Your Thoughts on Revival Meetings in 2015?

[Paul Kersey]

Looking for informed opinions and observations regarding revival meetings in Baptist churches in recent months/years. I pastor an SBC church and have been a strong supporter of scheduled revival meetings in the past, but like many, I recognize the trends in weak attendance, etc.

In your view, is the multi-night, traditional revival meeting format still viable in 2015?

 

[go2church]

Nope.

Try doing something else like every night for a week or three days, go paint somebodies house or fix their toilet, something hands on.

 

[Zenas]

It's a concept whose effectiveness waned about 50 years ago. In fact I have not seen an effective revival meeting in our community since the 1950's.

 

[PreachTony]

Every small Baptist church in my area still holds yearly revival meetings, lasting from three days to a full week, typically every night. Some people view these meetings as failures if no one is saved, but I've always looked at them as more a fuel-stop for the church. It's a REVIVAL. If someone is not yet spiritually born, how can they be revived?

Revival services also allow several churches to come together and uplift one another, and to hear preachers you don't often get to hear, because they might be from another city or county, and rarely make it to your church. (Along those lines, I'm seeing more and more churches where the pastor basically takes over and never lets any other man preach, so younger preachers cannot gain experience. Revival services are a great opportunity for younger preachers to be heard.)

 

[preachinjesus]

The point of these used to be to go out into highways and byways and compelling folks to come in and hear the Gospel plainly presented.

They've now just turned into internal spiritual encouragement times.

Maybe one would work, but we don't do them.

 

[blackbird]

Looking for informed opinions and observations regarding revival meetings in Baptist churches in recent months/years. I pastor an SBC church and have been a strong supporter of scheduled revival meetings in the past, but like many, I recognize the trends in weak attendance, etc.

In your view, is the multi-night, traditional revival meeting format still viable in 2015?

Someone asked the late, great W A Criswell----

PREACHER!! HOW COME WE DON'T HAVE REVIVAL SERVICES ONCE A YEAR HERE AT FIRST BAPTIST LIKE ALL THE OTHER BAPTIST CHURCHES IN TEXAS??

To which Dr. Criswell responded

BROTHER-----HERE AT FIRST BAPTIST OF DALLAS-----WE HAVE REVIVAL SERVICES 52 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR!!!:type::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

[HeDied4U]

To me, revival is something born out of the heart as prompted by the Spirit, not something scheduled on a calendar.

 

[Revmitchell]

To me, revival is something born out of the heart as prompted by the Spirit, not something scheduled on a calendar.

I agree...........

 

[T Alan]

I say yes to the OP. I go to them as a visitor as often as I can but don't usually get to attend each night.

I don't go to Churches that have them that are not like minded in the Doctrines of Grace. Why? Because, I can't stand weak messages about a weaker god that only potentially, hopefully saved some.

Now preach the Jesus that saved and delivers His from the guttermost to the uttermost and I'm blessed to bless.

Teach the Word of God unashamedly each night and trust the Spirit to vive the dead and revive the fainted and down.

 

[Sapper Woody]

I am all for revivals. In 2004, our small church scheduled a revival for three days. It lasted 8. Each service was more full than the last. People were saved, people in the church got right with each other, and people surrendered to God.



The reason revivals don't usually work anymore is that they are rote. For this one, we had people fasting and praying for it for weeks before it. We made a rotation of people to fast for a day, and assigned hours of the day for people to set aside for prayer. All voluntary, of course. For about two weeks before the revival, at any given Tim someone was praying and fasting that God would work. And he did.



The calendar schedule wasn't the answer. But it gave us a point in time to reference for the entire church to come together and beg God for His power. And He delivered.

 

[T Alan]

I am all for revivals. In 2004, our small church scheduled a revival for three days. It lasted 8. Each service was more full than the last. People were saved, people in the church got right with each other, and people surrendered to God.



The reason revivals don't usually work anymore is that they are rote. For this one, we had people fasting and praying for it for weeks before it. We made a rotation of people to fast for a day, and assigned hours of the day for people to set aside for prayer. All voluntary, of course. For about two weeks before the revival, at any given Tim someone was praying and fasting that God would work. And he did.



The calendar schedule wasn't the answer. But it gave us a point in time to reference for the entire church to come together and beg God for His power. And He delivered.

Sounds as if "some people" were seeking transformation.

 

[PreachTony]

Sounds as if "some people" were seeking transformation.

That's the kicker. You have to have a church willing to be revived, and willing to pray to see God's work done. I've been in revivals like that, and I've been in revivals that you just waited for them to end, because for whatever reason the Spirit was not there.

 

[Sapper Woody]

That's the kicker. You have to have a church willing to be revived, and willing to pray to see God's work done. I've been in revivals like that, and I've been in revivals that you just waited for them to end, because for whatever reason the Spirit was not there.

That's exactly it. A scheduled revival on the calendar isn't going to guarantee revival, and not having one scheduled doesn't guarantee there won't be one. But having one on the calendar gives the church a chance to get on the same page. It sets everyone's sights the same.

A failed revival meeting wasn't because it was a scheduled event. It was because God's people didn't prepare their hearts and minds for a revival.

 

[HAMel]

The Lord is not a priority in the lives of believers of late. Hence, there will be no revival(s). There are too many distractions.

 

[BlueMoon]

A failed revival meeting wasn't because it was a scheduled event. It was because God's people didn't prepare their hearts and minds for a revival.

This is truth! Too many people say revival can't be scheduled, when in reality people are unwilling to truly prepare (their hearts) to call upon God, and for Him to answer.

 

[HankD]

Originally Posted by HeDied4U
To me, revival is something born out of the heart as prompted by the Spirit, not something scheduled on a calendar.

I agree...........

Me too, when we moved to KCMO in 1969 where I attended Bible College we visited a local Baptist church (where we eventually became temporary members) in the midst of their "planning" their "revival".

I had difficulties with the concept of planning a revival, but I know now its a common thing.

HankD

 

[Judith]

Looking for informed opinions and observations regarding revival meetings in Baptist churches in recent months/years. I pastor an SBC church and have been a strong supporter of scheduled revival meetings in the past, but like many, I recognize the trends in weak attendance, etc.

In your view, is the multi-night, traditional revival meeting format still viable in 2015?

I am of the camp that man cannot call a revival. That being said any Spirit led preaching can result in a conversion. Just preach the word, the whole counsel of God not just the gospel. If you want revival do what is stated in 2nd Ch 7:14.