Published on: 14/07/2026
I don’t know if its because its 32C outside now or because I met with Methodist and other denominational colleagues today, but my thoughts have turned to John Wesley who’s heart was strangely warmed. The result of this occurrence was a huge outpouring of renewal in theology, mission and the organisation of the church (of England) to embed discipleship.
Wesley’s encounter with the Holy Spirit took place at Aldersgate on 24 May 1738 while listening to the preface to Martin Luter’s commentary on Romans, ‘About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed.’ John Wesley was already an ordained Anglican, a devout man and one who already believed in God’s power to save, but this moment galvanised his life and his ministry with dramatic consequences.
Wesley already had an understanding of being saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10) but at Aldersgate his strangely warmed heart provided assurance that this was a real and personal truth for him. Wesley biographers, suggests that in this moment he moved from notional assent to real assent to the theological ideas already in his mind and that it was a profound spiritual and intellectual reorientation for him.
The first noticeable impact of this newly heart warmed theology was a heart warmed to mission. He began preaching outdoors on 2nd April 1739 as a means of “preaching the gospel to every creature”. Wesley wanted everyone to experience what he had, the forgiveness of God and new life in Christ and the assurance of that. He wanted a nation of strangely warmed hearts. From preaching outdoors in his own parish, Wesley became itinerant and preached wherever he could. The fact that this was illegal within canon law did not stop Wesley, he saw the fruit of many lives changed and he believed that a higher calling was at work.
To establish, preserve and continue this remarkable missional growth, and keep hearts warmed, Wesley re-organised the church for discipleship. Other field preachers had similar success to Wesley in drawing the crowds but only Wesley seemingly had the knack or foresight to organise them afterwards. With Societies, Classes and Bands, he gathered people to read the Bible together, pray together and encourage each other in their faith journey. These groups with lay leaders helped developed the lay preaching and lay ministry that characterised the ‘Methodist movement’.
What then for us? An openness to the speaking and calling of the Holy Spirit is fundamental to the Christian life. We must eagerly desire our hearts to be warmed by the God who loves us. The result of these warmed hearts is to seek this same for ‘all creatures’. Mission is simply telling others our story, having a story of an encounter with God and telling it. Finally to keep these hearts warmed we need to organise our church life and priorities to meet together, outside of Sundays to encourage each other and disciple each other in the mission of God’s Kingdom.
This week’s Blog post was written by John Marsh, Mission Development Adviser