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The Risen King: 40 Devotions for Easter from C.H. Spurgeon
Enjoy the enduring insight and wisdom of Charles Spurgeon with these beautifully written biblical reflections.These short and profound reflections on the life of Jesus have been carefully compiled and edited by Jeff Medders from a collection of Spurgeon’s sermons. Some of the language has been modernized so that they are accessible to a wide range of readers.
Each day features a theme verse, rich content from the teaching of Spurgeon, a prayer, and reflection questions, helping readers meditate on the cross in the run-up to Easter.
Whether you’re new to Spurgeon or have enjoyed his writing for many years, you will find encouragement, inspiration, and delight in the pages of this devotional.
Each day features a theme verse, rich content from the teaching of Spurgeon, a prayer, and reflection questions, helping readers meditate on the cross in the run-up to Easter.
Whether you’re new to Spurgeon or have enjoyed his writing for many years, you will find encouragement, inspiration, and delight in the pages of this devotional.
- GenresDevotionalTheology
160 pages
Published January 1, 2025
30 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
5,989 books1,616 followersCharles 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.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 22, 2025
Good reading for the lead up to Easter. The last five were very good
April 21, 2025
Spurgeon is a poet in addition to a theologian. Excellent and encouraging.
April 20, 2025
Well written and put together book! I will most def be reading this book every Easter season.
January 7, 2025
[Thank you to @thegoodbookcompanyusa for my gifted copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.]
“May our lives be such that they cannot be understood apart from Jesus. May it be the case that if we were to take Him away, our whole character would become an inexplicable mystery.”
“You must sit at His (Jesus’) feet, or you will never anoint them. He must pour His divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out precious ointment on Him.”
This 40-day devotional for the Lent season leading up to Easter is phenomenal. Charles Spurgeon is one of my absolute favorites–our second son is actually named after him! J.A. Medders did a fantastic job putting this together, and I think it will really bless readers during and after the Easter season.
I loved getting to read this title and highlighted portions in every entry! This book is put together from a collection of sermons that Spurgeon preached long ago and with modernized language for readers today. Each of these passages was rich and encouraging.
Highly recommend!
“May our lives be such that they cannot be understood apart from Jesus. May it be the case that if we were to take Him away, our whole character would become an inexplicable mystery.”
“You must sit at His (Jesus’) feet, or you will never anoint them. He must pour His divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out precious ointment on Him.”
This 40-day devotional for the Lent season leading up to Easter is phenomenal. Charles Spurgeon is one of my absolute favorites–our second son is actually named after him! J.A. Medders did a fantastic job putting this together, and I think it will really bless readers during and after the Easter season.
I loved getting to read this title and highlighted portions in every entry! This book is put together from a collection of sermons that Spurgeon preached long ago and with modernized language for readers today. Each of these passages was rich and encouraging.
Highly recommend!
April 19, 2025
It’s always a delight to meditate on the words from the “Prince of Preachers” and I found doing so during the 40 days of Lent to be especially so. Each chapter contains about a five minute excerpt from one of Spurgeon’s sermons and concludes with a meditative prayer. I would recommend for Spurgeon lovers looking for a simple Lenten devotional. The audiobook also had a lovely British narrator which added to the book’s charm for my Angliophile ears.
April 22, 2025
What a beautiful book, filled with the joy of our Lord Jesus! Our church provided each family a copy of this book to read during the Easter season and it has certainly been nourishing to my soul. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to grow closer to Jesus, not just at Easter, but in any season of the year.
June 2, 2025
hearty soul food
July 3, 2025
I’ll probably come back to this devotional every Easter season. It was such a beautiful collection of sermons that lead up to the death and resurrection of Christ!
April 22, 2025
I read this book during the 40 days of Lent this year and it was an encouraging yet convicting time! This is by no means a book purely for anticipating Easter because the message of Easter is for every day. Read this at any time of year and you will find truth and hope for your soul.
This book consists of 40 devotional readings 1-2.5 pages long (of a small book) each ending with a short reflection paragraph and a short prayer. All of the material is taken from sermons given by Charles H. Spurgeon. The book was compiled by Jeff Medders.
There is an appendix in the book that lists each sermon the material was derived for each devotion as well as where you can locate those sermons if you want to read/hear more on the subject.
The devotions were very short but most of them packed a punch! Deep thinking here and bringing to light new facets of familiar passages for me that I really enjoyed.
I’ll share some of the things that stuck out and some quotes to give you a taste of what you’ll be reading.
In the devotion about John the Baptist he talks about how John the Baptist can’t be understood apart from Christ because he was to bear witness to Jesus.
“May our lives be such that they cannot be understood apart from Jesus. May it be the case that if we were to take him away, our whole character would become an inexplicable mystery. I am afraid that some professing Christians could be easily interpreted apart from Christ…”
“Repentance without hope is hell. It is hell to grieve for sin with the pangs of bitter remorse and yet to know that pardon can never come and mercy can never be granted. Repentance, with the cross before its eyes, is heaven itself.”
This next one was said within the context of evangelism— Jesus making us fishers of men. He talks about fishing being an act of faith: “Where has God’s providence taken you so you can cast your net and win souls for Christ?” We don’t want our relationship with God to be “only right doctrine and right living that never leads to right evangelism.”
And I love this quote for that purpose, but also just in the sense that we can’t truly encounter Jesus and come away unchanged. He transforms. He ‘makes.’ And in faith, we entrust him with who we are and who he wants us to be, and by his grace he will finish what he started. Exciting to think about.
“When Christ calls us by his grace, we ought not only to remember what we are, but we also ought to think of what he can make us. Jesus starts by saying, ‘Follow me, and I will make you…’ We should repent of what we have been but rejoice in what we may be. It is not ‘Follow me because you may make something of yourselves’, but ‘Follow me because of what I will make of you.’”
Talking of feeding the five thousand:
“Let us bring all we have to Christ in faith, laying it at his feet, believing that his great power can make little means suffice for mighty ends… We can bring our meager talents and abilities to him— and watch him work!”
In regards to the story of the prodigal son:
“We see the prodigal father ran. Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness. God can run when we can scarcely limp…”
And then he talks about the filthy rags the son shows up in and how the father has a feast prepared for him. When the son said, ‘Father, I have sinned’ the father’s next words are: ‘Bring quickly the best robe and put it on him’
“And so the Father covers all our sins with Christ’s righteousness… When the repentant sinner comes to God, his or her past is not only covered by the righteousness of Christ, but they are prepared for the future blessedness which is reserved for the pardoned ones.”
“Consecrate to the Savior all that you have: every faculty, power, possession, and ability… Half a heart given to Christ? Never. Half a life given to Christ? Half your faculties, half your powers given to Christ? It is an unworthy gift. He gave you his all, and he claims all of you.”
“The words ‘It is finished’ consolidated heaven, shook hell, comforted earth, delighted the Father, glorified the Son, brought down the Spirit, and confirmed the everlasting covenant to all the chosen ones… Your sins have received their death blow; the robe of your righteousness has received its last thread. It is done— complete, perfect. It needs no addition; it can never suffer diminution… Therefore in this cross of Christ we glory; yes, and in it alone will we glory evermore.”
Recommendation
I highly recommend this little book. It’s a book you can easily go through multiple times and still find good reflections and convictions to meditate on. Read one a day or one a week if you want to reflect more deeply on it.
The chapters definitely prepare you for the meaning of the cross to us, sinners, and how we can most glorify our risen King. It has a very clear gospel message and very clear hope for weary souls.
Easter was yesterday, but we glory in the cross of Christ every day— so don’t let this book pass you by: meditate on our Lord, his power and his love.
**Received a copy from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
This book consists of 40 devotional readings 1-2.5 pages long (of a small book) each ending with a short reflection paragraph and a short prayer. All of the material is taken from sermons given by Charles H. Spurgeon. The book was compiled by Jeff Medders.
There is an appendix in the book that lists each sermon the material was derived for each devotion as well as where you can locate those sermons if you want to read/hear more on the subject.
The devotions were very short but most of them packed a punch! Deep thinking here and bringing to light new facets of familiar passages for me that I really enjoyed.
I’ll share some of the things that stuck out and some quotes to give you a taste of what you’ll be reading.
In the devotion about John the Baptist he talks about how John the Baptist can’t be understood apart from Christ because he was to bear witness to Jesus.
“May our lives be such that they cannot be understood apart from Jesus. May it be the case that if we were to take him away, our whole character would become an inexplicable mystery. I am afraid that some professing Christians could be easily interpreted apart from Christ…”
“Repentance without hope is hell. It is hell to grieve for sin with the pangs of bitter remorse and yet to know that pardon can never come and mercy can never be granted. Repentance, with the cross before its eyes, is heaven itself.”
This next one was said within the context of evangelism— Jesus making us fishers of men. He talks about fishing being an act of faith: “Where has God’s providence taken you so you can cast your net and win souls for Christ?” We don’t want our relationship with God to be “only right doctrine and right living that never leads to right evangelism.”
And I love this quote for that purpose, but also just in the sense that we can’t truly encounter Jesus and come away unchanged. He transforms. He ‘makes.’ And in faith, we entrust him with who we are and who he wants us to be, and by his grace he will finish what he started. Exciting to think about.
“When Christ calls us by his grace, we ought not only to remember what we are, but we also ought to think of what he can make us. Jesus starts by saying, ‘Follow me, and I will make you…’ We should repent of what we have been but rejoice in what we may be. It is not ‘Follow me because you may make something of yourselves’, but ‘Follow me because of what I will make of you.’”
Talking of feeding the five thousand:
“Let us bring all we have to Christ in faith, laying it at his feet, believing that his great power can make little means suffice for mighty ends… We can bring our meager talents and abilities to him— and watch him work!”
In regards to the story of the prodigal son:
“We see the prodigal father ran. Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness. God can run when we can scarcely limp…”
And then he talks about the filthy rags the son shows up in and how the father has a feast prepared for him. When the son said, ‘Father, I have sinned’ the father’s next words are: ‘Bring quickly the best robe and put it on him’
“And so the Father covers all our sins with Christ’s righteousness… When the repentant sinner comes to God, his or her past is not only covered by the righteousness of Christ, but they are prepared for the future blessedness which is reserved for the pardoned ones.”
“Consecrate to the Savior all that you have: every faculty, power, possession, and ability… Half a heart given to Christ? Never. Half a life given to Christ? Half your faculties, half your powers given to Christ? It is an unworthy gift. He gave you his all, and he claims all of you.”
“The words ‘It is finished’ consolidated heaven, shook hell, comforted earth, delighted the Father, glorified the Son, brought down the Spirit, and confirmed the everlasting covenant to all the chosen ones… Your sins have received their death blow; the robe of your righteousness has received its last thread. It is done— complete, perfect. It needs no addition; it can never suffer diminution… Therefore in this cross of Christ we glory; yes, and in it alone will we glory evermore.”
Recommendation
I highly recommend this little book. It’s a book you can easily go through multiple times and still find good reflections and convictions to meditate on. Read one a day or one a week if you want to reflect more deeply on it.
The chapters definitely prepare you for the meaning of the cross to us, sinners, and how we can most glorify our risen King. It has a very clear gospel message and very clear hope for weary souls.
Easter was yesterday, but we glory in the cross of Christ every day— so don’t let this book pass you by: meditate on our Lord, his power and his love.
**Received a copy from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
January 10, 2025
“My Savior, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Advocate, my Mediator, my Substitute, my Ransom, the Son of God, the Son of Man, my Friend.” This is the real, living, and personal Christ that Spurgeon masterfully draws your heart closer to in The Risen King by C.H. Spurgeon (edited by J.A. Medders). Jesus is real. Not an abstraction or an idea. Not a ghost, not a spirit, phantom, or illusion, but a real man who “lives and abides!” Who died and rose for those He loved. Sometimes we can become idle in our faith, or have “gospel amnesia,” causing these truths to no longer bring tears of joy to our eyes, or make us fall on our knees, but this devotional will stir-up that fire within you. As Spurgeon puts it, you need to refresh your memory, and “come to him afresh, as we came on that first day.” He will make your heart cry for “Jesus only!”
These 40 daily devotions leading up to Easter include: an accompanying verse, reflection, and prayer that add no more than 3-5 minutes to your day; however, you will find yourself in “deep thought and quiet contemplation” beyond those brief minutes. There is also an Appendix with a list of all the sermons Medders used as well as the resources to find them. I encourage you to explore those sites, and I was amazed at how well Medders condensed these lengthy sermons into short, yet powerful, readings.
Alistair Begg called this devotional, “really, really good.” And I not only concur, but would raise him to, “incredibly good!” It made my heart, soul, and mind feel at peace as we start this new year. I know this is an Easter devotional, but it can truly be read any time of the year. Don’t we all need constant reminders of Christ’s great love for us? His mercy? His grace? Spurgeon’s ability to describe Jesus’ heart and to remove all your doubt and hesitations about running to Him is unsurpassed. Jesus is gentle, compassionate, and lowly. He is approachable.
I find it remarkable that there is so much material from Spurgeon’s lifetime that even though he has been with the Lord for over 130 years, new books by him are still released. While the editor added minor things and modernized some wording, overall, this is all Spurgeon’s voice. From Day 1 you will feel refreshed and adored by the One who made an end of sin forever because of His love and grace. No matter what you are going through or what you’ve done- look to Jesus!
Thank you to The Good Book Company for sending me a copy of this beautiful, edifying, and thought-provoking devotional in exchange for my honest review. It has encouraged me to be “flinty-faced in my walk and mission with Christ.”
Favorites Quotes:
“Remember, it is the same Christ for big sinners as for little sinners, for gray heads as for babies, for the poor as for the rich, for chimney sweeps as for monarchs, and it is the same for prostitutes as for saints- ‘whoever.’”
“No matter what is faced, the Christian lives on the Rock, in the Redeemer, with his word.”
“Christ must be everything, or he will be nothing.”
“They say of human love that it is blind, but Christ’s love has many eyes, and all its eyes are open, and yet he loves us still.”
“If I could collect all the love that ever has been and that ever shall be throughout eternity in all the saints- all that would be but a drop in a bucket compared with the boundless, fathomless love of Christ for us.”
These 40 daily devotions leading up to Easter include: an accompanying verse, reflection, and prayer that add no more than 3-5 minutes to your day; however, you will find yourself in “deep thought and quiet contemplation” beyond those brief minutes. There is also an Appendix with a list of all the sermons Medders used as well as the resources to find them. I encourage you to explore those sites, and I was amazed at how well Medders condensed these lengthy sermons into short, yet powerful, readings.
Alistair Begg called this devotional, “really, really good.” And I not only concur, but would raise him to, “incredibly good!” It made my heart, soul, and mind feel at peace as we start this new year. I know this is an Easter devotional, but it can truly be read any time of the year. Don’t we all need constant reminders of Christ’s great love for us? His mercy? His grace? Spurgeon’s ability to describe Jesus’ heart and to remove all your doubt and hesitations about running to Him is unsurpassed. Jesus is gentle, compassionate, and lowly. He is approachable.
I find it remarkable that there is so much material from Spurgeon’s lifetime that even though he has been with the Lord for over 130 years, new books by him are still released. While the editor added minor things and modernized some wording, overall, this is all Spurgeon’s voice. From Day 1 you will feel refreshed and adored by the One who made an end of sin forever because of His love and grace. No matter what you are going through or what you’ve done- look to Jesus!
Thank you to The Good Book Company for sending me a copy of this beautiful, edifying, and thought-provoking devotional in exchange for my honest review. It has encouraged me to be “flinty-faced in my walk and mission with Christ.”
Favorites Quotes:
“Remember, it is the same Christ for big sinners as for little sinners, for gray heads as for babies, for the poor as for the rich, for chimney sweeps as for monarchs, and it is the same for prostitutes as for saints- ‘whoever.’”
“No matter what is faced, the Christian lives on the Rock, in the Redeemer, with his word.”
“Christ must be everything, or he will be nothing.”
“They say of human love that it is blind, but Christ’s love has many eyes, and all its eyes are open, and yet he loves us still.”
“If I could collect all the love that ever has been and that ever shall be throughout eternity in all the saints- all that would be but a drop in a bucket compared with the boundless, fathomless love of Christ for us.”
May 9, 2025
I am not a great fan of devotional books that have a set number of short pieces for a particular time of the year, such as Christmas or Easter. However, this wee book is the exception ... I really liked and enjoyed it.
Edited by JA Medders, this book draws from 75 selected sermons of CH Spurgeon, and leads the reader towards the central historical act of Christianity ... the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each devotion, of which there are 40, covers only 2 to 3 pages, with a reflection and a prayer, is easily read but packs such a punch theologically, doctrinally, practically and devotionally that it just takes your breath away! Spurgeon must be one of the most, if not the most, quotable preacher who has ever lived. Every short chapter contains at least one pithy one-liner that is eminently quotable, and often more! There are also paragraphs which are certainly very usable in sermons. The following example may well whet your appetite ...
Day 4: Repentance Is Never Out Of Fashion ... 'True repentance consists of illumination, humiliation, detestation, and transformation. Repentance sighs over the sin - confession tells it out. Repentance feels the sin to be heavy within - confession plucks it forth and lays it before the throne of God. Repentance is the soul in stress - confession delivers it. Through repentance, my heart is ready to burst, and there is a fire in my bones - confession gives the heavenly fire a vent, and my soul flames upward before God. Repentance alone has groaning which cannot be uttered - confession is the voice which expresses the groans.'
Day 7: True Holy Water ... 'Oh, would Christ live, dwell, and reign within our entire nature, looking out from our eyes, speaking by our lips, blessing the poor by our hands, going about doing good with our feet, and magnifying God in these mortal bodies as once he did on earth in his own body. This is true religion: Jesus Christ received by an act of faith into our innermost soul.'
Day 38: It Is Finished ... 'What did the Savior mean by "It is finished?" First, that all the emblems, promises, prophecies, and Old Testament sacrifices were now fully realised in him. All the Scripture was fulfilled ... the whole book - from the first to the last, in both the law and the prophets - was finished in him. There is not a single jewel of promise or prophecy, from that first emerald which fell on the threshold of Eden to that last sapphire stone of Malachi, which was not set in the breastplate of the true High Priest.
'When he said, "It is finished," Jesus totally destroyed the power of Satan, of sin, and of death - for you ... Christ destroyed Sin. The words "It is finished" consolidated heaven, shook hell, comforted earth, delighted the Father, glorified the Son, brought down the Spirit, and confirmed the everlasting covenant to all the chosen ones.'
PHEW!
This is a solid 4-star read, and I do not doubt that I will in the future (DV) return to it time and time again.
Edited by JA Medders, this book draws from 75 selected sermons of CH Spurgeon, and leads the reader towards the central historical act of Christianity ... the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each devotion, of which there are 40, covers only 2 to 3 pages, with a reflection and a prayer, is easily read but packs such a punch theologically, doctrinally, practically and devotionally that it just takes your breath away! Spurgeon must be one of the most, if not the most, quotable preacher who has ever lived. Every short chapter contains at least one pithy one-liner that is eminently quotable, and often more! There are also paragraphs which are certainly very usable in sermons. The following example may well whet your appetite ...
Day 4: Repentance Is Never Out Of Fashion ... 'True repentance consists of illumination, humiliation, detestation, and transformation. Repentance sighs over the sin - confession tells it out. Repentance feels the sin to be heavy within - confession plucks it forth and lays it before the throne of God. Repentance is the soul in stress - confession delivers it. Through repentance, my heart is ready to burst, and there is a fire in my bones - confession gives the heavenly fire a vent, and my soul flames upward before God. Repentance alone has groaning which cannot be uttered - confession is the voice which expresses the groans.'
Day 7: True Holy Water ... 'Oh, would Christ live, dwell, and reign within our entire nature, looking out from our eyes, speaking by our lips, blessing the poor by our hands, going about doing good with our feet, and magnifying God in these mortal bodies as once he did on earth in his own body. This is true religion: Jesus Christ received by an act of faith into our innermost soul.'
Day 38: It Is Finished ... 'What did the Savior mean by "It is finished?" First, that all the emblems, promises, prophecies, and Old Testament sacrifices were now fully realised in him. All the Scripture was fulfilled ... the whole book - from the first to the last, in both the law and the prophets - was finished in him. There is not a single jewel of promise or prophecy, from that first emerald which fell on the threshold of Eden to that last sapphire stone of Malachi, which was not set in the breastplate of the true High Priest.
'When he said, "It is finished," Jesus totally destroyed the power of Satan, of sin, and of death - for you ... Christ destroyed Sin. The words "It is finished" consolidated heaven, shook hell, comforted earth, delighted the Father, glorified the Son, brought down the Spirit, and confirmed the everlasting covenant to all the chosen ones.'
PHEW!
This is a solid 4-star read, and I do not doubt that I will in the future (DV) return to it time and time again.
March 7, 2025
Edited by J. A. Medders, The Risen King by C. H. Spurgeon consists of 40 devotions for Easter. With insight and excitement, this book will prepare your heart for the Easter season. Medders dives deep into the mines of Spurgeon’s sermon archive and unearths timeless gems that will resonate with anyone seeking to grow in their faith.
Each devotion is succinct but offers a wonderful view of our Savior. The beauty of this collection is in its ability to bring clarity and awe regarding the work of Christ, and after reading this book, you’ll walk away with a deeper and clearer understanding of who Christ is and what He has done for us.
Forgiveness and Flint
In Matthew 9:2-7, I was particularly moved to see Jesus’ power to forgive, even before He went to the cross. He delights in forgiving. He wants to forgive. He is a great forgiver indeed. This passage reminded me of the boundless mercy that Christ extends to us, long before His ultimate sacrifice.
In Isaiah 50:6-7, I resolved to have a face like flint in the same spirit as my Savior. Jesus was resolute to save His people, facing the scorn and suffering that awaited Him with unwavering determination. It stirred in me a commitment to stay on mission for the kingdom, no matter the challenges ahead.
Joy and Glory
There is a joy that permeates this book. It’s a joy found not only in Christ’s victory over death but in the everyday reality that we can walk in the light of that victory. The Risen King invites readers to experience the glory of Easter in a way that renews the soul and strengthens the heart.
I received a media copy of The Risen King and this is my honest review.
Each devotion is succinct but offers a wonderful view of our Savior. The beauty of this collection is in its ability to bring clarity and awe regarding the work of Christ, and after reading this book, you’ll walk away with a deeper and clearer understanding of who Christ is and what He has done for us.
Forgiveness and Flint
In Matthew 9:2-7, I was particularly moved to see Jesus’ power to forgive, even before He went to the cross. He delights in forgiving. He wants to forgive. He is a great forgiver indeed. This passage reminded me of the boundless mercy that Christ extends to us, long before His ultimate sacrifice.
In Isaiah 50:6-7, I resolved to have a face like flint in the same spirit as my Savior. Jesus was resolute to save His people, facing the scorn and suffering that awaited Him with unwavering determination. It stirred in me a commitment to stay on mission for the kingdom, no matter the challenges ahead.
Joy and Glory
There is a joy that permeates this book. It’s a joy found not only in Christ’s victory over death but in the everyday reality that we can walk in the light of that victory. The Risen King invites readers to experience the glory of Easter in a way that renews the soul and strengthens the heart.
I received a media copy of The Risen King and this is my honest review.
March 13, 2025
This Easter devotional features powerful, timeless reflections from nineteenth century preacher Charles Spurgeon. Editor J. A. Medders curated these readings from Spurgeon’s vast history of sermons, choosing excerpts that relate to the theme, and which exemplify the best of Spurgeon’s preaching. Each devotional reading is about two or three pages long, and they all begin with a Bible verse and end with a reflection question and short prayer.
In addition to picking out selections from this renowned preacher’s work, Medders also lightly altered some of the text for modern readers. He replaced archaic words with vocabulary that will be familiar to more people today, and also made some sentences sound more gender-neutral, like by saying “men and women” instead of “men” in a general reference to mankind. The differences are subtle, and I appreciate that Medders made the writing more accessible to current readers without altering the substance of the text.
This is a great book for Christians who admire Spurgeon’s preaching, as well as for people who are new to his work. The devotions are full of encouragement, conviction, and grace, and depict Jesus and the gospel in a heart-stirring way. Also, even though this is an Easter devotional, only the last third focuses on the events of Holy Week, while the other readings are more general about the life of Jesus. I would recommend this for Easter, and for any time of year.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
In addition to picking out selections from this renowned preacher’s work, Medders also lightly altered some of the text for modern readers. He replaced archaic words with vocabulary that will be familiar to more people today, and also made some sentences sound more gender-neutral, like by saying “men and women” instead of “men” in a general reference to mankind. The differences are subtle, and I appreciate that Medders made the writing more accessible to current readers without altering the substance of the text.
This is a great book for Christians who admire Spurgeon’s preaching, as well as for people who are new to his work. The devotions are full of encouragement, conviction, and grace, and depict Jesus and the gospel in a heart-stirring way. Also, even though this is an Easter devotional, only the last third focuses on the events of Holy Week, while the other readings are more general about the life of Jesus. I would recommend this for Easter, and for any time of year.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
July 18, 2025
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The Risen King is an Easter devotional featuring collected works of the late preacher Charles Spurgeon and edited by J.A. Medders. This book is similar in style to Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional as it pulls material from Spurgeon's sermons. Spurgeon is one of my favorite saints of the past, so I am thankful that this book gave me more opportunities to read from him.
Each devotional begins with a Bible verse and concludes with two section, Reflect, and Pray. The reflect section contains questions to consider and the pray section provides a prayer based on the devotional content. The content is Christ centered and deeply encouraging. There's a sweetness in considering what was occurring in the world when Spurgeon wrote and in recalling that the same God who sustained Him is sustaining me now, too. The Risen King has easily become one of my favorite Easter devotionals and it's one I look forward to reading each year. I'm eagerly anticipating its companion book, The Newborn King, releasing in 2026.
The Risen King is an Easter devotional featuring collected works of the late preacher Charles Spurgeon and edited by J.A. Medders. This book is similar in style to Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional as it pulls material from Spurgeon's sermons. Spurgeon is one of my favorite saints of the past, so I am thankful that this book gave me more opportunities to read from him.
Each devotional begins with a Bible verse and concludes with two section, Reflect, and Pray. The reflect section contains questions to consider and the pray section provides a prayer based on the devotional content. The content is Christ centered and deeply encouraging. There's a sweetness in considering what was occurring in the world when Spurgeon wrote and in recalling that the same God who sustained Him is sustaining me now, too. The Risen King has easily become one of my favorite Easter devotionals and it's one I look forward to reading each year. I'm eagerly anticipating its companion book, The Newborn King, releasing in 2026.
January 1, 2025
If you are looking for an Easter devotional for this new year, look no further!
The Risen King by C.H. Spurgeon is a compilation of Spurgeon's sermons from long ago that speak of Jesus' life, passion, death and resurrection. Each devotion is bite sized and gospel focused. This Christ-centered devotional takes readers through different passges of Scripture that tell the Easter story. J. A. Medders did a wonderful job compiling these sermons to make an Easter devotional. I am throughly enjoying this read and plan to come back to it at Easter and read through it more slowly. I love the reflection questions at the end of each devotional and the sample prayer to help guide you in your own prayer. This is a 40 day devotional, so it would be perfect to start in early March and work through each day leading up to Easter. Joel Beeke's endorsement of this book made me even more excited to read it and it is truly an edifying read. Whether you are farmiliar with Spurgeon or not, it is sure to help prepare your heart for Easter.
Thank you @thegoodbookcompanyusa for a copy of this book for my review!
The Risen King by C.H. Spurgeon is a compilation of Spurgeon's sermons from long ago that speak of Jesus' life, passion, death and resurrection. Each devotion is bite sized and gospel focused. This Christ-centered devotional takes readers through different passges of Scripture that tell the Easter story. J. A. Medders did a wonderful job compiling these sermons to make an Easter devotional. I am throughly enjoying this read and plan to come back to it at Easter and read through it more slowly. I love the reflection questions at the end of each devotional and the sample prayer to help guide you in your own prayer. This is a 40 day devotional, so it would be perfect to start in early March and work through each day leading up to Easter. Joel Beeke's endorsement of this book made me even more excited to read it and it is truly an edifying read. Whether you are farmiliar with Spurgeon or not, it is sure to help prepare your heart for Easter.
Thank you @thegoodbookcompanyusa for a copy of this book for my review!
February 14, 2025
I picked up The Risen King to preview before purchasing a million copies for our church family. Our hope is to provide our church with a Lenten resource that will give us an onramp to Easter. I wasn't disappointed. Medders has done an exceptional job of synthesizing dozens of Spurgeon's sermons and writings into a cohesive 40-day journey leading up to the cross and resurrection. Where Spurgeon's Victorian English may act as a barrier for modern readers, Medders has carefully and cautiously adapted portions of his writing into modern English to allow for better comprehension. While reading, I tried to imagine the average church member sitting down with it for their devotional time. It's just challenging enough that it doesn’t insult anyone’s intelligence, while simple enough to be accessible to most everyone. Each chapter concludes with a few application questions to help the reader process the reading, followed by a brief prayer. I'm excited to see how our church responds to it.
February 19, 2025
If there is one book that I can recommend for the upcoming Lenten season, it is The Risen King by Charles Spurgeon. Whether you are new to Spurgeon or an old friend, J.A. Medders has done the work of carefully curating and editing more than 70 of Spurgeon’s sermons on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to help prepare your heart for Easter.
With each day featuring a verse, content from Spurgeon’s teachings, a prayer, and reflection questions, you will find yourself deeply encouraged, humbled, and blessed.
And with this being my second all-time favorite devotional—after Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening—I simply cannot recommend it enough.
Thank you @thegoodbookcompanyusa for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
With each day featuring a verse, content from Spurgeon’s teachings, a prayer, and reflection questions, you will find yourself deeply encouraged, humbled, and blessed.
And with this being my second all-time favorite devotional—after Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening—I simply cannot recommend it enough.
Thank you @thegoodbookcompanyusa for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2025
“The Christian rests peacefully upon Christ. Troubles come one after another, but they do not sweep us away; they only endear to us the hope which is based upon Christ Jesus.”
This book has been a great morning and evening devotional for me as I open my day in God’s Word and fill my mind again with His truth just before going to sleep. I have been highlighting so many great quotes to revisit again and again. This is a book I know I’ll revisit in the future. It’s definitely a treasure for my home library.
Thank you to The Good Book Company for a gifted copy. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This book has been a great morning and evening devotional for me as I open my day in God’s Word and fill my mind again with His truth just before going to sleep. I have been highlighting so many great quotes to revisit again and again. This is a book I know I’ll revisit in the future. It’s definitely a treasure for my home library.
Thank you to The Good Book Company for a gifted copy. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
April 14, 2025
Excellent,inspiring, uplifting
I am grateful to Charles Spurgeon for his messages from the Bible. I am grateful to J.A. Medders for culling from those messages (referenced in the Appendix) 40 easy-to-read devotionals that can serve and inspire you during Easter but also year round. Most of all, I am grateful to God for his matchless grace in sending Jesus to be the savior we all need.
I am grateful to Charles Spurgeon for his messages from the Bible. I am grateful to J.A. Medders for culling from those messages (referenced in the Appendix) 40 easy-to-read devotionals that can serve and inspire you during Easter but also year round. Most of all, I am grateful to God for his matchless grace in sending Jesus to be the savior we all need.
April 19, 2025
For those who have read this devotion... to me...it did not feel like Spurgeon. The contents of the book did not get me at the level of want to read this devotional book. My recommendation would be to read a preview before you buy. As for me half way through, I am finished. And for those who love it there is no hate. On to the next read.....
April 20, 2025
great daily devotional
This was a beautiful reminder of what Christ did for us in the Easter season. I was encouraged by this devotional daily. My only negative is that it is hard to know what is directly from Spurgeon’s sermons and what the editor has added. I appreciate the appendix at the back, but the use of quotes or citations would have been very helpful.
This was a beautiful reminder of what Christ did for us in the Easter season. I was encouraged by this devotional daily. My only negative is that it is hard to know what is directly from Spurgeon’s sermons and what the editor has added. I appreciate the appendix at the back, but the use of quotes or citations would have been very helpful.
April 20, 2025
Excellent way to prepare your mind and heart for Easter. This book contains excerpts of C.H. Spurgeon sermons and is divided into 40 daily readings with a reflection and prayer for each reading. The layout perfectly takes you through the life of Jesus and leads to the last reading, the resurrection on Easter morn.
March 31, 2025
Amazing sermon from Scripture. The man knew his message.
April 20, 2025
Really nice devotional that was designed to center on Easter, but I thought could be read at any time. I will probably read this again.
April 21, 2025
The Risen King: 40 Devotions for Easter by Charles Spurgeon is a biblically sound devotional that could be read any time of year! Highly recommended.
May 6, 2025
Excellent devotional. Stirring and provoking questions. A great read anytime of year.
May 16, 2025
I will be reading this every year. So so good. Thank you Jesus for your death and your resurrection
June 30, 2025
It's Spurgeon, so one cannot go wrong...but it made me want to read the entire sermons, rather than just excerpts.
August 13, 2025
This book was given out to mostly everyone at our church so the entire church was doing this devotional 40 days before Easter.
I honestly really liked it and I thought it was biblically sound and made me think a little bit.
I didn’t give it five stars because on some parts I was like do I need to be a scholar to read this?
Like some of the language was very sophisticated and a little hard to understand but overall I really did like this devotional.
I would recommend it to people who haven’t read it and want to do that 40 day fast before Easter!
This book goes along so beautifully with the fast before Easter and I definitely would recommend any Christian to read this and fast along with it!
I honestly really liked it and I thought it was biblically sound and made me think a little bit.
I didn’t give it five stars because on some parts I was like do I need to be a scholar to read this?
Like some of the language was very sophisticated and a little hard to understand but overall I really did like this devotional.
I would recommend it to people who haven’t read it and want to do that 40 day fast before Easter!
This book goes along so beautifully with the fast before Easter and I definitely would recommend any Christian to read this and fast along with it!
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