Scripture:
Romans 10:10-15
Reflection:
Preaching is the means which God has principally communicated with humankind. Think of the Old Testament prophets, for example, addressing people in the open air, or the words of Isaiah 52:7, quoted in Romans 10:15. At times of persecution preaching has been a dangerous activity. At other times, God has raised up men or women (as we saw with Catherine Booth last week) to speak into the society and events of their day.
Spurgeon was born in Essex and lived with his grand parents in Kelvedon in Essex. There is a blue plaque on the wall of the cottage. He came from a long line of dissenters (See reflection for 15th February – John Bunyon) and both his father and grand father were Independent ministers. At the age of 7 he moved back to his parents home in Cambridgeshire. His mother’s prayer to God for Charles was: ‘O that my son might live for thee.’
At age 15, Spurgeon was in a Primitive Methodist Chapel in Colchester, where the virtually illiterate local preacher took as his text: ‘Look unto me and be ye saved’ (Isaiah 45:22). Spurgeon was convicted by the Holy Spirit and converted. At his baptism in the river Lark in 1850, he vowed to live his life ‘in the extension of Christ’s cause, in whatsoever way he pleases.’ He preached his first sermon at age 16, and very soon was called as the pastor of Waterbeach Baptist chapel in Cambridgeshire. In the 2 years he was there, membership grew from 40 to 100. Spurgeon regularly rose very early for prayer and Bible reading, and his knowledge of the scriptures grew quickly. He steeped himself in the teaching of the Puritans, but never undertook any formal theological training.
In March 1854, aged 19, he was invited to become the pastor of New Park Street Church in Southwark, and he remained with this congregation until his death, 38 years later. It was a run down church, but numbers quickly grew. They extended the premises, and whilst doing so met in Exeter Hall for 3 months, where the 4,500 were regularly filled. They then moved to the 12,000-seat Music Hall in Surrey Gardens where, it is said, that 22,000 people turned up for the first Sunday. The night ended in tragedy, when someone shouted ‘fire’, causing panic. 7 people died, and Spurgeon collapsed. He was slandered in the press, but 2 weeks later he resumed his preaching to even larger crowds.
A new building was erected and opened in 1861, known as the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and which could seat over 5,000 people – and was regularly at capacity. Interesting, in light of our presence circumstances, admission was administered by ticket. Singing was unaccompanied, led by one man with a tuning fork!
The highlight was the sermon, and Spurgeon was quite dramatic in his delivery. The sermons were taken down in shorthand each week, and published every Thursday. They were translated into several languages and sold across the world. Hundreds responded to the gospel, including Susannah Thompson, whom he married in 1856. Membership of the church grew from 232 in 1854 to 5,307 at his death.
In 1877 a controversy arose within the Baptist Union. Spurgeon believed that central Christian truths were being ‘downgraded’ by liberal theology in the theological colleges. Thus it became known as the ‘Downgrade controversy’.. He was heavily criticised when he resigned from the Baptist Union in 1887 and many, though agreeing with his objections, chose to remain in the Union and fight from within. Spurgeon’s son Thomas once remarked ‘the Baptist Union almost killed my father’, to which another minister replied, ‘Yes, and your father almost killed the Baptist Union’.
Spurgeon was also a prolific writer, writing several books and commentaries, and editing a monthly magazine called ‘ The Sword and the Trowel.’ He also wrote sermon notes and lectures for the students at the Pastors’ College which he founded in 1855.
In 1866, Spurgeon founded an orphanage in Stockwell for 500 homeless boys and girls. He also formed the Colportage Association which allowed people to buy Christian books at a low cost. It is also thought that Spurgeon was instrumental in the planting of some 187 new churches during his lifetime.
Spurgeon was a celebrity in his day, an became known as ‘The People’s Preacher.’
Spurgeon did not enjoy good health, suffering all his life with from bouts of depression, and later gout, rheumatism and kidney disease. At times he spend long periods of recuperation at Mentone on the French Riviera, and it was here that he went to be with His Lord in January 1892. He is buried in West Norwood.
Prayer: Spurgeon Preaching at Surrey Gardens
Great God, never can we sufficiently adore free grace and dying love. The wonders of Calvary never cease to be wonders. They are growingly marvellous in our esteem as we think of Him who washed us from our sins in His own blood. Nor can we cease to praise the God of our regeneration who found us dead and made us live, found us at enmity and reconciled us, found us loving the things of this world and lifted us out of the slough and mire of selfishness and worldliness into the love of divine everlasting things. Amen
Songs:
Spurgeon’s whole desire was to preach the Word of God and uphold Jesus as Saviour.
What a beautiful name – Hillsong Worship
Speak, O Lord – Kristyn and Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Food for Thought:
Pray that our land might turn once more to hear the Word of God as in the days of Spurgeon.
If you would like to read more about Spurgeon, there is an excellent book called ‘C. H. Spurgeon, The People’s Preacher’ written by Rev. Dr. Peter Morden. A drama documentary which accompanies the book can be found on YouTube.