WHEN GOD SHOWS UP

Lesson 1: The Need for Revival

In this lesson, we will look at the history of Israel in the Old Testament as a pattern for revival. This same pattern of revival followed by spiritual decline, carries on throughout Church history and is present in our own nation’s history.
The Church in America is asleep and increasingly seen by our culture as irrelevant. In order for God to pour out revival, Christians must wake up to the Presence of Christ in the midst of His people and seek Him in desperate, passionate prayer.

Watch Video for Lesson 1

(Note of correction: Towards the end of this video, Dave describes the Third Great Awakening and mentions the date 1757, which should be 1857.)

Discussion Questions:

In preparation for questions and discussion, we wanted to define some of the terms you have heard and will continue to hear and read throughout this course. There are many people who define these words differently, and you will hear them used in multiple ways; however, for the sake of our study, we will use the following definitions to help you grasp the distinctions of each:

Revival: Revival is church-based; it is when God shows up in the midst of His people in response to the prayers of His people. Nothing remains the same because of His presence through the power of the Holy Spirit. The life of Jesus and the purposes of His Kingdom are awakened in believers as sin is confessed and repented of and humility before God is profoundly evident.

Great Awakening/Spiritual Awakening – when revival moves out of the church to impact the culture of the wider society. Sometimes this awakening spreads even to other nations

Renewal/Spiritual Renewal – The Holy Spirit can touch and move in the hearts of individuals who cry out, seek His face and desire a deep transformation. This is what it means for believers to be personally renewed by God.

1. Do the definitions above help you to better understand the nature of revival, awakening and renewal? Why or why not? If not, how would you define these terms differently?

2. When you have heard the word “revival” prior to this course, what is it that comes to your mind?

3. One of your reading assignments was Theology of Revival, intended to give you a concise overview of revival. What comments or questions do you have after reading this document? Discuss them together.

4. Dave asked this question in the video: “Is God ready once again to revive the church in the United States, and if so, will you be a part of it?” Talk about what you think God may be getting ready to do in His Church and in our nation. Discuss what God may want to do in and/or through you in the midst of it.

5. Dave stated that there has never been a revival apart from a movement of prayer. How does that make you feel about your prayer life and the prayer life of your church? What would need to change if revival depended upon you, your family and your church?

6. Consider the pattern of revival followed by decline mentioned in the video. Does this pattern seem to manifest itself in your own Christian walk? What does that look like for you? Does this pattern help you to understand revival in a clearer light? Why or why not?

7. How does the pattern of revival and decline in Israel change the way you look at both biblical and modern history?

8. Dave asserted that the Church was “born” in a revival. Discuss what it would have been like to be present during the first Pentecost.

9. What role does desperation play in revival? Do you think the lack of desperation has hindered the American Church? Why or why not? What do you see happening in other nations?

10. Why do you think there hasn’t been another Great Awakening in our nation for such a long time?

11. Dave mentioned that Israel, in the times of the Old Testament, would begin to cry out to God when they had found themselves in deep spiritual decline…and that God would, in response to their humility and prayers, send a deliverer to lead them back to the worship of God – usually a prophet or a godly king. Since New Testament times, God has made a way for one Deliverer for the rest of time. How can God’s people, and His Church acknowledge and lean into the presence of Jesus in a way that would perpetuate living in continual revival and spiritual awakening in our nation? Do you believe this is possible given today’s culture? Why or why not?

12. Dave stated in the video, “God is doing preparatory work in calling people to pray in order to see a culture changed by the presence of Jesus Christ.” Using your holy imagination(s), answer the following questions. You might consider making a list or using a white board as you share together. If you are doing this course as an individual, this would be a good series of questions to journal through!

13. How would your life be different if God, in response to your prayers, spiritually renewed you?

14. What would your church be like if God chose to “show up for Church?”

15. How would your community change if God moved in the believers and the churches there?

16. What would a Great Awakening in our nation look like?

17. Broaden your thinking to the world…what would global revival and spiritual awakening look like?

Download Lesson 1 Discussion Questions

Course Intro – Lesson 1 – Lesson 2 – Lesson 3 – Lesson 4 – Lesson 5 – Go Deeper