The Works Of Reverend George Whitefield

Whitefield main message throughout all his sermons in America was the “necessity of the new birth” which was meant as a conversion experience. He was not one to plead or beg, he would only dramatize and announce his messages. He was known for imposing fear on his audience. His fear appeals includes : death, judgement, hell, spiritual failure, and return of Christ. Whitefield extensively used the appeal to fear, it “utilizes a warning of harmful or unpleasant circumstances (Melton)” to the target audience. The threat of death is used eighty times in his seventy-eight sermons. In his threats of death he largely targeted young. He said in the sermon “The Lord Our Righteousness”, “Come then, while you are young. Perhaps you may not live to be old.” He was clearly trying to instill fear in the his younger audience and persuading them to follow him. Another appeal Whitefield used often in his sermons was the appeal of judgement. Whitefield uses quotes from the scripture, for example, Hebrews 9:27 indicating judgement comes with death. He uses bible verses, but with no or wrong context, he twists the meaning of the verse. His preaching style is very different from the traditional teachings that were taught in England and America. His use of fear and dramatics is what really drew people into him. He sermons were meant to teach you the ways to be saved and he used mainly fear to achieve it.