1. From the Pulpit of Jonathan Edwards: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” http://mikeratliff.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/whitefieldpreaching.jpg

2. In your notes, please write down the following questions to be answered as you listen. 1) As you listen to minister Billy Graham read a portion of his sermon with Edwards’ “Sinners..” included, list FIVE key words/phrases you hear. 2) How does the tone of Graham’s voice impact you, the listener? Explain. 3) What was Graham’s purpose in speaking to his audience with this tone of voice? Explain.

3. http://edwards.yale.edu/education/billy-graham The Wrath of God is like great Waters that are dammed, restrained for the present; but they increase more and more and rise higher and higher, til an Outlet is given and the longer the Stream is stop’d, the more rapid and mighty is its Course, when once it is let loose. ‘Tis true, that Judgment against your evil Works has not be executed hitherto before; the Floods of God’s Vengeance have been withheld; but your Guild in the mean time is constantly increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more Wrath against your souls; the Waters are continually rising and waxing more and more mighty; and there is nothing but the mere mercy of God that holds the Waters back that are unwilling to be stopped, and press hard to go forward; if God should only withdraw his Hand from the Flood-Gate it would immediately fly open, and the fiery Floods of the Fierceness and Wrath of God would rush forth with inconceivable Fury, and would come upon you with omnipotent power; and if your Strength were ten thousand times greater than it is, yea ten thousand Times greater than the Strength of the stoutest, sturdiest Devil in Hell, it would be nothing to withstand or endure it, the wrath of Almighty God. I’ll tell you tonight, the wrath of God is something. And God says, that judgment it coming upon the world. And God says, the wages of sin is death…And God says, the soul that sins shall die. Ladies and gentleman, tonight, men and women, tonight every one of us are hanging over the pit of hell and the only thing that keeps us from dropping in is the mercy of Almighty God… (he continues from here, but you can just listen…)

4. I. Jonathan Edwards Biography 1702-1758 Believed that religion should be rooted not only in reason but also in emotion. Born in East Windsor, Connecticut and entered Yale University at 12yrs old. 1722: finished his education and followed became a Puritan minister, just like father and grandfather. 1735 &1735: Delivered a series of sermons that resulted in a great # of conversions of people who believed that they had felt God’s grace and were “born again” when they accepted Christ. ****Edwards’ sermons helped trigger the Great Awakening, a religious revival that swept through New England from 1734-1750 “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. 1757: Accepted the appointment of President of what is now Princeton University. A year later, at the time of his death, the Great Awakening’s extremism had been rejected.

5. 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 a) heard, b) been taught, describe HEAVEN. 1) What does it look like? What’s the weather like? (use colorful 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?

6. Pre-ColonialismPuritanism GodCalled upon in times of trial and for divine inspiration Strict; vengeful and punishing Man/The IndividualSeeking 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; EquianoBradford, Bradstreet, Edwards

7. II. 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 (Consider the effect as you read Edwards’ “Sinners…”)

8. III. 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=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

9. III. Style/Structure of a Puritan Sermon In your notes underneath Edwards’ biography, please jot down the following concepts: Most Puritan sermons were modeled after this structure. Examine “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” for the five main sections of the sermon – epigraph, doctrine, reasons, application, and epilogue A. Epigraph *A Biblical quotation focused on a specific problem/concern in the community.

10. B. Doctrine 1. Selection of scriptural passages scriptural passages that support the preacher’s purpose

11. C. Reasons Explanation of why the listeners, specifically, should believe in the truth of the doctrine. D. Application 1. Statement that applies to a) personal, spiritual, and family lives b) immediate community, as well as the greater world

12. E. Epilogue 2. Encourages the congregation to act on the message 3. Emotional Appeal- Final attempt to convince congregation of the truth of the message/doctrine