In the Midst of the Years: A History of Reformation and Revival in America (Nettles)

Description

Christians yearn for rapid advances in the progress of conversion in the world, holiness in their lives, and fruitful labor for the cause of God and truth. They want God-sent revival. These twelve chapters explore the periods and persons in American history that saw observable advances in these pervasive Christian hopes. Some manifested greater doctrinal purity than others, some highlighted distinctive personalities more than others, and some generated impressive statistics in the number of persons affected. Readers are encouraged to consider the relation between zeal, doctrine, spirituality, prayer, preaching, experience, and attempts to discern evidence of a true work of the Spirit. The author has sought to avoid authoritative judgments on the messengers and their movements while hopefully including enough information and analysis to provoke thought and productive discussion on the subject.

Endorsements

Growing up in the Baptist South, we always spoke of revival in terms of meetings placed on the church schedule in the spring and fall. Once I began to wrestle with the doctrines of grace, one of my immediate questions was, “How does revival square with theology built upon the meticulous sovereignty of God?” Here, Tom Nettles shows that Reformation theology has always undergirded genuine revival, a reality shown to be true in America, where revivalism replaced revival and largely went to Arminian seed after the rise of Charles Finney. Do we have the means to secure revival, is it entirely a work of God, or is it something in between? Nettles, one of America’s pre-eminent church historians, is a trusted guide who knows how to answer these questions compellingly by a journey through the primary sources. This work can help us recover genuine revival in an age that desperately needs it.
—Dr. Jeff Robinson President and Editor in Chief, The Baptist Courier, Greenville, SC Adjunct Professor of Church History, North Greenville University

America has a rich heritage of revival(s). In this survey of American awakenings, Tom Nettles traces the course of revival in America from the post-Reformation era to the Great Awakening, and from the 1858 revival in New York to the revivals of the twentieth century. Using the historical record to show both the roots and fruits of Spirit-worked revival, Nettles provides a balanced evaluation of the revivals that have defined American church and society, as well as of controversial revivalists like Charles Finney and Billy Sunday. May God be pleased to use this book to renew and revive the hearts of His people today, just as He did in centuries past!
—Dr. Joel R. Beeke Chancellor and Professor, Systematic Theology and Homiletics, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Pastor, Heritage Reformed Congregation, Grand Rapids, MI

About the Author

Tom has most recently served as the Professor of Historical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a founding faculty member for The Institute of Public Theology and Founders Seminary. He previously taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School where he was Professor of Church History and Chair of the Department of Church History. Prior to that, he taught at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Along with numerous journal articles and scholarly papers, Dr. Nettles is the author and editor of numerous books.