Heart to Holiness: Inspired by the sermons of John Wesley
Heart to Holiness
The Practices of Faith
Inspired by the sermons of John Wesley
In a time when many Christians are searching for deeper meaning, stronger community, and a clearer understanding of what it means to live faithfully, Heart to Holiness offers a timely and compelling invitation into the Wesleyan way of life.
As the fourth and final volume in Michael Roberts’ series based on the sermons of John Wesley, Heart to Holiness brings this significant journey through Wesleyan theology to a thoughtful and inspiring conclusion. Drawing from the sermons and theology of John Wesley, Roberts explores the transforming power of holy living—not as rigid legalism or religious perfectionism, but as a life shaped by grace, love, humility, compassion, and practical discipleship. With warmth, wisdom, and pastoral insight, Roberts brings Wesley’s teachings into conversation with the challenges facing the church today.
Structured around the rhythms of the Christian year and rooted deeply in Scripture, Heart to Holiness guides readers through themes essential to Christian formation and congregational life: unity amid disagreement, holy conversation, the dangers of division and spiritual arrogance, the meaning of true religion, and the call to cultivate a “catholic spirit” of love toward others. Each chapter includes devotional reflections, discussion prompts, and practical applications designed to encourage both personal growth and meaningful group conversation.
Especially valuable for clergy, church leaders, Sunday School classes, and small groups, this book speaks directly to the current moment in the life of the United Methodist Church and the broader Wesleyan tradition. Roberts reminds readers that holiness is not primarily about drawing lines between “us” and “them,” but about allowing the love of Christ to transform our hearts and shape our relationships with God and neighbor alike.
At the center of this work is a distinctly Wesleyan conviction: that faith involves both heart and action. True holiness is expressed not merely through doctrine or ritual, but through lives marked by patience, kindness, humility, mercy, justice, and grace. In an age of polarization, Heart to Holiness calls the church back to the practices that nurture unity, spiritual maturity, and faithful witness.
Accessible, thoughtful, and deeply pastoral, this concluding volume in Roberts’ Wesleyan sermon series invites readers to rediscover the richness of Methodist theology and the hope of a faith that continues to transform hearts, congregations, and communities.
Whether used for personal devotion, preaching preparation, church leadership, or group study, Heart to Holiness offers an inspiring and practical guide for those seeking to walk more fully in the way of Christ.
What Readers are Saying About Heart to Holiness
Heart to Holiness offers a compelling and accessible invitation into the lived practice of Wesleyan faith. Drawing deeply on the sermons of John Wesley, this series translates theological richness into practical wisdom, guiding readers toward a vision of holiness rooted not in abstraction, but in concrete practices that exemplify love, humility, and communal life.
Bryan P. Stone
Michael Roberts has done something remarkable—he’s taken the depth of John Wesley’s sermons and reimagined them in a way that makes sense for the church today. This series of books offers us a timely and inspired resource that will help us live God’s love more fully—in our own lives and on its way to others.
Rebekah Simon-Peter
If you are looking for a resource to deepen your experience of God’s love, you have found the right series. The abbreviations and modernization of the texts provide insight for a time such as this. Incisive questions that accompany each chapter make this series perfect for small group discussion and discipling.
Paul W. Chilcote
What a quintessentially Wesleyan project. Roberts and Grosskopf offer lively paraphrases of Wesley’s sermons, just as Wesley edited and paraphrased writings from his Anglican tradition. Like Wesley, they extend the themes of the paraphrases, offering their own compelling sermons for contemporary life. This is an excellent resource for congregations or for pastors as a treasure trove for preaching.
Rebekah Miles
What a wonderful opportunity for us to re-engage with the faith tradition that has shaped our identity as United Methodists! This book and this series open the door for a broader audience to engage with the rich heritage of John Wesley’s sermons.
Bishop Delores J. Williamston
What this book and series has achieved is simply beautiful: in reintroducing us to the words of Wesley, we rediscover ourselves in the grand story of God’s love, incarnate in Jesus.
Magrey R. deVega