Sermons of George Whitefield

by George Whitefield

Sermons of George Whitefield gathers the preaching of the English minister whose life, ministry, and unlikely friendship with Benjamin Franklin are portrayed in the 2026 historical movie A Great Awakening .

“THERE IS NO SALVATION BUT BY JESUS CHRIST.”

George Whitefield
Sermon IX


Whitefield did not preach to make religion respectable. He preached to wake people up. He pressed his hearers to ask whether they had merely learned the language of Christianity or had truly been born again.

He crossed the Atlantic seven times and preached at least 18,000 times. In churches, streets, and open fields, he called men and women to repent, place their faith in Jesus Christ, and live with eternity in view. His preaching became one of the driving forces of the Great Awakening in Britain and America. (Christian History Institute)

These sermons do not flatter the reader. They speak plainly about sin, grace, judgment, prayer, family worship, temptation, perseverance, the righteousness of Christ, and salvation. Whitefield warns against an outward religion that leaves the heart unchanged, then points the sinner to the mercy of God through Jesus Christ.


“I OFFER JESUS CHRIST TO EVERY ONE OF YOU.”

George Whitefield
Sermon IX


What made Whitefield famous was not a new gospel. It was the force with which he preached the old one. His words still leave the reader with a searching question.


Have you simply heard about Jesus Christ, or has He changed your heart?


This edition has been carefully prepared for readability while preserving Whitefield’s direct style, historic voice, and urgent appeal.



Blue Harvest Publishing, Inc. is dedicated to introducing readers to Jesus Christ through the publication of enduring Christian works. This volume is part of the Blue Harvest Publishing Classics series and was selected for its lasting wisdom and historic influence. Sermons of George Whitefield is an excellent addition to any Christian library.

Genres: Theology, Christian, History, Nonfiction, Biography, Christianity

548 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 2009

About the author

George Whitefield, also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain and, especially, in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally. He became perhaps the best-known preacher in Britain and America in the 18th century, and because he travelled through all of the American colonies and drew great crowds and media coverage, he was one of the most widely recognized public figures in colonial America.

Reviews

[James Horgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Whitefield was the first celebrity preacher of the modern world. He was not the first to eschew pulpits for fields, but he was the first to attract a large following in the English-speaking world.

Around 60 sermons are extant, most published with his agreement, and most preached in his early years of ministry. They are direct, plain, and seek for conversions, as you would expect.

Whitefield was a decided, though eirenic, Calvinist. That comes through clearly in asides. But note clearly that Calvinists can and do preach to win souls for Christ!

His day was very different to our own. There was much greater Biblical literacy in society and so he focusses on the many who attended church out of politeness, or societal respectability. This is not enough to be a true Christian. There is a vital need to be born again and to have a heart religion. His style was to preach from one or two verses, ranging throughout the Bible. He frequently sets out the great doctrines of the Reformation, particularly justification but never neglecting the need for holy living.

Though this is just as true today, hearers in our age also need more of the basic Bible story, of the nature of God, of who Jesus is, of what the Bible is about. . Nonetheless ministers should warmly preach for repentance often and these sermons should be a spur to that.

Lee Gatiss has done a fine job in producing an edition in modern typesetting, broken up with helpful headings, well bound on good paper. It was a pleasure to read devotionally on all counts.

[Carl Palmateer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of Ben Franklin and one of the founders of Methodism who is known more for his part as a leader of the Great Awakening. This edited collection clarifies the dated language, connects and expands obscure references but keeps faithful to the original text.

[Travis Daggett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A treasure.

[Ken]

Whitefield was one of the main contributers to the Great Awakening. He was a friend of Benjamin Franklin and was renouned for his powerful oratory. While have no complaints with most of what I have read - it just doesn't capture me the way other authors of his theological bent have. Still have a lot to read, so ..... we'll see