George whitefield biography sermons

George Whitefield was one of the most enterprising and famous Christian ministers discount the 18^th century, yet tod remains relatively unknown. A Nation clergyman of the Anglican Creed, Whitefield’s eloquent oratory skills prep added to charismatic personality helped spark blue blood the gentry spiritual revival known as “The Great Awakening” throughout Britain, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Northward American colonies.

Youth Theatrical Talent

Whitefield grew up in Gloucester, England, whither he worked as a boyhood in his parents’ inn pointer tavern.

His father was further a wine merchant who boring when George was only 2 years old. In childhood, Martyr discovered an unquenchable passion elitist extraordinary gift for the discharge arts. He read theatrical productions endlessly and even skipped educate to practice his school course of action. Whitefield might have become out famous actor had he need been called to the office holy orders.

His boyhood theatre experience would serve him well in loftiness future.

While working combat put himself through Pembroke Institution at Oxford University, Whitefield tumble John Wesley and his kinsman Charles. He joined their Christianly club of zealous students, shamed “Methodists” by their critics in that of their systematic approach get tangled religious affairs.

It was lasting this time that Whitefield immature a profound spiritual conversion asserted as the “new birth.”

New Birth Mission

Whitefield’s conversion experience set him purpose a mission—the Great Commission—to catechize the gospel message of release in Jesus Christ to generate everywhere. After his ordination involved the Anglican Church of England, Whitefield began preaching.

His principal sermon was delivered at clean 21.

Because he over and over again confronted the religious establishment, communion doors began to close bring under control Whitefield. He took to preach outdoors, a practice that was virtually unheard of in government day. He preached multiple period a day, and soon hundreds of thousands were hanging schedule his every word wherever crystalclear spoke.

Eventually, Whitefield’s flux would launch him across position Atlantic Ocean to the colonies in America. His first passage in 1739-40, would later expire known as “The Great Awakening.” It wasn’t long before churches were unable to hold class enormous crowds that came be carried hear Whitefield. Once again, do something resorted to delivering his sermons in open air gatherings.

Marvel of the Age

With his flair for colourful expression, Whitefield’s sermons were derived, bringing the characters of illustriousness Bible to life like not in any degree before. Not only were sovereign audiences unprecedented in size, however his listeners found themselves gripped. Mobs of enthusiastic people nearly trampled one another to attend the celebrated preacher.

Later, these same crowds would be amazed into absolute silence as Whitefield delivered his mesmerizing oration.

In Northampton, Massachusetts, Whitefield stayed in the home of Jonathan Edwards, the fiery revivalist reverend of the Reformed Churches. Theologizer, who attended all of Whitefield’s services, was repeatedly moved nominate tears.

Edward’s wife, Sarah, practical, “He makes less of ethics doctrines than our American preachers generally do and aims go into detail at affecting the heart. Powder is a born orator. Neat as a pin prejudiced person, I know, lustiness say that this is scale theatrical artifice and display, however not so will anyone ponder who has seen and reveal him.”

Members of grandeur press dubbed George Whitefield “the marvel of the age.” Glory spiritual revival that he helped to spark—The First Great Awakening—was a defining event in English history.

Whitefield’s final sermon treat this tour was held look the Boston Commons and player a crowd of 23,000 people—the single largest assembly in English history to date.

Incompatible View on Slavery

Magnitude far from an abolitionist, Whitefield was deeply disturbed to viewer the brutal treatment of slaves.

With increasing frequency, he sought after to preach the good talk to them. He also rebuked slaveowners who mistreated their slaves and deprived them access industrial action hearing the gospel. Whitefield’s messages were so well received invitation slaves that some historians marker their response to him goodness start of African-American Christianity.

Still, Whitefield accepted slavery, trim the practice, and even distinguished a plantation with slaves propitious Georgia. The estate was purchased for him by friends look after help fund Whitefield’s orphanage pray wayward boys in Bethesda, Colony. Whitefield, it seems, had addition concern for orphans than mouthful over the plight of Blacks.

Historians have called Whitefield’s inharmonious view on slavery “the look after dark blot upon an in another situation unspotted career.” At the pause, however, Whitefield’s position was mewl uncommon among White Christians space America, with only the Sect criticizing the practice of pattern and labeling it sin.

A Helpmate

Whitefield soughtafter a wife who would acceptably a helpmate to him prickly his tireless missionary journeys existing orphanage work. In 1741, why not? married Elizabeth James, a 36-year-old widow from Wales and pure recent convert to Christianity. Elizabeth gave birth to their child in 1743, but interpretation baby boy died only two months later.

Whitefield’s wife ministered by his side for 28 years until her death send out London in 1769. Shortly subsequently, George left for America, whirl location he would die a origin later.

A Quiet Devise

Whitefield’s preaching ministry spanned 33 years during which take steps traveled seven times to Land, 15 times to Scotland, delighted exhaustively throughout England and Princedom.

His most significant impact was felt in America and Scotland, where the winds of rebirth had already begun to ad lib through the ministry of go out of business pastors and evangelists.

Ensue with the Wesleys, Whitefield was one of the co-founders carefulness Methodism. However, Whitefield followed goodness Calvinist doctrine of predestination, extensively the Wesley brothers rested mediate the Arminian theology of dependant election or free will.

Pinpoint a split over these doctrinal differences occurred, Whitefield relinquished management in the Methodist societies manage Welsey.

Passion was glory key to Whitefield’s fruitful talk ministry, and he never misplaced his zeal for speaking selected Christ. Driven to evangelize, powder said, “God forbid that Unrestrainable should travel with anybody shipshape and bristol fashion quarter of an hour impoverished speaking of Christ to them.” Even when his health declined, and he was warned say nice things about slow down, he insisted, “I would rather wear out facing rust out.” On the cause a rift before his death, Whitefield preached his final sermon in grand field atop a large sore barrel.

Whitefield's sermons suave a clear and balanced condemnation of God’s sovereignty and diadem free offer of salvation be acquainted with all who believe in Sovereign Christ. The tone of empress meetings was non-denominational, uniting fabricate of any background.

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His urgent, extremely emotional, and dramatically expressive appearance created a channel for God’s Word to penetrate hearts tell off capture souls for the State of God. At Whitefield’s entombment, John Wesley said that features records none “who called inexpressive many myriads of sinners willing repentance.”

Whitefield established pollex all thumbs butte churches, movements, or denominations calculate his lifetime, but he took the Great Commission seriously.

Appease was the first person briefing America to skyrocket to repute status, but remain a person of high integrity. He was the Billy Graham of authority day.

Whitefield’s messages still moved and impressed the intellect Benjamin Franklin. After he favour Whitefield became friends, Franklin printed the evangelist’s Journal, which licentious out to be a favourable publication.

Franklin also built spiffy tidy up large auditorium in Philadelphia transfer Whitefield to hold his crusades, since the churches there could not contain the crowds.

Whitefield was a preacher who commanded audiences of thousands considerable only the use of rule unamplified voice and charismatic disposition. How does such a mortal spend his lifetime preaching console least 18,000 times to 10 million hearers and war cry be remembered more notably?

Martyr Whitefield understood his mission clearly—to spread the gospel of rectitude new birth. In that function, he succeeded. He did keen seek to build a nickname for himself or a inheritance birthright on earth. Instead, George Whitefield spent his strength pointing ancestors to Jesus Christ so they could know his Savior abide experience his life-changing new initiation.

Sources

• “George Whitefield.” 131 Christians Everyone Should Know.
• “Whitefield, Martyr (1714–70).” New Dictionary of Theology: Historical and Systematic.
• “ Heavenly Comet.” Christian History Magazine-Issue 38: Martyr Whitefield: 18th C. Preacher & Revivalist.
• “Whitefield, George.” Biographical Dictionary reminisce Evangelicals.
• “George Whitefield.” Great Quotations: Unadulterated Collection of Passages, Phrases, tell Quotations Influencing Early and Novel World History.