Module 8: Great Awakenings

Hi everyone, and welcome back to the eighth module of the History of Christianity 2 Course. In this section, we'll continue to work through the history of the continuing church in America. This module will cover a few renewal movements in the New World that happened around the same time as the events covered in the previous module. This module will cover the various movements now known as the First and Second Great Awakenings.

This module will help you to understand the various causes and effects of the revivals of the church and how God used His people to renew and revitalize certain parts of the church in the American colonies and later American states. It will cover the events, causes, results, doctrines, and main leaders of each of these different movements.

The student will be exposed to different approaches and evaluations of these events and how God's people responded at the time. The student will have opportunity to evaluate the longer-term effects of these movements, approaches, and practices, and the lessons that can be learned from these two Awakenings. This module will also aid the student to work through how the lessons learned are applicable in their own life and ministry.

Introductory Scenario

Imagine that you are part of a church that talks about seeking revival. How should you understand that term? What would it look like if genuine revival happened in your church and/or town? How can the church discern if revival is truly happening or if they are experiencing some sort of counterfeit? How should the church pursue revival? How should it pray? How should it act? What is the responsibility of the church? What should the church expect from God? Please consider these questions and be watching for material that will help you answer them as you work through this module.

Module Objectives and Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Understand the history of the First and Second Great Awakenings and their long-term effects for the church and wider society.
  • Describe the major leaders of the two great awakenings and why they were so influential.
  • Describe the main ideas, approaches, doctrines, and writings that came out of the First and Second Great Awakenings.
  • Evaluate each of these movements and the lessons that can be learned from them and applied to current situations.
  • Place the major events and people of these movements in a general chronology.

Instruction Guides

In this section, you'll find links to important instructional documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. There is a set of instructions for individual study and a document for group study.

Textbook Content

In this section, you'll find a study guide for the textbook reading for module 8. And then you'll find the link to a practice quiz covering this textbook reading.

This section also contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the textbook material for this module. By clicking the banner below, you will be given a series of questions, in random order. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once.

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Gonzalez Textbook Quiz
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Textbook Review Quiz for Gonzalez chs. 25-27

Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the Submit button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


What was the chief cause of the growth of the Roman Catholic church in America?

Denominations

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 324

The Council of Trent

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 324

Universalism

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 324

Immigration

Good Job

American Bible Society

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 324

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the church was seen more and more as the most important institution in society.

True

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 314

False

Correct
All American churches opposed slavery

True

Sorry, see Gonzalez pp. 332-333

False

Correct
Drag each term to its best definition.
Jonathan Edwards
George Whitefield
Mayflower Compact
Mayhew Family
Half-way covenant
Roger Williams
Jamestown

Was concerned for the conversion of the Indians

Anglican priest who was a leader of the Great Awakening

Idea including those who had been baptized, but not converted

Pastor of Northampton who was a leader of the Great Awakening

Agreement organizing the Puritan colony in Massachusetts

Founder of Rhode Island

First permanent English settlement in the new world

The "November Revolution" is associated with which country?

Brazil

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 307

USA

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 307

Russia

Well Done

Great Britain

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 307

France

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 307

The Church of England was concerned with the conversion of slaves.

True

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 278

False

Well Done
Some churches returned freed slaves to Africa

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 333
What was the main reason for colonial expansion in the 19th century?

The Industrial Revolution

Correct

The November Revolution

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 303

World War I

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 303

Napolean's Defeat

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 303

What was the "uncounted casualty" of World War 2?

The optimistic view of the future

Well Done

The revolt against colonialism

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 310

the bitterness of youth against their parents

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 310

The people who died in the atomic bombs

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 310

Drag each term to its best definition
Manifest Destiny
Mormonism
Social Gospel
Cane Ridge Revival
Salvation Army
Unitarianism
Azusa St. Revival
Five Fundamentals

Heretical group who denied Christian doctrines and instead focused on natural religion and the idea of human progress

Event which spread the experience of spiritual gifts and Pentecostal doctrine

Movement among liberal Christians to help the plight of the urban poor

Most famous camp meeting

Group led by William Booth that evangelized among the lower classes

Heretical cult began by Joseph Smith

the idea that the U.S. is called by God to expand all the way to the Pacific

The ideas which could not be denied without falling into the error of liberalism


Lecture Content

In this section, you will find the video lectures for the Great Awakenings module. They are designed to be watched in order, but each video should make sense on its own. Click each banner to open access to each video. There are also links with each video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.

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08a: First Great Awakening
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08b: Second Great Awakening
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Supplemental Reading

The student will read the two assigned secondary readings found below. Think through the content of these articles and use the insights gained as part of their course material response and application reflection or discussion.

Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 8. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the banner to open the slide show.

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Review Slideshow
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Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 8. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. Below, you will find links to the Response and Application Reflection Instructions for Individuals, and the Response and Application Discussion Instructions for Groups. And you will find a link to the detailed question document for this module. Or Click the banner below to view the questions in a simplified format.

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Discussion/Application Questions
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The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

  1. Discuss the "Distinguishing Marks." Do you agree? Why or why not? How does this apply?
  2. Discuss the "Resolutions" of Edwards. What stood out? Why? How will you respond?
  3. Discuss the First Great Awakening. What did you learn? How does this apply?
  4. What did you learn from Whitefield and/or Edwards? What difference should this make?
  5. What did you learn from the Second Awakening? What was good and/or bad? How does this apply?
  6. Compare and contrast the First and Second Awakenings. What principles can you learn? How does this apply?
  7. What did you learn about ministry methods? What difference does this make? How can you discern the best methods?
  8. What else did you learn? How does it apply?

(Optional) Timeline - Part 8

This section contains instructions for an optional Timeline activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.

Step eight of the Timeline should include the following information:

  • Any significant events, ideas and people from the First Great Awakening.
  • Any significant events, ideas, and people from the Second Great Awakening.
  • Any significant writings from these movements, and the ideas, doctrines, and approaches which they represent, and the impact they had.

(Optional) Principles Chart - Part 8

This section contains instructions for an optional Principles Chart activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.

Step eight of the Principles chart will add any important principles noted from the First and Second Great Awakenings, the influence these movements had, the reasons behind that influence, and how those principles can be applied.

It is suggested that the student begin this activity before watching the Guiding Principles portion of the lecture. Then the student may supplement their work after learning additional insights from the Guiding Principles.

(Optional) Term Project Research & Organization

The student will continue researching their chosen topic for their term project. The student should seek to follow where their research leads, and fill any gaps in their knowledge. The student should also continue organizing all that they are learning into a logical and coherent structure, based on the information they have researched, which will serve as the organization for their term project presentation.

Below is a link to detailed instructions for the entire project.

Primary Source Reading

This section contains instructions and resources for the Primary Source Reading activity. The student should read a minimum of 10-20 pages from a primary resource or resources discussed in this module's lecture and write or discuss a brief response to their reading. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the Primary Source Reading, which contain a list of recommended resources, by module. And click the banner below to access a list of recommended resources with links to where they may be found.

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Primary Sources
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The following is a list of the recommended primary sources for this module. This list contains links to the resources in print and/or online format. These links may change, so feel free to search for other sources for these same titles. In addition, please do not feel you are limited only to this list. Feel free to choose from any primary source from the period and topic covered in this module:

Links to Primary Sources

Review Quiz

This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 8. By clicking the banner, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the banner to begin the quiz.

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Quiz for Module 08
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Review Quiz for Module 08

Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


Which is the reason why Edwards was surprised by what he called the surprising conversions?

The church was doing nothing different than it had been doing before

Well Done

Those converted were notorious sinners

Sorry, see Lecture 08a

They happened without any influence from the church

Sorry, see Lecture 08a

They were accompanied by miraculous signs

Sorry, see Lecture 08a

Edwards did not think that God could bring about conversions of that kind

Sorry, see Lecture 08a

Methodist and Baptist churches grew significantly in the Second Awakening, because they were more present on the frontiers

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 08b
The Second Great Awakening was at the same time, and was basically part of the same work of God as the British Evangelical Revival

True

Sorry, this is true of the FIRST Great Awakening, see Lecture 08a

False

Good Job
According to Jonathan Edwards, which of these is NOT conclusive evidence of a genuine revival from God?

People love Jesus more

Sorry, see Lecture 08a

People love and trust the Bible more

Sorry, see Lecture 08a

People sin less and don't fall for the devil's deceptions

Sorry, see Lecture 08a

People pursue truth and believe what is true

Sorry, see Lecture 08a

People love God and their neighbor more

Sorry, see Lecture 08a

People talk more about religious things

Good Job

Finney taught that revival is the result of using the right methods, and religion is primarily something that mankind does.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 08b
There was cooperation across denominations in the First Awakening, but not in the second

True

Sorry, see Lectures 08a & 08b

False

Good Job
Drag each name to its best definition
Jonathan Edwards
Charles Finney
George Whitefield
Chewbacca

Travelling preacher who preached in the First Great Awakening and in the British Evangelical Revival

The big hairy guy in the Star Wars movies

Preacher in the Second Awakening who advocated for "New Measures"

Leader of the First Awakening by preaching at Northampton and by writing books telling about the revival

The Second Awakening happened only on the frontiers, and not in the established churches

True

Sorry, it was mostly on the frontier, but not only on the frontier, see Lecture 08b

False

Well Done
Many pastors of the time expressed caution about and/or opposition to Finney's approach to evangelism, arguing it produced false-converts

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 08b
Which best describes the "new measures" used by Finney and others?

Gathering people for meetings over multiple days away from their normal routine

Sorry, see Lecture 08b

Emotional and personal appeals to pressure people into a public profession

Good Job

Keeping track of how many people were converted

Sorry, see Lecture 08b

Silent and extended prayer for the salvation of others

Sorry, see Lecture 08b

Loud, boisterous, emotional preaching and singing

Sorry, see Lecture 08b


Midterm Exam

In this section, you will find the midterm exam, covering all the course material for the first half of this course (modules 1-8).

Below you will find the study guide for the midterm exam, which you should have been using throughout the course so far.

Below you will find the answer sheet for the Midterm Exam. You should have this answer sheet handy as you take the objective portion of the midterm exam (either on screen or by printing it out in physical form).

Below you will find the banner link to open the actual Midterm exam. By clicking this banner, you will be given a series of objective questions, then a series of essay questions, in random order.

Answer each objective question exactly as you see the correct answer on the Midterm Exam Answer Sheet. Answer each essay question as you see fit. Answer every question and then push the Check Answers button to check your answers. Every question should be answered before you submit the exam. At the end, you will be shown your score for the objective section of the exam.

The exam will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once.

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Midterm Exam
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Answer every question and then push the Check Answers button to check your answers.


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Council of Trent"},{"0":"40","ID":"40","1":"Henry VIII","MTAnswer":"Henry VIII"},{"0":"41","ID":"41","1":"Thomas Cranmer","MTAnswer":"Thomas Cranmer"},{"0":"42","ID":"42","1":"Book of Common Prayer","MTAnswer":"Book of Common Prayer"},{"0":"43","ID":"43","1":"'Bloody Mary'","MTAnswer":"'Bloody Mary'"},{"0":"44","ID":"44","1":"Elizabeth","MTAnswer":"Elizabeth"},{"0":"45","ID":"45","1":"Thirty Nine Articles","MTAnswer":"Thirty Nine Articles"},{"0":"46","ID":"46","1":"John Knox","MTAnswer":"John Knox"},{"0":"47","ID":"47","1":"William of Orange","MTAnswer":"William of Orange"},{"0":"48","ID":"48","1":"Beggars of the sea","MTAnswer":"Beggars of the sea"},{"0":"49","ID":"49","1":"Huguenots","MTAnswer":"Huguenots"},{"0":"50","ID":"50","1":"Defenestration of Prague","MTAnswer":"Defenestration of Prague"},{"0":"51","ID":"51","1":"Gustavus Adolphus","MTAnswer":"Gustavus Adolphus"},{"0":"52","ID":"52","1":"Cardinal Richelieu","MTAnswer":"Cardinal Richelieu"},{"0":"53","ID":"53","1":"Elizabethan Settlement","MTAnswer":"Elizabethan Settlement"},{"0":"54","ID":"54","1":"Puritans","MTAnswer":"Puritans"},{"0":"55","ID":"55","1":"Episcopacy","MTAnswer":"Episcopacy"},{"0":"56","ID":"56","1":"William Laud","MTAnswer":"William Laud"},{"0":"57","ID":"57","1":"Presbyterian","MTAnswer":"Presbyterian"},{"0":"58","ID":"58","1":"Westminster Assembly","MTAnswer":"Westminster Assembly"},{"0":"59","ID":"59","1":"Oliver Cromwell","MTAnswer":"Oliver Cromwell"},{"0":"60","ID":"60","1":"The Remonstrance","MTAnswer":"The Remonstrance"},{"0":"61","ID":"61","1":"Synod of Dort","MTAnswer":"Synod of Dort"},{"0":"62","ID":"62","1":"Predestination","MTAnswer":"Predestination"},{"0":"63","ID":"63","1":"First Great Awakening","MTAnswer":"First Great Awakening"},{"0":"64","ID":"64","1":"Philip Jakob Spener","MTAnswer":"Philip Jakob Spener"},{"0":"65","ID":"65","1":"Moravians","MTAnswer":"Moravians"},{"0":"66","ID":"66","1":"Holy Club","MTAnswer":"Holy Club"},{"0":"67","ID":"67","1":"John Wesley","MTAnswer":"John Wesley"},{"0":"68","ID":"68","1":"Charles Wesley","MTAnswer":"Charles Wesley"},{"0":"69","ID":"69","1":"Methodism","MTAnswer":"Methodism"},{"0":"70","ID":"70","1":"Jonathan Edwards","MTAnswer":"Jonathan Edwards"},{"0":"71","ID":"71","1":"The Distinguishing Marks...","MTAnswer":"The Distinguishing Marks..."},{"0":"72","ID":"72","1":"George Whitefield","MTAnswer":"George Whitefield"},{"0":"73","ID":"73","1":"Second Great Awakening","MTAnswer":"Second Great Awakening"},{"0":"74","ID":"74","1":"Charles Finney","MTAnswer":"Charles Finney"},{"0":"75","ID":"75","1":"New Measures","MTAnswer":"New Measures"},{"0":"76","ID":"76","1":"Cane Ridge Kentucky","MTAnswer":"Cane Ridge Kentucky"},{"0":"77","ID":"77","1":"Anabaptists","MTAnswer":"Anabaptists"}]

Objective Section

Answer each of the following questions with terms directly from the answer sheet. Make sure your answers are entered exactly as they appear on the answer sheet.

As you begin typing your answer, you will see a suggestion from the answer sheet. Feel free to click on the suggested answer you intend to help assure that the spelling is correct, and therefore it will be accurately graded.


Ministry training center started by Calvin


The primary leader of the methodist movement


Leader of the English Civil War


Leader of the Second Great Wakening who promoted "new measures" of evangelism


First Anabaptists in Zurich


Book written to give criteria for judging a revival and proving that the First Great Awakening was a genuine revival.


French Protestants were called by this label


High Church Anglican Bishop who strongly opposed the Puritans


Zwingli's defense of Sola Scriptura


Roman Catholic Queen of England who persecuted Protestants


Author of the Book of Common Prayer


The Pope's document against Luther, which Luther publicly burned


Queen who worked against corruption in the Roman Catholic church in Spain


Leader of the British Evangelical Revival best known as a writer of hymns


Anabaptist leader who lived as a fugitive travelling preacher


The selling or granting of excess spiritual merit


Group that grew out of the British Evangelical Revival by consolidating converts into organized bands for follow up and discipleship


The first movement that was common to all thirteen original American colonies


Gathering that produced the definitive expression of Puritan theology


German Pietist and author of Pia Desideria


The part of Calvin's work which has had the most lasting impact


The pursuit of heresy most infamously in Spain


Controversial techniques for evangelism which included the "anxious bench"


The prince who protected Luther


Most famous camp meeting in the Second Great Awakening


Reformation idea that God is truly known in weakness and suffering


Spanish mystic who founded a new order of nuns when the monastic life was not taken seriously


Leader of the First Great Awakening whose books describing the revival also led to the spread of the revival


The prince of humanists


Reformation doctrine that Scripture alone has final authority


Essay Section

Answer each of the following essay questions in 2-4 paragraphs, giving specific information demonstrating your understanding of the course material and its impact for Christian life.


I hope you understand that I am not able to grade the essay section of this online exam. I suggest you may ask your group leader, a trusted friend, mentor, or pastor for constructive feedback on your essay answers. Therefore, the grade calculated below only reflects the objective section of this exam.

Describe how the Reformation in England was similar and different from the Reformation in Germany and Switzerland and the principles we can apply today.


Describe how the theology of the Remonstrance differed from that of the Synod of Dort. What difference does this make for current ministry?



Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the eighth module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 9.