10 Lessons for Young Pastors From the Life of Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon was a famous 19th century pastor of an influential church in London - The Metropolitan Tabernacle.
Many recognize him today as “The Prince of Preachers” and the author of treasured works such as “Lectures to My Students” and “The Treasury of David.”
I also believe there is much to glean from his life, especially for young pastors.
Upon reading Arnold Dallimore’s biography, I share 10 things that I believe are a helpful challenge and encouragement to young pastors today:
1. Don’t Ask “Am I Ready?” But “Am I Ready-ing?”
Charles Spurgeon became the lead pastor at a Baptist church in the village of Waterbeach when he was 17 years old. He then became the lead pastor of what would become the Metropolitan Tabernacle at the age of 21.
Yeah, that’s really young. Did he think he was ready? We don’t know, but we know that he had spent his waking moments readying himself for godliness, maturation, study, and service.
Young pastors gravitate towards wondering when “the opportunity” will come or how “ready” they are in comparison to a peer. Spurgeon reminds us that “ready” is best as a continually engaged action rather than a reached state of being.
2. Your Current Ministry Assignment is The “Big Thing”
Young pastors are tempted to look to the next “Big Thing.” But Spurgeon reminds us that where you are stationed is the “big thing” and rigorous faithfulness and joy in the privilege of service is often the precursor to the next ministry assignment.
In The Prince of Preachers by James Douglas, he describes Spurgeon’s mindset as the pastor at Waterbeach prior to his call to London:
“He had….foresworn the search of great things for himself. And what is this, in the economy of grace, but the forerunner of promotion? He had no great stalking ambition….the role of a country village pastor was as ample as his heart’s desire…London might make him greater; it could hardly make him happier.”
3. Leaders Lead Themselves Before They Lead Anyone Else
The best leaders are the best at leading themselves. Dallimore depicts Spurgeon’s example:
“Spurgeon exercised an unyielding self-discipline. To him the Christian life must be fully governed, and he put that ideal into study practice. Rising early, he filled the day with labour, studying and visiting, praying and preaching.”
People in the church can be led relationally in the short-run through excitement and camaraderie. But in the long run? Trust becomes the most important component and nothing breeds trust like a disciplined leader.
People don’t mind being held to a standard they know the leader himself is able and willing to keep.
4. Be Yourself On Stage
As the youngest member of the teaching team at my church, I feel the pressure of adding “something extra” to my delivery. Spurgeon reminds me to simply be myself:
“…in his delivery Spurgeon was entirely natural. There was nothing “put on” about him…the whole of his preaching was overshadowed by his tremendous earnestness.”
Authenticity isn’t just about vulnerability, but personal accuracy - that we are willing to be who God designed us to be. Therefore, we’re able to get out of the way, and deliver the gospel with earnestness (which is how the gospel should be delivered).
5. Match Your Ministry’s Ambition With Its Context
In an address at a prayer meeting, Spurgeon said, “Dear friends, we are a huge church, and should be doing more for the Lord in this great city. I want us, tonight, to ask Him to send us some new work; and if we need money to carry it on, let us pray that the means also may be sent.”
Should young leaders have “big vision” and chase “massive things?” Well, it depends on church context.
Leaders in small contexts who run after pipe dreams aren’t being true to their make-up. Leaders in large contexts who never take big swings aren’t faithfully stewarding what God has given. Be as ambitious as the amount of “talents” your ministry context has been given.
6. Shepherds Smell Like Sheep
Dallimore wrote of Spurgeon: “He visited them in their homes; he knew them and their teenagers and their children by name…he prayed by the sick, comforted the suffering, and watched the dying.”
Sure, once the church grew into the thousands, he couldn’t do it as effectively, but the point is that pastors should never outgrow interaction with the people.
Some young pastors just want to teach. Others just want to vision cast. But if they only want to do those things, they should do that without taking a salary from the church because the church is the people of God whom the Chief Shepherd loves and laid down his life for.
7. Be Open-Handed
I was at a conference once where a speaker said something along the lines of “Nothing you have is yours. It was given to you by God so hold it loosely.” Spurgeon lived this out.
One account said, “At his suggestion two hundred and fifty members left the Tabernacle to begin a new church…. Several other instances of this starting of new causes by Tabernacle people took place.” In The Life and Work of Charles Haddon Spurgeon by G. Holden Pike, one person at the church was quoted as saying, “The Pastor was always pleased when such a battalion left the main army to carry on operations elsewhere.”
Young pastors are as guilty as anyone in creating ministry silos. “My team” “My volunteers” “My students” “My people.” While personal ownership is great, we need to remember that it’s all really a stewardship of that which belongs to God (not us).
8. Partner With Those Outside Your Theological Tribe
There are some Christian tribes that are overly suspicious of other theological tribes. I am all for contending for the faith, but sometimes I wonder if it’s just about contending for a tribe.
There’s an instructive story in Dallimore’s work:
“Rogers was a congregationalist and did not accept Spurgeon’s position on believers’ baptism….Spurgeon formed an institution he called “the Pastors’ College’, and he made George Rogers its principal.”
I wonder if drawing too sharp of a line amongst Bible believing, Jesus-exalting Christians is hurtful in the long-term development of younger pastors.
9. Minister With the End in Mind
On Sunday, January 31, 1892, Charles Spurgeon died.
Though he had an incredible ministry and God used him to save thousands of people, lead a megachurch, open up a school to train pastors, an orphanage, and the list goes on and on, he still breathed his last on this side of eternity.
You and I are not invincible. We will die and give an account to God.
Let’s serve humbly, persevere fiercely, and kill sin swiftly. We are but a breath, no matter how much anointing God gives us for the work of ministry.
10. Pray Your Ministry Glorifies Jesus
This is my all-time favorite Spurgeon story and I pray the same could be said about us:
“During the 1880’s a group of American ministers visited England, prompted especially by a desire to hear some of the celebrated preachers of that land.
On Sunday morning they attended the City Temple where Dr. Joseph Parker was the pastor. Some two thousand people filled the building, and Parker’s forceful personality dominated the service. His voice was commanding, his language descriptive, his imagination lively, and his manner animated. The sermon was Scriptural, the congregation hung upon his words, and the Americans came away saying, “What a wonderful preacher is Joseph Parker!”
In the evening they went to hear Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The building was much larger than the City Temple, and the congregation was more than twice the size. Spurgeon’s voice was noticeably superior. But they soon forgot all about the great building, the immense congregation, and the magnificent voice. They even overlooked their intention to compare the various features of the two preachers, and when the service was over they found themselves saying, “What a wonderful Savior is Jesus Christ!”
Conclusion
Charles Spurgeon ran his race.
Our race will look different but I am grateful for the transferrable wisdom from his life.
We don’t have to be the Prince of Preachers (or the prince of any ministry work). We just need to step into the work God has given to us in every season with the gifts and personality He’s deposited in us.
Spurgeon may have done far more than us, but we will get to hear the same “Well done” that he’s already heard.
