Thread by @JoshuaBarzon

🧵 A Short History on Charles Spurgeon: The Prince of Preachers

How did a teen convert with no degree become the most printed preacher in history?

Why do millions still read his sermons over a century later?

Let’s follow the fascinating story of Charles H. Spurgeon. 🧵👇

🧵 1. A Young Soul Set on Fire

Born in 1834 in Kelvedon, Essex, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was raised in a devout home surrounded by Puritan books and old Baptist theology. His grandfather was a pastor, and young Charles often spent hours in his study, devouring the writings of Bunyan, Owen, Baxter, and Flavel. He was intellectually sharp, morally serious, and spiritually hungry from an early age.

But it wasn’t until the age of 15 that the gospel pierced his heart. Lost in a snowstorm, he ducked into a Primitive Methodist chapel, where a lay preacher called out from Isaiah 45:22: “Look unto me, and be ye saved.”

That single verse changed his life. Within a year, he was preaching. Without formal education, titles, or connections, he began to stir hearts with passion and clarity that would define him for the rest of his life.

🧵 2. London’s Boy Preacher

At the age of 19, Spurgeon became pastor of New Park Street Chapel in London. The church was small and aging, but his arrival changed everything.

Crowds exploded. Sermons were printed in newspapers. Critics called him "sensational", but thousands kept coming. By the age of just 22, he was a household name. At just 19, Spurgeon was called to pastor New Park Street Chapel in London. It was a historic church, but its glory days were past. That changed almost overnight. The teenage preacher’s voice thundered through the sanctuary, blending theological depth with engaging humor, vivid word pictures, and urgent gospel appeals.

Crowds surged. Newspapers reported his sermons. Some critics dismissed him as theatrical, but the people kept coming. He preached Christ crucified, not himself. And it showed. By age 22, he was already one of the most recognized voices in the English-speaking world. What London saw as a spectacle, God was using to spark a revival.

His secret? A deep love for Scripture, gospel-centered messages, and a delivery that blended thunder and tenderness. What began as novelty turned into an unstoppable movement of grace.

🧵 3. A Pulpit for the Ages

By 1861, the crowds had outgrown every venue. A new building (the Metropolitan Tabernacle) was constructed with seating for over 5,000 people. It became Spurgeon’s preaching home for the rest of his life. No microphones. No drama. Just a man, a Bible, and a burden for souls.

Services were packed every week. People lined up for hours. Some climbed into windows to get a glimpse. The air buzzed with expectancy. Not because of theatrics, but because of truth boldly proclaimed. Spurgeon never compromised his message to attract a crowd. Instead, he preached with reverence, authority, and Christ-centered conviction.

His sermons were transcribed weekly by stenographers, edited the same day, and mailed across the globe. At their peak:

- 25,000+ copies were sold weekly

- Dozens of languages published his messages

- Over 63 volumes of Spurgeon's Sermons were eventually compiled

To this day, it’s the largest published set of sermons by a single preacher in history.

🧵 4. A Calvinist with a Burning Heart for the Lost

Spurgeon was unapologetically Reformed in theology, but never icy or indifferent. He believed in God’s sovereign election and the total depravity of man, but also pleaded with tears for sinners to come to Christ.

He rejected two extremes:

- Hyper-Calvinism, which discouraged evangelism

- Shallow revivalism, which manipulated emotions

Spurgeon’s theology was not dry doctrine... it was a living fire that fueled his evangelism. He once said, “Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else.” Yet he never wielded it as a club. He was bold in affirming God’s sovereignty, but never denied man’s responsibility.

His sermons were rich with invitations, calls to repent, and the earnest pleading of a soul-winner. “Whosoever will, let him come,” he often said, echoing Revelation. His theology gave him a big view of God, and an even bigger heart for the lost.

He often declared, "If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies." His theology was not an excuse for inaction. It was fuel for urgency.

🧵 5. Suffering and Sovereignty

Spurgeon’s public ministry was bright, but his private life was often shadowed by suffering. At just 22, a tragic stampede at the Surrey Gardens Music Hall during one of his services left seven dead and dozens injured. The emotional trauma tormented him for years, plunging him into recurring seasons of melancholy.

In addition, he endured lifelong battles with physical pain particularly from gout and Bright’s disease (a chronic kidney disorder). These afflictions would leave him bedridden for months at a time. But perhaps his most grueling trial was depression, which he called his "worst companion." He described it as a darkness that could be felt, a heaviness that no sermon could lift.

And yet, his trust in God's providence never wavered. He once wrote, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” These sufferings gave him deeper sympathy for hurting saints. His pain deepened his preaching, filled his prayers with pathos, and forged in him a theology of suffering rooted in the cross. Pain shaped the preacher, but grace upheld him.

NOTE - See Zach Eswine's excellent book "Spurgeon's Sorrows" on this topic. Available on Amazon.

🧵 6. Susannah: His Strongest Earthly Companion

Behind the pulpit power was a woman of quiet strength.

Susannah Spurgeon.

Charles met “Susie” early in his ministry, and they married in 1856. She was deeply devoted to him and to Christ, matching his theological clarity with spiritual wisdom and emotional resilience.

Soon after giving birth to twin sons, Susannah developed a debilitating spinal illness that left her mostly homebound. But she didn’t retreat from ministry. She edited his writings, managed correspondence, and founded the Book Fund, which gave over 200,000 theological books to poor pastors. From her bedside, she nurtured a movement.

Their marriage, though marked by suffering, was full of warmth. Spurgeon wrote to her, “I am a better man for having you by my side.” She was his editor, counselor, closest earthly friend and a model of gospel-centered partnership.

🧵 7. A Father with a Pastor’s Heart

The Spurgeons had two sons. Charles Jr. and Thomas, born in 1856.

Both were deeply shaped by their father’s faith, but Charles Sr. never pressured them into ministry. He pastored his family with humility, affection, and consistency.

Both sons eventually became pastors. Charles Jr. succeeded his father at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Thomas became a missionary and preacher in New Zealand, then later pastored in London.

At home, Spurgeon was not stern or distant. He played with his boys, taught them Scripture, and led family worship. When asked how he trained his children, he replied, “My dear sir, I always let them see their father loves their mother.”

His legacy wasn't only in the pulpit, but around the dinner table.

🧵 8. The Downgrade Controversy

In the 1880s, Spurgeon saw a drift in British evangelicalism. Core doctrines such as biblical inerrancy, sin, substitutionary atonement were being watered down in favor of cultural respectability. He began to speak out forcefully in what became known as "The Downgrade Controversy."

He warned, “Fellowship with known error is participation in sin,” and refused to remain silent while theological compromise crept into pulpits and seminaries. His essays in The Sword and the Trowel stirred fierce debate and drew clear battle lines.

The cost was great. His own Baptist Union censured him. Former allies grew distant. Many believed he had gone too far. But Spurgeon believed that to protect the gospel was worth any personal sacrifice. Though heartbroken, he did not back down.

Today, many see his stand as prophetic and a courageous refusal to trade truth for peace.

🧵 9. A Ministry That Multiplied

Spurgeon wasn’t satisfied with Sunday sermons. He built an entire network of gospel ministry. Each arm extended the work of the church into the world.

He founded:

🎓 The Pastor’s College (1856), which trained hundreds of pastors and still exists today

🏠 Stockwell Orphanage, providing care and education for fatherless children

🖊️ The Sword and the Trowel, a monthly magazine of doctrine, ministry reports, and stories

📦 A Literature distribution network that distributed Christian literature to the poor and remote

Through these efforts, Spurgeon’s impact reached factory workers, farmers, prisoners, and missionaries across the globe. His vision was both pastoral and strategic. It was fueled by a belief that Christ’s kingdom must touch every corner of life.

🧵 10. Spurgeon's Unrivaled Humor and Wit

Spurgeon was never dull. He had a lion’s heart, a pastor’s tenderness, and a comedian’s wit. He used humor not to distract from truth, but to make it land.

He famously said, “A preacher should have both a lion’s heart and a child’s heart... and a little humor helps both.”

He poked fun at himself and others. Below are some of his best "zingers":

- “Call me what you like, but don’t call me too late for dinner.”

- When asked about his horses working Sunday, he replied: “They’re Jewish, they worship on Saturday.”

- “There are difficulties in everything except in eating pancakes.”

- On Moody’s accent: “He can say ‘Mesopotamia’ in two syllables.”

- To critics, he said, “Some preachers would make better auctioneers than soul-winners.”

- “A hundred years hence, we shall all be bald.”

- In his library, he had fake/empty books with made up humurous titles such as: Aches and Pains by Feltham (felt ‘em); Pilgrim’s Progress Hindered by a Bunyan (bunion); Over the Stream, by Bridge; Do it Again, by Dunnett (done it).

His laughter was honest, not cheap. His joy pointed to the freedom found in Christ.

🧵 11. The Prince of Preacher's Sunset and Farewell

In his final years, Spurgeon’s health deteriorated rapidly. The pain from gout and Bright’s disease intensified, and he was frequently bedridden. Depression compounded his physical suffering, and long stretches away from the pulpit were deeply painful for him. Still, he endured it all with grace.

Spurgeon found physical relief in the warmer climate of Menton, France, where he spent several winters. But even there, he labored: writing letters, editing sermons, praying for his congregation, and corresponding with pastors who sought his counsel. He viewed his trials not as obstacles, but as opportunities to demonstrate the sustaining power of God.

Despite his suffering, his ministry never stopped. He oversaw orphanage operations, corresponded with supporters, and continued to write with the same passion that had marked his entire career. In one of his final letters, he said, “My work is done; but God will raise others up.”

Spurgeon died on January 31, 1892. His funeral was a national event:

- 60,000 people filed past his coffin

- 100,000 lined the streets of London for his funeral procession

- Newspapers across England paid tribute

His last words? “Jesus died for me.” Even in death, he pointed beyond himself to his Savior.

🧵 12. Still Preaching Today

Spurgeon never built a brand. He built a legacy. And that legacy continues to shape preachers, churches, and readers across the world.

His influence today is both wide and deep. His sermons are still quoted in pulpits, printed in study Bibles, and shared in bite-sized excerpts on social media. His books have been translated into dozens of languages, with Morning & Evening alone reaching millions since its first publication.

Spurgeon lives on through:

🏫 Spurgeon College at Midwestern Seminary, equipping pastors with theological training anchored in gospel clarity

🏛️The Spurgeon Library, housed at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, preserves thousands of Charles Spurgeon's personal books, manuscripts, and artifacts to advance research and inspire gospel-centered preaching.

📖 Spurgeon Study Bibles (CSB and KJV), featuring his commentary and notes woven throughout Scripture

📚 His timeless devotionals and sermon volumes, still in print and studied daily

🎧 Frequent mentions in podcasts, documentaries, blogs, and sermon illustrations

☕ Cultural presence through t-shirts, coffee mugs, wall prints, and yes... even cigars!

But most importantly, his life continues to model gospel faithfulness. He never pointed to himself. He lifted up Christ. And because of that, his voice still echoes. Not to promote Spurgeon, but to exalt the Savior he loved.

🧵 13. Sources and Further Reading

To dive deeper into Spurgeon’s life, ministry, and theology, here are trusted resources and books worth exploring, including several that I referenced when putting this thread together:

- Autobiography of Charles H. Spurgeon – 4 volumes compiled from his journals and letters

- Spurgeon: A New Biography by Arnold Dallimore – concise and moving overview

- Spurgeon's Sorrows by Zack Eswine

- The Forgotten Spurgeon by Iain Murray – focused on Spurgeon’s theological convictions and controversies

- Living by Revealed Truth by Tom Nettles – comprehensive academic biography

- Lectures to My Students – Spurgeon’s classic lectures on preaching and pastoral ministry

- Morning and Evening – his timeless daily devotional

- The Sword and the Trowel – his monthly magazine, with archives available online

- Spurgeon . org – digital library, sermons, blogs, and resources curated by Midwestern Seminary

- Article on "21 Funniest Spurgeon Quotes" – curated by spurgeon. org

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