---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Sabbath is a party, and what is a…"
description: "\"“The Sabbath is a party, and what is a good party without a drinking song? Almost all the early John Wesley hymns were sung to what at the time was wil..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/dan-b-allender-8754_john-wesley_the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-goo_2484065.jpg"
---

#  The Sabbath is a party, and what is a good party without a…

![“The Sabbath is a party, and what is a good party without a drinking song? Almost all the early John Wesley hymns were sung to what at the time was wild pub music.” quote by Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/dan-b-allender-8754_john-wesley_the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-goo_2484065.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/dan-b-allender-8754_john-wesley_the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-goo_2484065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/dan-b-allender-8754_john-wesley_the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-goo_2484065.jpg)

> ““The Sabbath is a party, and what is a good party without a drinking song? Almost all the early John Wesley hymns were sung to what at the time was wild pub music.””

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Early Methodist hymns were sung to lively, pub-like music, showing the blend of sacred and secular celebration.

**In simple terms:** Wesley hymns used upbeat, pub-style tunes.

Key Takeaway

Embrace joyful worship expressions.

Themes

faith music celebration tradition

Mood

joyful reflective

Type

theological cultural

When to use this quote

- church services
- festivals
- home worship
- social gatherings

Key Concepts

cultural adaptation community spiritual joy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can worship balance joy and solemnity?
- What role does music play in faith expression?

A Different Perspective

Risk of diluting reverence with too much revelry.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Drinking Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking-song-896607/) [John wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-wesley/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Pub Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pub-music-896606/) [Sabbath Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sabbath-party-896604/) [Wesley Hymns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wesley-hymns-896605/)

## Related quotes

> [“Charles Wesley's hymns are forceful because they contain so many words which are physical: for him the life of a Christian was to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-watson/charles-wesley-s-hymns-are-forceful-because-they-contain-so-many/)

[J.R. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-watson/)

> [Hold up your cups and sing along, to one more drinking song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrod-niemann/hold-up-your-cups-and-sing-along-to-one-more-drinking-song/)

[Jerrod Niemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerrod-niemann/)

> [When people ask me why are you singing a drinking song if you don't drink anymore, because when I did drink I drank enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brantley-gilbert/when-people-ask-me-why-are-you-singing-a-drinking-song-if-you-don-t/)

[Brantley Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brantley-gilbert/)

> [“In October of 1774 he sneaked away from Paulerspury with one of his old friends to hear John Wesley preach. Willy had heard about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/in-october-of-1774-he-sneaked-away-from-paulerspury-with-one-of-his/)

[Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/)

> [“The Christian world is not so well agreed that He is the Redeemer from sickness. The Church was agreed on that question at one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/the-christian-world-is-not-so-well-agreed-that-he-is-the-redeemer/)

[John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/)

> [“Covenant More Than Just Healing, When Sick This Covenant does not simply mean that when we are sick and dying, the Lord will come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/covenant-more-than-just-healing-when-sick-this-covenant-does-not/)

[John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/)

> [John Wesley taught that the gospel of Christ involved more than saving souls. It should have an impact on all of society, and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/john-wesley-taught-that-the-gospel-of-christ-involved-more-than/)

[Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/)

> [“At the risk of being simplistic, a railway metaphor comes to mind. John Wesley's marriage was a train wreck (Wesleyan historian, Henry Rack called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-gordon/at-the-risk-of-being-simplistic-a-railway-metaphor-comes-to-mind-john/)

[Grant Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-gordon/)

> [“John Wesley once said: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God…such alone will shake the gates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/john-wesley-once-said-give-me-one-hundred-preachers-who-fear-nothing/)

[Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/)

> [Even in the greatest afflictions, we ought to testify to God, that, in receiving them from his hand, we feel pleasure in the midst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/even-in-the-greatest-afflictions-we-ought-to-testify-to-god-that-in/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [John Wesley's conversation is good, but he is never at leisure. He is always obliged to go at a certain hour. This is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/john-wesley-s-conversation-is-good-but-he-is-never-at-leisure-he-is/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [John Wesley: Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half-dead, or half-asleep; but lift up your voice with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/john-wesley-sing-lustily-and-with-good-courage-beware-of-singing-as/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you-2/)

[Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/)

> [John Wesley tells of a dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, "Are there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/john-wesley-tells-of-a-dream-he-had-in-the-dream-he-was-ushered-to/)

[George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/)

> [The decline of witch-belief was . . . entirely the product of religious skepticism. . . . The Catholic Church did not reform itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-t-joshi-2/the-decline-of-witch-belief-was-entirely-the-product-of-religious/)

[S. T. Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-t-joshi-2/)

## More by Dan B. Allender

> [“Hope is not mere optimism; rather, it is moving forward in anticipation of redemption in spite of the improbability of rescue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/hope-is-not-mere-optimism-rather-it-is-moving-forward-in-anticipation/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [If you are a leader, it is not possible to be at peace with all and friends with everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/if-you-are-a-leader-it-is-not-possible-to-be-at-peace-with-all-and/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [Reconciliation is not to be withheld when repentance—that is, deep, heart‐changing acknowledgement of sin and a radical redirection of life—takes place in the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/reconciliation-is-not-to-be-withheld-when-repentance-that-is-deep/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [“To enter the realm of play, we must give ourselves to something or someone and turn away from all else. It is both a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/to-enter-the-realm-of-play-we-must-give-ourselves-to-something-or/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [“The Sabbath is not a vacation; it is a grateful celebration. Who are you celebrating? To whom do you owe your life, your current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/the-sabbath-is-not-a-vacation-it-is-a-grateful-celebration-who-are/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [A reluctant leader is highly suspicious of people who work to accumulate and hoard power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/a-reluctant-leader-is-highly-suspicious-of-people-who-work-to/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [“A new story begins the moment an old one ends. But a denouement is a respite that calls us to stop the journey for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/a-new-story-begins-the-moment-an-old-one-ends-but-a-denouement-is-a/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [You may obey a leader who has power and authority, but you will not strive to serve her or the cause of the organization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/you-may-obey-a-leader-who-has-power-and-authority-but-you-will-not/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [“We're in the presence of a good story when the flaw that shatters shalom is also the doorway to redemption... Whether it be our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/we-re-in-the-presence-of-a-good-story-when-the-flaw-that-shatters/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [“A gift that has the power to change us awakens a part of the soul. But we cannot receive the gift until we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/a-gift-that-has-the-power-to-change-us-awakens-a-part-of-the-soul-but/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [“What might it look like if we lived as if we will not be endlessly divided from those who have brought us harm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/what-might-it-look-like-if-we-lived-as-if-we-will-not-be-endlessly/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [A leader - whether in the home, church, business, community, or government - has authority due to her role, but her positional power will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/a-leader-whether-in-the-home-church-business-community-or-government/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [Elizabeth Turnage is a woman of grit and grace who lives into the stories of those who join her in this odd journey of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/elizabeth-turnage-is-a-woman-of-grit-and-grace-who-lives-into-the/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [Love cannot last without a foundation of forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/love-cannot-last-without-a-foundation-of-forgiveness/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

> [“One of our greatest failures in our busy, driven culture is that we don't celebrate the temporary untying of a complex narrative...What is your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/one-of-our-greatest-failures-in-our-busy-driven-culture-is-that-we/)

[Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

[Explore all 78 Dan B. Allender quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/)

## More John wesley quotes

> [The decline of witch-belief was . . . entirely the product of religious skepticism. . . . The Catholic Church did not reform itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-t-joshi-2/the-decline-of-witch-belief-was-entirely-the-product-of-religious/)

[S. T. Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-t-joshi-2/)

> [John Wesley tells of a dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, "Are there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/john-wesley-tells-of-a-dream-he-had-in-the-dream-he-was-ushered-to/)

[George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/)

> [“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you-2/)

[Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/)

> [John Wesley: Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half-dead, or half-asleep; but lift up your voice with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/john-wesley-sing-lustily-and-with-good-courage-beware-of-singing-as/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [John Wesley's conversation is good, but he is never at leisure. He is always obliged to go at a certain hour. This is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/john-wesley-s-conversation-is-good-but-he-is-never-at-leisure-he-is/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Even in the greatest afflictions, we ought to testify to God, that, in receiving them from his hand, we feel pleasure in the midst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/even-in-the-greatest-afflictions-we-ought-to-testify-to-god-that-in/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [“John Wesley once said: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God…such alone will shake the gates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/john-wesley-once-said-give-me-one-hundred-preachers-who-fear-nothing/)

[Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/)

> [“At the risk of being simplistic, a railway metaphor comes to mind. John Wesley's marriage was a train wreck (Wesleyan historian, Henry Rack called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-gordon/at-the-risk-of-being-simplistic-a-railway-metaphor-comes-to-mind-john/)

[Grant Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-gordon/)

> [John Wesley taught that the gospel of Christ involved more than saving souls. It should have an impact on all of society, and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/john-wesley-taught-that-the-gospel-of-christ-involved-more-than/)

[Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/)

> [“Covenant More Than Just Healing, When Sick This Covenant does not simply mean that when we are sick and dying, the Lord will come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/covenant-more-than-just-healing-when-sick-this-covenant-does-not/)

[John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/)

> [“The Christian world is not so well agreed that He is the Redeemer from sickness. The Church was agreed on that question at one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/the-christian-world-is-not-so-well-agreed-that-he-is-the-redeemer/)

[John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/)

> [“In October of 1774 he sneaked away from Paulerspury with one of his old friends to hear John Wesley preach. Willy had heard about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/in-october-of-1774-he-sneaked-away-from-paulerspury-with-one-of-his/)

[Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/)

> [A friend of mine pointed out to me, "Why do you separate your writing and your music?" I got (writers) Rick Moody and Jonathan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley-harding/a-friend-of-mine-pointed-out-to-me-why-do-you-separate-your-writing/)

[John Wesley Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley-harding/)

> [“shining example of perseverance is renowned pastor John Wesley. Let’s take a peek into his diary . . .   Sunday, A.M. May 5…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/shining-example-of-perseverance-is-renowned-pastor-john-wesley-let-s/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [If they'd said, "Do you want to be John Wesley Harding or Wesley Stace in 25 years' time?" I would have said Wesley Stace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley-harding/if-they-d-said-do-you-want-to-be-john-wesley-harding-or-wesley-stace/)

[John Wesley Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley-harding/)

[Browse all 44 John wesley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-wesley/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The Sabbath is a party, and what is a good party without a drinking song? Almost all the early John Wesley hymns were sung to what at the time was wild pub music.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dan B. Allender"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-good-party-without-a-drinking/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "John wesley"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-good-party-without-a-drinking/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/dan-b-allender-8754_john-wesley_the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-goo_2484065.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/dan-b-allender-8754_john-wesley_the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-goo_2484065.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/dan-b-allender-8754_john-wesley_the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-goo_2484065.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Sabbath is a party, and what is a good party without a drinking song? Almost all the early John Wesley…” — Dan B. Allender",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dan B. Allender",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The Sabbath is a party, and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-good-party-without-a-drinking/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/the-sabbath-is-a-party-and-what-is-a-good-party-without-a-drinking/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
