Spurgeon's Guides For Reading

Charles Spurgeon, often referred to as the “Prince of Preachers," is estimated to have preached to more than 10,000,000 people during his ministry and published his sermons to more than 25,000 people each week. He was a prolific author and he was an avid reader, usually reading six or more books each week for personal edification and sermon preparation. By life’s end, he had a personal library of more than 7,000 books, an unheard-of number in that era of history. Throughout his ministry he spoke of the importance of reading, providing numerous tips along the way that are worth noting still today. David Wilkerson and others have referenced several that I pass along to you.

Earnestly Desire Godly Books… 
Referring to 2 Timothy 4:13, Spurgeon said this of Paul: "He was inspired, and yet he wants books! He had been preaching for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had a wider experience than most men do, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven and had heard things that it was not lawful for a man to utter, and yet he wants books! He had written a major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!"

Renounce Light Literature…
"Give yourself to reading. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritan writers and expositions of the Bible."

Godly Books Drive Us to the Bible…
"Visit many good books but live in the Bible. All human books grow stale after a time—but with the Word of God the desire to study it increases, while the more you know of it the less you think you know. The Book grows upon you: As you dive into its depths you have a fuller perception of the infinity which remains to be explored. You are still sighing to enjoy more of that which it is your bliss to taste."

Read Deeply More Than Broadly…
"Master those books you have. Read them thoroughly. Bathe in them until they saturate you. Read and reread them... digest them. Let them go into your very self. Peruse a good book several times and make notes and analyses of it. A student will find that his mental constitution is more affected by one book thoroughly mastered than by twenty books he has merely skimmed.

Speaking of books, as is our custom during the month of January, we will do our annual book study at 5:00 PM each Sunday. I’ll share with you soon the book we will study, and we will make it available for you to purchase in order to begin reading in preparation for our January sessions.

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and we have devotional guides for you and for families. They are free, so stop by the Welcome Center and pick yours up this week if you have not already done so.

Budget Blessing
This Sunday we will also vote on our Ministry and Church operating budget for 2024. Our finance committee has done an outstanding job as always preparing it. Our deacons have reviewed it with them and affirmed it with the anticipation of another blessed year to come. Thanks for your financial faithfulness which has enabled us to carry on the work of God through RBC with excellence and vision.

And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray


Photo by Susan Q Yin on Unsplash