Herrnhut
“the Lord’s watch” — Moravian refuge; continuous prayer from Aug 13, 1727 for 100 years.
Lesson 8 · Course 66
Philadelphia: The Missionary Church 1750 – 1900 AD
Moravian Herrnhut prayer; Edwards and the First Great Awakening; Wesleys, Whitefield, open-air; Haystack missions; circuit riders; Cane Ridge.
At a glance
Summary
The Moravian community at Herrnhut (“the Lord’s watch”) began a prayer meeting lasting over a hundred years from August 13, 1727. John Newton wrote Amazing Grace. Jonathan Edwards issued a call to prayer and preached “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” marking the beginning of the First Great Awakening in America. The Wesleys and Whitefield were in Oxford’s Holy Club; Wesley did not immediately embrace open-air preaching when Whitefield first invited him. The Haystack Prayer Meeting of 1806 helped birth modern U.S. missions. Methodist circuit riders typically covered 200–500 miles a month. Cane Ridge was not marked by somber, quiet dignity.
Quiz 8: 10/10 (100%), 6m 23s, cmid 1215 / attempt 102001. Essays Complete/Not graded (Q11–Q13 verbatim). Course total 60%. Cert cmid 2165 locked.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Herrnhut = “the Lord’s watch”; 100+ year prayer meeting from Aug 13, 1727.
- John Newton authored Amazing Grace.
- Edwards: call to prayer + “Sinners…” sermon began First Great Awakening in America.
- Holy Club: Wesleys + Whitefield at Oxford.
- Wesley hesitated at first open-air invite from Whitefield.
- Haystack 1806 helped birth modern U.S. missions.
- Circuit riders: 200–500 miles/month on horseback.
- Cane Ridge was NOT somber and quiet.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
First Great Awakening
Marked in America by Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”
Holy Club
Oxford group including the Wesleys and George Whitefield.
Haystack Prayer Meeting (1806)
Helped birth the modern missions movement in the United States.
Circuit riders
Methodist itinerants traveling 200–500 miles/month on horseback.
Cane Ridge
Revival — graded False that it was somber and quiet.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Moravian Revival at Herrnhut
- Newton / Amazing Grace
- Edwards: prayer call and First Great Awakening
- Holy Club; Whitefield open-air; Wesley’s hesitation
- Haystack missions; circuit riders; Cane Ridge
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 8 | 100% (10/10), cmid 1215 |
|---|---|
| Course total | 60%; cert 2165 locked |
| Herrnhut | Lord’s watch; 100-year prayer |
| Edwards sermon | Began First Great Awakening (as graded) |
| Haystack | 1806 — modern U.S. missions |
| Circuit riders | 200–500 mi/month |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Whitefield vs Wesley on open-air
- Whitefield pioneered outdoor preaching when pulpits closed
- Wesley did not immediately and whole-heartedly embrace the first invite
Quiet dignity vs Cane Ridge
- False: Cane Ridge marked by somber and quiet dignity
- Revival characterized otherwise (as graded)
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Preach prayer that outlasts a generation (Herrnhut’s watch).
- Hold open-air courage without romanticizing every first invitation (Wesley’s hesitation).
- Honor ordinary itinerants who rode hard for remote souls.
- Recover Amazing Grace’s story in Newton’s own conversion and calling.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. The author of "Amazing Grace," was John Newton.
TrueNewton.
2. Herrnhut means "the Lord's watch."
TrueLord’s watch.
3. The prayer meeting at Herrnhut lasted for over a hundred years.
True100+ years.
4. Jonathan Edwards published a call to prayer encouraging Christians to unite in intercession for revival.
TrueCall to prayer.
5. Edwards' sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," marked the beginning of the First Great Awakening in America.
TrueFirst Great Awakening marker.
6. John Wesley immediately and whole-heartedly embraced open air preaching the first time he was invited to do so by George Whitefield.
FalseHe hesitated at first.
7. The Wesley's and Whitefield were members of Oxford University's Holy Club.
TrueHoly Club.
8. The Haystack Prayer Meeting of 1806 helped birth the modern missions movement in the United States.
TrueHaystack 1806.
9. Methodist Circuit Riders typically traveled 200 to 500 miles on horseback each month.
True200–500 mi/month.
10. The Cane Ridge Revival was marked by it somber and quiet dignity.
FalseNot somber/quiet.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Describe the Moravian Revival
The Moravian Revival began among persecuted believers who found refuge on Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf’s estate at Herrnhut, Germany. After division and criticism, the community covenanted to serve the Lord and experienced a powerful visitation of God while gathering for the Lord’s Supper on August 13, 1727. They began a continuous twenty-four-hour prayer meeting that continued for one hundred years. From this prayer movement, the Moravians sent hundreds of missionaries around the world.
Describe the ministry of George Whitefield
George Whitefield was a gifted evangelist who preached repentance, holy living, and personal conversion through faith in Christ. When church pulpits closed to him, he preached outdoors, first to coal miners near Bristol, where crowds grew from about 200 to more than 20,000 and thousands were converted. In America he preached throughout the colonies in fields, orchards, barns, and other open places, often drawing thousands. His biblical, energetic preaching and use of open-air meetings helped spread the Great Awakening and encouraged the Methodist movement.
Describe the work of the Methodist Circuit Riders
Methodist Circuit Riders were itinerant preachers who traveled roughly 200 to 500 miles each month on horseback, serving thirty to fifty preaching points. They were often not college educated and came from ordinary trades, but they were trained and empowered by the Holy Spirit. They slept in homes, inns, or the open air, received little pay, preached passionately from the Bible without reading a manuscript, and used everyday illustrations. They organized converts into societies and churches, helping carry the gospel into remote communities and laying foundations for Methodist growth.