Lectures to My Students

Shepherd's Notes

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

One contemporary scholar and authority on Spurgeon says of this work: "Next to Mr. Spurgeon's great literary work, The Treasury of David, we consider (these) Lectures to My Students his greatest single contribution to the Christian world. There is more practical wisdom, common sense and sage advice packed within these pages than with any other book of similar size, or content." This complete and unabridged edition of Spurgeon's great work will make it possible for today's generation to appreciate Spurgeon's combination of discerning wit and refreshingly practical advice. Included in the twenty-eight chapters of this classic volume are lectures such as: - The Call to Ministry - The Preacher's Private Prayer - On the Choice of a Text - On the Voice - The Holy Spirit in Connection with Our Ministry - The Blind Eye and the Deaf Ear - On Conversion as Our Aim - Illustrations in Preaching As were all of Spurgeon's messages to his people, each of these lectures is Scripture-saturated and Christ-honoring. They move swiftly and are fascinating in their content and sage counsel.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Leadership, Christian Living, Church

443 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 1889

About the author

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was England's best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, just four years after his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 20, became pastor of London's famed New Park Street Church (formerly pastored by the famous Baptist theologian, John Gill). The congregation quickly outgrew their building, moved to Exeter Hall, then to Surrey Music Hall. In these venues, Spurgeon frequently preached to audiences numbering more than 10,000—all in the days before electronic amplification. In 1861, the congregation moved permanently to the newly constructed Metropolitan Tabernacle.

Reviews

[Demetrius Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my introduction to Spurgeon back in 2007, and I remember taking copious notes. This year I revisited it with an audio version during my daily commute to work. It's amazing how much I remember after nearly 10 years. This guy is one-of-a-kind. Not only is he gifted beyond belief, but he can actually teach too. Anybody who wants to learn how to preach better would benefit from sitting under Spurgeon for 20 hours. And the sense of humor! Oh, this guy will put you in stitches. Time well spent. I just might treat myself to this book every once in awhile. Some of it is a bit outmoded, but most of the principles remain timeless.

[Andrew Valle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Anything by Spurg is ridiculously awesome. When reading his stuff I feel like i'm in the room where he gave the lecture. peace!

[Rick Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute treasure trove.

[Tim Michiemo · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6 Stars

Charles Spurgeon’s “Lectures to My Students” are a series of addresses on pastoral ministry and preaching by the prince of preachers himself. Spurgeon’s lectures were originally addressed to the students at his pastoral college every week. Thus, this book is dripping with pastoral care and practical insight for every pastor and aspiring pastor.

This book is solid gold. It is overflowing with pastoral wisdom and sprinkled with Spurgeon’s typical wit and metaphorical language. Like all other Spurgeon books, he is easy and delightful to read. Spurgeon simply has this mastery in displaying the glories of Christ with illustrious imagery and generous witticisms. Some of Spurgeon’s most valuable chapters in the book are “The Ministers Self-Watch”, “The Call to the Ministry,” “The Preacher’s Private Prayer,” “The Minister’s Fainting Fits,” and “On Conversion as our Aim.” These chapters greatly emphasize the importance of the spiritual life of the pastor and as well his goal to see souls believing in Christ. But Spurgeon’s book has even more practical wisdom concerning topics such as the preacher’s voice, his posture, on open-air preaching, and on using illustrations. Many of his practical insights pertain to his time (such as preachers needing broad chests) but still contain especially helpful principles.

The only caution that I had with Spurgeon’s lectures was his view on selecting a text. Spurgeon was an expert expositor who did not (and even advises against) working through Biblical books verse by verse. This worked for Spurgeon, but most pastors do not have the creative capacity to be like Spurgeon – for us normal pastors’ verse-by-verse exposition is perhaps the best option.

Other than that, what gripped me the most from his lectures was Spurgeon’s passion for soul winning. Pastoral ministry can very quickly be consumed by daily administrative tasks and one can forget what the purpose of it all is for. Even a pastor who is focused on expounded the glories of Christ in the Scriptures can lose focus on the end goal. Seeing souls saved for the glory of God is the goal of pastoral ministry, and we should weep and call out to God whenever we do not see souls being saved in our ministry.

Overall, I believe that this is a must-read for pastors. There are many chapters one can skim over, but most of these lectures are full of invaluable pastoral wisdom and insight. And the fact that Spurgeon is enjoyable to read should persuade you toward reading this book.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I ever read of Mr. Charles H. Spurgeon, and I was so taken with his writings that I can honsetly say he is my favorite author, besides God Himself of course. Charles Spurgeon has such a dry sense of humor that shines through this book and much of his writings. I almost missed it at first since the material deals with matters of depth regarding any Christians serious walk with Jesus. A must read for all Pastors but I learned a great deal that I can apply to my own life.
Some of Mr. Spurgeons helps for preaching are outdated since we now have sound systems but intersting reading in this regard as to what men went through back then to be heard.
A must in everyones library.

[Felipe Sabino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro espetacular! Sempre volto ao volume 1 e 2, ao menos uma vez por ano. É sempre possível aprender mais de Spurgeon sobre como desempenhar o mistério do Evangelho de maneira fiel.

[Kyle Grindberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perma-helpful and relevant. No wonder it's a classic.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lectures to My Students is a classic on the calling of a pastor. This is a subject not to be taken lightly anymore than the future of eternal souls. This is not a how to book as much as how God wants it done. If you have any idea that you may be called into the ministry this should be on your to read list.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book and well worth reading.

Spurgeon at his best, is absolutely excellent. On weakness in ministry, on preaching for conversion, on anecdotes and illustrations in preaching, he is brilliant.

In other areas, he is extra-biblical. For example, he claims that only men with large chests can be called to ministry. He also argues that only men who can evidence their calling by conversions through their preaching should be allowed to train for ministry.

However, overall this book of lectures is worth reading.

If you’re time limited, these are the best five lectures, which if I was teaching practical theology would make up part of the course.

Lecture XI: the minister’s fainting fits.
Lecture XV: the necessity of ministerial progress.
Lecture XXI: earnestness: it’s marring and maintenance.
Lecture XXIII: on conversion as our aim.
Lecture XXIV: illustrations in preaching.

[Ben Zornes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've found that anything from the pen of Charles Spurgeon is like my favorite armchair; it is homely, comforting, familiar, reliable, not overly cozy, but after a spell in it...always refreshed & rested. He has the ability to be poignant, humorous, sensible, reverent, simple, practical, devotional, profound, lucid, jovial, biblical, and faithful with an almost unrivaled balance in all these areas.

Lectures to My Students is a book I've visited numerous times, and pogo-sticked around in for the last several years; however, I recently did a fresh breeze through again of its entirety, and it was just fabulous. These lectures to pastoral students (a category I currently fall into) are vital insights for men pursuing and in the pastoral ministry. He highlights the common folly's and temptations and the need to resist them. He offers practical, no-nonsense advice on a preacher's lifestyle, presentation, mindset, and approach. He never takes himself or his listeners too seriously, but this never detracts from the grave seriousness of the topic of preaching the word of God. He is hilarious, but never in a flippant way. He is pithy in his insights. He is tweet-able, 200 years before social media was in existence.

The first collection of lectures focuses on a minister's personal life and holiness; it is vital to never undertake to be a minister unless you are both inwardly called of God and outwardly called of God by the church. He confronts despair and depression in the ministers life, in my favorite chapter (The Minister's Fainting Fits). The second collection deals with preparation and study. The third on deliver and illustration. All of it is good ol' fashioned sense. Very practical. Very helpful.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In sitting at Spurgeon’s feet now a second time, I always learn and am challenged. His opening chapters on holiness and prayer are classics. I’m moved by his lecture on earnestness. And even his poorly phrased chapter on the preacher’s “slender apparatus” (on the mind) is a welcome reminder to read books, people, and ourselves—to take full advantage of all of God’s intended tutors in life. And I especially appreciate how he gets into the nooks and crannies of ministry and preaching, with discussions on illustrations, posture, voice, etc. Some of what he says is dated or carries too much of Spurgeon’s quirks (like preachers needing to have broad chests; or if you don’t know what to preach on, look at nature and some event will remind you of a verse and provide an illustration), but on the whole there is a wealth of ministerial wisdom here, for preacher and non-preacher alike.

[Kirk Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent. It’s alright. There are certain sections that are quite good—some absolute gold in here! But a good majority of it is just okay. And what is good is mixed in with a lot of unnecessarily strong opinions about odd things.

I read this book in seminary, and was left this this impression. I decided I’d read it again several years into ministry and see if it hit me any differently now. It did not.

I realize I’m probably in the minority here though. But I think this book is a bit overrated. Still worth reading though, especially the earliest chapters.

[CJ Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spurgeon is experienced, confident, and interesting. I disagree with a number of points, especially liturgical ones, but he is exceptionally worthwhile and stimulating even when he's wrong. He is also hilarious and wise, a rare combination that adds weight to his thoughts. I will be re-reading this regularly.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure gold.

[Patrick Lacson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a combination of four volumes intended to be used as a resource for students at Spurgeon’s pastor’s college established in 1856. Spurgeon gave these lectures to his students to encourage them after a long week of study. He intends for these lectures to encourage the men and not cause them to rehearse all the finer points of theology from earlier in the week. He explains that the lectures were to ‘sharpen the pin’ and polishing after ‘the metal has been laid’ in the week. He gives his overall thoughts that are “without restraint” and more anecdotal than doctrinal. He writes, "I have sought to speak out my whole soul, in the hope that I might not create or foster dullness in others. May he in whose hand are the churches and their pastors bless these words to younger men in the ministry, and if so I shall count it more than a full reward and shall gratefully praise the Lord" (6)

He writes that “the institution receives no man in order to make him a preacher, but it is established to help in the further education of brethren who have been preaching with some measure of success for two years at 1 atleast” (vii). With these lectures, Spurgeon offers helpful advice in the areas of the minister’s self-watch of his personal life and communion with God. He also offers helpful advice regarding the preacher’s call to the ministry can be determined as an "all intense, all-absorbing desire for the work" (27) and says "do not enter the ministry if you can help it" (28). He gives his thoughts on public prayer and finds prayers while eyes open as "unnatural, unbecoming, and disgusting" (68). So men, keep your eyes closed when you pray!

Spurgeon’s views on spiritualizing the text were interesting in that he believes it must be done but with certain controls: (1) do not violently strain a text by illegitimate spiritualizing; (2) never spiritualize indelicate subjects; and (3) never pervert Scripture. I am most puzzled by this section in Spurgeon's book. While he offers controls, those controls open doors for misinterpretation and disregard for authorial intent.

His chapter on the minister’s ordinary conversation was helpful to remind ministers to be with people and not be separate or apart. He offers this humorous warning, "some ministers need to be told that they are of the same species as their hearers" (173).He also offers a section on the delivery of sermons that feature his thoughts on how to use the arms and body. He despises exaggerated movements where men look like they are “beating carpets, or chopping sticks, or mincing sausage meat, or patting butter, or poking their fingers into people’s eyes,” and laments on their appearance saying, “oh, could they see themselves as others seem them, they might cease thus to perform before the public, and save their bodily exercise for other occasions” (308). Instead of forced movements, Spurgeon encourages preachers to be themselves and to be natural in their actions. Too often, ministers imitate some admired minister (318).

Spurgeon concludes that above all the preacher must be earnest in his preaching and preach Christ and Him crucified (358). He warns that this zeal must be real (328) and not counterfeited else it just becomes acting. He warns that earnestness is often absent due to a lack of study or fear of the audience he is speaking to. He says, “our earnestness must be kindled at an immortal flame, and I know of but one – the flame of the love of Christ” (333).

This is a wonderful book that is helpful for men who desire to teach the Word of God. Some of his suggestions are antiquated due to the times of the 19th century, but you will be left challenged to consider your entire life and ministry as a sacred stewardship before the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spurgeon has a style that's marked by the copious use of analogies and metaphors so I had a bit of trouble finding my footing at the start. But once I got into the swing of things, this was quite the ride.

The title is straightforward: these are a series of lectures to his students on the subject of being a preacher. That title sells the content quite short though. These are lessons on speaking and writing that would be helpful to anyone regardless of vocation.

Two chapters in particular were an absolute thrill.

The first is titled Attention. Again the title is straightforward: it's about commanding the attention of your audience, and again, the title is total undersell. It's forkful after forkful of pure meat-and-potatoes practical advice by a master of the craft that was a delight to take in.

The second is Illustrations in Preaching. He effortlessly weaves a single illustration through the entire lecture, using it to teach his students the art of using an illustration in teaching. It's one of the most brilliant pieces of speech writing I've ever come across.

On the whole the book got a bit long but it was worth the effort. Many treasures are hidden away in here.

[Rafael Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Godsend to all who venture to preach. Spurgeon explores the spirituality, knowledge, communicative ability, and illustrative power of the preacher, doing it all with his mind-baffling learning. Some lectures also include recommendations for further reading that are really informing on what it takes to preach the Word well and forcefully.

Again, I wish I had read this sooner, but I'm thankful to read it before my graduation. Theology students do well to read it fully.

[Cory Shumate]

Timeless instruction

So much to take away from this volume in both framework and anecdote. Many of these lectures are timeless but even the ones that are dated show Spurgeon’s wisdom and passion.

[Alec Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first 400 pages were off the charts amazing. Convicting, impactful, and insightful. The last 191 pages were some of the hardest I have read—long and really didn’t need to be in there. However, the first 400 pages were excellent and deserve 5 stars.

[Kenneth G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. His ability to make me laugh and feel deep conviction in a span of a few pages is simply masterful. Simply put, Spurgeon’s Lectures are an incredible resource that I hope to revisit for years to come.

[Brandon Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.
Definitely dated in some areas, and some random tangents/chapters that could've been shorter, but overall, it was very enjoyable and practical.

[Harper Roderick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the best books on pastoral ministry that I’ve read. Spurge once again lives up to the hype yall.

[Eric Rankin]

So far, I just finished Chapter 16. I would say that if you're a Baptist (or Baptist adjacent) and you are ever considering full or part time pastoral ministry, this book is absolutely required reading. These lectures were delivered in the middle of the 19th century, so there is some odd things in there that might have been normal in that period. For instance, Spurgeon claims that men with puny chests are not physically qualified to be preachers, or people with small heads might not understand all of the preaching. In one of the more entertaining elements of one particular lecture, Spurgeon goes out of his way to emphasize how important fresh air is and all but admits to taking the windows from one of the chapels he was preaching at because the deacons would not open the windows. But even in this lesson, while fresh air is the example, the emphasis is on serving his flock and glorifying God. Why would you take a window? So the congregation could have fresh air. Why is fresh air so important? So people are not distracted by the stuffy air. What's the ultimate goal? Is it really about windows? No, it's not about windows, but a great practical example for pastors to do whatever they can to make sure the message is heard by the congregation.
That's just one example of many. Read the book, especially if you're considering ministry, even in a part-time volunteer capacity.

Update: 9/9/22:
I still agree with what I wrote and recommend it for anyone considering entering ministry. That said, the last lecture was interesting. He was using the solar system do demonstrate how to produce illustrations from mundane observations. I'm not a good book reviewer yet. It was a long book and I need to re-read it to take notes. Just trust me. It's a good book.

[Carol Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! It's target audience is preachers. I am not a preacher! I am, however, a Sunday School teacher. I found that the same principles apply. Therefore, it is a very useful book for me. I am continually amazed by how readable Spurgeon is, even though he wrote up to 150 years ago!

I confess, that I skipped/skimmed a few chapters in the back of the book. These were on commentaries and using gestures in preaching. In spite of this, the bulk of the book was very useful and highly recommended.

[Nicholas Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave 5 starts even though there are things I disagree with. But I gave 5 stars because much of what I disagree with comes down to preference and that both he and I had cases for our positions both biblically and logically. Nevertheless, I agreed with much and it was incredible!

[Cole Shiflet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read through this on my own a few years ago and came back with a group of guys pursuing pastoral ministry from around the world. Absolutely loved it.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every pastor should read this book again. And folks who want to be godlier should read it too. It’s just really good.

[Alex Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could’ve sat in these lectures. So much edifying content, sprinkled with the occasionally bit of dry wit.

"If you do not touch the heart you will soon weary the ear."

[David Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

How are they sent of God who bring no men to God? Prophets whose words are powerless, sowers whose seed all withers, fishers who take no fish, soldiers who give no wounds, are these God’s men? Surely it were better to be a mud raker or a chimney sweep than to stand in the ministry as an utterly barren tree. The meanest occupation confers some benefit upon mankind but the wretched man who occupies a pulpit and never glorifies his God by conversations is a blank, a blot, an eyesore, a mischief. He is not worth the salt he eats much less his bread and if he writes to newspapers to complain of the smallness of his salary his conscience, if he has any, might well reply, “And what you have is undeserved.”

Luthers power lay in the power of prayer - Theodoris said: “I overheard him in prayer, but good God, with what life and spirit did he pray, it was with so much reverence as if he were speaking with God but with so much confidence as if he were speaking with a friend.”