DOCSLIB.ORG

Copyright © 2020 Jacob Andrew Hovis All Rights Reserved. The

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Copyright © 2020 Jacob Andrew Hovis All Rights Reserved. The Copyright © 2020 Jacob Andrew Hovis All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. THE SPIRIT-LED PREACHING OF CHARLES H. SPURGEON __________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________________ by Jacob Andrew Hovis May, 2020 APPROVAL SHEET THE SPIRIT-LED PREACHING OF CHARLES H. SPURGEON Jacob Andrew Hovis Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Hershael W. York (Chair) __________________________________________ Thomas J. Nettles __________________________________________ David E. Prince Date______________________________ To Laura, my favorite. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS........................................................................................ vii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................. 1 Void in the Literature ...................................................................................... 4 Thesis ............................................................................................................. 9 Methodology and Outline of Argument ......................................................... 10 2. SPURGEON’S SPIRIT-LED LIFE .................................................................. 14 Knill’s Prophecy ........................................................................................... 14 Compelled to Ministry .................................................................................. 17 Conversion ........................................................................................... 17 Sent to Preach ....................................................................................... 20 Midsummer Commons .................................................................................. 23 Criticism ....................................................................................................... 24 James Wells .......................................................................................... 25 Surrey Gardens Tragedy ....................................................................... 26 Health Issues ................................................................................................. 31 Gout...................................................................................................... 31 Depression ............................................................................................ 35 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 37 3. INSPIRATION OF THE TEXT ....................................................................... 38 iv Chapter Page Doctrine of Inspiration .................................................................................. 38 Plenary and Verbal Inspiration .............................................................. 39 Inerrancy of Scripture ........................................................................... 45 Authority of Scripture ........................................................................... 48 Treasured .............................................................................................. 49 God Spoke .................................................................................................... 51 Holy Spirit Speaks ........................................................................................ 52 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 53 4. ILLUMINATION OF THE PREACHER STUDYING THE TEXT ................. 55 Based on Inspiration ..................................................................................... 56 Not Laziness or Unpredictability ................................................................... 57 Sermon Structure .......................................................................................... 61 Barriers to Illumination ................................................................................. 63 Benefits of Illumination ................................................................................ 65 Incarnational ................................................................................................. 66 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 67 5. CONVICTION OF THE MESSAGE ............................................................... 69 Need for Conviction ...................................................................................... 69 Authentication .............................................................................................. 72 Application ................................................................................................... 76 Not Legalism ........................................................................................ 76 Partnering in Application ...................................................................... 80 Based on Clear Preaching of Jesus ................................................................ 83 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 86 6. EMPOWERMENT OF THE PREACHER ....................................................... 87 v Chapter Page Participate with the Holy Spirit in Preaching ................................................. 87 Rejection of Human Manipulation ................................................................ 91 Weakness and Humility ................................................................................ 97 Anointing of the Spirit ................................................................................ 102 Effects of Empowerment ............................................................................. 105 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 110 7. THE HOLY SPIRIT’S CHRISTOLOGICAL WITNESS ............................... 112 Christ is Scripture’s Theme ......................................................................... 112 The Holy Spirit Glorifies Christ .................................................................. 118 New Testament Example ............................................................................ 122 Christological by Design ............................................................................. 127 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 133 8. SPIRIT-FILLED LIVING .............................................................................. 135 Spirit-Called Preacher ................................................................................. 135 Spirit-Educated Preacher ............................................................................. 139 Preparing the Preacher ................................................................................ 143 Spiritual Maturity of the Preacher ............................................................... 145 The Preacher’s Integrity and Transformation............................................... 149 Passion for Preaching .................................................................................. 154 Salvation Experience................................................................................... 157 Quenching the Spirit ................................................................................... 161 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 163 Appendix 1. TOP TEN SERMONS ACCORDING TO E.W. BACON................................ 165 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................... 166 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS MTP Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit NPSP New Park Street Pulpit Lectures Lectures to my Students ST The Sword and the Trowel vii PREFACE To say that I feel inadequate to write about such a great man as Charles Spurgeon would be an understatement. Spurgeon is a giant in the field of preaching while I am simply a giant. I was inspired by many godly men and women throughout the ages, yet as I learned more about each of them, I became disappointed with their failures and became less interested. Spurgeon is different. The more I learned about him and from him, the more I respected and admired him. He has shaped my life and ministry in countless ways. I have five framed pictures of him on my wall and that is in addition to the bust and bobblehead. A lifetime learning about the Savior through Spurgeon’s sermons and writings would be a life well lived, but you should still go outside every once in a while. I am thankful for the Baptist church I accidently joined in college after filling out a visitor card. Being a member of it allowed me to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at a price I could afford. I am, of course, also grateful for the Cooperative Program, which made this possible. My two favorite aspects of the Southern Baptist Convention are the Cooperative Program and the potlucks. I am thankful for Southern and all
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Metropolitan Sabernacle
    This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com TheMetropolitansabernacle;itshistoryandwork C.H.Spurgeon ' 4. THE ITS HISTORY AND WORK. BY C. H. SPURGEON. Hontion : PASSMORE & ALABASTER, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS. PREFACE. When modest ministers submit their sermons to the press they usually place upon the title page the words " Printed iy Request." We might with emphatic truthfulness have pleaded this apology for the present narrative, for times without number friends from all parts of the world have said, " Have you no book which will tell us all about your work ? Could you not give us some printed summary of the Tabernacle history ? " Here it is, dear friends, and we hope it will satisfy your curiosity and deepen your kindly interest. The best excuse for writing a history is that there is something to tell, and unless we are greatly mistaken the facts here placed on record are well worthy of being known. In us they have aroused fervent emotions of gratitude, and in putting them together our faith in God has been greatly established: we hope, therefore, that in some measure our readers will derive the same benefit. Strangers cannot be expected to feel an equal interest with ourselves, but our fellow members, our co-workers, our hundreds of generous helpers, and the large circle of our hearty sympathizers cannot read our summary of the Lord's dealings with us without stimulus and encouragement. Our young people ought to be told by their fathers the wondrous things which God did in their day " and in the old time before them." Such things are forgotten if they are not every now and then rehearsed anew in the ears of fresh generations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Millennial Position of Spurgeon
    TMSJ 7/2 (Fall 1996) 183-212 THE MILLENNIAL POSITION OF SPURGEON Dennis M. Swanson Seminary Librarian The notoriety of Charles Haddon Spurgeon has caused many since his time to claim him as a supporter of their individual views regarding the millennium. Spurgeon and his contemporaries were familiar with the four current millennial views—amillennialism, postmillennialism, historic premillennialism, and dispensational premillennialism—though the earlier nomenclature may have differed. Spurgeon did not preach or write extensively on prophetic themes, but in his sermons and writings he did say enough to produce a clear picture of his position. Despite claims to the contrary, his position was most closely identifiable with that of historic premillennialism in teaching the church would experience the tribulation, the millennial kingdom would be the culmination of God's program for the church, a thousand years would separate the resurrection of the just from that of the unjust, and the Jews in the kingdom would be part of the one people of God with the church. * * * * * In the last hundred years eschatology has probably been the subject of more writings than any other aspect of systematic theology. Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92) did not specialize in eschatology, but supporters of almost every eschatological position have appealed to him as an authority to support their views. Given Spurgeon's notoriety, the volume of his writings, and his theological acumen, those appeals are not surprising. A sampling of conclusions will illustrate this point. Lewis A. Drummond states, "Spurgeon confessed to be a pre-millennialist."1 Peter Masters, current 1Lewis A. Drummond, Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1993) 650.
    [Show full text]
  • Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Vol. 04
    Volume 4 PREFACE Page 1 THE NEW PARK STREET PULPIT VOLUME 4 Published in 1858 By Charles Spurgeon PREFACE Perhaps the notes and pastoral letters which are appended to the later sermons of this volume will best explain the feelings which I entertain towards the readers of my sermons. I feel that they are my friends. Many, doubtless, read to cavil, to criticize and to condemn, But a vast number have charity enough to overlook the faults, divine grace enough to profit by the truths and kindness enough to allow me a place in their hearts. Innumerable are the loving epistles which I have received from those to whom these sermons have been blessed. From all denominations of Christians have I received cheering words of sympathy and affection; from none more frequently than from members of the Established Church. I can appreciate the high Christian feeling which has con- strained my brothers and sisters to bear with all the things in which we cannot agree, and cordially to accept me as a beloved brother because of those glorious truths of God in which we alike rejoice. I would, therefore, in this preface salute all the brothers and sisters desiring that grace, mercy, and peace may be multiplied unto them from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May our prayers be heard for each other when we earnestly pray the Father of Mercies to fill us all with the Spirit of His Son that we may be conformed unto His image in all things and at last may appear with Him in glory.
    [Show full text]
  • Baptist History and Their Distinctives Lesson #5 – Who’S Who Amongst the Baptists?
    Baptist History and Their Distinctives Lesson #5 – Who’s Who Amongst the Baptists? We Baptists are not very good at remembering our history. As a result, we often don’t know and appreciate the legitimacy or the basis of our own heritage. In this lesson, I wanted to familiarize you with some of our Baptist heroes and what they accomplished for us. It is important to understand that the nature of the contributions of these men are: 1. Developing our identity in doctrine and practice as to who we are. 2. Opposing false ideas regarding doctrine and practice. (Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy) 3. Preaching, teaching, publishing, organizing for the Kingdom of God. 4. Demonstrating leadership* in order to convince people regarding what we are and what we need to be. * “Leadership” – the ability to sell a vision. The Church is always under attack from Satan, his demons, and the culture at large. We must be ever vigilant regarding the truth. • Sometimes the attack comes abruptly and powerfully in the form of overt persecution. • Sometimes the attack comes subtly and slowly with flattery and deception that is barely detectable. Both of these forms of attack can and do kill churches! This is a partial list of important men as it would be much too time consuming to include all of these men and women who made us who we are today. I. Historical Heroes – (1600 - 1900) Obadiah Holmes – (1606 – 1682) A Rhode Island clergyman who was pivotal in the establishment of the Baptist Church in America. 2nd pastor of the First Baptist Church of Rhode Island.
    [Show full text]
  • Albertmohler.Com – Is the Megachurch the New Liberalism?
    http://www.albertmohler.com/2012/05/01/is-the-megachurch-the-new-liberalism/ 1/7 AlbertMohler.com Is the Megachurch the New Liberalism? Send Like 355 Tuesday, May 1, 2012 The emergence of the megachurch as a model of metropolitan ministry is one of the defining marks of evangelical Christianity in the United States. Megachurches — huge congregations that attract thousands of worshipers — arrived on the scene in the 1970s and quickly became engines of ministry development and energy. Over the last 40 years, the megachurch has made its presence known, often dominating the Christian landscape within the nation’s metropolitan regions. The megachurch came into dominance at the same time that massive shopping malls became the landmarks of suburban consumer life. Sociologists can easily trace the rise of megachurches within the context of America’s suburban explosion and the development of the technologies and transportation systems that made both the mall and the megachurch possible. On the international scene, huge congregations can be found in many African nations and in nations such as Brazil, South Korea, and Australia. In London, where the megachurch can trace its roots back in the 19th century to massive urban congregations such as Charles Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle, a few modern megachurches can be found. For the most part, however, the suburban evangelical megachurch is an American phenomenon. Theologically, most megachurches are conservative in orientation, at least in a general sense. In America, a large number of megachurches are associated with the charismatic Accessed on 2012-05-01 http://www.albertmohler.com/2012/05/01/is-the-megachurch-the-new-liberalism/ 2/7 movement and denominations such as the Assemblies of God.
    [Show full text]
  • The Soteriology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon and How It Impacted His Evangelism
    THE SOTERIOLOGY OF CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON AND HOW IT IMPACTED HIS EVANGELISM JERRY HARMON Teaching Pastor Grace Bible Baptist Church Baltimore, MD I. INTRODUCTION The fact that one of the greatest preachers of the modern era was a five-point Calvinist is beyond question.1 All one would have to do is read any one of Charles Spurgeon’s sermons to be convinced that he loved and proclaimed boldly the doctrines of grace. Another indisput- able fact about Spurgeon’s ministry is that it was baptized with evangel- istic fervor. So passionate was he that in a sermon preached at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in 1869 he proclaimed; I am as firm a believer in the doctrines of grace as any man living, and a true Calvinist after the order of John Calvin him- self; but if it be thought an evil thing to bid the sinner lay hold of eternal life, I will yet be more evil in this respect, and herein imitate my Lord and his apostles, who, though they taught that salvation is of grace, and grace alone, feared not to speak to men as rational beings and responsible agents…Beloved, cling to the great truth of electing love and divine sovereignty, but let not these bind you in fetters when, in the power of the Holy Ghost, you become fishers of men.2 1 Editor’s Note: Spurgeon was not a man whose theology neatly fit into any box. Though he called himself a Calvinist, he did not agree with all aspects of modern Calvinism, as this article clearly shows.
    [Show full text]
  • Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion
    Handbook of Megachurches <UN> Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion Series Editors Carole M. Cusack (University of Sydney) Benjamin E. Zeller (Lake Forest College, USA) Editorial Board Olav Hammer (University of Southern Denmark) Charlotte Hardman (University of Durham) Titus Hjelm (University College London) Adam Possamai (Western Sydney University) Inken Prohl (University of Heidelberg) volume 19 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/bhcr <UN> Handbook of Megachurches Edited by Stephen Hunt leiden | boston <UN> This is an open access title distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC 4.0 license, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited. Further information and the complete license text can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc/4.0/ The terms of the CC license apply only to the original material. The use of material from other sources (indicated by a reference) such as diagrams, illustrations, photos and text samples may require further permission from the respective copyright holder. An electronic version of this book is freely available, thanks to the support of libraries working with Knowledge Unlatched. More information about the initiative can be found at www. knowledgeunlatched.org. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Hunt, Stephen, 1954- editor. Title: Handbook of megachurches / edited by Stephen Hunt. Description: Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2020. | Series: Brill handbooks on contemporary religion, 1874–6691 ; volume 19 | Includes index. | Identifiers: LCCN 2019037970 (print) | LCCN 2019037971 (ebook) | ISBN 9789004399884 (hardback) | ISBN 9789004412927 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Big churches.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnic Church Meets Megachurch Indian American Christianity in Motion 1St Edition Pdf, Epub, Ebook
    ETHNIC CHURCH MEETS MEGACHURCH INDIAN AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY IN MOTION 1ST EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Prema A Ann Kurien | 9781479804757 | | | | | Ethnic Church Meets Megachurch Indian American Christianity in Motion 1st edition PDF Book This book explores the theological and textual connections among ancient and modern epicleses, primarily through analysis of a selection of epicletic …. Related Products. This is an account of how the revealed truth, love, and power of God revealed in Jesus Christ are contemporary and transformative to human life. Journal International Migration Review. With the launch of the Church…. Press enter to begin your search. Review Subject Required. Kurien's sophisticated analysis also demonstrates how the forces of globalization, from the period of colonialism to contemporary out-migration, have brought about tremendous changes among Christian communities in the Global South. The church facility, built in and known as Chicago Avenue Church, could hold 10, people. Most uses were specialized such as megalith stone of great size , megalopolis very large city , megaphone device that makes the voice sound much bigger and megahertz a million cycles per second. Many also try to name which church was the first megachurch — churches drawing 2, or more adults and children in worship on a typical weekend. Warren Bird, Ph. Prema A. Latest Releases. Please watch your inbox. This volume is the first comprehensive account of Etruscan mythology, an elusive and difficult subject because no Etruscan textual narratives have sur…. Free UK Delivery. Packer explores the lives of influential theologians and the issues that motivated and inspired them into action, including the authority of Scr….
    [Show full text]
  • The Growth of the Megachurch
    Chapter 2 The Growth of the Megachurch David E. Eagle 1 Introduction1 The dominant view of megachurches claims they represent a new religious form, born in the United States in the 1970s and 80s. Contrary to this position, I argue megachurches enjoy a long history in Protestantism. An important ex- ample from the sixteenth century Huguenot architect Jacques Perret reveals an early Protestant vision for a large, multi-functional worship space. Soon after, this vision became realised in bricks and mortar. Revivalism and the Institu- tional Church Movement of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries pro- vide further connections between present-day megachurches and the past. Revivalism provided the motivation for Protestants to go out and reach the masses, and the Institutional Church Movement provided the infrastructure to attract, convert, and nurture them. The demographic shifts that occurred following wwii led to the proliferation of churches in post-war America. This meant that large churches became increasingly visible, but journalists and so- cial commentators mistook their increase in prevalence for lack of historical precedent. Pastors and other leaders, capitalising on the appeal of innovation, reinforced this view. I offer an important corrective that helps situate mega- churches in the United States in their proper context. 2 The ‘Emergence’ of the Megachurch? The megachurch burst into the American consciousness in the 1980s. Mega- churches differed from their predecessors by offering their participants a single organisation to meet their spiritual, emotional, educational, and recreational 1 This chapter is adapted from the article Eagle, D.E. 2015. “Historicizing the Megachurch.” Journal of Social History.
    [Show full text]
  • “What Is a Reformed Baptist Church?” Study 6: the 1689 Confession of Faith (Jude 3-4)
    Gospel Highway www.ghmag.net “What Is A Reformed Baptist Church?” Study 6: The 1689 Confession Of Faith (Jude 3-4) One characteristic of the Reformed is that they are confessional, i.e. they value and adopt a Confession of Faith for their churches. Both the General Baptists and the Particular Baptists arose during the same period and under the same circumstances. Both were confessional, with each producing Confessions of Faith of their own. With time, the General Baptists ceased being confessional so that today, the General Baptist churches would use much the adage, “No creed but the Bible’’. The spiritual descendants of the Particular Baptists would call themselves Reformed Baptists, the majority of whom use the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, or “the 1689 Confession” in brief, as their doctrinal standard. I. Attitudes To The Confession 1. Three attitudes are possible: (i) Favour and adopt as a doctrinal standard of the church; (ii) Indifference, seeing no need for it; (iii) Hostile, claiming that it is man-made and only the Bible alone is to be followed. - Those who adopt the last two attitudes open themselves to the charge that they do not know what they believe or that they are unable to articulate what they believe, or worse still that the truth means so little to them that they do not care to state and defend it. By and large these assertions carry weight, for it is rare to find an able and bold defender of the faith who at the same time rejects the place of confessions of faith.
    [Show full text]
  • The Metaphorical Usage of Gout in the Life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon
    THE VICTORIAN PREACHER’S MALADY: THE METAPHORICAL USAGE OF GOUT IN THE LIFE OF CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON A DISSERTATION IN Religious Studies and History Presented to the Faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by DALE WARREN SMITH BA, Southwest Baptist University, 1990 MDIV, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1994 STM, Yale University, 1997 Kansas City, Missouri 2017 THE VICTORIAN PREACHER’S MALADY: THE METAPHORICAL USAGE OF GOUT IN THE LIFE OF CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON Dale Warren Smith, Candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2017 ABSTRACT This dissertation examines the use of the gout metaphor in the life and writings of one of Victorian England’s most eminent preachers and gout sufferers, the Baptist Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892). Careful scrutiny of his sermons, articles, and personal correspondence reveals both theological continuity with the seventeenth-century English Puritans as well as contemporaneous cultural currents, such as the Victorian ideal of Christian manliness and the presence of persistent tropes from England’s Georgian period. This study highlights the dramatic presentation and use of Spurgeon’s body in his preaching performances, especially in his early ministry. Spurgeon’s dramatic style, which was often pejoratively labeled as “theatrical,” and his phenomenal success, led to the construction of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Completed in 1861, this mammoth structure had a capacity to seat six thousand congregants. The architecture of Spurgeon’s Tabernacle, as it was also known, contained a protruding platform and was devoid of a traditional pulpit and organ.
    [Show full text]
  • Abandoning Separation from Biblical Error
    Abandoning Separation from Biblical Error By R E Palgrave Biblical Separation | Sword & Trowel January 2013 Wales Evangelical School of Theology (WEST) appoints pro-Rick Warren and David Yonggi Cho trustees For many years independent evangelicals kept apart from churches in denominations affiliated to the apostate World Council of Churches, such as Anglican, Baptist Union and Methodist churches. The British Evangelical Council (whose members included the Fellowship of Independent Evan- gelical Churches, Grace Baptist Churches and the Free Church of Scotland) did not admit churches that belonged to those ecumenical denominations. But in 2004 the British evangelical Council changed its name to Affinity and appointed Jonathan Stephen as Director, who encouraged the membership of Anglican and Baptist Union churches, terminating the policy of biblical separation. In 2006, Jonathan Stephen became Principal of WEST, or Wales Evangelical School of The- ology, introducing his hostility to biblical separation to this institution. The outcome, within six years, has been the merger of WEST with the international mission of a Korean church, SaRang Community Church, in Seoul, a mega-church with mystical, occult, charismatic and ecumenical ties. The collapse of this college into the arms of such a confusion of errors is a major calamity, the facts of which are set out here by R E Palgrave. (A longer version of this article appears in the current edition of the Bible League Quarterly). WEST’s Alliance with the SaRang Community Church Jonathan Stephen reported in Evangelicals Now[1] that links were first established in 2007 be- tween WEST and the SaRang Community Church through one of WEST’s Korean students.
    [Show full text]