The Role of the Pastor in Stirring a Hunger for Revival in the Local Church
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THE ROLE OF THE PASTOR IN STIRRING A HUNGER FOR REVIVAL IN THE LOCAL CHURCH by Stephen B. Putney Th.B., Piedmont Bible College, 1979 Th.M., Grace Theological Seminary, 1983 A MAJOR PROJECT Submitted to the faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF MINISTRY at Trinity International University Deerfield, Illinois May 2004 Accepted: ~d:,~ PrOject Mentor tA~@(!Ub~ Second Reader ~~Program Director ii ABSTRACT "The Role Of The Pastor In Stirring A Hunger For Revival In The Local Church" is an attempt to understand how a pastor can lead his flock to long to experience revival in the local church. Hainesport Community Baptist Church, the church that is the subject of this project, is a small church in southern New Jersey. The project relates specifically to stirring this local church to hunger for revival, but it is hoped that the principles are applicable to any local church and its pastor. Chapter one expresses the longing for revival that springs forth from the need for Hainesport Community Baptist Church to experience revival. The longing that has come to this pastor is a longing that is found in the lives of others in Scripture, in history, and In current times. Chapter one also further explains the goals and objectives of this project, along with the limitations that it entails. Chapter two develops the theology of revival that is foundational for this project. Revival is first of all defined according to scriptural terms, biblical passages, both from the Old and New Testaments, and the definitions of many III writers of revival literature. Comparing and contrasting the views of Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney further develop the meaning of revival. The differences between the evangelization of the lost and the revival of the saved are clarified as well. Reformation and revival are examined next as to their relationship throughout history. The core elements of revival are determined from the biblical and historical studies. Finally, the role of the pastor in stirring a hunger for revival is demonstrated from scriptural principles and made applicable for today. The third chapter develops the plan to promote revival in the local church in two ways. First, the plan to develop a hunger for revival in the life of the pastor is examined. Second, there is the development of a plan to stir a hunger for revival in the local church. Two surveys of the church were taken to determine the hunger for revival of the people of Hainesport Community Baptist Church. The two main parts of the plan to promote a hunger for revival are the preaching of the Word and the prayers of God's people. The fourth chapter is an evaluation of the impact of the plan, first, in the life of the pastor, and second, In the life of the local church. Surveys of the congregation as well as a survey of pastors and other Christian leaders provide iv valuable material for this project. The evaluation of the preaching of the Word and the praying of God's people also demonstrate the value and effectiveness of the plan. The final chapter presents the conclusions of the project and determines that revival has not yet come to Hainesport Community Baptist Church, but that God is at work, doing great things in the lives of His people. v CONTENTS Chapter 1. THE LONGING FOR REVIVAL. 1 Should We Long For Revival? 2 The Need For Revival. 2 The Longing For Revival In Scripture. 6 The Longing For Revival In History. 9 The Longing For Revival In My Life. 14 The Current Longing For Revival . 17 Goals And Objectives. 23 Limitations. 25 2. THE THEOLOGY OF REVIVAL 27 The Definition Of Revival. 29 Word Studies. 29 Old Testament Revivals. 33 New Testament Revivals. 65 Definitions Of Revival. 77 My Definition Of Revival. 84 Jonathan Edwards And Charles Finney On Revival . 85 The Revival Of The Church And The Evangelization Of The Lost 95 Reformation And Revival 97 Core Elements Of Revival 110 vi ~-- The Sovereignty Of God In Revival . 111 The Word Of God And Preaching In Revival. 116 Prayer In Revival . 124 The Response Of The People In Revival 134 The Pastor's Role In Revival 144 Leaders Of Revival In The Old Testament 145 Leaders Of Revival In The New Testament 155 Leaders Of Revival For Today. 158 Personal Hunger For Revival. 160 Christian Character And Lifestyle. 163 The Ministry Of The Word Of God. 168 The Ministry Of Prayer 178 Theological Conclusions. 183 3. THE PLAN FOR THE PROMOTION OF REVIVAL 186 Past Efforts 187 Developing A Hunger For Revival In The Life Of The Pastor . 193 Personal Prayer . 194 Weekly Fasts. 195 Scriptural Studies. 196 Revival Reading 197 Worship Music . 199 Survey Of Pastors And Other Christian Leaders. 200 vii Developing A Hunger For Revival In The Local Church . 202 Surveys Of The Church 203 First Survey . 203 Second Survey. 205 The Preaching Of The Word 206 Old Testament Series . 208 New Testament Series 213 Great Doctrines. 216 Ray Ortlund Jr. Series From When God Comes To Church. 217 Forty Days Of Purpose Series . 217 Special Meetings . 218 Prayer In The Church. 219 Prayer Challenges. 219 Corporate Prayer Meetings For Revival. 220 Personal Prayer For Revival. 223 Days Of Prayer And Fasting 224 Means Of Promotion. 225 4. THE EVALUATION OF THE PLAN TO PROMOTE REVIVAL 227 Personal Evaluation. 228 Prayer Ministry 228 Fasting . 229 Scriptural Studies. 230 viii - Revival Reading . 232 Survey Of Pastors And Other Christian Leaders. 233 Local Church Evaluation. 248 Surveys Of The Church 248 First Survey . 248 Second Survey. 252 Old Testament Series. 257 New Testament Series. 258 Prayer. 259 Means Of Promotion. 262 5. CONCLUSIONS 263 APPENDIX 1. Pastoral Survey Form For Email. 269 2. Congregational Survey For May 2003. 271 3. Congregational Survey For October 2003. 273 4. Old Testament Sermon Series Outlines. 275 5. New Testament Sermon Series Outlines. 299 6. Sample Prayer Lists For Corporate Prayer For Revival. 313 7. Pray Around The Clock For Revival Challenge 316 8. Results Of Surveys Of Pastors And Other Christian Leaders. 317 9. Results Of May 2003 Church Survey 347 ix 10. Results Of October 2003 Church Survey 358 REFERENCE LIST 369 x CHAPTER 1 THE LONGING FOR REVIVAL Wesley Duewel wrote the following poem on October 20, 1958. He had just spoken with Duncan Campbell, leader of the revivals that began in 1949 in the Scottish Hebrides. Give Us A Greater Hunger Give us a greater hunger, Lord, than we have ever known. Help us wait in one accord until Your pow'r is shown. Keep us Your children on our knees, beseeching You with mighty pleas Till floods of blessing like the seas sweep over all Your own. Give us a sense of urgency that will not be denied. Give such desire Your work to see, till ease we cast aside. Give us soul-hunger and soul-thirst, till hearts with longing almost burst, Till we could wish ourselves accursed if souls but reach Your side. Lord, now begin Your mighty work; make bare Your holy arm. o God, forbid that we should shirk, or to this age conform! Reveal Your Spirit's mighty pow'ri oh, come upon Your church this hour! By Your own working, Lord, empow'r, till Satan's forts we storm. Help each of us to do our part; 0 Lord, may we not fail. Give clearest guidance to each heart, till highest mounts we scale. Use us however You may choose; we would no burden, Lord, refuse; But get us, Lord, where You can use and mightily prevail. Oh, send the promised Holy Ghost upon us as we kneel. We need His holy working most, till men conviction feel. 1 2 Lord, this is still the day of grace; have mercy on our dying race. Revival send to every place; Your miracle reveal. (Duewel 1995, 360) Should We Long for Revival? Early in 2001, the Lord began to work in my heart, developing within me a longing for revival in my life, in the church I pastor, in America, and throughout the world. I began to wonder if the Lord might graciously revive His people during my lifetime as He had done so many times in the past. I began to wonder if God would allow me to see His hand at work, bringing revival to His people. The longing of David Bryant is that, "the twenty-first century will be an age of great hope because it will be an age of world revival in the church" (Bryant 1995, 16). May his words be found true. The Need for Revival Peace in the Middle East is still elusive. Wars around the world never cease. Morals continue to erode. The world is in desperate trouble. It has been there before, but never with so many people inhabiting the planet. America, the land of freedom, the nation founded on Christian principles, is in real need of revival. The Northeast, and South Jersey in particular, my home, is in need of revival. The area is steeped in Catholic traditions, but is very materialistic and self-focused. People work hard and long. They are always on the move, working harder, making more money, buying larger 3 homes, looking for better entertainment, and living in greater debt, but still wanting more. Few seem to be really happy. Broken homes are common, even in the wealthy neighborhoods. Unfaithfulness and promiscuous living know no economic boundaries. Bars are full on the weekends. Some churches struggle to stay open. Even many of the few evangelical churches that are well attended are struggling today.