One-Minute Testimonials s1

Character in Real Life ONE-MINUTE TESTIMONIALS For DEPENDABILITY vs Inconsistency

Faith Committee, Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky www.charactercincinnati.org

Dependability is fulfilling what I consented to do, even if it means unexpected sacrifice.

CHARLES SPURGEON – FAITHFUL IN SMALL THINGS By Steve Withrow Pastor, Editor – Charlotte, NC

Charles Spurgeon was to England what D.L. Moody was to America during the late 1800s. He preached to thousands each Lord’s Day, yet he started his ministry humbly, and proved himself to be a DEPENDABLE servant who could be entrusted with greater things. He began his ministry passing out tracts then, as a teen, he taught other teens in Sunday school. God blessed his ministry of the Word, and soon even the adults began to attend.

In short order he was invited to preach in obscure places in the countryside, and he used every opportunity to honor the Lord. In 1854, at the age of 20 he began his 37-year ministry at the New Park Street Baptist Church in London. Beginning with a membership of 232, within 7 years they had outgrown several intermediate facilities and Spurgeon was preaching to crowds of 8,000. God used him as both a preacher and a writer to lead thousands to Christ, train pastors, and further the work of global mission.

Spurgeon was a DEPENDABLE servant, and because he was faithful in the small things, God entrusted him with greater things. “I am perfectly sure,” he said, “that, if I had not been willing to preach to those small gatherings of people in obscure country places, I should never have had the privilege of preaching to thousands of men and women in large buildings all over the land.

SOURCE: Adapted from the Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, by Warren Wiersbe. p. 221.

Dependability is purposing in our hearts to do the will of God whatever the cost.