Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon isn't called the Prince of Preachers because of his uncanny way with words. He's called that because of his undeniable dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit. Throughout his ministry and life, Spurgeon never got very far from that verse which arrested his attention and brought salvation to his soul. He had looked to Christ and acceptance by Christ had become his theme throughout his life. Stephen explores the lesson we can learn from his life in this message. Charles Spurgeon was a 19th century Protestant Christian minister, author, and evangelist. He was born in England in 1834 and grew up in a devout Christian household. After a conversion experience at the age of 16, he felt called to serve as a minister and spent much of his life preaching and teaching about the Christian faith. Spurgeon is perhaps best known for his powerful and inspiring preaching style, which earned him the nickname "The Prince of Preachers." He was a prolific speaker and preached to thousands of people throughout his career, often speaking multiple times each week. He was also a talented writer and published numerous books and articles about his experiences as a minister and the lessons he learned from the Bible. In addition to his preaching and writing, Spurgeon was also an active evangelist and spent much of his time sharing the Gospel with others. He believed strongly in the power of the Gospel to transform lives and dedicated much of his time to sharing the message of Jesus with others. Throughout his life, Spurgeon remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a powerful and influential Christian leader and his legacy lives on through his writings, which continue to be widely read and studied today. He is also remembered for his commitment to social justice and his efforts to improve the lives of the poor and marginalized in society.
John Newton
It's often been said that God brings us to the breaking point so that we can see our need for Him, and that was certainly the case with this slave-trader turned Pastor known as John Newton. His beloved and inspired hymn, "Amazing Grace", is merely a personal recounting of his own astonishing conversion. John Newton was a 18th century Protestant Christian minister, abolitionist, and hymnwriter. He was born in England in 1725 and grew up in a devout Christian household. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Newton remained deeply committed to his faith and dedicated his life to serving God and others. Newton is perhaps best known for his hymn "Amazing Grace", which has become a beloved and widely-sung hymn in churches around the world. He wrote this hymn as a reflection on his own conversion experience and the transformative power of God's grace. In addition to his hymn writing, Newton was also an active minister and served as a pastor in several churches throughout his career. He was known for his powerful and inspiring preaching style and his deep commitment to the Christian faith. He was also an abolitionist and worked tirelessly to end the slave trade in England. Throughout his life, Newton remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a talented hymnwriter and a deeply spiritual man who inspired and encouraged countless people with his words and his life. His legacy lives on through his hymns, which continue to be sung in churches around the world.
Hudson Taylor
Have you ever witnessed a riot in the parking lot of your church or been threatened by an angry mob of civilians? For us, that would be extreme persecution. For Hudson Taylor, that was just another day at the office! Hudson Taylor was a 19th century Protestant Christian missionary who is known for his work in China. He was born in England in 1832 and grew up in a devout Christian household. After a conversion experience at the age of 17, he felt called to serve as a missionary and spent much of his life working to spread the Gospel in China. Taylor was the founder of the China Inland Mission, an organization that focused on sharing the Gospel with people in China. He faced numerous challenges and setbacks throughout his ministry, including persecution, illness, and financial difficulties, but he remained dedicated to his work and deeply loved by those he served. Taylor is perhaps best known for his innovative approach to missionary work, which included living among the Chinese people, wearing traditional Chinese clothing, and learning the Chinese language and culture. He believed that by adopting these practices, he could more effectively share the Gospel with the Chinese people and demonstrate the love of Jesus to them. Throughout his life, Taylor remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a courageous and selfless missionary who dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel and serving others. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the ongoing work of missionaries in China and around the world.
Jim and Elisabeth Elliott
He was the model of sacrifice and she was the model of forgiveness. Together, they reminded the Church that while the cost of discipleship is great . . . the reward is far greater. Jim and Elizabeth Elliott were 20th century Protestant Christian missionaries who are known for their work among the Huaorani people of Ecuador. Jim was born in Oregon in 1927 and Elizabeth was born in China in 1934, and they both grew up in devout Christian households. After their conversion experiences, they felt called to serve as missionaries and spent much of their lives working to spread the Gospel in Ecuador. Jim and Elizabeth were married in 1953 and together they served as missionaries in Ecuador for several years. They faced numerous challenges and setbacks during their time in Ecuador, but remained dedicated to their work and deeply loved by those they served. They established a mission called Operation Auca, which focused on sharing the Gospel with the Huaorani people, who were known for their violent and hostile attitudes towards outsiders. Despite facing resistance and persecution, Jim and Elizabeth remained committed to their mission and worked tirelessly to share the love of Jesus with the Huaorani people. They were instrumental in establishing a school and a medical clinic in the region, and they spent much of their time caring for the poor and sick. Tragically, Jim Elliott was martyred in 1956 while attempting to share the Gospel with the Huaorani people. Despite this loss, Elizabeth continued her missionary work and remained committed to sharing the love of Jesus with the Huaorani people. She eventually married another missionary, Lars Gren, and together they continued the work of Operation Auca. Throughout their lives, Jim and Elizabeth Elliott remained deeply committed to their faith and their calling to serve others. Their legacy lives on through the many lives they touched and the ongoing work of missionaries in Ecuador and around the world. They are remembered as courageous and selfless missionaries who dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel and serving others.
Fanny Crosby
Fanny Crosby is known for 2 things: her blindness and her remarkable hymns. But understanding how she endured her blindness and why she spent the latter part of her life writing hymns is where her real legacy is found. Fanny Crosby was a 19th and 20th century Protestant Christian hymnwriter and evangelist. She was born in New York in 1820 and grew up in a devout Christian household. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Crosby remained deeply committed to her faith and dedicated her life to serving God and others. Crosby is perhaps best known for her hymns, which have been widely sung in churches around the world. She wrote over 8,000 hymns in her lifetime, many of which have become well-known and beloved by Christians. Some of her most famous hymns include "Blessed Assurance", "To God Be the Glory", and "Near the Cross". In addition to her hymn writing, Crosby was also an active evangelist and spent much of her time teaching about the Christian faith. She was known for her powerful and inspiring message and her ability to touch the hearts of those she served. Throughout her life, Crosby remained deeply committed to her faith and her calling to serve others. She is remembered as a talented hymnwriter and a deeply spiritual woman who inspired and encouraged countless people with her words and her life. Her legacy lives on through her hymns, which continue to be sung in churches around the world.
Adoniram Judson, Part 2
Few missionaries in history ever suffered as much as Adoniram Judson, but that is also why few have left such a profound legacy. His biography is one of those rare stories that captivates like a grand novel but convicts like a great revival. Adoniram Judson was a 19th century Protestant Christian missionary who is known for his work in Burma (now known as Myanmar). He was born in Massachusetts in 1788 and grew up in a devout Christian household. After a conversion experience at the age of 19, he felt called to serve as a missionary and spent much of his life working to spread the Gospel in Burma. Judson was the first American missionary to be sent abroad by a Baptist mission board, and he faced numerous challenges and setbacks throughout his ministry. Despite facing persecution and hardship, he remained dedicated to his work and was deeply loved by those he served. Judson is perhaps best known for his translation of the Bible into the Burmese language, which played a key role in the spread of the Christian faith in Burma. He also established schools and medical clinics in the region, and he spent much of his time caring for the poor and sick. In addition to his missionary work, Judson was also a talented writer and published several books and articles about his experiences as a missionary. He is remembered as a courageous and selfless missionary who dedicated his life to helping others and spreading the Gospel. Throughout his life, Judson remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the ongoing work of missionaries in Burma and around the world. He is remembered as a pioneer of American missions and an inspiration to all who seek to serve God and others.
Adoniram Judson, Part 1
Few missionaries in history ever suffered as much as Adoniram Judson, but that is also why few have left such a profound legacy. His biography is one of those rare stories that captivates like a grand novel but convicts like a great revival. Adoniram Judson was a 19th century Protestant Christian missionary who is known for his work in Burma (now known as Myanmar). He was born in Massachusetts in 1788 and grew up in a devout Christian household. After a conversion experience at the age of 19, he felt called to serve as a missionary and spent much of his life working to spread the Gospel in Burma. Judson was the first American missionary to be sent abroad by a Baptist mission board, and he faced numerous challenges and setbacks throughout his ministry. Despite facing persecution and hardship, he remained dedicated to his work and was deeply loved by those he served. Judson is perhaps best known for his translation of the Bible into the Burmese language, which played a key role in the spread of the Christian faith in Burma. He also established schools and medical clinics in the region, and he spent much of his time caring for the poor and sick. In addition to his missionary work, Judson was also a talented writer and published several books and articles about his experiences as a missionary. He is remembered as a courageous and selfless missionary who dedicated his life to helping others and spreading the Gospel. Throughout his life, Judson remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the ongoing work of missionaries in Burma and around the world. He is remembered as a pioneer of American missions and an inspiration to all who seek to serve God and others.
Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers alleviated so much of the so-called mystery of God's Will by offering believers a simple proposition for life: just trust God. Oswald Chambers was a 20th century Protestant Christian minister, author, and evangelist. He was born in Scotland in 1874 and grew up in a devout Christian household. After a conversion experience at the age of 17, he felt called to serve as a minister and spent much of his life preaching and teaching about the Christian faith. Chambers is perhaps best known for his devotional book "My Utmost for His Highest", which has been widely read and studied by Christians around the world. In this book, Chambers explores the concept of surrendering one's life to God and living a life of purpose and meaning. He encourages readers to seek a deeper understanding of their faith and to live in a way that reflects their commitment to God. In addition to his writing, Chambers was also an active minister and evangelist. He pastored several churches throughout his career and was known for his powerful and inspiring preaching style. He believed strongly in the power of the Gospel to transform lives and dedicated much of his time to sharing the message of Jesus with others. Throughout his life, Chambers remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve God and others. He is remembered as a powerful and influential Christian leader and his legacy lives on through his writings, which continue to be widely read and studied today.
Susanna Wesley
The pervasive ministry of John and Charles Wesley is a direct result of the private ministry of their mother, Susanna. Her home was her mission field; but her legacy reaches worldwide. Susanna Wesley was a 17th and 18th century English hymnwriter and the mother of 19 children, including John and Charles Wesley, who were founders of the Methodist movement. Susanna was born in 1669 in a small village in England and grew up in a devout Christian household. She was well-educated and fluent in several languages, including Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. As a young woman, Susanna married Samuel Wesley, a minister in the Church of England, and together they had a large family. Despite facing many challenges and difficulties, Susanna was known for her strong faith and her deep commitment to the Christian faith. She was also known for her kindness and compassion, and she frequently opened her home to those in need, including the poor and sick. In addition to her role as a mother, Susanna was also a talented hymnwriter. She wrote many hymns as a way to express her deep love for God and her commitment to the Christian faith. Many of her hymns, such as "Jesus, Lover of My Soul", have become well-known and are still sung in churches today. Susanna Wesley's influence on her children and the larger Christian community was significant. She played a key role in shaping the religious views and values of her children, and her hymns continue to inspire and encourage people today. She is remembered as a devoted mother, a talented hymnwriter, and a deeply spiritual woman who dedicated her life to serving God and others.
A. W. Tozer
Few men have magnified the Church's perspective of God's holiness and utter transcendence like A.W. Tozer. His deepest desire was to see the glory of God, and his words still radiate from the vision. A.W. Tozer was a 20th century Protestant Christian pastor, author, and evangelist. He was born in the United States in 1897 and grew up in a devout Christian household. After a conversion experience at the age of 17, he felt called to serve as a minister and spent much of his life preaching and teaching about the Christian faith. Tozer was known for his powerful and deeply spiritual writings, which included numerous books and articles on topics such as the nature of God, the role of the church, and the importance of personal devotion. His writings were widely read and greatly influenced many people around the world. In addition to his writing, Tozer was also an active pastor and evangelist. He pastored several churches throughout his career and was known for his passionate and sincere preaching style. He believed strongly in the power of the Gospel to transform lives and dedicated much of his time to sharing the message of Jesus with others. Throughout his life, Tozer remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve God and others. He is remembered as a powerful and influential Christian leader and his legacy lives on through his writings, which continue to be widely read and studied today.