Monday, June 30, 2014

Pastor’s Library: The Evangelistic Zeal of George Whitefield


Little will stir the soul of a pastor and challenge him to press forward in ministry more than a good biography. Biographies often aim to champion the character and legacy of a person. The Evangelistic Zeal of George Whitefield (here forward Evangelistic Zeal), does much more. This book from Reformation Trust is part of the A Long Line of Godly Men Profile series. Series Editor, Dr. Steven J. Lawson, both a professor and pastor, expertly weds biography, theological formation, and pastoral exhortation into a single package.

As a biography, Evangelistic Zeal provides a comprehensive look at George Whitefield’s life and itinerant preaching ministry. Whitefield is widely considered the one who blew to flame the match that Jonathan Edwards set to the Great Awakening. His fervor for the gospel and his enduring fortitude for travel permitted Whitefield to preach 18,000 sermons, over the course of a thirty-four year ministry, crossing to America seven times for preaching tours. Keep reading
George Whitfield was an Anglican, an evangelical Protestant, and a Calvinist. His evangelical Protestantism and Calvinism were consistent with the Protestant Reformed faith of the reformed Church of England and authentic historic Anglicanism unlike John Wesley's particular brand of Arminianism. Both Whitfield and Wesley were ordained ministers of the Church of England. Whitfield was loyal to the Church of England throughout his life and ministry. Wesley, on the other hand, broke with the Church of England and formed his own denomination. More recent scholarship shows that Wesley's break with the Church of England was premeditated. 

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