"What a church should Be": Rev.Charles Hadden Spurgeon

[Neighbor]

Hi all,

Since I appreciate the lessons from Rev. Spurgeon, and since  the topic of church organization and purpose comes up often, I offer a link to his presentation titled: "What a Church Should Be" and place it up for general discussion.

https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/what-the-church-should-be/#flipbook/

 

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

Thank You for sharing that. Personally I idolize Charles Spurgeon. You really hear the words of God in his writings. I wish I had gotten the chance to hear him preach. He really was the "Prince Of Preachers". Please share more links from him.

[Neighbor]

3 hours ago, TrueFollowerOfChrist said:

Please share more links from him.

Hi, How about a link about him  from late in his life and the "Downgade Contoversy" from the man ( Jason K. Allen ) that owns the handwritten letter from Rev.Charles Spurgeon as he discusses  it? Titled "Keeping the Faith: Spurgeon and the Downgrade Controversy" by Jason K. Allen  January 13, 2023

Here is a link lending some historical context to that presentation: 

https://ftc.co/resource-library/articles/keeping-the-faith-spurgeon-and-the-downgrade-controversy/

 

 

 

 

[Michael37]

10 hours ago, TrueFollowerOfChrist said:

Thank You for sharing that. Personally I idolize Charles Spurgeon. You really hear the words of God in his writings. I wish I had gotten the chance to hear him preach. He really was the "Prince Of Preachers". Please share more links from him.

 Idolisation of anyone or anything is contrary to Scripture.

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

[Neighbor]

17 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

 Idolisation of anyone or anything is contrary to Scripture.

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

I didn't take it that  Spurgeon was being worshipped. I took it as an indication of strong appreciation for his teaching messages and devotions which point to Christ Jesus.

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

10 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Hi, How about a link about him  from late in his life and the "Downgade Contoversy" from the man ( Jason K. Allen ) that owns the handwritten letter from Rev.Charles Spurgeon as he discusses  it? Titled "Keeping the Faith: Spurgeon and the Downgrade Controversy" by Jason K. Allen  January 13, 2023

Here is a link lending some historical context to that presentation: 

https://ftc.co/resource-library/articles/keeping-the-faith-spurgeon-and-the-downgrade-controversy/

 

 

 

 

It is very sad that that happened to him in his last years. Sad that such a Titan of the faith would be betrayed by those he tried to reach. Kind of like Jesus a little bit. I would love to travel to his grave one day. The other great preacher I idolize is Billy Graham, but I've already been to his grave in North Carolina.

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

3 hours ago, Michael37 said:

 Idolisation of anyone or anything is contrary to Scripture.

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

I honestly don't know if your making a joke or being serious. Obviously NO man is my idol in the sinful biblical sense. I worship no one but Christ alone. When I say idolize, I mean someone I deeply respect and admire as a powerful spirit filled believer. Someone that others can look to and say " that right there is a true man of God, someone who truly knows God intimately ". A person who is upright in conduct and theology. Are you always so quick to judge before you understand? Your comment struck me as a judgement and not a question.

[Sower]

2 hours ago, TrueFollowerOfChrist said:

Are you always so quick to judge before you understand?

Perhaps you may consider he wasn't the only that was wondering why a Christian would idolize a man.
I had similar thoughts, yet believed/hoped you probably simply expressed you great enjoyment studying his sermons.
Idolizing anything/anybody is a slang figure of speech, that can be easily taken the wrong way.
I personally have had friends to warn me not to put our own pastor on a pedestal, as great as he was.
Because he was just a man, a fallen man, and would make mistakes, and sin, like every believer.

I understand your respect for Spurgeon, and lifting up his name. But remember, our God is a jealous God.
I believe Michael was only warning another brother/sister of what scripture says.
I didn't view his post as judgemental but sharing the word as it applies to your enthusiastic statement.

Would be wrong for you also to judge him for being a faithful steward of scripture, even though not as you took it.
A simple misunderstanding that our enemy would enjoy to escalate, but I hope not.

Thanks for your enthusiastic post, True.....
 

[Neighbor]

11 hours ago, TrueFollowerOfChrist said:

It is very sad that that happened to him in his last years. Sad that such a Titan of the faith would be betrayed by those he tried to reach. Kind of like Jesus a little bit. I would love to travel to his grave one day. The other great preacher I idolize is Billy Graham, but I've already been to his grave in North Carolina.

Can't say that I was deeply aware of the overall ministry  of Billy Graham's organization during his lifetime; however I have been  to and stayed at the retreat at Asheville to attended Fernando Ortega's Christmas music ministry, and I was present at the Billy Graham Crusade rally at "the big sombrero" Tampa Buccaneers Stadium back in about 1984-ish ( ?) .

I had never "seen" the power of the Holy Spirit descending upon some estikmated 85,000 people all at once till that night. The presentation by Graham was very basic,  quick, simple.  He had been delayed in starting that night because he was in telephone conversation with the family of Johnny Cash who was suffering  near death illness right at that moment. He did come out and asked us to join in prayer for Cash and his family. I think he had decided to do an abbreviated message perhaps due to that  happening. Anyway it was a very simple presentation.

Then the Holy Spirit came on so powerfully that it interrupted his nearing conclusion of his message. People just started flowing forward. I was on the playing field at the time and we had to keep moving in closer and closer to the podium/stage   as the masses of people came forward  in repentence and seeking prayerful change in their life.

I was close enough right in front of the podium sitting on the playing field lawn to be about to see Grahams eyes  expand and his startled look, at all the movement and the quiet roar of motion, even the atmospheric pressure seemed to change. It was like something from a SI Fi movie, a deep swirl and even temperature change.

Graham quickly altered his finish and started control of the movement of the people sio that no one would be crushed in the moving  humanity. It was a most amazing evening!

 

Thanks for giving me memory of that time this morning.

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

21 hours ago, Sower said:

Perhaps you may consider he wasn't the only that was wondering why a Christian would idolize a man.
I had similar thoughts, yet believed/hoped you probably simply expressed you great enjoyment studying his sermons.
Idolizing anything/anybody is a slang figure of speech, that can be easily taken the wrong way.
I personally have had friends to warn me not to put our own pastor on a pedestal, as great as he was.
Because he was just a man, a fallen man, and would make mistakes, and sin, like every believer.

I understand your respect for Spurgeon, and lifting up his name. But remember, our God is a jealous God.
I believe Michael was only warning another brother/sister of what scripture says.
I didn't view his post as judgemental but sharing the word as it applies to your enthusiastic statement.

Would be wrong for you also to judge him for being a faithful steward of scripture, even though not as you took it.
A simple misunderstanding that our enemy would enjoy to escalate, but I hope not.

Thanks for your enthusiastic post, True.....
 

You are 100% correct. Thank You.