Life Begins with Jesus: First Fruits Press Edition (Paperback or Softback)

The digital copies of this book are available for free at First Fruit’s website.
place.asburyseminary.edu/firstfruits

PREFACE

These are the first sermons preached following the death of a loved one and reveal the direction in which one, burdened by sorrow, faces. Many of the intimate references and poems that appear throughout the book, although in the original manuscript, were not used. This, I am sure, can be readily understood. Not a reassuring word or reference to life everlasting, how- ever, were omitted, for at no time is one called upon to demonstrate his faith or prove what he has preached to be sufficient for life's crisis hours, than when this experience, common to all, comes to his own home.

The sermons are not arranged in the order of their delivery. "Conquerors, Plus" was the first prepared. That so many were inspired by the Gospel of John is not accidental, for from its chapters satisfying assurance and genuine comfort were received.

My prayer, as I send forth this volume, is that the sorrowful might find comfort, faith be reborn, and love and devotion to the Master be increased through the reading of these pages.

George W. Wiseman

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CONTENTS
1. Christ's Most Amazing Statement 2. Impressive Boldness 3. Life Begins with Jesus 4. What We Need Most 5. Conquerors, Plus 6. What Christ Would Do for Us 7. What Leave Jesus? 8. A Peep Into Heaven 9. Paul's Cleverest Saying 10. What Should we Learn from Jesus? 11. The World's Greatest Need 12. The Master's Spirit of Thanksgiving 13. The Peace Christ Gives 14. Out-Lived Sorrow

George William Wiseman (1902-1985) was born in Little Bay Islands, Newfoundland, and immigrated with his family to Boston, Massachusetts when he was seven years old. His family became involved in the work of Dr. J. Edgar Helms of the Church of All Nations, Morgan Memorial in Boston. This Methodist minister and his church were the founding ministry of today's Goodwill Industries and established this work to help immigrant families like the Wisemans. Under the influence of Dr. Helms, George Wiseman went on to Boston University and obtained his Bachelor of Religious Education, Bachelor of Sacred Theology, and a Master of Sacred Theology. George Wiseman served as a Methodist pastor for forty-four years, serving churches in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, before a severe case of pneumonia led him to transfer to the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, where he served several additional churches. He published numerous poems, sermon outlines, and devotions in a wide variety of religious periodicals, as well as four books. George Wiseman's first wife, Elsie Coggshall died at a young age and he then married Miriam Tower, the daughter and granddaughter of missionaries to sailors on Martha's Vineyard. George and Elsie had one daughter, Joanne Wiseman of Girard, Kansas, and George and Miriam had two daughters, Donna Chapman of Davisburg, Michigan, and Dianne Danielson of Fort Fairfield, Maine. George Wiseman's works cover a variety of genres from religious poetry, sermons, and devotional reading to a history of the Seaman's Bethel of Martha's Vineyard and its mission work. First Fruits is proud to have the opportunity to bring these out-of-print books from a Methodist pastor of a previous generation to a brand new audience.