From the Pulpit of Jonathan Edwards: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

Edwards QuickWrite #1 As you listen to minister Billy Graham deliver a portion of his sermon, write down your reactions. When finished, answer the questions below. 1) How does the tone of Graham’s voice impact you, the listener? Explain. 2) What do you think was Graham’s purpose in speaking to his audience with this tone of voice? Explain.

Jonathan Edwards - Biography Add the following details in your notes beneath your QuickWrite: Edwards believed that religion should be rooted not only in reason but also in emotion. Considered by many to be America’s greatest religious thinker. Edwards’ sermons helped trigger the Great Awakening, a religious revival that swept through New England from “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was delivered at the height of the Great Awakening and is the most famous of his 1200 sermons. 1750: Edwards was dismissed from his church because he wanted to limit membership to those who had undergone conversion. A year later he was in Stockbridge, MA, where he became a missionary in a Native American settlement. 1758, at the time of his death, the Great Awakening’s extremism had been rejected.

QuickWrite #2 “Heaven is the palace or presence-chamber of the high and holy One, whose name is love, and who is both the cause and source of all holy love” ~Jonathan Edwards In your own words, and based on what you might have either heard or been taught, describe HEAVEN. 1) What does it look like? What’s the weather like? (use vivid word choice) 2) Who would be there? 3) What would your “dwelling place” be like? 4) How does one “get into” Heaven?? What must they do? 5) What type of God do you imagine would greet you?

A comparison of the ideals, practices, values, and important figures of the Pre-Colonial Settlers and Puritans Pre-ColonialismPuritanism GodCalled upon in times of trial and for divine inspiration Strict; vengeful and punishing Man/The Individual Seeking freedom from religious persecution; Glory, God and Gold; adventurous spirit No freedom over fate---all was up to god; man was born sinful NatureMeant to be conquered; used for profit/gain; materials for colonization Evil—devil’s hideout; superstitious; assumed Native Americans lived there=devils SocietySmall settlements; farming; relationships with Native Americans; slavery issue Predestination; TULIP; villages Key WritersColumbus; deVaca; Smith; Equiano Bradford, Bradstreet, Edwards

What is TULIP? T -- total depravity. This doesn't mean people are as bad as they can be. It means that sin is in every part of one's being, including the mind and will, so that a man cannot save himself. U -- unconditional election. God chooses to save people unconditionally; that is, they are not chosen on the basis of their own merit. L -- limited atonement. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was for the purpose of saving the elect. I -- irresistible grace. When God has chosen to save someone, He will. P -- perseverance of the saints. Those people God chooses cannot lose their salvation; they will continue to believe. If they fall away, it will be only for a time.

Delivery of a Puritan Sermon * Real power of sermon = words, not delivery * Preacher was a flawed agent of God’s work * Plain style of delivery to listeners focused on God *Use of monotone voice is deliberate

Persuasive Appeals * As in all persuasive writing, Edwards’ sermons are shaped by the author’s purpose, his audience, and his context (his reason for preaching, his Puritan congregation, and the times in which the Puritans lived.) * One of his MOST PROMINENT persuasive techniques is the use of Biblical allusions EMOTIONAL APPEALS are messages designed to persuade the audience by creating strong feelings. They often include sensory language to create vivid imagery and loaded words. Consider Edwards’ use of these feelings: * fear—which taps into a fear of losing one’s safety and security * pity—which relies on one’s sense of sympathy or compassion for others * guilt—which relies on one’s sense of ethics or morality

Style/Structure of a Puritan Sermon Most Puritan sermons had five sections of a sermon: epigraph, doctrine, reasons, application, and epilogue. We will only be reading the epigraph and doctrine. Epigraph * A Biblical quotation focused on a specific problem/concern in the community.

Style/Structure of a Puritan Sermon Doctrine Selection of scriptural passages that support the preacher’s purpose

Style/Structure of a Puritan Sermon Reasons Explanation of why the listeners, specifically, should believe in the truth of the doctrine. Application Statement that applies to a) personal, spiritual, and family lives b) immediate community, as well as the greater w o r l d