Author: Charles Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: Help our unbelief

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We pray, O Lord, that those who have not believed in you may take courage from the experience of your people to be assured that you will keep them also.

Some people we know are just beginning to believe—little children—the Lord strengthen them. May they feel no hesitation in committing their souls to the keeping of the great God. May they come to you, our Father, through Jesus Christ your Son, and now believe, and leave the future, the past, the present—leave everything—with you.

We do heartily pray for some we know who are not far from the Kingdom, who have been upon the verge of believing for months, but they think it is a venture, they are afraid lest they may not believe, though you do command them. May they come and taste and see that the Lord is good, for blessed is the man that trusts in you.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“These are the names of the twelve apostles… Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:2, 4)

Thus they go two and two, until the traitor brings up the rear. Simon the Zealot is cooled down by the calculating prudence of Judas Iscariot. Judas was probably the best financier of the company, and he comes at the end with the bag. This quality rendered him useful, but it was perverted to his ruin, for he sold his Master for silver. What a description to follow a name—“who also betrayed him”! God grant it may never be set after the name of any one of us!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

The privilege of prayer together

If you enjoy praying with Spurgeon every day, you probably know that there is a lot of value in praying with other believers. In an effort to better understand why Christians should pray together (and to better lead my church in this area), I read Praying Together by Megan Hill.

My biggest takeaway from this book? Prayer is an amazing privilege. I am so foolish to neglect such a wonderful treasure. (Because the book is also a great introduction to prayer generally, not just corporate prayer). But the book also describes all of the incredible ways that God will work when we pray together (in the church and in our homes).

Praying Together increased my desire to pray (on my own and with others!) and I know it will help you too. So I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Praying Together:

Pray with Spurgeon: God’s grace never fails (even though we are undeserving)

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, you have heard our prayers, even when we have hardly thought they could be answered. We have been unbelieving, but you have been faithful. We have been undeserving, but your grace has never failed. Many of us have known you now as long as Israel knew you in the wilderness, these forty years, and never once have you failed to keep your promises, or to remember your people for good.

May our faith grow exceedingly. May we that have had experience of your goodness, feel ashamed ever to entertain a doubt, and when the dark thought ever crosses our mind which would make us mistrust, may we chase it as a strange and vain thought, which must not even lodge, much less dwell, within our hearts. “The Lord lives, and blessed be my Rock”—strong to keep His promise, unchanging, unexhausted, ever the eternal Fountain of good things to his waiting people.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“These are the names of the twelve apostles: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;” (Matthew 10:2–3)

Observe how Matthew keeps us in mind that he had been a tax collector. With holy gratitude he thus records his former estate, that the grace which called him might be the more conspicuous. Thomas was as truly called by the Lord as any of them, though he was one whose mind entertained distressing questions.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A New Bible Reading Plan for 2023*

Reading the Bible in a year can be an incredible habit, but it can also be challenging to know how it all fits together.

And that’s why I love the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible — it features a daily reading plan that covers the whole Bible in one year, with readings arranged in chronological order (the order that the events took place, rather than the traditional order of books in our English Bibles).

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible also features brief daily notes to help you remember your place in the story (and who all of those kings and prophets are, exactly 😅).

The study notes are written by George Guthrie, who is a great New Testament scholar.

Reading the Bible chronologically in 2023 will grow your knowledge of the Bible and your love for God. And I know the Day-by-Day Chronological Bible will be a great resource to help you along the way.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pray with Spurgeon: God is our helper (and he will never sleep)

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, you are our God. Early in life many of us were brought to put our trust in you, and since then you have been our God in many and many an experience. We have been in troubles often, but you have always been our Helper. We have been in danger, but he who keeps Israel has neither slumbered nor slept. We can truly say this morning, “Because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.”

What a God you have been to us in our experience—so tender over our weakness, ever teaching us little by little as we have been able to bear it; so long-suffering with our follies, chastening only in measure, and comforting without measure.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.” (Matthew 10:1)

See the way of making apostles. They were first disciples, and afterwards teachers of others: they were especially his, and then they were given to be a blessing to men. They were “called unto him”; and thus their higher call came to them. In the presence of their Lord they received their equipment: “He gave them power.” Is that so with us in our own special office?

Let us come to him, that we may be clothed with his authority and girded with his strength. Their power was miraculous; but it was an imitation of their Lord’s, and the words applied to it are very much the same as we have seen in use about his miracles of healing. The twelve were made to represent their Lord. We, too, may be enabled to do what Jesus did among men. Oh, for such an endowment!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

See Jesus with more clarity, and love him for it.

This weekend, I’m preaching on Hebrews 1, teaching about how Jesus is the Son of God. And while I’ve heard this title applied to Jesus a lot, I’ve never heard anyone attempt to give a clear definition for it. So this week I read, Jesus the Son of God by D.A. Carson.

This book is really incredible. Carson, a New Testament scholar, approaches the question, “What does it mean for Jesus to be the Son of God?” in an incredibly logical, thoroughly biblical way. Carson masterfully categorizes and explains a huge amount of biblical data, in a short, accessible book.

I will say that this is not the most exciting book you will read (the writing is pretty dry), but the journey is worth it. I walked away from this book with greater love and deeper amazement at the wonders of Christ, the Son of God.

If you’ve ever had questions about what it means for Jesus to be the Son of God, or if you need some solidly biblical fuel for your love for Christ, this book will be a blessing to you. I hope you’ll buy a copy today.

Buy Jesus the Son of God:

Pastor, the church must affirm you

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

Young brethren apply who earnestly desire to enter the ministry, but it is painfully apparent that their main motive is an ambitious desire to shine among men. These men are, from a common point of view, to be commended for aspiring, but then the pulpit is never to be the ladder by which ambition is to climb.

Had such men entered the army they would never have been satisfied until they had reached the front rank, for they are determined to push their way up—all very laudable and very proper so far; but they have embraced the idea that if they entered the ministry they would be greatly distinguished; they have felt the buddings of genius, and have regarded themselves as greater than ordinary persons, and, therefore, they have looked upon the ministry as a platform upon which to display their supposed abilities.

Whenever this has been visible I have felt bound to leave the man “to gang his ain gate,” as the Scotch say; believing that such spirits always come to nought if they enter the Lord’s service. We find that we have nothing whereof to glory, and if we had, the very worst place in which to hang it out would be a pulpit; for there we are brought daily to feel our own insignificance and nothingness.

RESOURCE FOR PASTORS

Add Spurgeon’s Lost Sermons to your library (Up to 69% off!)*

The Lost Sermons are a collection of books featuring Spurgeon’s earliest sermon outlines and manuscripts. Until a few years ago, these sermons weren’t available for reading ANYWHERE, but now you can now read hundreds of these incredible sermons in a collection of beautiful books.

Lifeway is currently selling the Lost Sermons at DEEP discounts, so I highly encourage you to grab a few individual volumes or the complete Collector’s Edition set.

Buy The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon from Lifeway.com — Up to 69% off.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this quotation in your own preaching to describe God’s gentle response to our repentance.

Have you never heard of the man who lost his way one night, and came to the edge of a precipice, as he thought, and in his own apprehension fell over the cliff? He clutched at an old tree, and there hung, clinging to his frail support with all his might. He felt persuaded that, should he quit his hold, he would be dashed in pieces on some awful rocks that waited for him down below. There he hung, with the sweat upon his brow, and anguish in every limb. He passed into a desperate state of fever and faintness, and at last his hands could hold up his body no longer. He relaxed his grasp! He dropped from his support! He fell—about a foot or so, and was received upon a soft mossy bank, whereon he lay, altogether unhurt, and perfectly safe till morning.

Thus, in the darkness of their ignorance, many think that sure destruction awaits them, if they confess their sin, quit all hope in self, and resign themselves into the hands of God. They are afraid to quit the hope to which they ignorantly cling. It is an idle fear. Give up your hold upon everything but Christ, and drop. Drop from all trust in your works, or prayers, or feelings. Drop at once! Drop now! Soft and safe shall be the bank that receives you. Jesus Christ, in his love, in the efficacy of his precious blood, in his perfect righteousness, will give you immediate rest and peace.

THANKS FOR READING

Brothers,

Ministry is a horrible place to stroke your ego. The church belongs to the Lord Jesus, and it must exist for his glory, not our own. Instead of seeking to build ourselves up in pride, we should acknowledge our own unworthiness, and cling to our God.

In the pulpit, “there we are brought daily to feel our own insignificance and nothingness.” — Spurgeon

If this newsletter is encouraging, please share it with another pastor. You can forward this email to a pastor you know.

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Blessings to your ministry,

Doug H.
Creator of SpurgeonBooks
Preaching Pastor of Pillar Church of Washington DC

Pray with Spurgeon: Help us trust God and not worry

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O Lord, enrich us with all spiritual blessings according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Give us first complete peace of mind. Deliver us from all slavish fear. Let us rest in the great Father’s love. Save us also from carefulness and that anxiety which frets and eats like a canker. Help us to cast our burden upon you today, whatever that burden may be.

Work in us, O God, the precious gift of faith, and increase faith if we have it. Let us not only have life, but have it more abundantly. Brighten our hope, and may we joyfully expect the coming of the Lord. Every day inflame our love, and may we more intensely love our God, our Savior, and our brethren, and our fellow men. Work in us, we pray, the blessed character of our divine example. Lead us to follow in his steps. May we be truly Christians, as truly as he was Christ.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Jesus replied, ‘This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.’” (John 6:29)

Faith is most pleasing to God because it is the comprehensive summary of all true work. There lies within a heart of faith every possible form of holiness. As a forest may lie asleep within an acorn, so within the bounds of faith, little though it is, every virtue lies hidden. It may be microscopic in form, but it is certainly there and only needs development.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Don’t Just Read Scripture in 2023 — Live it Out.*

We know that when we read Scripture, we need to be seeking to have our lives transformed, not only collect more information. And yet, it can be difficult to apply Scripture in a way that is faithful to the text and specific to our lives.

That’s a great feature of the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible. Each day’s reading features reflection questions to consider while you read and there’s also a weekly recap to help you consider the big things that you have learned.

These reflection questions are really helpful for growing in godliness as you read Scripture. One thing that I love about these questions is that they’re really diverse — they don’t say the same thing 365 different ways, they will address your heart, your beliefs, and your actions.

I’m confident that the Day-by-Day Chronological Bible will help you follow Christ this year, so I hope you’ll pick up a copy today.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pray with Spurgeon: We find all our joy in God

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

God bless his dear people with patience; make patience have her perfect work that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. The Lord give us perfect consecration, and a holy waiting for his coming. May we be looking for the appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and so always be on the watch for the setting loose of earthly things, finding our joy not here nor there, but in him and waiting for his appearing.

Revive your church at this time. Oh that there would come a heavenly wind to blow over your fainting church! Lord, she has been ill-fed of late; she has eaten ashes with her bread, false doctrine with your truth. Come and purge away false doctrine and error, and may your own truth be proclaimed again. Then men, feeding upon it, shall have the old gladness, the old holiness, the old service of God.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.” (Titus 3:3)

That is what we were once; and if the grace of God has made a change in us, we must not boast, we must not censure others, we must not set up as self-righteous judges of others. Oh, no! our action must be the very reverse of all this.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

My Bible Study for Husbands

If you’ve made any New Years Resolutions to grow as a husband, I have a resource that I think can help.

Husbands, we are called to lay down our lives in service for our wives — how can we grow to be the sacrificial leader that God has called us to be?

I’ve created a resource, The God Centered Husband Bible Study Workbook to help husbands understand God’s call on their lives and equip them to follow it. 

This is a simple, hands-on Bible study workbook for married guys. It will walk you through six passages of Scripture about being a husband and challenge you to serve your wife sacrificially, lead her consistently, and show her the character of God.

Every man lives for something. This Bible study will challenge you to stop living for yourself, your wife, or your career, and live for God more faithfully.

Perfect for individual, small group, or one-on-one Bible study, my prayer is that this Bible study will help you become the husband that God has called you to be.

If you’re a husband, grab a copy for yourself and a guy you know.

If you’re a wife, grab a copy for your husband.
(Trust me, he’ll thank you)

Buy The God Centered Husband Bible Study Workbook on Amazon.

Pray with Spurgeon: God can strengthen our faith

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Bless your own people, especially, by giving us more faith. May we believe you fully. May we believe, and believe, and still believe! May we never stagger at a promise through unbelief, and may no affliction ever stagger us. If we are in the cave may we sing David’s cave-song: “O God, my heart is fixed, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise.”

Lord save us from unbelief, which brings misery, but a childlike trust brings happiness. Give us greater love for you, shame that we should need to pray the prayer, but we do. Inflame us with your love; may all our hearts be taken up with love to Christ; may we live love to him and so to our fellow-men.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I will tend my flock and let them lie down. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 34:15)

A flock cannot be fed until it is in existence. It cannot be fed, as a flock, until all the scattered sheep will have been brought together. We find the Lord declaring that he will search out his sheep and seek them. One of the Lord’s sheep—a woman who had forsaken the paths of virtue—had had five husbands and was then living with one who was not her husband. Yet he must go through Samaria to meet with her. He must—such was the divine necessity that this sheep, which had wandered as far as it well could, should be brought back.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Read Spurgeon’s hope-filled final message

Shortly before his death, Spurgeon delivered a message titled The Greatest Fight in the World, in which he expressed his confidence in God’s Word alone for the Christian life and the Christian ministry.

I read The Greatest Fight for the first time last year and was so encouraged by Spurgeon’s confidence in God — the kind of confidence that perseveres, even in the face of death.

Today, more than 100 years after his death, Spurgeon’s final message can encourage us to stay faithful to God’s Word as we trust in Christ alone to keep us to the end. I know that it will encourage you, so I hope you’ll grab a copy.

Buy The Greatest Fight in the World:

Pray with Spurgeon: God help me, I am very weak

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, help us. We are very weak, and if we get a little strength, it only adds to our weakness. We grow more and more dependent upon an Almighty arm. If we did not have God, we would have nothing. Bless your servants who preach the gospel. May they never dream that they can save a soul. May they leave salvation with the Savior whose work it is. May we be instruments in the hands of God, and be content to give him all the praise when we have the largest success.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

If they open their eyes, people who have never heard the gospel can see God in his works. Enough is written on the face of nature to condemn people if they do not turn to God. There is a gospel in the sea, in the heavens, in the stars, and in the sun; and if people will not read it, they are guilty; for they are willfully ignorant of what they might know and ought to know.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

How Does All of the Bible Fit Together?*

When we try to read the entire Bible in a year, we might find ourselves faced with a lot of questions: How does the whole story of the Bible fit together and point to Jesus? Why is Leviticus in there? Why are there so many chapters about family records or distribution of lands?

These questions are good, but we can’t let them stop us from diving deep into all of Scripture.

A great resource for reading the entire Bible in a year and thinking carefully about questions like these ones is the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible.

This Bible has arranged every chapter of Scripture based on the order the events took place, so you can see how it all fits together.

There are also some really helpful notes that will help you learn why each part of the Bible matters, and keep up with the story.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pray with Spurgeon: We give all praise to God

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, we adore you. We worship Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the one God of Israel. We wish every blessing to the God of blessing, to whom be glory, and honor, and power, and light, and might, and dominion forever and ever. We wish we could be always adoring. It is our heaven on earth, and it will be our heaven in heaven for ever to glorify God. This is our chief end, and we only find our bliss as we are able to reach unto it. But, blessed God, words cannot speak our reverence; praise sits on our tongue while we adore the God of the Covenant, the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our God forever and ever, who shall be our guide even unto death.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The LORD is my helper; therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.” (Psalm 118:7)

What a comforting fact it is that the Lord takes our part, and that when he raises up friends for us he does not leave them to fight for us alone, but he himself as our chief defender deigns to come into the battle and wage war on our behalf.

We are not to disdain or think little of the generous friends who rally around us; but still our great dependence and our grand confidence must be fixed upon the Lord alone. Without him the strong helpers fail; indeed, apart from him in the sons of men there is no help; but when our gracious Lord is pleased to support and strengthen those who aid us, they become substantial helpers to us.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Get your anger under control.

If you’re feeling angry in your workplace, home, or anywhere, I want to recommend a short booklet to you, Help! My Anger is Out of Control by Jim Newheiser.

This booklet is packed with biblical truth to help us understand and address anger in a way that glorifies God and depends on Christ. I’m exaggerating when I say that this book saved my life and my marriage.

Whether you want to get your own anger under control or help someone else with their anger, Help! My Anger is Out of Control is a great resource.

Buy Help! My Anger is Out of Control:

Pastor, the church must affirm you

Get wisdom encouragement for Spurgeon in your inbox every week. Subscribe to the The Pastor’s Note newsletter for free.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

The signs and marks of a true bishop are laid down in the Word for the guidance of the church; and if in following such guidance the brethren see not in us the qualifications, and do not elect us to office, it is plain enough that however well we may evangelize, the office of the pastor is not for us. Churches are not all wise, neither do they all judge in the power of the Holy Ghost, but many of them judge after the flesh; yet I had sooner accept the opinion of a company of the Lord’s people than my own upon so personal a subject as my own gifts and graces.

At any rate, whether you value the verdict of the church or no, one thing is certain, that none of you can be pastors without the loving consent of the flock; and therefore this will be to you a practical indicator if not a correct one.

RESOURCE FOR PASTORS

3 things your children’s ministry workers need to hear this year

You know that children’s ministry doesn’t happen automatically — a team of men and women are serving, praying, and planning so that kids in your church can learn in a safe and fun environment.

As you plan for the new year, here are three things every pastor needs to tell their children’s ministry workers in 2023.

Read the Full Article

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this quotation in your own preaching to describe our need for Christ.

The dove is hunted by the hawk, and finds no security from its restless enemy. It has learned that there is shelter for it in the cleft of the rock, and it hastens there with gladsome wing. Once wholly sheltered within its refuge, it fears no bird of prey. But if it did not hide itself in the rock, it would be seized upon by its adversary. The rock would be of no use to the dove, if the dove did not enter its cleft. The whole body must be hidden in the rock. What if ten thousand other birds found a fortress there, yet that fact would not save the one dove which is now pursued by the hawk! It must put its whole self into the shelter, and bury itself within its refuge, or its life will be forfeited to the destroyer.

Jesus invites all those who labour and are heavy laden to come to him, and he will give them rest. He does not promise this to their merely dreaming about him. They must COME; and they must come to HIM, and not merely to the church, to baptism, or to the orthodox faith, or to anything short of his divine person.

THANKS FOR READING

Brothers,

We cannot shepherd our people “without the loving consent of the flock.” It doesn’t matter how strong our vision is or how much conviction we hold, we cannot lead people by force. We are not to lead by “lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).

If this newsletter is encouraging, please share it with another pastor. You can forward this email to a pastor you know.

If someone forwarded this email to you, sign up to get another one every week. Click here to subscribe.

Blessings to your ministry,

Doug H.
Creator of SpurgeonBooks
Preaching Pastor of Pillar Church of Washington DC