| dc.description.abstract | John Wesley had a tremendous impact on eighteenth century religion in both England and America. His reform movement in the Anglican church resulted in the labeling of a sect of "people called Methodists." The evangelical fervor of his ministry reached across the ocean to America, where it blazed the Christian trail on the western frontier. The success of his ministry is indisputable. A key factor in that success was his oratorical ability. It is the goal of this research to understand the rhetorical dynamics generally, and the use of metaphor specifically, in a selected number of John Wesley's sermons with respect to New Testament typology of the "Church."
The objective of any sermon is to relate scripture to the audience in a relevant, applicable, and meaningful manner. Such a presentation is inherently biased by the preacher's interpretation of the scripture. While the Bible is the common source, the perspective of the reader colors the understanding of scriptural significance. For this reason, it is critical that scripture be understood as clearly and completely as possible before a particular perspective can be assessed within its historical context.
John Wesley was selected for this study because of his historical impact on religion in eighteenth-century England and America. He is a particularly good subject for this kind of research because he left a well-defined rhetorical trail through his published sermons. His legacy springs more from his abilities as an orator and as an evangelist rather than from his theological contributions. Nevertheless, his theology is best presented through his sermons. | en |
