John Wesley: The World His Parish

Christian Heroes: Then & Now #33

by Janet Benge, Geoff Benge

Passionate and tireless, this Anglican clergyman rode a quarter of a million miles on horseback during his lifetime, stopping to preach more than forty thousand sermons in open fields, churches, and barns.

Focused on God's love and holy living, the movement Wesley founded quickly multiplied in vibrant Methodist societies all over England and would soon influence far-flung nations for Christ (1703-1791).

Genres: Biography, Christian, Nonfiction, History, Religion, Childrens, Faith

190 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Janet and Geoff Benge are a husband and wife writing team with twenty years of writing experience. They are best known for the books in the two series Christian Heroes: Then & Now series and Heroes of History. Janet is a former elementary school teacher. Geoff holds a degree in history. Together they have a passion to make history come alive for a new generation. Originally from New Zealand, the Benges make their home in the Orlando, Florida, area.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good information and I learned things! I don't regret reading it, but twas utterly tedious.

To quote the last chapter:
'John Wesley, the spiritual father of so many, was still at last. During his lifetime he had ridden a quarter of a million miles on horseback, stopping along the way to preach over forty thousand sermons. He offered a simple form of Christianity to millions of people who were outside the influence of the churches of the day, and he had governed a movement focused on God's love and holy living that was soon to spread around the globe.'

He ended the race very well. And he truly lived his life aiming to please God.

[Bella Rowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this for school for our missionary story. He was kind of boring and very frustrating but laughed a lot because of it.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Kaitlynn Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great, short recap of John Wesley’s live and the formation of the Methodist church. It was fun and engaging, more than you would think church history actually would be!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought several of these Christian biographical histories for Demetrius to read with our kids, since he loves Christian history so much, but we haven't read any of them yet. We've been waiting for the kids to reach an appropriate age. So while I was watching Elijah play Legos yesterday, I picked up the one on John Wesley and was immediately hooked. Obviously, it's been simplified for a younger audience but there were still words I didn't know (a lot of quotes from John Wesley's journals and letters, and Charles Wesley's hymns) and it went into a good amount of explanation of the religious climate of the early 1700s in England. It started when John was 7 years old and carried all the way through to his death, and went into several of John's contemporaries, like George Whitefield and Thomas Maxwell. It was a great read, well written, I couldn't put it down. I now feel like I have a great understanding of the beginnings of Methodism and Wesleyanism as well as a more accurate grasp of Anglicanism and the Church of England.

[David Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a very inspiring story of John Wesley's life. It would work well for a general introduction to understanding him, and was indeed written in simple enough language for a young person to understand. Any man who is still riding horseback to preach sermons in his 80's has a lot of motivation and determination! As a man who sparked a major movement that continues to this day, he provides much to emulate.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Wesley lived an interesting life in extraordinary times. He traveled millions of miles by horseback and preached to massive outdoor crowds. He and his brother Charles began writing hymns in order to teach theology to illiterate coal miners. He wasn't a perfect man but God used him to spread the Gospel.

Listened to the audio with my girls - I think they were a little bored with it

2022 A book about a historic figure or event

[Joshua Molden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book if you are looking for an overview of the life of John Wesley. I enjoyed the read and learning about John Wesley.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book discusses the life of John Wesley in the United States as well as in England.

The audiobook narrated was read by Tim Gregory.

[Thea Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational on every page. I love reading biographies of men and women of faith who’ve given their all to follow Jesus. and John Wesley the founder of Methodism was one such man. This Hero of the Faith inspires and challenges me to never loose hope, to constantly make time to seek God read his word and never stop sharing the Good News of the Gospel that Jesus welcomes all into a life of forgiveness, joy, love, freedom, purpose and holiness through his death and resurrection on the cross.
For those who don’t know or get what being a Jesus follower is the simplest way I can put it is this -: we say sorry, thank you, please.

Sorry - I’ve messed up, I’ve hurt you God, hurt others and myself. Please forgive me.
Thank you for loving me and sending Jesus to die for me so that I can connect with you again.
Please help me, guide me, lead me to fully trust and follow you from this day on.
Amen

[Yibbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's more the story of the Wesley brothers and the early Methodist movement. I appreciated the orderly way it lays out so many events and developing beliefs. It chronicles their growing love for the Lord and their dedication to HIs service. We could all take inspiration from them in that.
I do think they turned helpful practices into laws that ended up putting many people under the bondage of self-righteousness. They certainly mandated more than the scriptures do. Still, throughout their lives, they spread the Gospel and created a love for the scriptures across two continents. So, despite their flaws, God blessed them. It is worth reading this book, just carefully compare what they say with the Scripture, as they would have you do.

[Caroline Shelatz · Rating 3 out of 5]

While good, I didn't enjoy this book as much as others in the Christian Heroes series. It was interesting to read how Methodism got its start but I found John Wesley to be overbearing.
My disappointment is with John Wesley and his views/actions/words, but the book itself is good. Like I said, just not as enjoyable a story as others in this series.

[Sean Halsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome telling of Wesley's story, including family life, ministry, and Methodist history. As someone who grew up in the Nazarene denomination (an offshoot of methodism), this book helped me to understand the history of the tradition I grew up with and to round out my thinking through my faith journey. Highly recommend!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Wesley rather abrasive and it seems like his contemporaries did as well. The book started a lot of good conversations between my kids and me about works based salvation and grace. Not sure Wesley fully understood that or not, seemed like he went in the right direction, but the biography wasn’t super explicit.

[Alexandria Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently became interested in John Wesley when I learned of his Quadrilateral framework and that he gave a license to a woman to preach. This book is a great overview of his life and the events he was apart of

[Larissa Feceu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was more of a “chapter book”, but it’s nice to have an easy read every now and then. If you’re looking for a way to teach your kids about the great titans of our faith, this book and all the rest in the series is a good way to go.

[Jeremy Utley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing servant this man was. Thoroughly challenged by the example of his life. His diligence and simple life are a real rebuke against the comforts of 21st century American living.

[Grace Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for school, and I enjoyed it. It was educational and gave some great insight into John Wesley’s life!

[Tomasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

https://atypowy.com/2021/05/08/john-w...

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and inspiring life story of John Wesley but it was rather tedious reading at times.

[Robert Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sunday read! All glory be to God.

[Areli Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una gran historia de como Dios utilizo su vida de disciplina, sin embargo no me conmovió como otros libros de esta misma serie.

[Sarah McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

would have been 5 stars but

There were too many dates cited. As a story of the man’s life it is enough to know the things happened sequentially.

[Natalia Villarreal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, can you ever go wrong with reading these? It was such a easy not overwhelming read and I feel like a theologian because of how much I know about Wesley now 😌

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* Audio

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family rules:
Children were taught to recite the Lord‘s prayer morning and night as soon as they could talk and memorize entire books of the Bible.
On each child’s fifth birthday, the child would learn the alphabet and begin reading the following day.
If one of the children was guilty of a character fault and confessed it before here she was caught, the child would not be punished.
As long as a child was trying his or her hardest to do the right thing, he or she would be encouraged and guided to do so.
The children were permanently paired up, oldest with the youngest, second oldest with the second youngest, and so on. They read each other a chapter from the New Testament and a psalm before school each day and a chapter from the Old Testament and another psalm at the end of class.
Each child was taken aside for an hour one night each week to quiz on his or her spiritual progress and answer any questions he or she might have about the Bible or theology.

“I have often wondered that men should be so vain to amuse themselves by searching into the decrees of God... and do not rather employ their time and powers in working out their salvation, and making their own calling and election sure. Such studies tend more to confound them than to inform the understanding.”
Susanna Wesley on the topic of Calvinism and Arminianism

Being a Christian meant having a complete change of heart and that there was no such thing as a half-hearted Christian—a person was either moving towards God or moving away from him.

“Does the Spirit of God bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?”
August Spangenberg asks John Wesley upon Wesley’s arrival to Georgia

“Praised be to the Lord, never better. He has taken the soul of my child to himself. I have seen, according to my desire, his body committed to holy ground. And I know that when it is raised again, both he and I shall ever be with the Lord.”
A father’s response to “How do you find yourself?” [How are you?] at the burial of his young son.

“I reverence the young because they may be useful after I am dead. Take care of the rising generation.”
John Wesley when asked why he finds Sunday school so touching. (Free schools for children of factory workers to learn manners and how to read the Bible)

[Jose Yamid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una buena obra que nos permite viajar en el tiempo con la vida de John Wesley. Muy recendado

[Kathryn Egly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve loved each of janet benge’s books. This was another well written biography of a hero of the Christian faith.

I was surprised by how John Wesley was still trying to figure out his faith throughout his life. He grew up with lots of rules and a ‘fire and brimstone’ father.

His ‘methods’ or rules for faith is what started the Methodist church.

This story was very interesting and gave me insight into this man of faith and history!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about John Wesley. It was interesting to see him go from a works based faith to a relationship with Jesus, and then reading about his tireless efforts to share that true faith. He was a great leader and so humble, even to the end.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took so much longer than I expected to read this!