Shepherding with Spurgeon

Weekly Newsletter for Pastors from SpurgeonBooks

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

Imagine a man, for instance, be called to the great work of preaching the gospel. He is successful; God helps him; thousands wait at his feet, and multitudes hang upon his lips; as truly as that man is a man, he will have a tendency to be exalted above measure, and too much will he begin to look to himself, and too little to his God. Let men speak who know, and what they know let them speak; and they will say, “It is true, it is most true,”

If God gives us a special mission, we generally begin to take some honor and glory to ourselves. But in the review of the eminent saints of God, have you never observed how God has made them feel that he was God, and beside him there was none else? Poor Paul might have thought himself a god, and been puffed up above measure, by reason of the greatness of his revelation, had there not been a thorn in the flesh. But Paul could feel that he was not a god, for he had a thorn in the flesh, and gods could not have thorns in the flesh. Sometimes God teaches the minister by denying him help on special occasions.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION FROM SPURGEON

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe God's kindness to bless us.

God has given us much and all his past gifts are pleas for more gifts. Men do not plead in this way. The beggar in the street cannot say, “Give me a penny today because you gave me one yesterday;” otherwise we might reply, “That is the reason why I should not give you any more.”

But when dealing with God, this is a good plea. God loves us to make his past mercies arguments for obtaining future blessings; so the apostle says, “God our Father, who has loved us and given us” (2 Thessalonians 2:16).

RESOURCE FOR PASTORS

A resource worth its weight in gold for sermon prep.*

Spurgeon described preaching this way: “Ministers should study as if all depended on study, and preach knowing that all depends on the Holy Spirit.”

We must study HARD — knowing that we have to diligently study the Word with depth and precision.

A valuable resource for sermon prep is reading Spurgeon’s own sermons and expositions. Spurgeon’s insights will help you apply and illustrate the text of Scripture (and having preached more than 3,500 sermons, he’s probably covered whatever text is in front of you for Sunday.)

The original volumes of Spurgeon’s sermons haven’t been available for several decades, but now Joel Beeke and the great team at Reformation Heritage Books have been working hard to republish these books — facsimiles of the Pilgrim Publications edition of Spurgeon's sermons from 1855-1860.

The full set also includes an index volume to help you find Spurgeon sermons on particular texts (so that you can get the Prince of Preachers’ help every Sunday.)

This month only, you can get any of the sets for 64% off with code SPURGJULY. Don’t hesitate — add this to your pastoral library today.

Buy any Spurgeon Sermons set for 64% off with code SPURGJULY.

ONE MORE REMINDER: PREACH JESUS THIS WEEKEND

“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.” — Charles Spurgeon