This study examines the rise of the holiness movement in Georgia following the Civil War. Employing a blend of social and intellectual historical methods, the study pays particular attention to the shifting cultural conditions occurring in Georgia and the rest of the Southeast around the turn of the century and shows how these changes influenced the movement.

The study offers two major theses regarding the Wesleyan-Holiness movement in the United States. First the Holiness movement which emerged in the North after 1830 emphasizing the speedy attainment of human perfectibility failed to attract receptive audiences in the South due primarily to the cultural conditions of the region. Southern Christians were deeply affected by the culture of honor and the frequent violence it spawned. Moreover, Southerners were reluctant to subscribe to the Northern formula of Phoebe Palmer's "quick and easy" means to achieve perfect love when they recognized the ambiguities of the slave system -- a system most Southerners understood as a necessary evil.

Second, during the Reconstruction period, at a time when most Southerners were searching for new beginnings, the Wesleyan doctrine of immediately acquired "perfect love" began attracting widespread support in the Southeast. The study examines the Holiness movement's emergence in Georgia, and demonstrates that contrary to the views of several historians, a significant number of Wesleyan Holiness advocates in the New South were not drawn from the ranks of the dispossessed, but were in fact members of the region's burgeoning middle class.

The Life of Wesley was one of Southey's most influential and bestselling works. It was the first biography of John Wesley - the major figure in the largest religious movement of the eighteenth century - to be published by anyone beyond the Methodist community. In addition, it was a major history of the rise of a phenomenon that Southey and many others saw as a defining sign of contemporary history - the rise of sectarianism and of religious cults. This two-volume edition will represent the full text of the 1820 edition. It will include a comprehensive critical apparatus that will make sense of the major issues posed by the text and how it contributes to studies of both Southey and Romanticism. The edition will feature a critical and contextual introduction, which will set out the origins and composition of the text together with its publication history, as well as offer a carefully considered view of the interplay between the Life and other biographies of Wesley and accounts of Methodism, bringing into view the wide array of sources and influences Southey drew from. It will also examine the book's reception history, incorporating material from reviews of the period and detailing the controversy it caused in the Methodist community.

The New Beacon Bible Commentary is an engaging, indispensable reference tool to aid individuals in every walk of life in the study and meditation of God's Word. Written from the Wesleyan theological perspective, it offers insight and perceptive scholarship to help you unlock the deeper truths of Scripture and garner an awareness of the history, culture, and context attributed to each book of study. Readable, relevant, and academically thorough, it offers scholars, pastors, and laity a new standard for understanding and interpreting the Bible in the 21st century. Each volume features: COMPLETELY NEW SCHOLARSHIP from notable experts in the Wesleyan tradition CONVENIENT INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL for each book of the Bible including information on authorship, date, history, audience, sociological/cultural issues, purpose, literary features, theological themes, hermeneutical issues, and more CLEAR VERSE-BY-VERSE EXPLANATIONS, which offer a contemporary, Wesleyan-based understanding derived from the passage's original language COMPREHENSIVE ANNOTATION divided into three sections, which cover background elements behind the text; verse-by-verse details and meanings found in the text; and significance, relevance, intertextuality, and application from the text HELPFUL SIDEBARS, which provide deeper insight into theological issues, word meanings, archeological connections, historical relevance, cultural customs, and more EXPANDED BIBLIOGRAPHY for further study of historical elements, additional interpretations, and theological themes

Believe anything you want. The twentieth century has brought with it a myriad of opinions, philosophies, doctrines and ideologies. Each one of them important; each one valid. And the world says, 'Believe what you want.' Authors Wes Tracy and Stan Ingersol have authored Here We Stand to shatter that conclusion. More than ever, it is important that we know what we believe. Here We Stand is a comprehensive study of a wide range of beliefs and where Nazarenes fit into the ideological puzzle. Tracy and Ingersol provide the most contemporary and complete overview of major religions and religious beliefs since Why I Am a Nazarene . Nazarenes have the unique opportunity to reestablish their identity with a new generation of people. Here We Stand gives a clear view into other traditions in a language and approach understood by today's pastors and laymen. Here We Stand contributes to the distinctiveness of each group without sacrificing the Christian community as a whole. Pastors, Sunday School teachers and new Christians will find this unabridged version of the book What Is a Nazarene? an excellent resource because it lends a knowledgeable, objective voice to discussions of doctrine, witnessing and spirituality. Here We Stand provides the historical and theological background needed to establish identity and ownership among new and life-long Nazarenes. Kivar.

Around the turn of the 19th century, the Holiness Movement blossomed in America. Wesleyan-Holiness denominations sprang up all over the country. In 1907-8, five of these joined together to form the Church of the Nazarene.The dream that drew the founders together was a believers church in the Wesleyan tradition. It is the same dream that guides the Church of the Nazarene today. But how does that translate into a world where denominational lines don t seem to matter as much as they used to? How is a Nazarene different from a Presbyterian, Baptist, or Pentecostal brother or sister in Christ? What is a Nazarene? answers those questions in concise, easy-to-understand terms, as it examines the similarities and differences between the Church of the Nazarene and other mainline Christian denominations. With refreshing insight and candor, What is a Nazarene? will acquaint you with the heritage that birthed a vision that made a dream come true.

Homosexuality, social drinking, and politics . . .Why is it so hard to talk about these topics and others like them in the church? What keeps us from having open and honest conversations about complex and controversial issues? The silence in the pews about these matters can be deafening. Often members say little, fearing disagreement and rebuttal, others strongly assert half-truths and biases. Nothing gets truly discussed, and many, especially the youth, become discouraged and leave.A Charitable Discourse insightfully explores why this happens, looking closely at the ways people avoid and prevent authentic dialog, from labeling and grandstanding to religious abuse. Seven controversial issues are discussed with understanding, sincerity, and compassion.

A brief guide for existing and prospective Circuit and Society Stewards in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. It gives background information about the way these ministries have developed and explains some of the 'how to' of the tasks involved. Also includes questions for discussion for use in local congregation training sessions.

Join Adam Hamilton for a six week journey as he travels to England, following the life of John Wesley and exploring his defining characteristics of a Wesleyan Christian. Wesley s story is our story. It defines our faith and it challenges us to rediscover our spiritual passion.

Everything needed to conduct a six-week study and help youth ages 13-18 define what the Christian life looks like through the eyes of a Wesleyan Christian. Can be used with the adult-level DVD."

The Life of Wesley was one of Southey's most influential and bestselling works. It was the first biography of John Wesley - the major figure in the largest religious movement of the eighteenth century - to be published by anyone beyond the Methodist community. In addition, it was a major history of the rise of a phenomenon that Southey and many others saw as a defining sign of contemporary history - the rise of sectarianism and of religious cults. This two-volume edition will represent the full text of the 1820 edition. It will also include a comprehensive critical apparatus that will make sense of the major issues posed by the text and how it contributes to studies of both Southey and Romanticism. The edition will feature a critical and contextual introduction, which will set out the origins and composition of the text together with its publication history, as well as offer a carefully considered view of the interplay between the Life and other biographies of Wesley and accounts of Methodism, bringing into view the wide array of sources and influences Southey drew from. It will also examine the book's reception history, incorporating material from reviews of the period and detailing the controversy it caused in the Methodist community.

Wesley's message and his faith continue to speak to 21st-century Christians--calling for a revival of our hearts and souls so that our world might be changed. Join Adam Hamilton for a six-week journey as he travels to England, following the life of John Wesley and exploring his defining characteristics of a Wesleyan Christian. Wesley's story is our story--it's our heritage, it defines our faith, and it challenges us to rediscover our spiritual passion.

Is There a Way to Heaven? The great evangelist John Wesley believed there is, and he developed his theology to help people make the journey from sin to salvation. In Wesley's "order of salvation," God's grace is the keynote from start to finish. The Way to Heaven is a twentieth-anniversary revision of John Wesley's Message for Today. Dr. Steve Harper presents Wesley's writings and the ideas of Wesley scholars in language that is clear and accessible but never simplistic. Written in the spirit of Wesley, here are "plain words for plain people." The heart of this book is a thoughtful and inspiring look at Wesley's theology of grace and its power to transform. Included are two new chapters. "Vision and Means" explores Wesley's mission and methods, and "To Serve the Present Age" considers the impact and relevance of his message today. In addition, an updated reading list facilitates further study, and questions at the end of each chapter stimulate personal reflection and small group discussion. Ideal as a textbook or for personal study and reflection, this book will advance your knowledge and piety as you travel "the way to heaven."

This book explores the life and spirituality of John Cennick (1718-1755) and argues for a new appreciation of the contradictions and complexities in early evangelicalism. It explores Cennick's evangelistic work in Ireland, his relationship with Count Zinzendorf and the creative tension between the Moravian and Methodist elements of his participation in the eighteenth-century revivals. The chapters draw on extensive unpublished correspondence between Cennick and Zinzendorf, as well as Cennick's unique diary of his first stay in the continental Moravian centres of Marienborn, Herrnhaag and Lindheim. A maverick personality, John Cennick is seen at the centre of some of the principal controversies of the time. The trajectory of his emergence as a prominent figure in the revivals is remarkable in its intensity and hybridity and brings into focus a number of themes in the landscape of early evangelicalism: the eclectic nature of its inspirations, the religious enthusiasm nurtured in Anglican societies, the expansion of the pool of preaching talent, the social tensions unleashed by religious innovations, and the particular nature of the Moravian contribution during the 1740s and 1750s. Offering a major re-evaluation of Cennick's spirituality, the book will be of interest to scholars of evangelical and church history.