Revivals and Renewals

General Christian Theology

Has your church or congregation experienced a revival or a renewal in the past 10 years.

Poll runs till Mon Jun 14, 2027 4:21 pm

Yes
7
64%
No
2
18%
It's been longer than 10 years.
0
No votes
Never
2
18%
 
Total votes: 11

Valerie
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by Valerie »

What do you see as the difference between a Revival & an “Awakening “?
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JimFoxvog
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by JimFoxvog »

To me a revival is a scheduled meeting. An awakening is more spontaneous.
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Valerie
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by Valerie »

JimFoxvog wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 6:26 pm To me a revival is a scheduled meeting. An awakening is more spontaneous.
I think of the Great Awakening
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ohio jones
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by ohio jones »

Valerie wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 5:55 pm What do you see as the difference between a Revival & an “Awakening “?
According to the entomology of the words, revival means you were (or seemed to be) dead; awakening means you were asleep.
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barnhart
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by barnhart »

I suppose it was revival passion that fueled the careers of men like Whitfield but it also fueled the drive to buy slaves, brand them with the missionary society logo and import them into open land in Georgia even though it was forbidden by law, because he wanted them to fund his ministry. I suppose it was revival passion that swept in waves across upstate New York producing religious frenzy that gave us the Mormons, Jehovah's witnesses, sex cult utopianism and left one of the most spiritually hardened populations in the country, sometimes called the burned over district.

Revival passion that does not produce christ-likeness is just passion.
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JohnL
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by JohnL »

Interesting side thoughts but as I wrote in the first post
JohnL wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 3:21 pm Has your church or congregation experienced a revival or a renewal in the past 10 years. (Definition of revival/renewal for this thread: a special effort to get back to the basics of the Bible and the vision of your group's founders.)
Let's stick to this definition for this thread.
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JohnH
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by JohnH »

JohnL wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 11:24 pm Interesting side thoughts but as I wrote in the first post
JohnL wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 3:21 pm Has your church or congregation experienced a revival or a renewal in the past 10 years. (Definition of revival/renewal for this thread: a special effort to get back to the basics of the Bible and the vision of your group's founders.)
Let's stick to this definition for this thread.
I’m not sure that definition of “revival” would be shared by Anabaptists.
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Valerie
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by Valerie »

ohio jones wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 11:13 pm
Valerie wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 5:55 pm What do you see as the difference between a Revival & an “Awakening “?
According to the entomology of the words, revival means you were (or seemed to be) dead; awakening means you were asleep.
So the term revival would be for unbelievers (dead)
Awakening for Believers. Or so it seems.
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Ernie
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by Ernie »

JohnH wrote: ↑Sun Feb 01, 2026 12:30 am
JohnL wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 11:24 pm Interesting side thoughts but as I wrote in the first post
JohnL wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 3:21 pm Has your church or congregation experienced a revival or a renewal in the past 10 years. (Definition of revival/renewal for this thread: a special effort to get back to the basics of the Bible and the vision of your group's founders.)
Let's stick to this definition for this thread.
I’m not sure that definition of “revival” would be shared by Anabaptists.
In Anabaptist circles, "revival" generally refers to people or churches repenting of sins or of lethargy, becoming more consecrated, and becoming more serious about one's spiritual life and the Kingdom of God.

Is it ok if we use this definition for continued discussion in this thread?
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JohnH
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Re: Revivals and Renewals

Post by JohnH »

Ernie wrote: ↑Sun Feb 01, 2026 9:15 am
JohnH wrote: ↑Sun Feb 01, 2026 12:30 am
JohnL wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 11:24 pm Interesting side thoughts but as I wrote in the first post

Let's stick to this definition for this thread.
I’m not sure that definition of “revival” would be shared by Anabaptists.
In Anabaptist circles, "revival" generally refers to people or churches repenting of sins or of lethargy, becoming more consecrated, and becoming more serious about one's spiritual life and the Kingdom of God.

Is it ok if we use this definition for continued discussion in this thread?
I was under the impression it referred to 1-2 weeks of preaching services with an outsider preacher or two, followed by a time of young people completing a new birth experience and seeking baptism, performed on an annual basis.

For example: “When are revivals?”

“We’re having trouble finding a preacher who can be here for revivals.”

“We’ll need to change which month we have revivals due to too many families being in Sarasota that time of year.”

“We visited revivals at so and so’s church.”
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