Charles Spurgeon Weighs In

Kindled Fire by Zack Eswine examines the life & times of Charles Spurgeon, and what lessons on preaching can be learned from this towering figure from the 19th century. Charles Spurgeon has been called the "Prince of Preachers," and his sermons were printed and distributed far and wide -- prior to radio, CDs, or iPods. His sermons are still read today, and will be for quite some time.

I think what I read today relates to the Saturday evening post:

It turns out that Spurgeon was criticized for speaking frequently from his own experience. One critic said the printer of Spurgeon's sermons must "run out of capital I's" because Spurgeon spoke so often in the first person. But Spurgeon believed firmly that a preacher must speak from his own experience, and thus from the heart - that he is called upon to give personal testimony to the truth he speaks.

Zack Eswine summarizes: "The preacher is a man who has has personally encountered God and from these personal dealings and God's personal call, the preacher speaks to people about this God with whom he has had first-hand experience."

Preaching isn't only oratory, Spurgeon would say. It is testimony.

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NOTE: I had Zack as a preaching professor at Covenant Seminary, by the way, and he is a thoughtful, kind person. So far, his book is very helpful.

God's Word...in My Words?

Preaching has been described as "God's truth, filtered through personality." This is an inadequate definition, but it captures at least one reality: as preachers we are called to speak God's word...in our words.

Tonight I was reflecting on what a challenge this is. Sure, anyone can talk about the Bible - for good or ill. But to speak from the heart, and have what comes out of the heart be God's truth - that's a high calling! If we only read the Bible aloud, there would be no major problem; but instead we are called to clarify it with our own words, which can so easily divulge our fallen, sinful, or simply shallow hearts.

In seminary we were taught that the easiest part of preaching is exposition - studying the text and deciding what it means. You see, this can be turned into a routine: read the passage over and over, look at the original languages, determine the historical and literary context, compare the passage with other biblical themes, read some commentaries... Of course, this is a rewarding process for both preacher and hearer. I don't intend to downplay the absolute necessity of serious study. But: there's a method. I know when I'm done.

But what method do you use to insure that what you speak, after all that study, is from your heart? What method can insure that what you proclaim from the pulpit has been proclaimed to yourself, and that you will find yourself heeding your own warnings on Tuesday morning?

Fortunately, we have these promises: "When we are faithless, he remains faithfulness." And, "The word of the Lord endures forever." Ultimately, we trust God's word to do its work inside the preached-at and the preacher.

Nevertheless, what a high and holy calling to prepare not only our heads, but our hearts, to properly speak God's word to others.