What “genius” of Methodism inspired this kind of love and loyalty in the earlier years of the faith? What did it mean to live in “the Methodist way” and to die on “the Methodist side?” Perhaps it is time to resurrect a neo-Wesleyan identity and to challenge the prevailing “one-calorie Methodism” that characterizes so much of our tribe today.
What makes a Methodist? How can we re-ignite the spark of genius that motivated such commitment in our cloud of witnesses?
The essence of Methodism’s genius resides in two famous Wesleyan mantras: “heart strangely warmed” (inward experiences with a fire in the heart) and “the world is our parish” (outward experiences with waterfalls of cutting-edge intelligence). For Wesley, internal combustion, the former, led to external combustion, the latter.
In the 18th century, Methodists in general (and in their younger years, the Wesley brothers themselves) were accused of being too “sexy.” What else could all those “love feasts” and “strangely warmed hearts” be about? Why else were all those women in positions of leadership? With this book the author hopes to bring back to life some of Methodism’s sexiness so that our current reproduction crisis can be reversed.
Endorsements
"The challenge of contemporary Methodism is to see cacophony morphed into symphony, to see ecclesiastical culture 'Jesus Christ-ed.'" Len Sweet is of the tribe of Issachar: "They knew the times and knew what to do" (I Chron. 12:32). With brilliance of mind, Len uses words to paint pictures like an artist dabbing from a palette of many colors. He experienced Wesleyanism in his soul from his mother's singing and preaching before he knew the fire of the Spirit lit by the lamp of learning. In this book we feel our heart "newly warmed" as he takes our own ship of state from his safe harbor back to where Jesus "pilots us over tempestuous seas." We cannot take passage in these pages without saying, "Thank God, I'm a Methodist."
--Donald Haynes, pastor/professor/author/columnist for the United Methodist Reporter
Len Sweet's The Greatest Story Never Told is a tuning fork for the church and the souls of her leaders and members. As always, Sweet is thought provoking, challenging and insightful.
--Adam Hamilton, pastor, The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
Read this powerful book and the chords of your heart, even if broken or slumbering, will vibrate to bless our generation, as Wesley blessed his, by proclaiming the Gospel with power and confidence. So inspired, let us work together with confidence until the world hears the Jesus story and sings the Jesus song.
--Earle L. Wilson, General Superintendent Emeritus, The Wesleyan Church
Some stories are so beautiful that art and music are the only means worthy to communicate them. Dr. Sweet is a product of just such a story; and with this book, he reintroduces the tune and gets our toes tapping. Maybe we can recover our song and dance!
--Jon Middendorf, Pastor, Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene
The call to action for all tribes of the Methodist family has become clarion clear. The declination of the movement is setting off alarms in our pews, parishes, and Protestant churches. Arguably a revolution is needed but a reformation of the Wesleyan way that places holy living front and center may just be the catalyst that ignites our dormant passions to save the last, the lost, and the least. Len addresses our palatable position on denominational decline and declares, "God raised up John Wesley as much for the 21st century as for the 18th century." Thank you Len for giving us a platform to advance His mission!
--Major Kelly Igleheart, Divisional Commander, National Capital & Virginia Division, The Salvation Army
This is a book for anyone who cares deeply about church and culture, and even more so about how we present and represent Christ in both. Sweet’s message is to reclaim the passion and Spirit that set hearts ablaze for reaching the lost. I’ve never heard Len sing, but he hits the high-notes strong and clear on this timely message to a church that needs to find its voice and sing for all its worth! A powerful call for the church to Wake-Up! -- Donald D. Cady, General Publisher, Wesleyan Publishing House, Indianapolis, Indiana
Wow, this is the best of what I have come to expect from prophet, historian, futurist, evangelist, Len Sweet.
--Mike Slaughter, Lead Pastor, Ginghamsburg Church
About the Author
Leonard Sweet
Leonard Sweet currently serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School, Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University, and as a chief contributor to sermons.com. He is one of the most sought after interpreters of contemporary church life and culture and the author of more than one hundred articles, 600 published sermons, and thirty books—including FaithQuakes and The Jesus Prescripton for a Healthy Life from Abingdon Press.
