Lectures to my Students, by C.
H. Spurgeon compiles the Presidential addresses and speeches made by Spurgeon to the ministers and students at the annual conference of the Pastor’s College which Spurgeon himself founded. (spurgeon. org) Lectures to my Students reflects the heart and soul that C.
H. Spurgeon had for the people that he was speaking to. Each chapter reflects the speech that Mr. Spurgeon gave in successive years at the college.
Lectures to my Students shows the heart that Spurgeon had for those he taught and also ministers in general. In each and every address Spurgeon espouses the love, commitment and challenge to students and ministers that he felt. Spurgeon’s love for his hearers is reflected in line after line of his understanding of their calling and equipping for the ministry. Lectures to my Students speaks of those things that Spurgeon felt was the most necessary things for the ministers.The books strengths are numerous and include: an obvious interest in his subjects, relating to them from personal experience, a thorough knowledge of his background material with commitment to telling it in a way that holds the listeners attention and a binding to the Word of God that attracts the man of God. Greater than all of these strengths though is his way of relating his admonishments.
Instead of dry uninteresting conversation C. H. Spurgeon gives each address the interest of personal testimony.On the other side there are very few weaknesses in the book. If there is a weakness, I would say that the reader always knows where the writer is going. Even though the theme of each year’s speech changes, Spurgeon has as his objective one purpose in mind and that is to change the lives and preaching habits for life.
Spurgeon has more than accomplished that seeing as how he is even today quoted from almost every pulpit in England, America and I would venture to say around the world. Certainly the book will help me in my personal ministry.Even before reading An Lectures to my Students, I have used quotes and wisdom sayings from Spurgeon’s books and speeches often. There are many admonitions and quotes by Spurgeon that fit today’s situations.
Spurgeon also hits the mark in assessing the feelings that I have concerning leading the congregation and where they need to go. For instance in the chapter 12 “The Ministers Ordinary Conversation,” Spurgeon points to the problem of putting ourselves ahead of God’s directives. One can hardly go wrong in using the wisdom of Charles Haddon Spurgeon.He has and continues to aid me in my ministry. Critique Lectures to my Students is a book written to preachers by a preacher. Charles Hadden Spurgeon pours his heart into the writing of this work.
C. H. Spurgeon was a prolific writer with more than 1980 sermons, books and manuscripts in print. (Spurgeon. org) His work over the years has been enjoyed, used and quoted by literally thousands of ministers of the gospel and others as well.
Spurgeon reaches out for the heart of the readers of this book.With his seemingly personal experiences in ministry, Spurgeon admonishes, advises and relates to his listeners in a unique and interesting way. Throughout the reading the wit, wisdom and wonder espoused by Spurgeon draws the reader into a world where truth can be seen clearly and wisdom can be drawn from it as from an open well. Spurgeon urges pastors to read diligently, and use concordances wisely.
This practical volume is a must-have for pastors, teachers, and anyone seeking a guide to the countless volumes written on Scripture. Logos. com) The nine chapters of assigned reading from Lectures to my Students fit together perfectly with the aforementioned statement and reflect the heart of Mr. Spurgeon and his concern for his students. Spurgeon wrote this book in the late 19th century and he was an Englishman.
The text reflects the language of the day. The old text makes the book a little difficult for the modern reader but with diligence one can get through it and reap the benefits that I mentioned before. An example of the style of writing that was mentioned isOne of the things I appreciate about Lectures to My Students is how clearly it reveals that many of the pressures and challenges of the pastorate have not changed over the last two hundred years. Much of Spurgeon’s advice to young preachers is as relevant today as the advice of anyone currently writing.
There are a few areas here and there that Spurgeon addresses (mainly regarding health or issues with the schedule of ministry) that indicates the limited knowledge of the medical field at the time in which he ministered. But overall, this book has been helpful and a friend to me.
