Spurgeon understood that there was no programmatic formula for church revitalization. But like Ezekiel preaching to the dry bones, he believed in the power of the Word of God to raise dead church members to life and to make them into an army for gospel ministry.

When Spurgeon first arrived at the New Park Street Chapel in the winter of 1853, the church was dying. But in the coming years, through the preaching of the Word, God would do a remarkable work. With the thousands being drawn to Spurgeon’s ministry, church membership would grow dramatically, elders would be called, and the church would become an engine for gospel ministry throughout the world. It was this vision of the power of God’s Word to revive dying churches that fueled the Pastors’ College.
From the beginning, Spurgeon’s plan “was not only to train students but to found churches,”[1] and this included both church planting and church revitalization. As demographics in London shifted from the city to the suburbs in the 19th century, urban congregations began dwindling. Young pastors were drawn more to church plants in the suburbs than to historic churches in the city. Spurgeon himself recognized that “the resurrection and salvation of an old church is often a more difficult task than to commence a new one.”[2]
At the same time, Spurgeon encouraged his students not to neglect these dying churches. After all, it is God who resurrects and saves, not the student. The privilege of the church revitalizer is to see God work miraculously through His powerful Word.
To encourage his students in church revitalization, Spurgeon once gave two motivations and three practical admonitions for his students.
Motivation 1: Chances are, things will get better.
When you take a dying church, chances are, your ministry will lead to the improvement of the church’s condition.
Brethren, do not be afraid when you go to a place, and find it in a very bad condition. It is a fine thing for a young man to begin with a real downright bad prospect, for, with the right kind of work, there must come an improvement some time or other. If the chapel is all but empty when you go to it, it cannot well be in a much worse state than that; and the probability is that you will be the means of bringing some into the church, and so making matters better.[3]
Spurgeon was not guaranteeing to his students that their ministries in a dying church would always flourish. It is quite possible that under God’s providence, your role might simply be to help that church close well and steward its resources faithfully in that transition. At the same time, the encouragement is that things cannot get much worse than they already are, and yet chances are that under a faithful ministry, the Lord will use you to make things better. As the church brings in a new pastor, as the people are energized under his ministry, as they begin to pray and invite others, the probability is that the Lord will use you to bring new life to the church.
Motivation 2: Chances are, the congregation will love your ministry.
Rather than taking over a successful church and dealing with constant comparisons with previous pastors, a dying congregation will gratefully love the young pastor who comes and serves them sacrificially. This will be especially true as sinners are brought to faith under your ministry.
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The claim is that when same-sex couples ask for a blessing they are actually asking–in the mind of Francis–for help. He said, ““when one asks for a blessing, one is expressing a petition for God’s assistance, a plea to live better, and confidence in a Father who can help us live better.” This is not what is being asked and surely it is not how the document will be interpreted. 

God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33), but of peace, and godliness, and of order. Today the Roman pontiff, speaking on behalf of Jesus Christ and his church declared the pompous words (Daniel 7:8) that same sex couples in union could be blessed. This is an about-face as he said in 2021 that he would not allow for gay unions to be blessed because “God cannot bless sin.” Surely now he can, according to the one who shows himself to be in the place of God (2 Thes 2:4; Daniel 11:36).
This deceptive heresy (I John 2:22-23; 2 John 7) is confusing at best and outright wicked at worst. It is confusing because so many Catholics–under the postmodern banner of the rainbow flag–will see this as approval. The pope, however, has not approved of gay or same sex marriage or even civil unions, saying merely that they can be “blessed” by a priest.
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Written by David T. Crum |
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Displaying godly living, including a humble soul, glorifies the Lord. It reinforces the process of authentic sanctification, restrains the darkness of the flesh, and serves as a heavenly attribute in evangelistic efforts. Sadly, we all suffer from the sin of selfishness, but thanks to Jesus Christ, we can suppress such ungodliness and exalt He who redeems us in our daily living and affairs.

Bearing the fruit of Christ is a foundational tenet of the believer’s life. Referencing the Sermon on the Mount, how can Christians be the salt and light of the world if they do not possess qualities of godly living, signifying a genuine regeneration of the soul? The answer is simple: The regenerated soul in Christ must remain faithful to the Lord in both word and spirit. One of the traits Christians are constantly taught to embody is the characteristic of humility.
The Proverbs declare:
“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life” (Proverbs 22:3-4).
The New Testament teaches:
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12).
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6).
Millard J. Erickson defines humility as “the quality of not regarding oneself more highly than one should, nor being excessively concerned about one’s welfare or reputation.”[i]
Charles Hodge wrote, “This is the opposite of self-righteousness, of self-complacency, and self-confidence.”[ii] Undoubtedly, the prime example of humility is the Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered for the sake of His sheep. Likewise, church leaders know very well they are called to live peaceful lives centered on humility.
While the concept is relatively simple, the ability to place oneself aside is contrary to the flesh and human nature of mankind. Every soul is guilty of selfish behavior and pursuing self-seeking ambitions. The Scriptures share the story of Peter denying the Lord not once, but three times. Judas, too, acting in his own self-interest, betrayed Jesus. Jonah, in greedy disobedience, ignored God in initially heading to Nineveh.
Mankind clearly disobeys God, each following their own passions and desires (Romans 3:10-11). Though the blemish of the fall and sin lies deep inside each soul, there is hope in Jesus Christ. Thankfully, the Spirit guides those who are in Christ (Galatians 5:22-23). However, the stain of selfishness and pride can frequent our daily lives and if uncontrolled, such self-admiration leads to a life lived contrary to the greatest commandment of the Scriptures:
“Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Nineteenth-century pastor George Winfred Hervey taught, “He who is proudly content with his present character forgets the dignity of his nature, and of his destiny.”[iii]
Bearing the fruit of humility produces a mannerism noticeable to strangers and unbelievers alike. Hervey further explained, “Were this humility more generally cultivated by Christians, what improvement in manners might be anticipated even in what are now esteemed the most refined circles.”[iv]
Admittedly, genuine humility is the complete opposite of every person’s natural being; however, it is perhaps one of the most magnificent traits of a believer’s conversion. While difficult to maintain, it accentuates the love, salvation, and grace of the Lord.
Displaying godly living, including a humble soul, glorifies the Lord. It reinforces the process of authentic sanctification, restrains the darkness of the flesh, and serves as a heavenly attribute in evangelistic efforts. Sadly, we all suffer from the sin of selfishness, but thanks to Jesus Christ, we can suppress such ungodliness and exalt He who redeems us in our daily living and affairs.
Hervey commented, “True humility dwells only in the bosom of those who have repented of their disobedience to God, and of their rejection of his son the Saviour.”[v] He concluded, “You may have gentility; you may have modesty; but humility, and that deportment which springs honestly from it, you cannot claim unless your soul has bowed low with godly sorrow.”[vi]
David Crum holds a Ph.D. in Historical Theology. He serves as an Assistant Professor of History and Dissertation Chair. His research interests include the history of warfare and Christianity. He and his family attend Trinity Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Bedell, New Brunswick. 

[i] Millard J. Erickson, The Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology, (Wheaton: Crossway), 94.
[ii] Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 1988), 501.
[iii] George Winfred Hervey, The Principles of Courtesy: With Hints And Observations On Manners And Habits, (London: Forgotten Books, 2018), 29.
[iv] Ibid., 33.
[v] Ibid., 36.
[vi] Ibid.
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