Spurgeon on the Power of Scripture: Spurgeon Speaks, Book 1

by Jason K. Allen

When Spurgeon speaks, you’d be wise to listen.

The great London preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon had a lot to say during his four decades of ministry at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. And beyond his mighty voice, Spurgeon’s pen churned out countless words of biblical interpretation and Christian wisdom. These words can still encourage us today!

This volume of the Spurgeon Speaks series focuses on the power of God’s Word. Nothing motivated Spurgeon more than proclaiming the holy Scriptures. His love for the Bible will encourage you as well.

Presented in lovely editions that you’ll be proud to have own, the Spurgeon Speaks series offers focused audiobooks on topics that were important to the Prince of Preachers. Expertly selected by Jason Allen and updated for 21st century listenerss, this series will be a valued addition to the library of pastors, scholars, and anyone who appreciates the legacy of Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Genres: Theology

Audible Audio

Published September 22, 2021

About the author

DR. JASON ALLEN is the fifth and youngest president of Midwestern Baptist Seminary. He has served as pastor and interim pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Alabama and Kentucky over the past fifteen years. He currently serves the church more broadly through writing and preaching ministries, including his own website www.jasonkallen.com, where he writes on various topics including higher education, theology, preaching, and cultural and local church issues. He and his wife, Karen, have five children: Anne-Marie, Caroline, William, Alden, and Elizabeth.

Reviews

[Becky Pliego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! If you are feeling discouraged about cultivating the habit of Bible reading, this book will give you all the reasons (and the admonitions!)on why you should start reading your Bible now!

Do you need a Bible reading plan? Go to TotheWord.com and join us today on today’s readings!

To the Word!

[Josh Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely. Loved. This. Book. About. The. Book.

Spurgeon, as always, does not disappoint. As a lover of the Scriptures, I found myself rejoicing to read Spurgeon's reflection upon the Holy Bible.

The book only inflamed my heart to a greater degree to love God's Word, to learn God's Word, and to live God's Word.

[Dave Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! If you really want to jump into why Scripture (the Bible) is so important and relevant...this is a must read. Dig in to this book of sermons written by one of London's famous Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. You won't regret it!

[Griffin Ver Steeg · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Therefore, beloved, never be satisfied with a sound creed, but desire to have it graven on the tablets of your heart. The doctrines of grace are good, but the grace of the doctrines is better still.”

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Spurgeon Series title I have read through, and just like Spurgeon on Prayer this book is packed with powerful messages preached by Charles Spurgeon. It's easy to see how Spurgeon was empowered by the Holy Spirit with the gift of preaching, as his words carry such power even in written form.

This is a book worth reading, as each sermon can be read in a day, making this a great devotional option.

[Clint Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

***DISCLAIMER – I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FOR FREE FROM MOODY PUBLISHERS TO REVIEW***

A compiled work by Jason K. Allen, Spurgeon on the Power of Scripture, represents the seventh book I have reviewed for Moody Publishers for 2021. I chose this book because I read some of Spurgeon’s sermons (which are in the public domain) on my podcast. I find his sermons extremely helpful. Moreover, they serve as good counter-sermons to some of the nonsense running wild in visible evangelicalism (see any ARC “church” or any “church” promoting the demonic Enneagram). Finally, I have read no less than a couple books by Jason K. Allen. While he did not really serve in any “writer” capacity for this book, I thought I could trust his compiling skills given my belief that his writing skills are not bad. I can certainly trust his compiling skills more than my “order” skills, for it appears this book is actually Volume 2 of the “Spurgeon Speaks” series. I have not read Volume 1 (titled Spurgeon on the Priority of Prayer). Had I noticed that, I probably would have reviewed the first volume first.

A “structure” section in this book review is not necessary; the book has an introduction, seven sermons (functioning as chapters, really), and an “acknowledgments” section.

INTRODUCTION

After giving some facts about Charles Haddon Spurgeon (i.e., how he is referred to as the “Prince of Preachers”, how he preached up to ten times a week to packed church houses, etc.; p. 9), Allen gives the book’s purpose (p. 10):

Spurgeon often cited prayer as the secret to his power in the pulpit. And indeed it was. But working in tandem with the prayers of God’s people was Spurgeon’s ironclad belief in the Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God. Spurgeon preached the Scriptures with power because he believed the Scriptures were powerful. God blessed Spurgeon’s preaching of the Word because Spurgeon believed the Bible was the Word of God. In Spurgeon’s day, higher criticism was ravaging the church and undermining the confidence God’s people placed in Scripture. Yet Spurgeon stood as a bulwark, prophetically pushing back against those who assailed Scripture.

And that’s the point of this book, to give the reader a higher, more confident belief in Scripture. But my aim, as was Spurgeon’s, is not to leave it in the abstract. Page by page, as your belief in Scripture is deepened, so will your faith, your perseverance, your confidence, and your joy. Your Christian life will be emboldened, as will your Christian service. Within this book you’ll find seven of Spurgeon’s sermons on the power of Scripture. They’ve been strategically selected and carefully edited, both for maximum impact on your Christian life.
Spurgeon was indeed correct about the Scriptures’ being powerful. Consider these biblical texts:

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:16-21 (ESV)
Jesus Christ Himself said that the Scriptures, which are truth, cannot be broken (John 10:35; John 17:17). The Bible is most definitely the infallible Word of God. Based off the sermons I have read by Spurgeon, there is no doubt he held to that belief on the Bible.

SERMONS

As Allen noted, this book has seven sermons by Spurgeon. Their emphasis is on the power of Scripture. Conveniently, one can find most of the sermons on spurgeongems.org. Here are the sermons:

The Word of a King
The Bible Tried and Proved
The Infallibility of Scripture
Christ’s Indwelling Word
The Bible
The Warnings and Rewards of the Word of God
How to Read the Bible
Since one can find most of the sermons on the public domain, I only give the notable quotes from the sermons. Before I do that, it’s important to know the key verses of those sermons. Consider the following texts (any bolding is done by me):

4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

Ecclesiastes 8:4 (ESV)
The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.

Psalm 12:6 (ESV)
but if you refuse and rebel,
you shall be eaten by the sword;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Isaiah 1:20 (ESV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.

Hosea 8:12 (ESV)
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:11 (ESV)
3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

Matthew 12:3-7 (ESV)
Obviously, the sermons’ collective emphasis is on the words of the LORD. This is a good thing, for His words are pure (Psalm 12:6).

NOTABLE QUOTES

In this section, I show some of the notable quotes from the aforementioned sermons. In my citation, I give the page number in the book and the sermon number from the “Sermons” section of this review.

To Christians the word of God is the only rule of faith and practice. Our doctrine is of authority because it is God’s word, and for no other reason. Our ordinances are valid because instituted by God’s word; they are idle ceremonies if they be not so commanded. All the rites, rules and regulations of man are of no value.

The book of human decrees is not to be regarded in the church of Christ. You may put in the front of it, “printed by authority”, but to the church of Christ it has no authority. You may adopt a creed as the standard of any particular church, but that gives it no authority to bind the conscience. It may be authorized by princes, bishops, and holy men, but wherein it differs from the Word of the Lord, or adds thereto, it is to the children of God as a puff of wind. The sole authority in the church is Christ Himself; He is the head of His church, and His word is the only authority by which we are ruled, for “where the word of a king is, there is power.” But all are usurpers who act as lords in the church where Jesus alone is Master and Lord.

pp. 18-19 (sermon 1)
I would contend that vision-casters are usurpers, for they are all about the pastor’s vision. I would also contend that HVG advocates are usurpers, for they set aside the Word of God in favor of their Gnostic Pharisaical nonsense. Finally, I would contend that promoters of the demonic Enneagram are usurpers, for they set aside the Word of God in favor of a demonic, occultic and narcissistic johnny-come-lately piece of trash. Those people need to hold to the Word of God as the only rule of faith and practice. Sadly, they do not do such a thing.

I remember how I felt when first in London: I could not endure the horrible wilderness of bricks by which I was surrounded. I sighed for the green fields and the fresh air and longed to get back to my country charge. But this kind of self-indulgence will not do: “Where the word of a king is, there is power,” and wherever the King sends you, you must go, and go without questioning. If He should send you to preach at the gates of hell, go and preach there.

pp. 20-21 (Sermon 1)
In my post that refuted Max Lucado, I stated this:

I’ve heard the phrase, “If I had an opportunity to preach the Gospel in hell, I’m going.”

Perhaps (if not certainly) Spurgeon was the influence of that phrase. It’s a good one. Moreover, I would use that phrase as justification for preaching at any church (real one or otherwise) in the world. I would do this to both preach the Gospel and, if applicable, refute any false teachers present at that place.

I conceive it to be an evil habit to make preferences in Holy Scripture. We must preserve this volume as a whole. Those sin against Scripture who delight in doctrinal texts but omit the consideration of practical passages. But remember that men of God in old time took great delight in the commands of the Lord. They respected the Lord’s precepts, and they loved His law. If any refuse to hear of duties and ordinances, I fear that they do not love God’s Word at all. He who does not love it all loves it not at all. On the other hand, they are equally mistaken who delight in the preaching of duties but care not for the doctrines of grace. They say, “That sermon was worth hearing, for it has to do with daily life.” I am very glad that they are of this mind, but if they refuse other teaching of the Lord, they are greatly faulty. I fear you are not of God if you account a portion of the Lord’s words to be unworthy of your consideration. Beloved, we prize the whole range of words of the Lord. We do not set aside the histories any more than the promises.

Above all, do not drop into the semi-blasphemy of some, who think the New Testament vastly superior to the Old. I would not err by saying that in the Old Testament you have more of the bullion of truth than in the New, for therein I should be falling into the evil that I condemn. But this I will say: they are of equal authority, and they cast such light upon each other that we could not spare either of them. “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:9). In the whole book, from Genesis to Revelation, the words of the Lord are found, and they are always pure words.

Neither is it right for any to say, “Thus spoke Christ himself; but such-and-such a teaching is Pauline.” Nay, it is not Pauline; if it be here recorded, it is of the Holy Ghost. Whether the Holy Ghost speaks by Isaiah, or Jeremiah, or John, or James, or Paul, the authority is still the same. Even concerning Jesus Christ our Lord this is true, for He says of Himself, “The word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me” (John 14:24). In this matter, He puts Himself upon the level of others who were as the mouth of God.

pp. 37-38 (Sermon 2)
I think the middle paragraph could easily be aimed at heretic Andy Stanley, for he is one who wants to “unhitch” from the Old Testament. The third paragraph could easily be aimed at heretics like Beth Moore, for she is one who has done the disgusting act of pitting Jesus’ words against Paul and vice versa. Supposedly, other Red-Letter Christians (i.e., Shane Claiborne, Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren and mega-heretic and blasphemer Richard Rohr) do this same thing. It is amazing that Spurgeon’s words ring as true now as they did during the time he said them. Oh would Christians prize the whole range of the LORD’s words.

In the Word of God, the teaching has unique dignity. This Book is inspired as no other book is inspired, and it is time that all Christians avowed this conviction. Where are we if our Bibles are gone? Where are we if we are taught to distrust them? If we are left in doubt as to which part is inspired and which is not, we are as badly off as if we had no Bible at all. I hold no theory of inspiration; I accept the inspiration of the Scriptures as a fact.

p. 64 (Sermon 3)
Consider again that all Scripture is inspired of God and profitable for many great things (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Jesus Christ, who is God in human flesh, said Scriptures cannot be broken (John 10:35). He is a risen Savior. Nobody else has His credentials. I’ll go with Jesus on His view of the Scriptures. It’s good that Spurgeon has a view of Scripture that is not less than that of Jesus.

The truth revealed by the Holy Ghost is so sublime that its poetry outsoars the eagle wing even of a Milton. It is a deep so profound that the plumb line of Sir Isaac Newton could never find the bottom of it. The greatest minds have been delighted to yield their highest faculties to its wondrous truths. Dear young friends, you who have only lately put on Christ, I beseech you not to let other books stand on the front shelf and the Bible lie behind. Do not, for the most part, read those other books, and only read small portions of Scripture now and then. Let it always have the chief place.

p. 77 (Sermon 4)
Nate Pickowicz wrote an incredible book called How To Eat Your Bible. In it, he gives some outstanding tips on how one can essentially let the Bible “always have the chief place.”

In the fifth sermon, Spurgeon gives a quote admitting his affirming the five points of Calvinism. Consider this:

I believe there is a better epitome in the five points of Calvinism: election according to the foreknowledge of God; the natural depravity and sinfulness of man; particular redemption by the blood of Christ; effectual calling by the power of the Spirit; and ultimate perseverance by the efforts of God’s might. I think all those need to be believed in order to salvation.

p. 96 (Sermon 5)
A discussion on Calvinism is for another day. It is important to see Spurgeon’s affirmation of Calvinism from his own admission.

To keep the Word of God is, first of all, earnestly to study it so as to become acquainted with its contents. Know your Bible from beginning to end. I am afraid there is but little Bible searching nowadays. If the Word of God had been diligently studied, there would not have been so general a departure from its teachings. Bible-reading people seldom go off to modern theology. Those who feed upon the Word of God enjoy it too much to give it up. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual, they learn to prize all revealed truth, and they hold fast the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Dear young people, if you never read a single book of romance, you will lose nothing, but if you do not read your Bibles, you will lose everything. This is the age of fiction, and hence the age of speculation and error. Leave fiction and give yourself wholly to the truth. The Bible is the thesaurus of heavenly knowledge, the encyclopedia of divine science: read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the same, and then you will be keeping the sayings of God.

pp. 114-115 (Sermon 6)
Recall that Spurgeon said these words in the 19th century. This was well before such nonsense as the Enneagram, the ARC, HVG theology (somewhat) and even vision-casting became big things. If the Word of God was diligently studied in our day, there would be very little tolerance for the nonsense that sadly passes for Christianity today.

Here’s the last quote I show for this review:

If you do not find Jesus in the Scriptures, they will be of small service to you, for what did our Lord Himself say? “You search the Scriptures, for in them you have eternal life…But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40), and therefore your searching comes to nothing. You find no life and remain dead in your sins. May it not be so with us.

SUCH A READING OF SCRIPTURE IS PROFITABLE

Such a reading of Scripture that implies that understanding and entrance into its spiritual meaning, along with the discovery of the divine Person who is the spiritual meaning, is profitable, for here our Lord says, “If you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” It will save us from making a great many mistakes if we get to understand the Word of God, and among other good things we shall not condemn the guiltless.

I have no time to enlarge upon these benefits, but I will just say, putting all together, that the diligent reading of the Word of God with the strong resolve to get at its meaning often begets spiritual life. We are begotten by the Word of God: it is the instrumental means of regeneration. Therefore, love your Bibles. Keep close to your Bibles. You seeking sinners, you who are seeking the Lord, your first business is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but while you are yet in darkness and in gloom, love your Bibles and search them! Take them to bed with you, and when you wake up in the morning, if it is too early to go downstairs and disturb the house, get half an hour of reading upstairs. Say, “Lord, guide me to that text which shall bless me. Help me to understand how I, a poor sinner, can be reconciled to You.”

pp. 145-146 (Sermon 7)
It should be obvious by now that Charles Haddon Spurgeon loved Holy Scripture. His emphasis was on reading and understanding Holy Scripture. It is objectively verifiable that he was one who pointed his hearers to Holy Scripture. Oh would there be more pastors in our day who would point people to Holy Scripture. Moreover, may they explain that the Scriptures are about Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

CONCLUSION

Jason K. Allen has done a nice service in compiling seven excellent sermons from Charles Haddon Spurgeon. These sermons obviously revere and promote the Word of God. Spurgeon understood the power of Scripture. Moreover, he loved Scripture. May we do the same.

[Jack Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SPURG 😤😤🙄

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much to learn from this book! I went through it very slowly because there was just so much wisdom to be gleaned from Spurgeon! It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but boy was it amazing! This book is a collection of 7 of Charles Spurgeon’s sermons on Scripture. He is a little deep, which is why I took my time to digest each chapter. So many great, convicting truths that I need to apply to my own life. Highly recommend this one!

**I received a copy of this book for review from Moody Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kathleen Garber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Spurgeon Speaks series. I reviewed the first book as well, Spurgeon on the Power of Prayer. Some of what I said for that book is true for this book. It was a good introduction into Charles Spurgeon’s writings which I was unfamiliar with. The book requires more than average concentration because of the older style of writing. But what he has to say is still relevant.

The book talks about how scripture is the word of God, how its proven and infallible. Spurgeon talks about how Christ dwells in the Word, more specifics about the Bible, warnings and rewards of the Word of God and finally, How to Read the Bible.

Something I found amusing is the following quote. Remember these original texts are from around 1870. Take note of the bolded word.

“How can you keep back the heavenly news? Whisper it in the ear of the sick; shout it in the corner of the streets; write it on your tablets; send it forth from the press, but everywhere let this be your great motive and warrant: you preach the gospel because ‘the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'”
pg 60

It took me a second to realize he meant like stone tablets or something like that. But it’s funny because now a days you can read the Bible on an electronic tablet.

I think Spurgeon has lots of great things to say about Scripture and it’s definitely worth a read if you want to appreciate the Bible more.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness but this book has a lot in it! This is a very slow read. You read one paragraph and then have to think on it for a time. There are so many great quotes and things to ponder while reading this book that it does take a while to get through it all. I think this book would go nicely with a personal study or just to read along with your Bible. If you haven't read Spurgeon I highly recommend picking up this book if you are ready for a bit more depth when it comes to considering scripture.


The voices of earth are full of falsehood, but the word from heaven is pure. (pg 34)



Five Stars.



"I received this book from Moody Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

[Bobby Bonser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convicting, encouraging, probing and emboldening. This is a wonderful selection of Spurgeon sermons chosen to showcase the prime importance of God's Word in the life of every believer, layperson and elder alike. The quotes are too many to count, but I do really enjoy the short introductions to each sermon at the beginning of each section written by Allen.
If you want to be convicted, instructed and encouraged about Scripture this is a great place to start. Maybe you've lost your love of the Word or it has taken a backseat to so many other distractions... This book will certainly help re-kindle that flame that once burned brightly.

[Josh Loomis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen does an excellent job of putting together Spurgeon's sermons and allowing the Prince of Preachers to deliver exposition on the power of Scripture.

This book took me a long time to read, in part because it was my nightstand book for many months. I do feel like there's something about preaching that just doesn't quite translate to reading a manuscript of a sermon. Although admirable, I feel like the weightiness and power of the sermon needs to be preached instead of read.

[Brenda Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spurgeon never disappoints...always insightful and uplifting!

[Dana Peloso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Historically sound and informative however lacked the captivating edge that makes you want to keep reading or find more.

[Alaina Leann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 5 greatest books. So much wisdom!

[TheNorksWife · Rating 4 out of 5]

A VERY dense read, which I expect no less from Spurgeon.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spurgeon being Spurgeon.

You’ll feel both encouraged and convicted while reading this one. Strong recommend.

[Justin Burrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid bud difficult to read at times due to the old English. All in all though, Spurgeon is brilliant and his sermons are remarkable