Jesse Lee and the Norwalk Sermon (June 17, 1789)

On June 17, 1789, in Norwalk, Connecticut, itinerant preacher Jesse Lee gathered a small outdoor crowd to hear what is remembered as the first known Methodist sermon preached in the colony. No one would lend him a house or barn, so he stood in the open air, sang, prayed, and then preached. The setting exposed the spiritual climate of the region: cautious toward evangelists, guarded against “enthusiasm,” and slow to welcome revival preaching. Yet the lack of a building did not diminish the authority of the message, and the simplicity of the scene underscored the conviction that Christ’s gospel is not confined to walls.

Theme: The New Birth

Lee refused to soften his message to gain an entrance. He took as his theme Christ’s solemn words: “You must be born again” (John 3:7). His insistence on the new birth pressed beyond mere morality and religious familiarity. The call was personal and immediate: repentance, faith in Christ, and a heart made new by the Spirit. As Scripture declares, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Lee’s preaching reflected the Methodist emphasis on conversion, holiness, and a living faith that bears fruit.

Courage, Patience, and Gospel Perseverance

This moment in Norwalk displayed a quiet heroism: not spectacle, but steadfastness. Lee met closed doors without bitterness, continuing with prayer and song, trusting God to open hearts even when people withheld shelter. His endurance echoed the apostolic confidence that “the word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9). In an era when social pressure could silence plain preaching, he chose faithfulness over acceptance and persistence over ease.

From a Field to a Movement in New England

From this humble beginning, Lee pressed on across New England, traveling, preaching, organizing societies, and strengthening believers. Norwalk became a marker of Methodist advance in the region: a testimony that Christ gathers His people through faithful proclamation, whether in meetinghouses or in the open air. The event continues to encourage believers that God honors simple obedience, and that the message of the new birth remains central to true Christian life and lasting revival.