Charles Spurgeon is one of the best preachers in the history of the church and is arguably the best preacher of the last two centuries. However, his expositional legacy is not the only thing that Spurgeon taught and left behind. Larry J. Michael shows in Spurgeon on Leadership, that many of the leadership principles practiced by Spurgeon in growing a monumental ministry can and should be replicated and practiced today.
Spurgeon had an incredible work ethic and an uncanny ability to multi-task. In addition to leading his family well (they had family devotions nightly), Spurgeon was the “father” to hundreds of children who came through the orphanage he founded, he was regularly involved in the pastors college, he preached constantly, and was known to write as many as 500 letters per week (hand-written with a quill). Spurgeon was also a visionary pastor who’s vision revolved around the purposes of God:
If we do not see souls saved today or tomorrow, we will still work on…We are laboring for eternity, and we count not our work by each day’s advance, as men measure theirs; it is God’s work, and must be measured by His standard. Be ye well assured that, when time, and things created, and all that oppose themselves to the Lord’s truth, shall be gone, every earnest sermon preached, and every importunate prayer offered, and every form of Christian service honestly rendered, shall remain embedded in the might structure which God from all eternity has resolved to raise to His own honor.
A great leader and organizer was Spurgeon without a doubt, but his ultimate goal in all of his endeavors was not to lead well, but to see sinners saved and God glorified. I am concerned that some Christian leaders of today have gotten so consumed with “leadership,” that they have missed the ultimate goal of God’s glory. Spurgeon was never over impressed with his leadership because he knew that leading was not the end game, it was merely the means to an end at accomplishing his goal.
According to Michael, Spurgeon held as his personal motto et teneo et teneor–“I hold and am held.” Charles Spurgeon never forgot who he was or who’s he was.
Larry Michael does a great job of showing how Spurgeon led others and led himself, even in very difficult times. The lessons of Spurgeon are worthwhile for any student of Scripture and leader of God’s people. Michael, however, does not stop with Spurgeon, he goes on to show how some modern leadership techniques and ideas can supplement even the abilities of Spurgeon and gives proper criticism to Spurgeon’s greatest failure:
Spurgeon’s care, or rather the lack thereof, of his own physical well-being might have contributed to his suffering. He was a habitual smoker, as were many men in his day. He smoked cigars regularly and shared even from the pulpit that they brought him solace in his pain. He also became quite portly and was referred to as “the apostle of roast beef and racy religion.” Food might have been a comfort, but Spurgeon’s excess weight no doubt exacerbated his physical illness. In addition, he did not exercise regularly…All leaders would do well to follow disciplined regimens in these most important areas. Spurgeon’s example should be a warning to us all to do everything possible to care for the temple that God has given to us.
Michael stark reminder is that we must work to lead well in every area of our lives for even great leaders are susceptible to great weaknesses.
Micahel’s book is a great read for anyone interested in growing in their leadership ability and/or learning furher about the Prince of Preachers. I encourage it and if I were giving it a star rating, it would get a three out of five from me.
