October 25, 2016

Even Superman had to fly above the clouds to escape the deafening screams of the people. Spurgeon sought his own space, too – his sacred space in France – away from the fog and smog that settled over his city. Absence from ministry was as essential for Spurgeon as presence in his pulpit. Yet even on the sunny shores …

October 18, 2016

Spurgeon’s favorite book was The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. It’s the story of a man named Christian who woke up one morning to find a burden on his back. He reads in a book his city would be destroyed, so he sets out on a pilgrimage. The road is seldom smooth. He falls into a mud-pit of despond, …

September 29, 2016

On April 23, 1888, Charles Spurgeon was betrayed by his brother, James. It all came to a head when Spurgeon withdrew his membership from the Baptist Union. Spurgeon lamented the absence of a confession of faith keeping Baptists from drifting away from evangelical doctrines. He feared the downgrading of theology would produce an “emptying of chapels, …

September 6, 2016

Carl F. H. Henry was right to call Charles Spurgeon “one of evangelical Christianity’s immortals” (Carl. F. H. Henry in the foreword to Lewis Drummond, Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers). In his twenties, Spurgeon pastored the largest mega-church in Protestant Christendom. London’s most cavernous buildings could hardly accommodate his crowds – and one of them even collapsed. American …

April 4, 1889

Marah Better Than Elim   “So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of …

Exodus:15:22-26

December 2, 1888

The Trial of Your Faith   “The trial of your faith.”— 1 Peter i. 7.   IT is a great thing if any man can truthfully speak to you, my brother, about “your faith” for all men have not faith, and wherever faith is found, it is the token of divine favour. True faith is, in every case, of …

1 Peter:1:7

February 4, 1883

All Joy in All Trials    “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”— James i. 2, 3, 4.   JAMES calls the converted among the twelve tribes his …

James:1:2-4

July 13, 1879

The Present Crisis    “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” — Hosea v. 15.   THE Lord does not always tell us what he will do. “Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.” …

Hosea:5:15

January 12, 1873

For the Troubled   “Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves.” — Psalm lxxxviii. 7.   IT is the business of a shepherd not only to look after the happy among the sheep, but to seek ones after the sick of the flock, and to lay himself out right earnestly for …

Psalms:88:7

April 3, 1864

The Barley-Field on Fire   "Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come. Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on …

2 Samuel:14:29-31