Author: Charles Spurgeon

Pastor, crush Satan by preaching Christ

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

“They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death.” (Revelation 12:11)

Now, brethren, what is the testimony of the saints? It is a testimony concerning the blood of the Lamb. If ever we are to conquer Satan in the world, we must preach the atoning blood. Whenever the doctrine of the atonement has been obscured in the church in any measure, to that extent the power of the church has declined; but you shall find that whenever there is a clear declaration of justification by faith in Jesus Christ, then the church comes forth in her glory, and bruises the dragon’s head.

Dear brothers, if you want to deliver souls from the power of Satan, you must preach the sacrifice of Jesus and its power to remove sin. Does Satan cast about men the chains of drunkenness, or uncleanness, or self-righteousness, preach the blood of Jesus as the only way of salvation, let them see how sin was punished in him, and how ready the Lord is to forgive them, and they will arise and go unto their Father. Tell the sinner that God is able to put away his sin, because Jesus died, and, touched with repentance, through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, you will find the sinner break loose from the seven-headed dominion of the devil.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe the church’s witness.

The gospel is something like an illustrated paper. The preacher’s words are the letterpress, but the pictures are the living men and women who form our churches. And like when people take up such a newspaper, they very often do not read the letterpress, but they always look at the pictures—so in a church: Outsiders may not come to hear the preacher, but they always consider, observe, and criticize the lives of the members

RESOURCES FOR PASTORS

Special thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring the Pastor’s Note newsletter. The CSB is both accurate and readable. So that you (and your flock) can read God’s Word with confidence, clarity, and precision.

Click here to learn more about the CSB (and request a free CSB Bible).

Pray with Spurgeon: The God of love gets all the world

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, the matchless love of God! Truly if there be any glory it must be all the Lord’s; if there be any virtue it is the result of grace; if there be anything whatsoever that lifts us above the devil himself it is the work of the Divine Spirit, to whom be glory!

And now at the remembrance of all this, and being in your presence, we do still rejoice that our unrighteousness is covered; from condemnation we are free, and we are the favored of the Lord. You have given us, O Lord, to taste of that love which is not merely laid up for us, but we have enjoyed it, and do enjoy it still.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.” (Psalm 1:4)

Whatever good thing is said of the righteous is not true in the case of the ungodly. The first sentence is a negative description of the ungodly, and the second is the positive picture. Here is their character—“they are like chaff,” intrinsically worthless, dead, unserviceable, without substance, and easily carried away. Here, also, mark their doom—“the wind blows away;” death shall hurry them with its terrible blast into the fire in which they shall be utterly consumed.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Trust in God’s preserving, purifying power through all of your suffering

God is at work in our suffering to preserve us and to purify us. This was one of the major themes in Spurgeon’s teaching on suffering, but it was not all he had to say on the topic. Spurgeon learned supernatural wisdom from God’s Word and his own pain on how to address our suffering in a God-glorifying, hopeful way.

Spurgeon’s teaching on suffering is very useful, so I compiled a brief collection of it in a short book, Spurgeon on Suffering. This book contains 12 classic sermons from Spurgeon on suffering, pain, and God’s grace through it all.

I hope you’ll buy a copy today, and I hope it will bless you.

(As a side note, purchasing a copy is a great way to support this ministry so that I can continue to send this daily newsletter!)

Buy Spurgeon on Suffering on Amazon (Paperback or Kindle edition)

Pray with Spurgeon: God’s love is great

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, this wicked heart of ours! Does it not have enough tinder in it to set on fire the course of nature? If a spark just fell into it, any one part of our bodies left to itself would dishonor Christ, deny the Lord that bought us, and turn back into perdition.

We are altogether ashamed. Truly in us is fulfilled your own Word: “you will remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth again because of your disgrace” (Ezekiel 16:63). For your love to us has silenced us, that great love has hidden boasting from us; your great love, with which you loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins; your great love with which you love us still, despite our ill manners, our wanderings, our shortcomings, and our excesses.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

The righteous man bears fruit in the proper season; not unseasonable graces, like untimely figs, which are never full-flavored. But the man who delights in God’s Word, being taught by it, brings forth patience in the time of suffering, faith in the day of trial, and holy joy in the hour of prosperity. Fruitfulness is an essential quality of a gracious man, and that fruitfulness should be seasonable.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Simple Guide to the Simple Task of Evangelism*

We share a SIMPLE gospel, but sometimes sharing it doesn’t feel simple at all. We are often silenced by a lot of questions: What if I can’t answer their objections? What if they hate me forever? Can I really do this? 

I know that these kinds of common fears have stopped me from sharing my faith. But I’m excited about a new resource from Matthias Media that will help you overcome these fears.

Share the Gospel by Tony Payne is a new book to grow your skill and confidence in talking about Jesus.

I LOVE this book. Every chapter is rooted in Scripture and filled with hope, not condemnation. God IS at work to save sinners — and he’s called US to be a part of this work.

Share the Gospel is a really practical resource that will grow your confidence AND help you learn practical tools for starting conversations, responding to questions, and leading others to Christ.

And THIS MONTH ONLY, if you pre-order Share the Gospel, you’ll also receive TWO FREE COPIES of The Christian Gospel (which helps non-Christians understand the Bible’s big story and God’s plan to save sinners through Jesus).

Pre-Order Share the Gospel and receive two free books when you mention SpurgeonBooks.

Pray with Spurgeon: God is at work in our sin-stained hearts

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, we once thought that descriptions of our hearts as sinful were somewhat strained, but we think not so now, for we truly perceive that had it not been for restraint which held us like fetters we, in our unregenerate state, were capable of anything; for, even now, when we are regenerate, the old sin that abides in us is capable of reaching to a high degree of infamy; and did not the new life restrain the old death we know not what we might yet become.

We thought once we were humble; but we soon found that our pride will feed on any current flattery that is laid at our door. We thought we were believers, but sometimes we are so doubting, so unbelieving, so vexed with skepticism that we should not certainly choose to follow: that is your work in us. By nature we are such liars that we think you are a liar too; the surest token of our untruthfulness, that we think that you can be untrue.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.” (Psalm 1:1–2)

Here the gracious man is described both negatively (verse 1) and positively (verse 2). He is a man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. He takes wiser counsel, and walks in the commandments of the Lord his God. To him the ways of piety are paths of peace and pleasantness. His footsteps are ordered by the Word of God, and not by the cunning and wicked devices of carnal men. It is a rich sign of inward grace when the outward walk is changed, and when ungodliness is put far from our actions.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A simple read to help you love your church more

Your local church is not an activity or entertainment — it is the family that God has given you to keep you alive.

We all need to grow to love our local church family more. And a great resource for helping you along the way is Love Your Church by Tony Merida. This is a new book that outlines eight great things about being a church member. I’m so thankful for the book’s faithfulness to Scripture and practical application.

The book is simple and short. I promise you, if you will read this book and apply it’s lessons to your own local church, you will grow in love for your church family and grow in godliness as a result.

Buy Love Your Church:

Pray with Spurgeon: The brightness of Jesus covers all our shame

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, we are distressed, we are bowed down greatly when we see what is the condition to which we and all our race have fallen. “Where is boasting then?” And yet we grieve to say that we do boast, and have boasted; and that our fellowmen are great at boasting; whereas they ought rather to lay their hands over their mouths before you.

It has become a wonder to us that your should look upon man at all; the most hateful object in creation must be a man, because he slew your Son, because he has multiplied rebellions against a just and holy law. And yet truly there is no sight that gives you more pleasure than man, for Jesus was a man; and the brightness of his glory covers all our shame; and the pureness and perfectness of his obedience shines like the sun in the midst of the thick darkness. For his sake you are well pleased, and you dwell with us.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!” (Psalm 1:1 1:1)

“BLESSED”—see how this Book of Psalms opens with a benediction, just like the famous Sermon of our Lord upon the Mount! The word translated “blessed” is a very expressive one. We are reminded of the multitude of blessings which shall rest upon the man whom God has justified, and the perfection and greatness of the blessedness he shall enjoy. We might read it, “Oh, the blessednesses!” and we may well regard it as a joyful acclamation of the gracious man’s felicity. May the like benediction rest on us!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Learn Evangelism with Others*

I’m always looking for good resources to help other Christians grow — especially resources that can easily be used in small groups or one-on-one. And I’m really excited about Share the Gospel by Tony Payne (a new book, available now from Matthias Media). This isn’t just a book. It’s a “Learn Together” book, which means it’s been carefully designed for you to use with OTHERS, so that you can help one another grow.

There are reflection questions throughout the book to help you reflect on the material (and the Scripture passages throughout), which I know will spark really useful discussion.

There are also free videos that will be referenced throughout the book, which your group can watch together to help keep everyone engaged. (And the videos are really cool. They have really helpful graphics and visuals to help illustrate key concepts from the book.)

There are simple follow-up activities to help you and other participants continue reflecting on the material and even memorizing a simple gospel presentation you can share with others.

Seriously, this is a REALLY great resource. I know you and other Christians you know will benefit from it.

THIS MONTH ONLY, if you buy one or more copies of Share the Gospel, you’ll also receive TWO FREE copies of The Christian Gospel (which walks non-Christians through the good news about what God has done to save us from sin) when you mention SpurgeonBooks.

Pre-Order Share the Gospel and receive two free books when you mention SpurgeonBooks.

Weekend Edition: Help us care for one another

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (BY SPURGEON)

Bless our beloved church and all its ministries. O God, take care of it. Make every member of the church a shepherd to others. May all work together for the good of all, that your kingdom may come among us.

Righteous Father, renew every corner of your vineyard, and let the dew of heaven rest upon every branch of the vine. Bless your church throughout the world. Establish visible unity or, if that is not possible, strengthen the invisible unity that has always existed among believers. Heal our divisions; mend the breaches in Zion’s walls. Purge us of all that is unscriptural, until all Christians turn to your law and your teachings, as entrusted to the apostles by Christ.

Amen.

ENTER TO WIN $10K FOR YOUR PASTOR

Thanks to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College for sponsoring the Weekend Edition. I’m so thankful that their continued partnership has made it possible to bring back the Weekend Edition!

October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and Midwestern is hosting a giveaway of $10,000 to celebrate one faithful pastor (including a $5,000 donation to the church and $5,000 towards a well-deserved family vacation for the pastor).

Plus, anyone who enters or nominates their pastor will receive a free ebook of Spurgeon the Pastor by Midwestern professor Geoff Chang.

You can nominate your pastor (or, if you are a pastor, enter yourself!) right here.

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

The Children and Their Hosannas

“The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16)

  Oh, dear friends, I plead for the children’s piety with all my heart; for I am sure that they are capable of being quick of understanding in the fear of the Lord. They are not necessarily ignorant, nor even shallow. It has been my great privilege of late to admit to the church a large number of little children, and I have done so with unreserved confidence in their intelligent apprehension of the gospel.

Read the full sermon from the Spurgeon Center for Biblical Preaching at Midwestern Seminary.

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

Jesus in Genesis: A Case Study

For the Church has been doing a great series on Delighting in Jesus in the Old Testament. This is a really helpful resource that will be incredibly helpful in your Bible reading journey. Check out the latest article in this series right here.

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY AT MIDWESTERN

What Jesus purchased is precious. We’ve made it our purpose. Midwestern Seminary exists for the Church, and we serve the church by biblically educating God-called men and women to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ. If you’re called to serve the church, train with us, for the Church.

Pray with Spurgeon: Christ died for our sins

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Father, when we read your description of human nature we are sure it is true, for you have seen man ever since his fall, and you have been grieved in your heart concerning him. Moreover, you have such a love towards him that you did not judge him harshly; and every word that you have spoken must be according to truth. You have measured and computed the iniquity of man, for you have laid it on the Well-Beloved; and we know you have not laid upon him more than is necessary.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The nobles of the peoples have assembled with the people of the God of Abraham. For the leaders of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.” (Psalm 47:9)

The prophetic vision of the psalmist sees willing subjects of the great King gathered to celebrate his glory. Not only the poor and lowly but also the nobles willingly submit to his rule. What an august gathering it will be when the Lord Jesus opens his court, and princes rise to honor him!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A simple read to help you love your church more

Your local church is not an activity or entertainment — it is the family that God has given you to keep you alive.

We all need to grow to love our local church family more. And a great resource for helping you along the way is Love Your Church by Tony Merida. This is a new book that outlines eight great things about being a church member. I’m so thankful for the book’s faithfulness to Scripture and practical application.

The book is simple and short. I promise you, if you will read this book and apply it’s lessons to your own local church, you will grow in love for your church family and grow in godliness as a result.

Buy Love Your Church:

Pastor, the music in your church should be theologically rich

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)

“Sing ye praises with understanding.” (Psalm 47:7 KJV)

Sing a teaching psalm. Sound doctrine praises God. Even under the economy of types and ceremonies, it is clear that the Lord had regard to the spirituality of worship, and would be praised thoughtfully, intelligently, and with deep appreciation of the reason for song. It is to be feared from the careless way in which some make a noise in singing, that they fancy any sound will do. On the other hand, from the great attention paid by some to the mere music, we feel sadly sure that the sense has no effect upon them. Is it not a sin to be tickling men’s ears with sounds when we profess to be adoring the Lord? What has a sensuous delight in organs, anthems, etc., to do with devotion? Do not men mistake physical effects for spiritual impulses? Do they not often offer to God strains far more calculated for human amusement than for divine acceptance? An understanding enlightened of the Holy Spirit is then and then only fully capable of offering worthy praise.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe desire for God.

It does one good to see a hungry man eat his food. To him even every bitter thing is sweet. He does not turn over his food and cut off every little bit of gristle, as some of you do because of your delicate appetites.

The true gospel hearer hearkens to the text, “Eat what is good, and let your soul take pleasure in rich food” (Isa 55:2). He does not play the critic and cavil at this expression and that. He is too sharp-set to be particular about the dishes and the carving.

We marvel sometimes at the capacity of hungry men. There is no end to it, and it is the same with spiritual as with natural hunger

RESOURCES FOR PASTORS

For Pastor Appreciation Month, Midwestern Seminary is giving away $10,000 to one pastor. $5,000 of that prize will be given to the church and $5,000 will be given to the pastor for a family vacation.

Click here to enter now (and discover more great resources and giveaways for Pastor Appreciation Month)

Pray with Spurgeon: God can change my city

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Now bless the sinners. Lord convert them. O God, save men, save this great city, this wicked city, this slumbering dead city. Lord, arouse it, arouse it by any means, that it may turn unto its God. Lord save sinners all the world over, and let your precious Word be fulfilled. “Behold he comes on the clouds.” Why do you delay? Make no delay, O, our Lord. And now to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” (Psalm 47:8)

Now at this moment, over the most debased idolaters, God holds a secret rule; here is work for faith. How we ought to long for the day when this truth shall be changed in its aspect, and the rule now unrecognized shall be delighted in! The great truth that God reigns in providence is the guarantee that in a gracious gospel sense his promise shall be fulfilled, and his kingdom shall come.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Guilt-Free Evangelism Class*

Today we prayed that God would save the lost people in our city. We also need to remember that we have a role in answering this prayer. Evangelism is an urgent and weighty task. We know that we need to do it (and most of us feel guilty that we don’t do it more), but we have a lot of questions about how to do it right.

I’m really thankful for the way Share the Gospel by Tony Payne (A new resource from Matthias Media) answers so many of these questions. And because this book is rooted in the truth of Scripture, it isn’t full of guilt-trips about missed opportunities — it’s about letting the wonderful grace of God propel us to announce it to everyone and anyone!

This book is one of the most practical resources on evangelism that I’ve seen — it is full of easy-to-use tools to start conversations, transition to the gospel, and share with clarity.

If you want to live faithfully as Christ’s ambassador, you will NOT regret the time you spend in this book.

Pre-Order Share the Gospel and receive two free books when you mention SpurgeonBooks.

Pray with Spurgeon: Give us true life in Jesus

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, we want to live while we live. We do pray that we may not merely groan out an existence here below, nor live as earthworms crawling back into our holes and dragging now and then a withered leaf with us; but oh! give us to live as we ought to live, with a new life that you have put into us, with the divine quickening which has lifted us as much above common men as men are lifted above the beasts that perish.

Do not let us always be hampered like poor half-hatched birds within the egg; may we chip the shell today and get out into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Grant us this, we pray.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of the whole earth.” (Psalm 47:7)

The Jewish people of our Savior’s time resented this truth, but had their hearts been right they would have rejoiced in it. They would have kept their God to themselves, and not even have allowed the Gentile dogs to eat the crumbs from under his table. Alas! How selfishness turns honey into wormwood. The Lord is not the God of the Jewish people only, all the nations of the earth are, through the Messiah, yet to own him Lord. Meanwhile his providential throne governs all events beneath the sky.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Finding Scripture-saturated hope in the midst of doubt and suffering

For Christians, doubt is often associated with our own experiences of suffering. It is hard to believe in a good and powerful God when we feel so much pain in this broken world.

In the midst of suffering, it is easy to doubt God’s love for us and feel as if he has deserted us. An excellent book to help you find hope and faith through that kind of suffering is Deserted by God? by Sinclair Ferguson.

This book offers several reflections on the Psalms of lament in the Bible, where divinely-inspired authors cried out to God in the midst of their pain.

No matter what trials you are currently going through (or will go through in the future), Deserted by God? will give you the kind of Bible-saturated firm faith you need to endure. I hope you will grab a copy today.

Buy Deserted by God?: