Great Awakenings

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Lesson Title: The Great Awakenings: Exploration of the Religious Revivals in the 18th and 19th Centuries

Level of Education

Doctoral Degree in Biblical Studies

Purpose

To explore the causes, key figures, theological developments, and societal impacts of the Great Awakenings in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Objectives

To understand the historical context, major events, and lasting effects of the Great Awakenings on American Christianity and society.

Key Concepts, Terms, and Keywords

• First Great Awakening: A series of religious revivals in the 1730s and 1740s that emphasized individual piety and a personal connection with God.
• Second Great Awakening: A religious revival movement during the early 19th century that focused on social reforms and missionary work.
• Revivalism: A renewed religious fervor within a Christian context, often characterized by mass conversions and emotional expressions of faith.
• New Light Preachers: Ministers who supported the emotional and revivalist aspects of the Great Awakenings.
• Camp Meetings: Large religious gatherings that were a hallmark of the Second Great Awakening, often held in rural areas.

Lesson Content

1. Historical Context:
   • Pre-Awakening Religious Climate: Overview of religious life in America before the Great Awakenings.
   • Bible Verses: Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:17-18
     • Joel 2:28-29 prophesies the outpouring of the Spirit.
     • Acts 2:17-18 describes the fulfillment of that prophecy at Pentecost.
2. The First Great Awakening:
   • Key Figures: Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, John Wesley.
     • Bible Verses: John 3:3; Ephesians 2:8-9
       • John 3:3 emphasizes the need to be born again.
       • Ephesians 2:8-9 underscores salvation by grace through faith.
   • Major Events: The revival meetings, sermons, and the role of itinerant preachers.
   • Theological Emphases: Personal conversion, emotional experiences, and a direct relationship with God.
3. The Second Great Awakening:
   • Key Figures: Charles Finney, Lyman Beecher, Francis Asbury.
     • Bible Verses: Romans 12:1-2; James 2:26
       • Romans 12:1-2 calls for transformation and renewal.
       • James 2:26 emphasizes faith accompanied by works.
   • Major Events: The rise of camp meetings, the growth of Methodism and Baptist denominations.
   • Theological Emphases: Social reform, abolitionism, temperance, and missionary activity.
4. Impact on American Society:
   • Social Reforms: Abolition of slavery, temperance movement, women’s rights, and educational reforms.
     • Bible Verses: Isaiah 58:6; Galatians 3:28
       • Isaiah 58:6 speaks of loosening the chains of injustice.
       • Galatians 3:28 emphasizes equality in Christ.
   • Expansion of Religious Pluralism: Growth of new denominations and religious movements.
   • Long-term Effects: Influence on American culture, politics, and religious practices.
5. King Jesus’ Model/Example:
   • Evangelism and Social Justice: Jesus’ teachings on spreading the gospel and caring for the marginalized.
     • Bible Verses: Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 4:18-19
       • Matthew 28:19-20 commands making disciples of all nations.
       • Luke 4:18-19 highlights Jesus’ mission to proclaim good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed.

Exam Questions with Explained Answers

1. Question: What were the main theological emphases of the First Great Awakening?
   • Answer: The First Great Awakening emphasized personal conversion, emotional religious experiences, and a direct relationship with God, stressing the importance of being “born again” (John 3:3; Ephesians 2:8-9).
2. Question: How did Jonathan Edwards contribute to the First Great Awakening?
   • Answer: Jonathan Edwards was a key figure in the First Great Awakening, known for his powerful sermons such as “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” which emphasized the need for personal repentance and a profound emotional experience of conversion.
3. Question: Describe the significance of camp meetings during the Second Great Awakening.
   • Answer: Camp meetings were large, outdoor religious gatherings that played a crucial role in the Second Great Awakening. They were characterized by passionate preaching, singing, and mass conversions, and they facilitated the spread of revivalist fervor, particularly in rural areas (Romans 12:1-2).
4. Question: How did Charles Finney influence the Second Great Awakening?
   • Answer: Charles Finney was a leading revivalist preacher during the Second Great Awakening. He introduced new revival techniques, such as the “anxious bench,” and emphasized the importance of personal decision in conversion and social reforms like abolitionism and temperance (James 2:26).
5. Question: Explain the impact of the Great Awakenings on American social reforms.
   • Answer: The Great Awakenings had a profound impact on American social reforms. The revivals inspired movements such as the abolition of slavery, temperance, women’s rights, and educational reforms, emphasizing the Christian duty to address social injustices (Isaiah 58:6; Galatians 3:28).
6. Question: What role did itinerant preachers play in the Great Awakenings?
   • Answer: Itinerant preachers, such as George Whitefield, played a crucial role in spreading the revivalist message during the Great Awakenings. Their dynamic and emotional preaching drew large crowds and facilitated the widespread dissemination of revivalist fervor across the colonies and later, the United States.
7. Question: How did the Second Great Awakening contribute to the growth of Methodism and Baptist denominations?
   • Answer: The Second Great Awakening contributed to the growth of Methodism and Baptist denominations through its emphasis on personal conversion, evangelism, and social reform. The revival meetings and camp meetings provided a platform for these denominations to expand their influence and attract new converts (Matthew 28:19-20).
8. Question: Discuss the theological differences between the First and Second Great Awakenings.
   • Answer: The First Great Awakening focused on individual piety, personal conversion, and emotional religious experiences, while the Second Great Awakening emphasized social reforms, collective religious experiences, and the role of human free will in salvation and moral improvement (Romans 12:1-2; James 2:26).
9. Question: How did the Great Awakenings influence American political and cultural life?
   • Answer: The Great Awakenings influenced American political and cultural life by promoting values of equality, social justice, and community responsibility. The religious fervor of the awakenings inspired political activism and cultural movements that sought to reform society according to Christian principles (Galatians 3:28).
10. Question: What is revivalism, and how was it manifested in the Great Awakenings?
    • Answer: Revivalism is a movement characterized by renewed religious fervor, often through mass conversions and emotional expressions of faith. In the Great Awakenings, revivalism was manifested through dynamic preaching, large gatherings, and a focus on personal and communal religious renewal (Acts 2:17-18).

Practical Applications

• Evangelism and Outreach: Encourage personal and communal efforts in evangelism and outreach, reflecting the revivalist spirit of the Great Awakenings.
• Social Justice and Reform: Advocate for social justice and reform in line with the teachings of Jesus and the examples set during the Great Awakenings.
• Community Building: Foster a sense of community and collective responsibility within the church, emphasizing mutual support and spiritual growth.

Research Citations

1. Kidd, Thomas S. “The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America.” Yale University Press, 2007. eBook.
2. Noll, Mark A. “America’s God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln.” Oxford University Press, 2002. eBook.
3. Lambert, Frank. “Inventing the Great Awakening.” Princeton University Press, 1999. eBook.
4. Heyrman, Christine Leigh. “Southern Cross: The Beginnings of the Bible Belt.” University of North Carolina Press, 1997. eBook.
5. Wigger, John H. “Taking Heaven by Storm: Methodism and the Rise of Popular Christianity in America.” Oxford University Press, 1998. eBook.

This lesson provides a comprehensive exploration of the Great Awakenings, highlighting their theological developments, key figures, and significant impacts on American Christianity and society.