John Wesley & George Whitefield Season 1 | Episode 46
George Whitefield made a greater impact in his ministry
in America than in England,
and in the 18th century, apart from the monarchy,
he was perhaps the best-known name on the whole of the East Coast.
Virtually every man, woman, and child
had heard the great itinerant preach at least once.
He preached over 18,000 sermons in the course of his life.
At the age of 55 in 1770 he was still preaching regularly, despite ill health.
He once famously said, 'I would rather wear out than rust out'.
He died whilst on a trip to America in Massachusetts
and is buried in the crypt of the Old South Presbyterian Church,
in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
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John Wesley, on the other hand, chose to stay here in England
and through the course of his long ministry
he would have a huge impact here.
After he settled in London, John Wesley lived in this house here,
however he spent most of his time away from here
traversing the country on horseback,
preaching and visiting the numerous
small Bible study groups that he had set up.
Through the course of his life
it is estimated that he travelled over 240,000 miles on horseback,
often reading as he rode so as not to waste time.
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He once said, 'The world is my parish'.
These words are engraved on his statue outside his home.
He explained this by saying that wherever he was in the world
it was his duty to witness and minister there.
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Prayer was an integral part of John Wesley's life
and he wanted a special place to pray,
so he had an extension built on the back of his house.
You can see it today around the back, protruding out the back.
You know, sometimes today, those of us who own houses,
we sometimes will build a bigger kitchen,
a bigger living area, or a bigger garage, if we have some money.
And yet Wesley took the time and money that he had
to build a special place dedicated for prayer.
This room is sometimes called the engine room of Methodism,
and you can visit it today and pray there where John Wesley used to pray every day.
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It is sometimes said that big things come in small packages.
John Wesley was only 5 foot 3 (inches) or 161 centimeters [tall],
yet he was a giant of a man.
He never intended to start his own denomination,
and yet the movement that started
as just a collective of small Bible study groups
mushroomed into its own denomination.
He died on the 2nd of March, 1791;
and as he lay dying with his friends surrounding him,
he grasped their hands and said repeatedly, 'Farewell, farewell.'
Then, summoning up all his strength, he said,
'The best of all is, God is with us'.
Then, raising his arms one last time he said,
'The best of all, is God is with us'.
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To Wesley it was granted to arouse the church in England
from a state of stagnation and backsliding,
and yet he was faithful in this duty.
Two things that stand out from his life and ministry
are the importance of the preaching of the word
and the importance of small group Bible study.
These two methods, I believe, are divinely ordained.
If done today, they will cause the same revival
in our lives and ministry that they caused back then.
Wherever you are,
whether it's preaching the word in your home church or in your home area,
or whether it's doing small group Bible study in your family
or in your home or in your workplace or amongst your friends,
be faithful in doing these things,
so that we can have the same revival that Wesley had several hundred years ago,
and God can use those methods again today in our lives.