What Would Jesus Say to the Methodists?

Returning to the Fire of Holiness and Mission

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…”
— Revelation 2:4–5, NKJV

The Methodist movement began with a spark of revival that spread like wildfire across England and the American colonies. It was born not in the comfort of stained glass cathedrals but in open fields, among coal miners, prisoners, orphans, and the broken. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, once said, “The world is my parish,” and with that declaration, Methodists became known for their evangelistic fervor, social action, and pursuit of personal holiness.

So what would Jesus say to the Methodists today?

He would first speak with deep love. Jesus walks among His churches, as Revelation tells us. He knows their labor, their struggles, their history, and their heart. To the Methodists, He might begin with, “I see your compassion, your advocacy for justice, your tireless efforts in disaster relief, feeding the hungry, and standing with the marginalized. You have not forgotten the poor. I see your hospitals, your schools, your global mission presence. These reflect My heart.”

Yet, as with the church of Ephesus in Revelation, Jesus may also speak a sobering truth: “You have left your first love.”

The Heart of Methodism Was Revival

The early Methodists were known for being methodical in their pursuit of holiness. They formed accountability groups, called “class meetings,” where they confessed sins, encouraged one another, and sought to grow in grace. Their motto could have been Wesley’s own prayer: “Let me be employed for You, or laid aside for You, exalted for You, or brought low for You…”

Jesus might say, “Where is the fire that once burned in your bones? Where is your hunger for My Word, your urgency for lost souls, your courage to proclaim truth with love?”

In some parts of Methodism today, there is an increasing drift from biblical authority. Jesus might say, “You do not heal the wounds of my people by denying their brokenness. You do not love the world by mirroring it. Love tells the truth. Love offers grace. Love calls to repentance.”

He would speak not just of doctrinal concerns, but relational ones. “Do you still meet to ask each other, ‘How is it with your soul?’ Or have your meetings become formal, your small groups mere discussion clubs, your prayers routine?”

A Call Back to the Power of the Spirit

Jesus might say, “The founders of your movement believed in the power of the Holy Spirit. They preached with tears. They expected lives to be changed. When was the last time you fasted and prayed for an outpouring of My Spirit—not for comfort or numbers, but for revival?”

Today, many Methodist churches struggle with division. The ongoing fracture over theology, sexuality, and church governance has left deep wounds. Jesus might say, “A house divided against itself cannot stand. But know this—I do not desire division, but purity. I do not call for hatred, but holiness. You must walk in truth and love, for both are necessary in My Kingdom.”

A Vision for the Future

Jesus would not only call to repentance. He would cast vision. “You were raised up for such a time as this,” He might say. “You are a people who once bridged the gap between revival and justice, between the heart and the hand. Return to that path. Let your churches be houses of healing and holiness. Let your pastors preach with fire. Let your people gather not just for fellowship, but for transformation.”

He would remind Methodists of Wesley’s own words: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen—they alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven upon the earth.”

Imagine what the Methodist Church would look like today if it took up that mantle again—not in nostalgia, but in obedience. Jesus would say, “Feed My sheep. Preach My gospel. Lay hands on the sick. Break bread with the outcast. And do it all in My Name and in the power of My Spirit.”

Jesus Is Still Walking Among the Methodists

To the aging congregations, He says: “Your work is not over. Pour into the next generation. Tell them of what I’ve done. Light the way with your faith.”

To the young Methodists rising up in uncertain times, He says: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. I am calling you to be set apart.”

To the global Methodist movement, He says: “Look not to Western decline, but to the global church. My Spirit is not bound. From Africa to the Philippines to South America, I am moving. Join Me there.”

And finally, to all Methodists, He says: “Remember the cross. Remember the empty tomb. Remember the Pentecost fire that once fell on your people—and ask Me to send it again.”