Lectures on Revival [Paperback]

Charles G. Finney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1989

"Because it pleased Christ to grant me experience with revivals of true Christianity, I thought that through the publication of these lectures I might in a small way serve the church at large." Charles G. Finney (from the preface)

Throughout the winter of 1834, Charles Finney delivered one lecture a week on the principles of revival that he had seen transforming America's churches. These were recorded and later published as the Lectures on Revivals of Religion. Tens of thousands of copies where sold and spiritual awakenings occurred all over America and in Great Britain as a result. A revival classic was born.

Covering the full range of topics related to revival, Lectures on Revival is the complete work, but is newly edited for today's reader.

The classic work on revival

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

size : 5.3 x 8.3

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556610629
• ISBN-13: 978-1556610622
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #591,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars from someone who has actually read the book, March 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lectures on Revival (Paperback)

Some of the reviewers below have obviously not read the book, but are typical "anti-Finney" persons whose aim is to lower the book's rating by giving it one star. They believe Finney is a heretic and will denounce what they have not read just because it's written by Charles Finney.

That being said, when I first read the "Revival Lectures" it completely changed my life. Finney's presentation of the gospel is so much more challenging than the standard 20th/21st century version. This book transformed a generation in the 1800s. It also touched countless lives in the 20th century. (For example, the singer Keith Green was converted by reading this book.)

All this being said, I do not recommend this "modernized" version of the Revival Lectures. Their goal was to make the book easier to read (not that it was that hard to begin with). The language is far too "chatty" and loses all of Finney's style. It also outright changed the meaning of many sentences when you compare this book with the original-language edition. They took a great book and made it mediocre.

The book is also available from several websites in html or pdf form for free (in the original 1800s languge), and I know of two efforts to publish it in book form that will happen in 2003 (one in the original language, one a more conservative and faithful update). Best wait for those if you're looking to buy this classic in book form.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finney's How To Book On Revival, August 14, 1999

By 

Todd Hudnall (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lectures on Revival (Paperback)

Lectures on Revival attempts to define revival and its cause. It could be called a "how to" book on revival. Among numerous issues concerning revival, the book looks at the invaluable necessity of prayer for revival, how to pray for revival, how to promote revival, how to preach for a revival and the hindrances to revival. The strength of the book is the authority of the author. It is one thing for theological academia to muse about the nature of revival, it is quite another when the leader of national revival shares from genuine experience. The book contains much concerning the practical aspects of revival. Personally, I found his teaching on prayer for revival to be the most helpful. It included powerful personal testimonies and real life examples. The book comes from a strong Armenian viewpoint. I thought many of Finney's insights did not align with Biblical truth. Some of his applications, like the problem of barking dogs and chewing tobacco in church are no longer relevant for most American churches. Despite that, this book is mandatory reading for any serious student of revival and valuable reading for anyone desiring to experience it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Partnership with God, May 4, 2001

By 

John Dethlefs (Anderson, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lectures on Revival (Paperback)

This is a must read for those interested in true revival. I also thought it quite true and eye opening that Finney dispells many incorrect beliefs about revival that exist today even though the book is over 150 years old. The first and foremost is a parable he tells about farming. Tell a farmer that he should not sow seed, till, water or weed because a harvest is a sovereign act of God and we will all starve. Yes God makes the harvest grow, but man has his part. Likewise a spiritual harvest does not happen without man doing his part. There has never been a revival in the history of the church that broke out without being birthed thru people's intercession and seeking God. A main reason the American church is starving is because they are not willing to work with God for the harvest. This is a real eye opener and a great place to start for those seeking revival.