This course is a 8-part video lecture series provided freely by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as an excerpt of their “Studies in Church History” course. In this course, Thomas J. Nettles provides an overview of the life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Each lecture is an average of 1 hour long.

Thomas J. Nettles (MDiv, PhD, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of historical theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He is regarded by some as one of the foremost Baptist historians in America today.

Course curated by Phil Thompson

• What can we learn about the life and ministry of Spurgeon from his final sermon?
• What is the connection between Spurgeon’s family and religious dissenters?
• How did Spurgeon’s grandparents’ home influence his later ministry?
• Where is Spurgeon’s library housed?
• What book did Spurgeon read over 100 times?
• How did Richard Knill impact the life of Spurgeon?
• How did Spurgeon’s wrestling with doubt impact his ministry?
• Why did Spurgeon say that the Anglican prayer book made him a Baptist?
• What were the main points in the sermon that God used to bring Spurgeon to salvation?
• What connection did Spurgeon have with Robert Hall and Robert Robinson?
• How would you describe the circumstances of Spurgeon’s first sermons?

Living by Revealed Truth, introduction and chapter 1.

• How was Spurgeon nuanced about how he interacted with Finney’s theology?
• What led Spurgeon not to pursue formal training?
• How did John Angell James and William Jay shape the preaching of Spurgeon?
• What role did Spurgeon’s Calvinism play in his early preaching?
• Who were some of the famous pastors who preached at the New Park Street Chapel?
• What did Spurgeon think of the process of ordination? In what sense was he ordained? In what sense was he not ordained?
• What were some of Spurgeon’s natural gifts as a preacher?
• What facility challenges did Spurgeon encounter at the New Park Street Chapel? How did he address them?
• How did the early criticism of Spurgeon come about? What did they critique about his preaching?
• How did Spurgeon meet his future wife? How would you describe their relationship? What physical challenges did she experience?
• Why did the church begin to meet in the Surrey Music Hall? What traumatic experience occurred during his preaching at the hall?
• What was the first sermon series that was preached in the inaugural messages at the Metropolitan Tabernacle?

Living by Revealed Truth, chapter 2–3.

• What was Spurgeon’s approach to confessional statements in these early years?
• What were the entrance requirements for students at the Pastors’ College?
• How did Spurgeon’s approach to education compare with and contrast from the approach of J. P. Boyce?

Living by Revealed Truth, chapter 9–12.

• How would you describe Spurgeon’s theology of controversy?
• What were the three different types of conflicts that Spurgeon was involved in?
• How did his approach vary depending on the type of conflict?

• What were the main issues in the Baptist Union/Downgrade Controversy?
• What illustration did Spurgeon give for those who pursued controversy over minor issues?
• How did Spurgeon respond to the Baptist Union censure?
• Why did Spurgeon not provide names and details in this controversy?
• How does this controversy shape the remainder of Spurgeon’s ministry?
• What groups came to support Spurgeon over time?
• What roles did S. H. Booth, Alexander Maclaren, and John Clifford play in the controversy?
• Why did Spurgeon’s friends end up voting in support of the English Baptist Union’s 1888 Doctrinal Statement?

Living by Revealed Truth, chapter 13–15.

• What are some general and practical observations you would make about Spurgeon’s hymn selections?
• What are some theological observations you would make about Spurgeon’s hymn selections?
• Which theological aberrations did Spurgeon address?
• What were some of the results of this theological conflict in the life of Spurgeon?
• What were some of the criticisms leveled against Spurgeon?
• What was Spurgeon’s approach to prolegomena?
• How did Spurgeon view the development of doctrine in the Bible?

• What are some of the characteristics of Spurgeon’s theological method?
• How did Spurgeon handle the context of his sermon texts?
• How did Spurgeon demonstrate his appreciation of the theological development of doctrines in church history?
• Who were some theologians throughout church history that Spurgeon found helpful?
• What did Spurgeon mean by “Ruin, Restoration, and Regeneration”?
• What distinction did Spurgeon see between the secret things of the Lord and the revealed things?
• What significance did the Puritans have on Spurgeon?
• How did Spurgeon understand the doctrine of covenant? How did his understanding of the Trinity connect with the doctrine of covenant?

• What was Spurgeon’s view of doctrinal “systems”?
• How did Spurgeon believe a preacher’s doctrinal system should connect with his preaching?
• What are some of the theological highlights that Nettles overviews that were helpful to you?
• What was Spurgeon’s understanding of the elements of a calling to preach?
• What were some features of Spurgeon’s preaching technique?

Living by Revealed Truth, chapter 3–8, 16–18.