“It is plain to me that the whole work of God termed Methodism is an extraordinary dispensation of His providence.” -John Wesley
Over the years, many people have asked me which Wesley biography I recommend. There are many good ones out there.
In seminary, we were assigned Richard Heitzenrater’s Wesley and the People Called Methodists. Later during my doctoral work, I was encouraged to read Henry Rack’s Reasonable Enthusiast: John Wesley and the Rise of Methodism.
These are both excellent biographies, and I recommend them to you. Rack’s in particular is a tour de force at over 700 pages.
But what about those who simply want an introduction to the Wesley brothers and early Methodism?
Last year, I met with church leaders in High Point, North Carolina. I asked them what the John Wesley Institute could produce that would be useful to local churches, and one of the suggestions was something along the lines of “Methodism 101.”
Out of that conversation, and tied to a few other projects, I decided to produce a new book, a short one, that would introduce the Wesleys and the early Methodist revival. It has now been published as Dynamic Grace: The Story of Early Methodism.
This book is perfect for laity, anyone new to the Methodist movement, or those curious about the passion that drove the early Methodists.
As Christians, we read about the history of our faith not simply to highlight important figures, but more importantly to see how God continues to be at work in the world he loves.
In the introduction to Dynamic Grace, I describe my hope for the book, “that by exploring the history and the message of the Wesleyan revival, we might be revived, renewed, and ultimately transformed by the same grace of God that transformed so many faithful in the eighteenth century and is still available to each of us today.”
The early Wesleyan revival was complex, never dull, filled with men and women swept up by the Spirit, and ultimately a great work of God. I hope that you not only enjoy the book, but that it might inspire you to pray for the same outpouring to take place even now.
To order a copy, simply click here.
Ryan N. Danker is director of the John Wesley Institute, Washington, DC. This is adapted from a weekly JWI newsletter that can be subscribed to here.
P.S. Each month, JWI/Good News must raise $10,000 to continue this ministry. We are behind at this point, so your help is needed more than ever. Please consider a gift today here or contact me directly if you would like to discuss other giving options. Thank you!
Comment by Salvatore Anthony Luiso on April 28, 2026 at 2:25 am
Thank you for this new book, and for this brief article about it. I will tell others about both.
Many years ago I read parts of a short biography about John Wesley which I liked very much. I think it was *John Wesley and His World*, by John Pudney.
I’m not saying it’s better than any of the books mentioned here. It’s less than 150 pages, has many pictures, and, in my opinion, serves as a good introduction not just to John Wesley, but to “his world”: that is, the places and times in which he lived and served.
Comment by David Gingrich on April 30, 2026 at 6:59 am
The United Methodist denomination in America has rejected John Wesley and Methodism and is dying as a result.