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A Calvinist Talks About His Friend, John Wesley
by Stephen W. Brown
Text: Psalm 130
Topic: What we need to know to experience true conversion
Big Idea: God in his loving sovereignty reaches out to us in our utter helplessness.
Keywords: Depravity; God, love of; Grace, of God; Human Condition; Salvation and Lostness; Sovereignty, of God; Love, divine
Introduction:
- Illustration (extended): The conversion of John Wesley
- Wesley learned four truths in reading Psalm 130.
Wesley knew he was totally helpless.
- God does not help those who help themselves, but only those who can't help themselves.
-Illustration: Quotes from philosopher Albert Camus and others on the meaninglessness of the world.
Wesley saw the depth of his depravity.
- There are two kinds of people in the world: those who know they are bad people, and those who don't know they are bad people.
-Illustration: Fred Smith's question: "Would you go to church if you were caught driving drunk?" The church is a hospital for sinners.
Wesley saw the absolute sovereignty of God.
- "God has no hands but our hands" is a lie: God doesn't need us.
- God has condescended to allow us to be a part of what he's already doing.
-Illustration: The time Brown felt unprepared to speak and felt he just had to trust God.
Wesley saw that the sovereign God loves his own.
- The question is not, "Is there a God?" but "What is he like?"
-Illustration: Abraham Lincoln redeems a slave girl, who so marvels at the freedom he offers, she decides to stay with him.
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