The Life and Ministry of the Prince of Preachers

Introduction to C H Spurgeon (1834-1892)
by Mike Ross — last modified Jul 05, 2010 08:34 PM
"We Preach Christ and Him Crucified." -- The motto of Spurgeon's ministry and Metropolitan Tabernacle church (based on 1st Cor. 1:23-24 and John 3:14)

"I take my text, and make a bee-line to the CROSS." - Spurgeon
"The best preacher is the man who charges his gun with all he knows, and then - before he fires - puts himself in." (from W. Y. Fullerton's Biography of Spurgeon - page 197)

C. H. Spurgeon's blessed ministry was grounded in the holy scripture of 1st Corinthians 1:23-24 "But we preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

Based on the Biblical declaration of John 3:14, "And As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up," the striking emblem was his motto and appeared on the cloth-binding spines of the original New Park Street and Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermon Series volumes.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was a noted British Baptist minister who preached to throngs of souls at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England (which held a total capacity of 6000 people, including Standing Room only). Greatly blessed by the Holy Spirit, his success and worldwide popularity were due in large measure to a genius intellect, natural gift of oratory, thoroughly biblical expository messages, along with the fervant prayers of his congregational Tabernacle members.

In 1854, just four years after his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 20, became pastor of London’s famed New Park Street Church. The congregation quickly outgrew their building, moved to Exeter Hall, then to Surrey Music Hall. In these venues Spurgeon frequently preached to audiences numbering more than 10,000—all in the days before electronic amplification. In 1861 the congregation moved permanently to the newly constructed Metropolitan Tabernacle. Spurgeon's many writings and brilliant sermons are still widely published today, testifying to his timeless appeal.

How C. H. Spurgeon found Christ --
"I looked to Him; He looked to me;
and we were ONE forever." (CHS)
Isaiah 45:22 --
"Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth,
for I am God, and there is none else."

Who is on the Lord's side? Who? Wounded on the battlefield, I raise myself on my arm and cry to those around me, and urge them to espouse my Master's cause, for if we were wounded or dead for His sake all would be gain. By the splendour of redeeming love, I charge each believer to confess his Lord, and live wholly to him. Yours for Christ's sake, - C.H. SPURGEON

Excerpt from C. H. Spurgeon's Letter
read to his congregation on January 17, 1875
-- Published in the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit
(Vol 21, Year 1875, pg. 48)