Spurgeon on Leadership: Key Insights for Christian Leaders from the Prince of Preachers

by Larry J. Michael

Matt Perman, NINE BOOKS ON LEADERSHIP (The Gospel Coalition)
2. Spurgeon on Leadership , Larry Michael
A highly readable and very insightful primer on leadership based on the fundamentals of how Spurgeon led. It therefore has the best of both it covers the main areas of leadership from an explicitly Christian perspective. This book covers a lot of helpful ground, from competence and confidence to calling and character; casting vision and building commitment to leading with creativity and compassion. It also covers leading despite criticism and conflict and dealing with illness and depression--looking at all these things from the lens of how Spurgeon led. 

Genres: Leadership, Theology, Christianity, Biography

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2003

Reviews

[Bob Pollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look into a man who changed preaching forever. I admire what he accomplished under much adversity. My pastor continually quotes Spurgeon and now I know why.

[Jeff Breeding · Rating 2 out of 5]

This gets two stars because of the volume of Spurgeon quotes. Without those, there's not much else here worthwhile.
Don't read this; just read Spurgeon's "Lectures to My Students."

[Richard Angelus · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't separate Charles Spurgeon, pastor of the first megachurch in church history, from his excellent leadership. Beside pastored a megachurch, he also began a college to train pastors, founded an orphanage, instituted countless charitable organizations, sending missionaries, and bless other churches through his preaching, publishing books and book ministry for not-well-to-do pastors. No doubt among churches today this type of leader is in high demand, and Spurgeon's leadership style and innovations provide a challenging model.

Rich Warren writes, "Spurgeon's model of leadership has profoundly influenced my life and ministry." Tom. S. Rainer agrees, "In every generation as few leaders emerge to set the pace and established the standards for leadership. [C.H. Spurgeon] was definitely one of these great leaders." John C. Maxwell simply says, "I highly recommend this book to all serious students of leadership!"

To read my summary-review of Larry J. Michael's Spurgeon on Leadership: Key Insights for Christian Leaders from the Prince of Preachers (2003, 2010), CLICK HERE: https://www.richardangelus.me/2018/05...

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book on leadership, especially for young pastoral staff. It also serves as a biography of one of the first pastors to build a mega-church.

I was amazed by the amount of personal adversity Spurgeon endured from his medical conditions, those of his wife, and from the establishment of the time.

This is a pretty easy read that contains so much education and history! It is a book that I read a chapter at a time and often put it down for long periods. It still resonated when I picked it up again.

[David Skinner · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author takes a number of quotes from Spurgeon’s books and extracts very general leadership principles that would have been far better elucidated by someone like John Maxwell, Jim Rohn, Brian Tracy, etc, but much more helpfully and articulately so.

I read the first 2 chapters and then skimmed the rest and then realized I should have just brushed up on my copy of Maxwell’s Laws of Leadership, or whatever it’s called.

Spurgeon is great, and there are some great quotes, but nothing to write a book about like this.

[Landon Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Baptist preacher, I suppose I'm predisposed to feel a certain fondness for Spurgeon. I love reading about his life and ministry, and I love this book that focuses on Spurgeon as a leader. The book is honest in describing Spurgeon as an imperfect leader with feet of clay. However, the book also highlights the things that made Spurgeon a unique, remarkable leader. Helpful and encouraging for those who lead - especially those who lead churches.

[Chuck Cova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arguably the most prominent preacher of a century+ ago, Spurgeon was also a successful leader and philanthropist. This is an interesting read on how Spurgeon demonstrated key leadership principles/characteristics, and how we can learn from and apply them ourselves.

I learned a lot about the man, and was affirmed in many aspects of my own roles and responsibilities.

[Nathan Bradberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent book but definitely is all over the place when it comes to structure. He repeats the same stories for multiple chapters, which is partly due to the space in decades between the author and subject so the author is relying heavily on primary sources. It has good points but he brings in modern examples too. Again, a decent book

[Justin Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book seemed in many places like the author took his notes from a John C. Maxwell leadership seminar and tried to shoehorn Charles Spurgeon quotes into his outline. Though the Spurgeon quotes were good, it was as if the author was trying to force them into his own ideas about leadership.

[Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written summary but lacking on practical application.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is filled with carefully chosen and appropriate Spurgeon quotes. It's also full of practical wisdom for pastors. I recommend it.

[Ogouma Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting insight on leadership from the Prince of Preacher.
It's a book that I read and got more light on leadership
A must read for every aspiring leader

[Scott Guillory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read for serious students of leadership, especially pastoral/church leadership.