Lectures to My Students

of all the church "leadership" books I have ever encountered this is probably the best. Spurgeon does not deal with his readers as if they are a bunch of wimps with daddy issues seeking authority in the church. He is not out to show how to protect the "authority" and "prerogative" of the elder's position. Mr. Spurgeon, a true baptist, and a true shepherd is charging men to be men and feed the flock.

Summary: Mr. Spurgeon offered a series of practical lectures to his students who were pursuing ministry. These lectures were the fruit of his study of the Bible and his own extensive experience.

A pastor must diligently protect his own spiritual walk. He must be holy for "a holy minister is an awesome weapon in the hand of God." He must be saved, be notably pious in his conduct, and live in a way that aligns with his preaching. Temptation will be great. Satan seeks to destroy the men in ministry.

A pastor should be sure of his call to the ministry. He should not engage in a task apart from God's leading. God in mercy makes it clear through a number of means whom He has chosen for the work. There should be an overwhelming desire, there show more should be appropriate ability, there should be fruit, and there should be the prayerful confirmation of the church. These candidates should pursue wholeheartedly, not because other avenues have been closed but because of their godly desire.

A pastor should be a serious man of prayer. Prayer in private is necessary. Sermon preparation is impossible without that work of prayer. After the preaching is complete, prayer will sustain the pastor in his exhaustion and pain. Prayer gives pastors the unction to do the hard work of ministry. That daily work of prayer needs to be supplemented by special seasons of prayer. In public prayer, the pastor should be a man of preparation but not rote memorization. He should be bold yet humble in his prayer. The value of prayer to the service is woefully understated. They are lively and necessary elements. Those prayers should be brief, uncluttered, accurate, Biblically faithful, and addressed to God.

A pastor should preach sermons filled with Scripture. The text is the sermon, not merely the introduction. They should boldly, clearly, and enthusiastically say God's words from the entirely of Scripture. The text should be carefully selected with sensitivity to the time and to the Holy Spirit. There is a place to find some sanctified spiritualizing within the text. It should not be forced, it should not touch on improper subjects, and it should not be to demonstrate cleverness. It should be used to give clarity and color to Bible truths.

A pastor should care for his physical gifts as well as spiritual. He should do what is necessary to maintain a clear voice, uncluttered with affectations. He should see to it that the people are paying attention by having something worth focusing. Some of those distractions are internal and some external, but both need to be addressed. He should use the proper amount of time and use it with power.

A pastor should be ready to speak extemporaneously. It is a habit born of clear thinking which is what ministers should be known for. There are several ways of training for this discipline.

A pastor should be prepared for the discouragements that come and even for depression. The highs are often matched by the lows. There is no avoiding these pains. The pastor needs to steel himself in the promises of God and endure the hardness. A minister could not absorb all of the goodness of victory, and so God leavens it with hardship until we achieve heaven. Those trials are an ordinary part of gospel work.

A pastor should be a man engaged with his people outside of the pulpit. He should be a friend, not too high nor too low. He should know how to connect in homes and encourage those people in the Word of God. His private ministry should affirm his public ministry.

A pastor should know how to live with meager resources. Books are important. The church should consider feeding their minister with mental food, not just physical. It does not take much. A few good books are better than shelves of random thoughts. Best of all, a pastor should develop the habit of being a thinker. He should find times of solitude to ponder.

Pros: This was encouragingly practical. Pastor discouragement is not an oddity but an expectation. Just knowing that helps to prepare for it.

Cons: A few points are now less relevant because of the advent of modern sound systems.

Evaluation: This is a book worth reading again. Spurgeon ministers to the heart and to the body. He gives things to think about and things to do. He said more in a chapter than several other books said in a volume. show less

(Addresses Delivered to the Students of the Pastors' College, Metropolitan Tabernacle) In his work, Lectures To My Students, Mr. Spurgeon provides readers with a biblically saturated look at the life of a minister.

What amazing lectures these are , it really shows you that Ministry is a serious matter once your done with this i recommend you read Christian ministry by Charles Bridges. Best thing you can do if your training for the ministry like i am is to go to the Men of God in the past and read what they have said about the Ministry

What amazing lectures these are , it really shows you that Ministry is a serious matter once your done with this i recommend you read Christian ministry by Charles Bridges. Best thing you can do if your training for the ministry like i am is to go to the Men of God in the past and read what they have said about the Ministry

Required reading for all 2nd year ministerial students at North Love Baptist Bible College. A wealth of information from a pastor's heart for those preparing for the ministry.

What can I say? It's THE classic work. Challenging as can be.