The gospel in Spurgeon’s Ministry

When C.H. Spurgeon examined 20 years of his sermons being published and read and considered why it was that people not only bought them but also read them. The only thing that stood out to him as to why was the centrality of the gospel.

He said:

Those who know what dull reading sermons are usually supposed to be will count that man happy who has for a score of years been favoured with a circle of willing supporters, who not only purchase but actually read his discourses. I am more astonished at the fact than any other man can possibly be, and I see no other reason for it but this—the sermons contain the gospel, preached in plain language, and this is precisely what multitudes need beyond anything else. The gospel, ever fresh and ever new, has held my vast congregation together these many long years, and the same power has kept around me a host of readers. “Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.” A French farmer, when accused of witchcraft by his neighbours, because his crops were so large, exhibited his industrious sons, his laborious ox, his spade, and his plough, as the only witchcraft which he had used, and, under the divine blessing, I can only ascribe the continued acceptableness of the sermons to the gospel which they contain, and the plainness of the speech in which that gospel is uttered. (The Sword and the Trowel, January 1875, p6)

Today, it is often a struggle to get preachers to understand that their message must not stray far from the cross; and this highlights mans ignorance and the growing contempt many have for the gospel of Christ. This contempt reflects how deeply we have imbibed the worlds thinking that we merely need to feel better about ourselves.  The reality is we desperately need to feel much worse about ourselves, so that we can see the glory of the grace of God as exhibited plainly at the cross.

Lord grant us eyes to see and ears to hear how much we need your light in our hearts to illuminate sin and shine on the work you have done – which is our only hope.