Probably the first book I was given after I felt called to preach was a little volume by Charles Spurgeon. The book was titled An All-Round Ministry and it was given to me by my mother. The book is a collection of sermons and addresses to pastors and students. I did not realize it at the time that Spurgeon would become one of my favorites. From that first introduction to the "Prince of Preachers" till this day I have tried to immerse myself in the writings of this great 19th century English preacher. He is called by many the last Puritan, which at one time was a great compliment. These days with the general ignorance of who the Puritans really were and what they believed I try to be selective when mentioning this fact.
When I was a college student someone passed me a christian newspaper of sorts that had all types of articles and sermons. What caught my eye was that almost every week a Spurgeon sermon was included. I read these sermons until I later learned that the editorial staff was "sanitizing" the sermon by removing anything that they did not agree with. I decided then and there to purchase as many of the sermons and books as I possibly could. Probably my best purchase (financially speaking) was a series called Spurgeon's Expository Encyclopedia. This is a fifteen volume hardback set of selected sermons by the Spurgeon. I bought the entire set for $20.00 and honestly I don't think the previous owner had ever opened any of the volumes. My goal is to one day obtain the entire Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit and the New Park Street pulpit which weighs in at 63 volumes, 3,561 sermons and over 25 million words! Now that's a sermon series!
The following link will take you to a web page dedicated to all things Spurgeon. If you get the chance browse the archives and read a sermon or two. If you are not used to reading sermons by preachers in the 19th century you might have to push yourself. In my humble opinion you will not regret it. With each sermon read it will get easier and the wealth of Biblical wisdom will bless your soul.
Grace to You,
Mike
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