The focus of my research topic is to emphasize that Christians must recognize the importance of their denominational distinctions. I wanted to broaden my focus to include how salvation plays a role in denominational distinctions, because salvation is the important part of being a Christian. People need to know the beliefs and principles of their faith. Being a Southern Baptist, my focus was on the different Protestant denominations and understanding Protestant denominations better. Throughout my research, I continued to discover how the Puritans had such a significant influence on the protesting denominations. I found a sermon describing the role, beliefs, and salvation of a Christian, preached by a prominent Puritan preacher. Puritan theologian Jonathan Edwards was a member of a religious revival known as the Great Awakening. On July 8, 1741, before a Puritan congregation in Enfield, Connecticut, the reverend delivered a sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Edwards became famous for his fire and brimstone messages. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was undeniably a fire and brimstone sermon, which is perhaps one of Edwards' most famous sermons. With his direct tone, he controls his sermon and his audience, while the pastor persuades them to accept that God's wrath is upon them. By this time, the Puritans had become complacent in their religion, which is relevant today for a number of people of all faiths. Edwards preached this sermon to awaken and persuade the unsaved to accept Christ as their Savior and become Christians. The reverend urges his listeners to have hope, relief and acceptance with Jesus Christ. The sermon was an opportunity for him to plead with the congregation...... middle of paper ......o repent of their sins as the day of judgment was quickly approaching. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was a sermon preached to help save people from going to the pits of hell. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” fulfilled his charge by the method with which he was delivered. Although he was a popular Puritan minister, I do not get the impression that Jonathan Edwards preached this sermon only to Puritans. His sermon did not dictate specific Puritan principles applicable only to Puritans, but it revealed biblical truths relevant to everyone. I plan to expand my research to see how Protestant denominations have changed in relation to the salvation and God displayed in this sermon. I have discovered that while denominations are important, there is no saving grace in any specific denomination. The only means of salvation is through Jesus Christ, as described in Edwards' sermon..