Sermon Of The Week: “Christ’s First and Last Subject”

By / Mar 14

What was the subject matter with which Christ bookended His earthly ministry? This subject was His command of repentance to all His hearers, and more broadly, to the whole world. Spurgeon noted that “nothing could set forth Jesus Christ’s idea of the high value of repentance, more fully and effectually than the fact that he begins with it, and that he concludes with it.” Repentance is the vital renunciation of sin which the Lord commands to all. Without genuine, active denial of sin, true salvation could not be had. God’s regenerating work in one’s life is demonstrated by their sincere repentance and pursuit of righteousness. “True repentance consists of illumination, humiliation, detestation, and transformation.” And it was this command which Christ chose to impart to His listeners as a type of inclusio to His ministry. 

Spurgeon here explains repentance by discussing it in four main elements: its origin, essentials, companions, and excellencies. Regarding its origin, he remarked, “Remember, then, at the outset, that true repentance is of gospel origin, and is not the work of the law; and on the other hand, it is of gracious origin, and is not the work of the creature.” True repentance, then, is not independently conjured up by sinful man, but is rather a clear manifestation of the divine work of God within one’s heart. His divine power is its ultimate origin, and through Him sinners are given the ability to renounce sin and walk in obedience to Christ.

Excerpt:

This seems to me to be a very interesting fact, and not simply interesting, but instructive. Jesus Christ opens his commission by preaching repentance. What then? Did he not by this act teach us how important repentance was—so important that the very first time he opens his mouth, he shall begin with, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Did he not feel that repentance was necessary to be preached before he preached faith in himself, because the soul must first repent of sin before it will seek a Saviour, or even care to know whether there is a Saviour at all? And did he not also indicate to us that as repentance was the opening lesson of the divine teaching, so, if we would be his disciples, we must begin by sitting on the stool of repentance, before we can possibly go upward to the higher forms of faith and of full assurance? Jesus at the first begins with repentance,—that repentance may be the Alpha, the first letter of the spiritual alphabet which all believers must learn; and when he concluded his divine commission with repentance, what did he say to us but this—that repentance was still of the very last importance? He preaches it with his first, he will utter it with his last breath; with this he begins, with this he will conclude. He knew that repentance was, to spiritual life, a sort of Alpha and Omega—it was the duty of the beginning, it was the duty of the end.

Read the rest of the sermon here.



Sermon Of The Week: “Turn or Burn”

By / Mar 4

Why is God’s justice such an integral part of salvation? God’s just nature demands that sin be punished, and it is only a result of His mercy through Christ that we can be saved from that punishment. 

Grace and mercy are attributes of God’s character which ought to be preached in accordance with His righteous justice, not at the expense of it. Spurgeon observes how ministers in his day, as in ours, often preach the mercy of God without also telling of His righteous judgement on sin.

“They preach of God’s love and mercy as they ought to do, and as God has commanded them; but of what avail is it to preach mercy unless they preach also the doom of the wicked? And how shall we hope to affect the purpose of preaching unless we warn men that if they ‘turn not, he will whet his sword?’”

We will not understand God’s grace unless we also understand His holiness.

“But remember, it is equally true, God is just, severely and inflexibly just. He were not God, if he were not just; he could not be merciful if he were not just, for punishment of the wicked is demanded by the highest mercy to the rest of mankind.”

All are sinful and under God’s righteous wrath. Without His grace and mercy, we too would be doomed. God’s justice demands that we repent and trust in Christ to receive God’s grace unto salvation. 

Excerpt:

But the cry of the age is, that God is merciful, that God is love. Ay; who said he was not? But remember, it is equally true, God is just, severely and inflexibly just. He were not God, if he were not just; he could not be merciful if he were not just, for punishment of the wicked is demanded by the highest mercy to the rest of mankind. Rest assured, however, that he is just, and that the words I am about to read you from God’s Word are true—”The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God;’ “God is angry with the wicked every day;” “If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.” Forsooth, because this age is wicked it is to have no hell; and because it is hypocritical it would have but feigned punishment. This doctrine is so prevalent as to make even the ministers of the gospel flinch from their duty in declaring the day of wrath. How few there are who will solemnly tell us of the judgment to come. They preach of God’s love and mercy as they ought to do, and as God has commanded them; but of what avail is it to preach mercy unless they preach also the doom of the wicked? And how shall we hope to effect the purpose of preaching unless we warn men that if they “turn not, he will whet his sword?” I fear that in too many places the doctrine of future punishment is rejected and laughed as a fancy and a chimera; but the day will come when it shall be known to be a reality. 

Read the rest of the sermon here.





Sermon Of The Week: “A Wise Desire”

By / Feb 25

Who is it who chooses our portion and reward in life? Surely it can be perceived that we do not simply will and receive that which we always want. No, our eternal heritage does not rest in our own power or choice, but rather lies in the sovereign will of our good and gracious Lord. Spurgeon remarks, “Oh! it is the satisfaction of God’s people to believe in this exalting truth that [God] chooses their inheritance for them. […] that verily God does choose our lot, and apportion for us our inheritance.”

This truth ought to bring tremendous joy to our lives as we realize that all who are in Christ will receive God’s promised eternal inheritance as their reward. We are all inclined toward evil, and it is only by the grace and mercy of God that we will receive the blessing of eternal life in communion with our Savior. Left to ourselves, we would never choose that which is perfect, holy, nor completely good. Spurgeon points out, “For by [our] nature we are all inclined to follow the way which leads downwards, we are naturally willing to walk the road which leads to the pit—we do not seek the pit itself, but the road that leads to it.” He further argues that the Lord’s sovereign choice of our inheritance is not merely a fact, but an exceedingly wise prayer. Asking for the Lord’s will regarding our reward helps loosen our grasp on the things we often suppose we need. The reality of God’s grace and goodness should further encourage the believer since their heavenly Father is the one apportioning their reward, and His ways are perfect.

Excerpt:

I. First, then, I shall speak of this as being A GLORIOUS FACT. It is a great truth that God does choose the inheritance for his people. It is a very high honor conferred upon God’s servants, that it is said of them, “He shall choose their inheritance.” As for the worldling, God gives him anything, but for the Christian, God selects the best portion, and chooses his inheritance for him. Says a good divine, “It is one of the greatest glories of the Church of Christ, that our mighty Maker, and our Friend, always chooses our inheritance for us.” He gives the worldling husks; but he stops to find out the sweet fruits for his people. He gathers out the fruits from among the leaves, that his people might have the best food, and enjoy the richest pleasures. Oh! it is the satisfaction of God’s people to believe in this exalting truth that he chooses their inheritance for them. But, since there are many who dispute it, allow me just to stir up your minds by way of remembrance, by mentioning certain facts which will lead you to see clearly that verily God does choose our lot, and apportion for us our inheritance.

Read the rest of the sermon here.



Sermon Of The Week: “Preaching! Man’s Privilege and God’s Power”

By / Feb 17

What is the means by which God’s ministers draw lost souls to the hope of the Savior? It is not the mere wisdom of man that leads souls to salvation, but the faithful teaching of God’s own inspired revelation which “pierces to the division of soul and of spirit.” The preaching of God’s word contains both the divine power and conviction necessary for this task. Spurgeon understood that God’s word is “that which is the great and master weapon of the minister”, and that it is “the foolishness of preaching by which it pleases God to save them that believe.”

God’s word holds the power of eternal life as it conveys the way of salvation through God’s grace and the work of the Son. “Nay, to-day there is not only a torch, but in the preaching of the Word the Sun of Righteousness himself arises with healing beneath his wings.” Spurgeon reminds us that God’s word should not only be viewed as the instrumental weapon of ministers, but as a gift to hear, handle, and preach. “Value, then, the preaching of the Word, and count yourselves happy that you are allowed to listen to it.”

Moreover, “…there is yet a greater privilege connected with the Word of God than this […] As I look upon a multitude of unconverted men and women, I am reminded of Ezekiel’s vision […] The preached Word is like Ezekiel’s prophecy; life goes forth with the word of the faithful minister.” Those who proclaim God’s word have the privilege of bringing the words of eternal life to lost souls. And it is upon this inspired word that God’s ministers must rely.

Excerpt:

Once more let me remind you, there is yet a greater privilege connected with the Word of God than this—for all this were nothing without the last. As I look upon a multitude of unconverted men and women, I am reminded of Ezekiel’s vision. He saw lying in the valley of Hinnom multitudes of bones, the flesh of which had been consumed by fire, and the bones themselves were dried as in a furnace, scattered hither and thither. There with other bones in other charnel-houses, lying scattered at the mouths of other graves; but Ezekiel was not sent to them; to the valley of Hinnom was he sent, and there alone. And he stood by faith, and began to practice the foolishness of preaching, “Ye dry bones hear the word of the Lord; thus saith the Lord, ye dry bones live.” And as be spoke there was a rustling, each bone sought its fellow; and as he spake again, these bones united and stood erect, as he continued his discourse the flesh clothed the skeleton; when he concluded by crying, “Come from the winds, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live,” they stood upon their feet an exceeding great army. The preached Word is like Ezekiel’s prophecy; life goes forth with the word of the faithful minister, when we say, “Repent!” We know that sinners cannot repent of themselves, but God’s grace sweetly constrains them to repent.

Read the rest of the sermon here.



Sermon Of The Week: “Pride and Humility”

By / Feb 10

The great sin of pride is a snare into which we fall all too easily, and its deceitful road leads only to destruction. Spurgeon declares that “There is nothing into which the heart of man so easily falls as pride, and yet there is no vice which is more frequently, more emphatically, and more eloquently condemned in Scripture.” Though often encouraged by the world to take pride in one’s own achievements, self, lifestyle, and sin, Spurgeon boldly declares that the pride of man is a “groundless thing” which ought to be discarded and rendered ridiculous. Pride keeps us from surrendering fully unto Christ and returning all glory to Him. Further, God reveals the severity of this sin as He proclaims that He resists the proud.

What is the remedy to this evil? The active humbling of oneself before God. From Proverbs 18:12, Spurgeon teaches that pride leads to destruction, but humility ultimately leads to honor. He further discusses the silliness of man’s pride, explaining that “Our very creation is enough to humble us; what are we but creatures of to-day? Our frailty should be sufficient to lay us low, for we shall be gone to-morrow. Our ignorance should tend to keep pride from our lips.” Humility is the cure, for it honestly looks at oneself and asks, “’…what have I that I have not received?’” Godly humility views all gifts, honor, and good in life as coming from the Father, which ought to produce gratefulness in our hearts to Him, rather than creating a proud, groundless perception of self.

Excerpts:

Again, pride is the maddest thing that can exist; it feeds upon its own vitals; it will take away its own life, that with its blood may make a purple for its shoulders: it sappeth, and undermineth its own house that it may build its pinnacles a little higher, and then the whole structure tumbleth down. Nothing proves men so made as pride. For this they have given up rest, and ease, and repose, to find rank and power among men: for this they have dared to risk their hope of salvation, to leave the gentle yoke of Jesus, and go toiling wearily along the way of life, seeking to save themselves by their own works, and at last to stagger into the mire of fell despair. Oh! man, hate pride, flee from it, abhor it, let it not dwell with thee. If thou wantest to have a madman in thy heart, embrace pride, for thou shalt never find one more mad than he.

Humility is to feel that we have no power of ourselves, but that it all cometh from God. Humility is to lean on our beloved, to believe that he has trodden the winepress alone, to lie on his bosom and slumber sweetly there, to exalt him, and think less than nothing of ourselves. It is in fact, to annihilate self, and to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ as all in all.

Read the rest of the sermon here.



Sermon Of The Week: “Heavenly Worship”

By / Feb 3

Too often, our worship here on earth can be focused on the wrong things: how we feel, the quality of the music, the circumstances of our gatherings, and other inferior matters. But in this sermon, Spurgeon reflects on how the worship of heaven should be a model or template for our worship here on earth.

When we get to heaven, we will be surrounded by unimaginable splendors – crowns, streets of gold, gates of pearl. But Spurgeon points out that in Revelation, John does not focus on any of those things. Instead, the worship of heaven is focused entirely on Christ. “He begins by saying, ‘I looked, and, lo, a Lamb!’ To teach us that the very first and chief object of attraction in the heavenly state is ‘the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.’” Worship on earth and worship in heaven are not two different things, but they are a continuation of the same thing: the worship of Christ by his people.

Therefore, we should consider what the worship heaven has to teach us about what our earthly worship should look like. After all, our earthly worship is only preparing us to one day join the worship of heaven.  “Rejoice, then! In a little while, when thine eyes shall have been wiped from tears, thou wilt see the same Lamb exalted on his throne. It is the joy of the heart to hold daily fellowship and communion with Jesus; thou shalt have the same joy in heaven.”

Excerpt:

In the first place, then, we wish to take a view of THE OBJECT OF HEAVENLY WORSHIP. The divine John was privileged to look within the gates of pearl; and on turning round to tell us what he saw—observe how he begins—he saith not, “I saw streets of gold or walls of Jasper;” he saith not, “I saw crowns, marked their lustre, and saw the wearers.” That he shall notice afterwards. But he begins by saying, “I looked, and, lo, a Lamb!” To teach us that the very first and chief object of attraction in the heavenly state is “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” Nothing else attracted the Apostle’s attention so much as the person of that Divine Being, who is the Lord God, our most blessed Redeemer: “I looked, and, lo a Lamb!” Beloved, if we were allowed to look within the vail which parts us from the world of spirits, we should see, first of all, the person of our Lord Jesus. If now we could go where the immortal spirits “day without night circle the throne rejoicing,” we should see each of them with their faces turned in one direction; and if we should step up to one of the blessed spirits, and say, “O bright immortal, why are thine eyes fixed? What is it that absorbs thee quite, and wraps thee up in vision?” He, without deigning to give an answer, would simply point to the centre of the sacred circle, and lo, we should see a Lamb in the midst of the throne. They have not yet ceased to admire his beauty, and marvel at his wonders and adore his person.

Read the rest of the sermon here.



The United Prayer Meeting of 1865

By / Jan 31

One of the hallmarks of C. H. Spurgeon’s ministry was his Monday night congregational prayer meeting. Each week, thousands of members of the Metropolitan Tabernacle gathered to pray for the ministries of the church and preaching of the Word. This was one of the pieces of evidence that a genuine revival was taking place: the people prayed. But Spurgeon was not satisfied with this. He wanted to gather Christians throughout London to pray.  

Spurgeon regularly met with like-minded pastors throughout London for fellowship and encouragement. And to begin the year 1865, they agreed to have a week of united prayer meetings for their churches. On January 2, they gathered for their first meeting.

A WEEK of prayer. The best possible beginning for a new year. So thought the ministers associated for prayer and mutual edification, and therefore they agreed to call their people together for united prayer. The Central Meeting of the Churches was held at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, on Monday, January 2nd.[1]

These days, churches get together for conferences, workshops, retreats, events… But when was the last time churches gathered together to pray? As you read this, consider: How might the Lord use you to bring churches together to pray for God’s blessing upon the work of the gospel in your city and around the world?

Pre-Meeting Prayer

The pastors met at three for prayer and consultation; and they were joined, at five, by about one hundred elders and deacons, who continued in prayer to God until the hour for the public meeting. The spirit pervading these devotions gave promise of a blessed gathering in the evening.

Welcome and Opening Prayers

At seven about six thousand persons were assembled in the Tabernacle probably the largest number of believers ever found together under one roof for prayer. Fully to characterize this meeting would be impossible. No pen could express the deep-thrilling power which pervaded the assembly. We can only present a brief outline of the proceedings.

The meeting was conducted by C. H. Spurgeon. The guiding hand of the Holy Ghost was manifest in the wisdom shown in the brief and suggestive remarks made in reference to the subjects and manner of the prayers. This must have been evident to all. The brethren, Varley and F. White, pleaded with deep and fervent earnestness for blessings to be then and there vouchsafed by the God of all grace to his people; and for a genuine revival of all the Churches of God in the land. Simple, direct, earnest, reiterated, were the desires of these servants of Jesus; and most fervent was the response of the thousands of Christian hearts, which united, as the heart of one man, to bear up those desires to the throne of grace.

Prayer for Pastors and Future Pastors

Two elders (W. Olney and Bridge) then pleaded with God on behalf of the pastors and students; the lowly, loving, touching breathings of these brethren, moved and bowed down the hearts of all the pastors around them. Old and young alike felt that blessing must descend upon them in answer to such heartfelt Spirit-wrought desires as those which were being poured forth on their behalf. Would to God that all elders and deacons might thus ever deeply feel, and earnestly plead, for the pastors of the churches that the full power of the Holy Ghost may rest upon them. Those brethren who were present can testify that they never, felt more solemnly the need and the value of such intercession. The responsibility, the trials, the necessities of God’s servants, were made the subjects of most sincere supplication.

Confession of Sin

Next came a confession of sin, through Brother Offord, the oldest minister on the platform. For this solemn act the whole assembly was prepared by the blessing already granted and felt; for all hearts and spirits were bowed down in deep repentance.

On behalf of the pastors

Many details of the failures and sins of ministers were spread before the face of God in the most solemn manner. Sins of omission and commission, neglect, and shortcomings, were acknowledged Solemn, simple, earnest appeal was made to the eye of the heart-searching God, that his servants might wish to hide nothing from that all the evil in them might in his sight. And when the it is I! it is I!” were uttered, many broke forth saying, “It is I! it is I” The beloved pastor of the Tabernacle Church wept like a child, and sobbed aloud, while the brethren around could not restrain their weeping and groaning before God.

On behalf of elders

Nor were the assembled elders less moved when their sins and shortcomings were solemnly and affectionately confessed unto the Lord, and when they, as men of like passions with their brethren, and of like necessities too, were borne into the presence of God, before the mercy seat, Jesus.

One behalf of all the people

But it was when the people, the worldliness, the deadness, the lack of love to brethren and to souls, and especially the want of love to Jesus and the consequent grieving of the Holy Ghost; it was when these were in lowly, broken sentences, named before the great Father of All, that hearts seemed to be melted into one universal feeling of grief, and to bow in the dust in one solemn act of self-abasement.

It was wont to be said of old time, that he had never seen sorrow who had not beheld the sorrow of Israel on the great day of atonement; and, verily, many who were present on that night, felt that they had never before seen such real, awful, general grief as that which rolled over the spirits of that vast assembly. God, the Holy God, was there, and his people had a sight of themselves, and of their ways, in the very light of his holiness; and each took the place of the patriarch, saying, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” It was a solemn moment when the voice ceased, and all bowed in the silence of their souls’ agony before the holy God.

Hymn of Assurance

Great, indeed, was the relief and calm the peace which followed the sweet words uttered by Mr. Spurgeon: —

“There is a fountain filled with blood.”[2]

Never were the first two verses of this sung with more genuine and blessed feeling, or by more grateful hearts. Never were the words,

“I do believe, I will believe,
That Jesus died for me”

more sincerely and earnestly spoken by a multitude of mortal men, than on that occasion.

Address to the Churches

The time was now come for a few solemn words to the host of believers present; and the spirit of the pastor of the Tabernacle Church could no longer restrain its pent-up feelings. An earnest, loving, impassioned appeal broke from his lips. He led the hearts of the people into the depths of God’s everlasting love, and appealed to them as to what sort of persons men so loved ought to be. He gave forth a few burning words on the precious redeeming blood of Jesus, inquiring what manner of men they ought to be who knew themselves to be so redeemed? He pressed upon every conscience the great truth, that each loved and blood-bought saint is a temple of the Holy Ghost — the in-dwelling Spirit of God; and earnestly showed how holiness became the dwelling-place of the Lord; and he directed the hearts and hopes of God’s children to the home in the Father’s house, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and asked what manner of men its denizens ought to be? And then came the searching, thrilling, humbling question, have we, have I, have any of us, ever lived as it becometh those to live who have been loved of God with a sovereign and gracious love from eternity? Have any of us ever lived as it becomes men to live, who have been in very deed redeemed from wrath by the blood of God’s own Son, as it becomes men to live, in whom the Holy Ghost doth in very deed dwell, and who are destined to dwell with God and his Christ for ever? Many hearts will never forget these questions; strong men could not restrain the audible “Never! never! have we so lived;” while the deeply-moved heart of the great congregation gave forth the sit response that each and all were verily guilty before God. The power of the Almighty Spirit carried home those questions to the inner life of that great Christian gathering; and the grace of that same Holy One stirred the heavenly affections of that life with feelings of deepest humiliation before its great author.

Prayer of Dedication

A humble, fervent prayer, by Pastor Cole, for the up-lifting and revival of all believers, followed this appeal, the Spirit leading the speaker to dwell upon the precious truths which had been laid upon the hearts of the meeting, and to supplicate that God would enable his people thenceforth to realize them in the fullness of their power. The universal response which followed these pleadings with God told how deeply the blessings sought were desired by all.

Silent Prayer and Evangelistic Address

The time had now arrived for an address to the unconverted. At the suggestion of Mr. Spurgeon, three minutes were spent in silence by believers in pleadings for their fellow sinners, and that Mr. Offord might be aided to bear God’s message to them, as directly as he had been enabled to lay their confessions before God. In answer to prayer, our beloved brother was enabled to set forth the glories of heaven in a most delightful manner, so that many who had been hitherto careless, felt a desire after that goodly land; then came the warning that no defiling thing can enter there, and the simple, earnest, instructive, and touching story of the way by which the sinner may be cleansed from all defilement and made to stand accepted in the Beloved. Every word was clothed with power, we all felt that the speaker’s lips had been touched with a living altar-coal, and we sat wondering at the power of God, and expecting great results.

Hymn of Response

All the Christians present expressed their hearty desire that their fellowmen might receive God’s mercy in Christ, by singing certain verses each ending with the words,

“Come and welcome sinner come.”[3]

These words could not but fall with thrilling power upon many hearts.

Concluding Prayers

The earnest work of supplication was ended by Pastors Stott and C. H. Spurgeon pleading with God for anxious and careless souls present. Each plea seemed to go straight to the throne of grace, while numbers felt that such prayer must be and was accepted. These prayers, like all the others, as well as the confession, were evidently the result of a resistless power, moving the hearts of speakers and hearers, animating them with deep and earnest desire, and working in them a simple and mighty faith, that must surely prevail with him who said. “According to thy faith be it unto thee,” and, “all things are possible to him that believeth.” This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes Who shall tell what blessing may grow out of this wonderful display of the grace of our God! May he grant us to see yet greater things than these!

Dismissal and Follow-Up

After an announcement that another central meeting will be held on the first Monday in February, a number of Christians retired into a room below with many anxious ones, several of whom received peace with God through faith in the precious Savior. Many of these have since been seen by Mr. Spurgeon, who tells us that he conversed personally with no less than seventy-five inquirers, in one day subsequent to the meeting. We hope “The Sword and Trowel” will chronicle many blessed items of saving results.

[1] This account is taken from The Sword and the Trowel, 1865, 67-70. Thanks to Paul Martin for highlighting this event for me.

[2] There is a Fountain, William Cowper, 1771.

[3] From the Cross Uplifted High, Thomas Haweis, 1792.



Sermon Of The Week: “The Remembrance of Christ”

By / Jan 27

Are there times when you neglect or even forget the sacrifice of Christ on your behalf? Spurgeon asks, “Oh! my friends, is it not too sadly true that we can recollect anything but Christ, and forget nothing so easy as him whom we ought to remember?” So easily distracted by the things of this world and the sins that still tempt us, our cares and thoughts often drive us to look away from our Savior and forget the work that He has done for us. Spurgeon here teaches that our remembrance of Christ is both commanded and essential in our Christian walk.

In this sermon, we receive the necessary admonition to meditate on and recall the work of Christ. Spurgeon tells us of the sweet blessings that come as a result of that remembrance, namely patience in persecution and strength against temptation. But our remembrance of Christ should not be just a fleeting memory. Rather, we must meditate deeply and frequently on Christ’s person and work. One regular opportunity to remember Christ is at the Lord’s Supper. When we feel the weight of sin and guilt upon us, it is this remembrance of Christ that will give us true hope.

Excerpt:

And first, remembrance of Jesus will tend to give you hope when you are under the burden of your sins. Notice a few characters here tonight. There comes in a poor creature. Look at him! He has neglected himself this last month; he looks as if he had hardly eaten his daily bread. What is the matter with you? “Oh!” says he, “I have been under a sense of guilt; I have been again and again lamenting, because I fear I can never be forgiven; once I thought I was good, but I have been reading the Bible, and I find that my heart is ‘deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;’ I have tried to reform, but the more I try, the deeper I sink in the mire, there is certainly no hope for me. I feel that I deserve no mercy; it seems to me that God must destroy me, for he has declared, ‘The soul that sinneth it shall die;’ and die I must, be damned I must, for I know I have broken God’s law.” How will you comfort such a man? What soft words will you utter to give him peace? I know! I will tell thee that there is one, who for thee hath made a complete atonement; if thou only believest on him thou art safe for ever. Remember him, thou poor dying, hopeless creature, and thou shalt be made to sing for joy and gladness. See, the man believes, and in ecstasy exclaims, “Oh! come all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul.”

Read the rest of the sermon here.



Sermon Of The Week: “A Lecture for Little-Faith”

By / Jan 20

Do you struggle with little faith in the Christian life? Do you sometimes fear that the Lord’s grace is not sufficient for your doubts and sins? In this week’s sermon, Charles Spurgeon delivers helpful insight and instruction for those of little faith. Utilizing imagery from Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, this sermon helps us understand the nature of one’s faith, and the means by which it can be grown and strengthened.

He further emphasizes the reality that those of little faith are not abnormalities. Doubts and unbelief are real battles that must be faced by every Christian. But God’s grace is sufficient for those of little faith, even if we struggle to believe it. Our faith – looking and coming to Christ – must be strengthened and accordingly turned into thankful praise to the Lord. “Faith is a feeding grace” and must be sustained through God’s promises. Spurgeon provides encouragement for the doubting believer by pointing us to God’s sufficient grace, sovereignty, and role in our salvation.

Excerpt:

“When faith grows a little, it rises from looking to Christ to coming to Christ. He who stood afar off and looked to the cross by-and-bye plucks up courage, and getting heart to himself, he runneth up to the cross. or perhaps he doth not run. but hath to be drawn before he can so much as creep thither, and even then it is with a limping gait that he draweth nigh to Christ the Saviour. But that done, faith goeth a little farther: it layeth hold on Christ; it begins to see him in his excellency, and appropriates him in some degree, conceives him to be a real Christ and a real Saviour, and is convinced of his suitability. And when it hath done as much as that, it goeth further; it leaneth on Christ. it leaneth on its Beloved; casteth all the burden of its cares, sorrows, and griefs upon that blessed shoulder, and permitteth all its sins to he swallowed up in the great red sea of the Saviour’s blood. And faith can then go further still; for having seen and ran towards him and laid hold upon him, and having leaned upon him, faith in the next place puts in a humble, but a sure and certain claim to all that Christ is and all that he has wrought; and then, trusting alone in this, appropriating all this to itself, faith mounteth to full assurance; and out of heaven there is no state more rapturous and blessed. But, as I have observed at the beginning, faith is but very small, and there are some Christians who never get out of little faith all the while they are here.”

Read the rest of the sermon here.



The Service in the Snowstorm

By / Jan 2

A snowstorm is forecasted to hit Kansas City over the weekend, and I’m reminded of one of my favorite stories from Charles Spurgeon’s life: the story of his conversion. As churches ponder whether they should cancel services, here’s an encouragement not to underestimate how God might work even through a snowstorm and a simple worship service.

Spurgeon’s Conversion

From an early age, God gave him a sensitivity towards his sinfulness. He was never outwardly rebellious. But he knew the sinfulness of his heart. He knew his pride, his envy, his coveting, his impatience. He wrestled with doubts about the gospel and the existence of God. But in all this, he wasn’t sure what it meant to be a Christian. All he heard was more about what he had to do to be a Christian or to prove he was a Christian rather than what Christ had done for him. So from ages 10-15, Spurgeon wrestled with this sense of lostness, helplessness, and conviction.

But the answer finally came on a snowy winter morning. January 6, 1850, Spurgeon was back home in Colchester on winter break. His school had gotten out early because of an outbreak of fever. He decided that, during that holiday, he would visit every chapel in town, hoping that someone would show him the way of salvation. And on that Sunday morning, he was walking towards the city, on the way to another church, when a snowstorm suddenly blew in. Spurgeon was forced into a sidestreet, where he found refuge in a Primitive Methodist chapel.

There were just a handful of people there. He said the Primitive Methodists sang so loud it made his head ache. Then after the singing, an uneducated lay preacher got up and delivered the sermon.

The minister did not come that morning; he was snowed up, I suppose. At last, a very thin-looking man, a shoemaker, or tailor, or something of that sort, went up into the pulpit to preach. Now, it is well that preachers should be instructed; but this man was really stupid. He was obliged to stick to his text, for the simple reason that he had little else to say. The text was, — “LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.” (Isa 45:22)

He did not even pronounce the words rightly, but that did not matter. There was, I thought, a glimpse of hope for me in that text. The preacher began thus: — “My dear friends, this is a very simple text indeed. It says, ‘Look.’ Now lookin’ don’t take a deal of pains. It ain’t liftin’ your foot or your finger; it is just, ‘Look.’ Well, a man needn’t go to College to learn to look. You may be the biggest fool, and yet you can look. A man needn’t be worth a thousand a year to be able to look. Anyone can look; even a child can look. But then the text says, ‘Look unto Me.’ Ay!” said he, in broad Essex, “many on ye are lookin’ to yourselves, but it’s no use lookin’ there. You’ll never find any comfort in yourselves. Some look to God the Father. No, look to Him by-and-by. Jesus Christ says, ‘Look unto Me.’ Some on ye say, ‘We must wait for the Spirit’s workin’.’ You have no business with that just now. Look to Christ. The text says, ‘Look unto Me.’ … Look unto Me; I am sweatin’ great drops of blood. Look unto Me; I am hangin’ on the cross. Look unto Me; I am dead and buried. Look unto Me; I rise again. Look unto Me; I ascend to Heaven. Look unto Me; I am sittin’ at the Father’s right hand. O poor sinner, look unto Me! look unto Me!”

As Spurgeon sat there dripping wet, it all became clear to him. This is what he records:

“I had been waiting to do fifty things, but when I heard that word, ‘Look!’ what a charming word it seemed to me! Oh! I looked until I could almost have looked my eyes away. There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun; and I could have risen that instant, and sung with the most enthusiastic of them, of the precious blood of Christ, and the simple faith which looks alone to Him.”

That Sunday morning, Spurgeon was radically converted. And this would change the course of his life forever. For the first time, he understood that faith in Christ was not about doing something for God. It was about receiving, about trusting in what Christ had done for him.

The Lesson of the Snowstorm

Have you ever been discouraged when you go to church on a Sunday morning after a snowstorm and only a handful of people are here? Don’t underestimate what God can do. You never know who’s there. You never know who will show up. There may very well be a young man or woman who has been wrestling with their sin and has finally come hoping that someone will show them the way of salvation.

Don’t underestimate what God can do through another time of family worship, through another Sunday School class, through another personal quiet time, through another Bible study, through another Sunday gathering. These are all very ordinary things. But God can use these very ordinary means to accomplish His miracles, through the proclamation of the gospel. Spurgeon came to believe this about preaching. He was converted under the preaching of an uneducated, inexperienced lay preacher. And he never got over that fact.

Personally, I have to bless God for many good books… ; but my gratitude most of all is due to God… for the preached Word, — and that too addressed to me by a poor, uneducated man, a man who had never received any training for the ministry, and probably will never be heard of in this life, a man engaged in business, no doubt of a humble kind, during the week, but who had just enough of grace to say on the Sabbath, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” The books were good, but the man was better. The revealed Word awakened me; but it was the preached Word that saved me.

So as the snowstorm approaches, if even just a few people can safely gather for worship, don’t cancel the service! You don’t have to have all the production that you might normally have on a Sunday. Sing from the hymnal. Have an elder or another qualified brother lead in prayer and the preaching of the Word. And celebrate the risen Christ together. The preacher may not preach like Spurgeon but don’t underestimate what God can do through a plain, simple, clear proclamation of the gospel. God uses our efforts and talents, but the power lies not in us but in God and His Word.