Biblical Principles Guiding Spurgeon’s Proclamation of Christ
The fundamental principle that guided Spurgeon in his sermons was to exalt God and make him the center of the laity. A sermon was meaningless to him if it was directed at something other than the faith and humility of the laity. Spurgeon put God and all the feelings and emotions of others through his soul, thereby understanding them. An important principle was his willingness to speak from his heart about what the Lord Jesus had done for him because that was the only way to find understanding in the hearts of others.
Spurgeon’s sermons also concerned a sense of community and virtue because finding brothers in churches encouraged him to write new essays. For Spurgeon, preaching became the Lord’s work to spread truth, faith, and wisdom about worldly life. He became convinced of the value of enlightenment through his experience, which helped him attract more and more preachers who could also work through what they heard in their souls. The courage Spurgeon preached allowed him to restore the church and its strength.
Today’s church should learn from Spurgeon’s zeal and sense of purpose in his sermons. The church does not always aim to attract new preachers these days, and there is a problem with ensuring effective recruitment. Spurgeon’s experience has shown that engaging the laity to understand the gospel is only possible if they know the truth. That is only possible through dialogue with a preacher who already knows them.
He showed that only by letting preaching go through one’s heart, making it a personal duty and work, can one draw someone into a mission to glorify Jesus Christ. Spurgeon’s perseverance and love for his work made his sermons effective, and people found that light within themselves. Today’s church must realize that “my life is worth nothing unless I use it to communicate the good news of God’s great love in Christ Jesus.” This Spurgeon’s principle should guide the church’s mission of engaging the laity.
Implementing the Lay Preachers Association Model Today
The practice of the Association of Lay Preachers was to persuade all participants, through dialogue, to turn their lives to the service of the Master. The practice included bringing the preachers together in brotherly love to support one another. The ministry consisted of starting with small villages and gradually expanding its work. Let only ten houses come to preach first, among which new speakers would be found who would go to the next ten houses.
Gradually, the number of listeners will grow, and the church will be able to expand its influence. By devoting time each day to service and preaching, the church can spread and bring light and faith to many lay people. Today’s practice of the Association of Lay Preachers is valuable because it shows the value of taking time and gradually reaching missions rather than trying to reach a large volume at once.
Bibliography
Earls, Rod. Spurgeon’s Theology for Multiplying Disciples and Churches: The Story of How Spurgeon and the Metropolitan Tabernacle Followed Christ. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2022.