Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God

Theologians on the Christian Life

by Tom Schwanda, Ian J. Maddock, Justin Taylor (series_editor)

Biography Explores the Life of George Whitefield, an Important Figure in the Early Evangelical Revival

George Whitefield’s bold “born-again” theology and passionate sermons established him as a key figure during the 18th century. Many Christians are familiar with evangelists of this time including Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley, but Whitefield, arguably the most significant member of the trio, often goes unnoticed in the church today. 

After experiencing a profound encounter with Jesus during his time at Oxford, Whitefield dedicated his life to teaching the Scriptures to others and calling people to experience the joy of knowing and loving God. This biography aims to restore Whitefield as a prominent figure in the early evangelical revival while addressing the complexities of the time in an honest, historical, and balanced way. Authors Tom Schwanda and Ian Maddock invite readers to explore the life of George Whitefield and his commitment to guiding souls toward Jesus. 

Part of the Theologians on the Christian Life  Provides accessible introductions to some of church history’s greatest teachers Pastors, Interested Lay Readers, and  Great for adult education, small groups, and college and seminary courses on evangelicalism  A full chapter is devoted to Whitefield’s relationship to slavery and his contribution to establishing black evangelicalism

232 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2025

Reviews

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most pivotal figures of the 18th century was the British evangelist, George Whitefield. Born in 1714, this man faithfully preached the gospel and evangelized nations. He preached over 18,000 sermons during his short life and impacted countless people for the sake of the kingdom.

Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God by Tom Schwanda and Ian Maddock is a riveting read. The authors introduce Whitefield in clear terms and engaging prose. Whitefield is portrayed as a man who valued both the head and the heart.

Schwann and Maddock do not leave any “stone unturned.” They not only focus on the noteworthy aspects of Whitefield’s life and ministry; they also wrestle with some of the more controversial themes, especially his perspective on slavery, which held a death grip on colonial America.

Whitefield is rightly portrayed as a man who refused to compromise the truth. He delivered the truth with power and passion. Another biographer, Arnold Dallimore, writes about the God-centered stature of George Whitefield: “And what manner of men will they be? Men mighty in the Scriptures, their lives dominated by a sense of the greatness, the majesty and holiness of God, and their minds and hearts aglow with the great truths of the doctrines of grace.” Oh, that Christians in this age would model the Whitefield approach. May their hearts be consumed with nothing but the greatness of God. May the sovereign Savior draw people from every tribe and nation.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Wes Van Fleet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be one of my favorite books in this series. I loved how the authors covered a spectrum of Whitefield’s theological beliefs, spiritual practices, and even the relational influence and difficulties he experiences. What I found most intriguing was Whitefield’s ministry as a traveling preacher. I wondered how he would function in a world like ours today with all the social media influence? He seemed to handle his calling well, despite some bumps in his road through sanctification. Great book!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence from the introduction: George Whitefield's life as a Christian was dedicated to knowing God and making him known. His transformative personal experience of the new birth in Christ undergirded and propelled a remarkable public preaching ministry that not only transcended denominations and oceans but also attracted listeners from all segments of society.

First sentence from chapter one: Central to George Whitefield's life and ministry was the new birth. In 1769, one year before his death, he recounted a retrospective review of his conversion in which he narrated his struggle to find peace with God. His listeners were reminded that baptism alone does not assure anyone of entering heaven. He vulnerably rehearsed his misguided journey of excessive asceticism that almost killed him and the futility of seeking God solely by external human efforts. He joyfully credited Charles Wesley's gift of The Life of God in the Soul of Man by the Scottish minister and professor Henry Scougal (1650-1678) which confronted him with his need to be born again. With a tinge of delight, he then added, "Whenever I go to Oxford, I cannot help running to that place where Jesus Christ first revealed himself to me, and gave the new birth."

Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God is a biography of George Whitefield. It is one of many in a long, continuing series published by Crossway. (I have read a handful of books from the series.) The books focus just as much--if not more--on the theology and doctrine of a particular man than on his actual life. Though the book does to some extent do a bit of both. The book is more arranged thematically than chronologically. (Though, of course, it follows some chronology, but when it comes down to choosing between the doctrinal subject (or theme) and following a strict chronology, doctrinal theme wins out.)

This book--like many others in the series--works to place the subject--George Whitefield--in the context of his times. It shows what influenced him, and subsequently how he influenced others.

Whitefield's focus was on PREACHING and then perhaps on having his sermons published. He preached 18,000 SERMONS, AN AVERAGE OF 530 SERMONS A YEAR FROM 1736 TO 1770. That number is staggering.

I learned plenty while reading this book.

Quotes:
As a preacher of one book, Whitefield did not regard the Bible as simply providing the raw material or content for his sermons: as a founding father of the evangelical movement, he let Scripture shape both where and how he urged his listeners to experience the new birth.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God by Tom Schwanda and Ian Maddock, offers a compelling and richly detailed portrait of George Whitefield’s life and spiritual legacy.


This thoughtful volume explores Whitefield’s theology, with particular emphasis on his Calvinist convictions and his belief that true faith must reside both in the head and the heart. Central to his message is the doctrine of the new birth, which echoes powerfully throughout the book.


One of the most edifying parts for me was reading about Whitefield’s principles for studying Scripture. He approached the Bible with deep reverence and gave his readers practical guidance for how to do the same. Although I was already familiar with Whitefield’s reputation as a dramatic preacher, this book deepened my understanding by placing that drama within the context of his theatrical background, the open-air setting of many of his sermons, and his extemporaneous preaching style.



Honest and Inspiring

What sets this biography apart is its honest and balanced portrayal of Whitefield, including his shortcomings. A full chapter is devoted to his relationship with slavery and his role in the formation of Black evangelicalism—offering a sobering, necessary reflection on this part of his legacy. Whitefield’s marriage to Elizabeth James comes across as perfunctory and emotionally distant. He also wrestled with pride and was instrumental in popularizing para-church ministries and the early form of celebrity preaching.


Even so, I found myself inspired by his tireless zeal for preaching and evangelism. The book refers to Whitefield as the “entrepreneurial evangelist,” highlighting his relentless travel schedule, his constant preaching, prolific publishing, and wide-ranging correspondence. I resonate with that “preach and print” strategy—though in my case, the “printing” happens through digital platforms.



This biography was a joy to read—insightful, inspiring, and spiritually challenging. George Whitefield remains a fascinating figure of the faith.



I received a media copy of Whitefield on the Christian Life and this is my honest review.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is perhaps the prosaic entry in this entire series. Whitefield was by all accounts an incredible preacher--but this book is not about preaching. And so little of what made him such an important figure in church history makes its way into the volume.

His theology was basically straight down the line Calvinism (though his ecclesiology was a little off). That's fine--great--but the authors rarely get past that into anything unique. So why do I give it three stars? Because you don't to be unique to show how robust Calvinism should deeply impact your everyday life.

But then again, you perhaps don't need to write another book when entries on Calvin, Owen, etc. do such a good job on the topic. But it's still worthwhile to read about additional figures in church history, including this one.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great biography of Whitefield.