LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Spurgeon Reflective Writing: Part 6 — Scripture Principles for Building a Church Ministering-
Missions Culture Assignment
Submitted to Dr. Rodney Earls
in partial fulfillment of the completion of the course
CHMN 679 – B02
Capstone
By
Kion Bolden
June 22, 2023
Scripture Teachings and Truths to Build Ministry and Missions Culture
In terms of ministry and mission, Spurgeon believed in the priesthood of the believer,1
removing the exclusivity of the clergy in proclaiming the gospel. All believers are called to be
carriers of God's Word, he argued and taught. Spurgeon's approach to Metropolitan Tabernacle's
ministry and missional culture is based on the Apostle Paul's words to young Timothy, "And the
things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who
will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV). Paul presents the strategy he uses to
transfer the faith. Paul reminds Timothy of specific lessons. The importance of other witnesses to
Timothy's faith is demonstrated in 1 Timothy 6:12, in which Paul reminds Timothy that in the
presence of many witnesses, he made a good confession that called him to eternal life. Timothy
had to teach others the same message in order to transmit this knowledge to others, which is not
a call for evangelism since these were "faithful men." Training other believers is the primary way
the gospel is spread.
The letter Paul wrote to the church at Rome is also employed by Spurgeon to impress
upon the church members the ideology that every believer is called to be a minister and
missionary, as in Romans 10:14-15 Paul inquired, if they do not believe in him, then how could
they call on him? How can they believe in a person they have never heard of? How can they hear
without someone preaching to them? How can anyone preach unless they are sent? Therefore,
Paul removes the barrier between the Jew and the Gentile, emphasizing the importance of
salvation being available to everyone. Until the Gospel of Jesus Christ is presented, none will
hear. However, only those sent can make the Gospel of Jesus Christ known. Jesus came to save
the lost, and as Disciples of Christ, our missions should align with the His. Therefore, Spurgeon
1 Rod Earls. Spurgeon’s Theology for Multiplying Disciples and Churches: The Story of How Spurgeon and
the Metropolitan Tabernacle Followed Christ (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2022), 72.
said, "Behold your Master. He is your pattern. He left heaven to save some. He went to the cross,
to the grave, to “save some”: this was the great object of His life, to lay down His life for His
sheep. He loved His Church, and gave Himself for her, that He might redeem her unto Himself.
Imitate your Master.”2
In his sermon, Spurgeon emphasizes the idea of "being made" by quoting Jesus' teaching
to the disciples in Matthew 4:19 as he said, "we should not only remember who we are, but also
how He can make us." He says, "Follow me, and I will make you." Not only should we should
repent of what we have been, but rejoice in what we may become."3 By using this premise, he
refuted fear and unbelief for being used of God to win others to His dear Son.4 His ministry
centered on presenting his church family with the call of the Savior. His desire was for God to
bless and use the church for the goal of life-enjoying God and bringing glory to Him by changing
lives through His Son.5 Therefore, he embraced Jesus' statement to the disciples that "the Son of
Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" and added that His Church has been sent
on the same mission of preaching Jesus, and it is only because of Him crucified that she exists
among the sons of men.6
The Seven Principles for Creating a Farm System
Of the seven principles provided in the course text, Spurgeon's seventh principle,
"Preparing Preachers," most intrigued me. Using this premises, Spurgeon emphasized the idea of
“calling out the called”7 as Scripture teaches that the local church must make disciples as well as
2 Ibid, 73.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid, 81.
make disciples making leaders.”8 In the Kingdom of God, it is every believer's duty to share the
gospel with others. The pulpit is simply the physical representation of proclamation in the edifice
of Christ, but our commission is to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19
KJV). In a similar way to Spurgeon, God has impressed upon me the necessity of training and
developing other leaders "who indicate a desire to serve Jesus Christ."9 Studying the scriptures
and expanding one's knowledge would contribute in the creation of spaces and opportunities to
expose leaders to preaching and evangelism experiences.10
Pneumatology, prayer, and the processing of new members would all be areas where I
would like more wisdom, although not necessarily in that order. As the lifeline between creation
and its creator, prayer must be lived by a church; otherwise, it would be powerless to accomplish
its tasks.11 A farm system that multiplies disciples and churches requires a culture of dependence
on God that is expressed through concerted prayer. We can only stay focused on our Lord by
praying continuously. We gain wisdom by practicing this life practice through the realization that
we cannot win a victory without Him.12
According to Spurgeon, the Holy Spirit's work is what makes preachers and evangelistic
efforts successful since it allows a person to effectively influence the perspectives of others.13 In
a local church, the Holy Spirit enables effective disciple-making and evangelism. The Holy
Spirit is responsible for exalting Christ in our hearts and forming the image of Christ in us, as
Paul tells the church at Ephesus to "be imitators of God, as beloved children." (Ephesians 5:1
NASV).
8 Ibid, 82.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid, 75.
12 Ibid, 76.
13 Ibid.
Grading Point
My motivation came from the grading comment that said, “He realized this was not none
other than the Son of God stating these words about His harvest.” Jesus has commissioned us to
proclaim His gospel and make disciples in the world as an extension of Him. Working for the
Savior is both humbling and encouraging.
Bibliography
Earls, Rod. Spurgeon’s Theology for Multiplying Disciples and Churches: The Story of How
Spurgeon and the Metropolitan Tabernacle Followed Christ. Eugene: Wipf & Stock,
2022.
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