The religious upswelling of the early 18th century

Three main leaders: George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley

Great Awakening

1. God’s saints are revived

2. They share their faith locally

3. Missionary enterprise beyond

the locale

4. Social outreach

Revivalism

Colonies: 1750

1734-37: Connecticut River Valley - Congregationalists: Northampton to the Atlantic

Died down for 3 years

Enflamed under Whitefield:Boston, Salem, Portsmouth, all of New England

Leadership and writings of Jonathan Edwards

Northern Course of Awakening

Presbyterians in N. Virginia

Baptists (Separate

Congregationalists) in

New England (Connecticut) expands

to

Separate Baptists in N. Carolina

From 6,000 – 20,000 in 3 years,

foundation of Southern Baptists

Southern Course of Awakening

Baptists

In America since

17th century

Galvanized by

Great Awakening

Jonathan Edwards

1703-1758

Interpreter of and apologist for the Great Awakening

First Churches, Northampton

Fifth Meeting House

Jonathan EdwardsIn memory of Jonathan

EdwardsMinister of Northampton

From Feb 15, 1727 to June 22, 1750

“The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity

was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away

from iniquity” Malachi 2:6

Sinners in

the Hands of

an Angry

God.

Enfield, July

8, 1741

Jonathan Edwards, A Life

Big Three

Whitefield

Edwards

Wesley

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

George Whitefield 1714 - 1770 In 1738 made 1st of

7 visits to the America Trying to start an

orphanage in Ga. Ordained Anglican “Great Itinerant” Member of Wesley’s

Oxford “Holy Club” Popular as G.

Washington Huge crowds: 30,000

Preaching in the Field

Collapsible Field pulpit

The New Birth

John 3:1-8 Whitefield: “How this

glorious Change is wrought in the Soul cannot easily be explained."

Ben Franklin on Whitefield

Heard Whitefield preach in Colonies & England:

Philadelphia Hall

Georgia orphanage

Size of crowds

Pleased with discourse

John Wesley

1703 - 1791

“a brand plucked from

the burning”

Wesley vs. Whitefield

Son of Anglican rector Son of tavern keeper

Strict religious upbringing Worldly influences

Conversion: Aldersgate, 35 Oxford, 21

Preaching: Intellectual, doctrinal

Dramatic, emotional

) Exceptional organizer Exceptional preacher

Methodism

Hierarchical

Episcopal

Methodists: Francis Asbury

1745-1816

Leader in 2nd Great Awakening

Primary expression of American Christianity, post 1740’s

Based, in part, on freedom to differ Denomination vs. Sect Inclusive vs. Exclusive The true church cannot be identified with

any single ecclesiastical structure

Seed planted by Reformers: not of bishops but of believers

Architected by Congregationalists at Westminster Assembly

“Denominationalism”

80% of Americans unified in common understanding of Christian life and faith

Dissent/dissenters enjoyed greater respect: Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians

Emphasis on education: Univ. of Penn, UNC

Effects of the Great Awakening