Germany, England, & America (1600s-1700s) Spiritual Awakenings Germany, England, & America (1600s-1700s)

The Background The Reformation lost its zeal... The Age of Reason sometimes discarded the Bible… Europe’s spiritual climate: dry, sluggish, & weary

German Pietists Philipp Spener (1635-1705)—He was a Lutheran minister who saw the spiritual laziness of his people first-hand. He became the 1st of the German Pietists. August Francke (1663-1727)—He was a university professor that impacted the Pietism movement through education. Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf—He studied under Francke, and later became a leader of the Moravians. Through Count von Zinzendorf, John Wesley became a Christian.

Mind Hands Heart

Moravian Missions [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQNWCQbm4bc

England’s Revivals John Wesley—He was born and raised in the early 1700s in England, a country under the established Church of England (Anglican). Like in other parts of Europe, the Reformation’s excitement and passion had come and gone. People were in need of revival. [video] https://vimeo.com/6737725

John Wesley His near-death experience: https://johnmichaelwiley.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/comparisons-and-contrasts-between-confessional-wesleyan- methodism-and-dispensational-baptistic-doctrine/ His education—Wesley was a very hard-working and disciplined student at Oxford University, who managed to find friends like him as well. They earned themselves the nickname, “Methodists,” for their behavior. They were also very religious, but not all were saved, as they focused on salvation by works and effort. His early ministry—In 1735 Wesley sailed to America (Georgia) to be a missionary/pastor, but was a total failure. His ex-fiancé married another man, so Wesley denied her communion as her pastor. He was then sued, and later traveled back to England.

John Wesley His conversion—On the way back to England, Wesley’s boat was caught in a terrible storm. He thought he was going to die. Soon, he heard the voices of Moravians singing, and asked them why they could do so? They might die! The Moravians, however, didn’t fear death. After making it safely to England, Wesley attended the public reading of Martin Luther’s commentary on the book of Romans. “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” – John Wesley

George Whitefield Whitefield and Wesley were often kicked out of churches, and thus proclaimed, “The whole world is my parish.” Whitefield—One of the greatest preachers of America’s “Great Awakening,” having preached to possibly 10 million people in his lifetime. [video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is9ztOI-h7c Ben Franklin & Whitefield: http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/becomingamer/id eas/text2/franklinwhitefield.pdf

Jonathan Edwards He was arguably the last of the “Puritans” (Mr. Wiley would call him a “Separatist” though) Edwards was one of the most brilliant theologians of all time His most famous sermon: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Despite being known for preaching about God’s wrath, Edwards actually spoke just as often about God’s love and mercy

Edwards (Cont’d) [Biographical video] http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/jonathan- edwards/his-early-life/ [sermon] http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?articl e=1053&context=etas