Radical: Praying & Preaching

by Leonard Ravenhill, Glenn Conjurske, E.M. Bounds

Of or relating to the origin or root. New and different from what is traditional or ordinary. Of change or action, relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough. Gone are the days when men walked into church and shook under the convicting power of God’s presence. Instead, our dull, dry-eyed preaching tends to comfort the sinner and condone his sin. We need a return to the original New Testament type of praying and preaching. The early Church moved heaven and earth by their prayers; they changed hearts by their preaching. Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost pierced his listeners to the heart. This word “pierced” is the same used when the soldier drove his spear into the side of Jesus, on the cross. Following the day of Pentecost, the disciples prayed for confidence and the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly. If you want to find out how, then read RADICAL.

198 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2016

About the author

Very little biographical information is available for Leonard Ravenhill. He rarely spoke of himself which is likely a reflection of his belief in exalting Christ and not self. Most of what we know about Ravenhill is from sources that knew him and the details he provided in sermons. He was an evangelist born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England in 1907 and was used by God in revivals in Great Brittan before moving to American in 1950. Leonard Ravenhill was known for his focus on revival and his writing on the subject including the popular title, Why Revival Tarries.
Ravenhill preached in churches of many denominations, but was not ordained by any. His preaching is marked by calling sinners to repentance, insisting Christians live lives marked by holiness, and encouraging deeper prayer lives. Ravenhill claims to have been saved at age 14, but says he was baptized by the Holy Spirit at age 18 indicating belief in a Pentecostal system. However, Ravenhill also said he never spoke in tongues and said that baptism of the Holy Spirit is the same thing Wesley called sanctification and also said the only evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is holy living. He rejected Christian Perfection, but preached a Wesleyan-Holiness higher Christian life theology. Ravenhill speaks of John Wesley frequently and wrote a biographical sketch of him. Wesley’s influence on Ravenhill is apparent.
Leonard Ravenhill was a mentor to Keith Green of Last Days Ministries based in Texas. Later in his life, Leonard moved to Texas close to Last Day Ministries where he led a weekly prayer meeting and taught classes before dying in November of 1994.

Reviews

[S. Runyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ravenhill never disappoints but in a surprising twist, this book only contains 10 out of 189 pages of text written by him. The first 133 pages or so belong to a man named Glenn Conjurske, whom I had not before heard of, and the final 30 pages or so belong to Bounds.

Ravenhill's portion was the most potent, given its small expanse and his pointed rhetoric like strong drink! Conjurske, however, rivals Ravenhill in his exposition of the truest and most effective methods for preaching. I will be seeking more of this man's work.

[Joanna Fruhauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is both a wake-up call and a guide for those wanting to move beyond routine religion into radical, transformative faith. It’s ideal for pastors, ministry leaders, or any believer seeking to reignite their passion for God’s glory.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primer on preaching.