The Greatest Fight: Spurgeons Urgent Message for Pastors, Teachers, and Evangelists by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The Greatest Fight: Spurgeons Urgent Message for Pastors, Teachers, and Evangelists Reviews

• 
  Melanie

  This is the second Spurgeon book I've read and, even though this one is not geared towards me (I'm not a pastor), I did find it interesting and there were even some nuggets in it to which I could relate. I liked how easy it was to read and yet it had a lot of content. A great read!
  
  "It is possible that a book which is excellent for the most part, but which has a little tainted content, may do you more harm than a thoroughly bad book." KL# 322
• 
  Daniel Henderson

  Bientôt en français
• 
  Kellon Edwards

  This tiny book is one of the most important books I have ever read.
• 
  Carol Arnold

  This is a lecture that Spurgeon gave at a gathering of pastors at his Pastor's college in April, 1891. It turned out to be his last inaugural address that he presented to the college. He gave excellent advice to pastors which is also helpful to pastors today and also helpful to anyone who teaches the word. He divided his lecture into three parts, Our Armory (the Word of God), Our Army (the church of the living God) and Our Strength (the Holy Spirit).
  
  There are several kindle versions available. I am going to look at three of them in this review because they are not all equal or the same.
  
  1. This kindle version has a picture of Spurgeon's head on the cover. It costs $.99. It is straight sermon with no headings of any kind. I chose this version since it had 191 KB so was slightly larger than the second one that I am looking at in this review.
  
  2. This version has a reddish brown cover on the paperback version but if you click on the kindle version, the cover shows a full body picture of Spurgeon in the pulpit. This copy is also $.99. It is divided into sections with an interactive table of contents. I chose not to purchase this one since it only had 148 KB and I assumed that they had cut some material from it. But I do like that it had the divisions.
  
  3. This is the free version. The picture here is just a black book with white lettering. It is entitled, "The Greatest Fight (Updated, Annotated): Spurgeon's Urgent Message for Pastors, Teachers, and Evangelists." I originally downloaded this version since it is free. The title seems pretty straight forward, but be aware that the "Updated" doesn't just mean that the language is updated for a 21st century audience. It is updated to be politically correct. In 1891, when Spurgeon delivered this message to his Pastor's College, he was speaking exclusively to MEN! However, the editors of this version took the liberty of changing Spurgeon's word, "brethren" to "brothers and sisters." One of the many instances of this can be found on location 162 in the original version. It says, "Brethren, we will array ourselves..." The updated version (on page 18) says, "Brothers and sisters, we will clothe ourselves..." The original version has the word "Brethren" 29 times. The updated version has changed this to "brothers and sisters" 17 times. This may be of no consequences to you, and if not, then by all means, get this free version! I realize that if a sermon were given to a Pastor's college today, women would be in attendance. BUT the sermon that Spurgeon gave was to men only and I would prefer that the original intention of the lecture be retained.
• 
  Kyle McManamy

  This is Spurgeon's last sermon before he died and it is directed to members of his pastor's college. Divided into 3 parts (the word, the church, and the Spirit), it's a quick read that will energize any pastor or church member committed to ministry and the Bible.
• 
  Matt Mason

  Outstanding. Spurgeon describes the role of the Word, the Church, and the Holy Spirit in the cause of kingdom advancement/Christian growth. These turned out to be his parting words to his students at the Pastor's College. Would have been awesome to hear this preached.
• 
  Matt Pitts

  Three pages into Spurgeon's introduction I was already wonderfully helped and encouraged. This little book was not only worth reading, but will be worth reading again!
  
  If you've not read anything by Spurgeon, this wouldn't be a bad place to start.
• 
  David Kakish

  This is a transcript of the last address Spurgeon gave to the students in his Pastors College. It was a timely word then, and since much of Spurgeon's writing is timeless, it is an equally timely word now.
• 
  Bradley Davis

  Brilliant book. Sure to encourage any pastor at any point in ministry.
• 
  Lynette Karg

  This is Spugeon's final charge to his college. It embodies his passion for God's Word and is just as timely for today's preachers as it was then.
• 
  Jerry

  Top shelf. Spurgeon at the end of ministry, near the end of life, standing on and proclaiming the Word that was his life.
• 
  Martyn

  It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I really began to enjoy it. But I found it rather strange. Sometimes it just didn't feel like Spurgeon at all. I would be interested to know more about the history of it, to know if Spurgeon ever revised the address for publication, or whether it was recorded verbatim and printed as it was spoken, or revised only by the publisher. At times it felt like Spurgeon's thoughts were flitting around rapidly from subject to subject in a manner not usual with his printed works. If he had revised or expanded the address himself then I can imagine that he would have tidied things up, presented them in a more organised manner, and expanded on points which he only passed over briefly. Much of it felt so relevant to today that a modern writer could have written it specifically for our times.
  
  I think a large part of the problem hindering my engaging with the book was that I was reading it in a 'modern' edition with a hideous typeface. I am used to reading the original Passmore and Alabaster editions and Spurgeon doesn't feel quite the same to read in a modern paperback edition. One often gets cynical about modern reprints, wonder what alterations publishers may have silently made to the original work.
  
  Once I got into the book, as I say, I really began to enjoy it and there are many inspiring, challenging, and thought-provoking points in here. If a group of young Christian friends are ever looking for a good book to read and discuss, this would be an excellent choice.
• 
  Chrys Jones

  What advice would the Prince Of Preachers give to pastors just prior to departing into glory? The Greatest Fight in the World by C.H. Spurgeon is his bold and final answer to that question. Every word in this book has the marks of a pastor who preached the gospel for forty years, printed at least 2,200 of those sermons and wrote numerous other books which have been used to build up the Church since the middle of the 19th century.
  
  In The Greatest Fight in the World, Spurgeon pulls no punches. He is adamant that pastors need to remember their armoury, army, and strength. Our armoury is the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit. Spurgeon reminds that “if we want weapons we must come here for them, and here only” (p. 7). Our army, which is the Church, provides us with comrades to fight the good fight alongside us. Lastly, our strength comes from the Holy Spirit, in whom we all must depend to have any semblance of power and success in true gospel ministry.
  
  I encourage you, whether you’re a pastor or not, to read this book and glean from 40+ years of Spurgeon’s prolific and fruitful ministry. C.H. Spurgeon is known as “England’s greatest contribution to the spread of the gospel in the 19th century”, and at the heart of his powerful preaching and writing were a trust for the Word, a love for the Church, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. This is why The Greatest Fight in the World is so vital over 100 years after the original publishing.
  
  I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review.
• 
  Richard Angelus

  I’ve listened to this audiobook for the third time already! (that shows how good it is). Every time I hear it again, I learned something new. There is something peculiar about Christian classic books written by old, faithful, and powerful preachers like Charles H. Spurgeon that draw me to them over and over again. Perhaps it is due to (most, not all) shallow popular Christian writings in this present day. Or perhaps it is due to Bible-saturated, thoughtful, and meaty writings of the past. Or maybe both (obviously, I’m biased). One observation that I see in the writings of such men and women of God of the past that are considered timeless is this: they believe by faith that the Scriptures, namely the Bible, is the very Word of God. The assumption is that if God said it in the Scriptures, then it is so. Spurgeon once remarks: “If your creed and Scripture do not agree, cut your creed to pieces, but make it agree with this book.”
  
  To read my summary-review, CLICK HERE :)
  https://legasitv.blogspot.com/2021/12...
• 
  Duane Maddy

  Spurgeon's words are just as relevant today as the end of the 19th Century. The progressive liberalism of "watering down" the Gospel in church, in an effort to belittle the power of the Holy Spirit, or take away the sovereignty of the Word, is clearly the case that "The Prince of Preachers" was fighting against. He makes the case in a bold way, pulling no punches. The book is more of a letter to churches, rather than a book written for a casual reader, but it truly comes across as a letter of commitment to the building of the Kingdom, rather than to tear down people who are misinformed. Consider this a teaching tool for pastors and leaders.
• 
  Benjamin Cribb

  Concise, insightful, and applicable to all ministers and lay-persons today trying to live a Christian life.
  
  Amazingly accurate and still applicable today! I loved the fact the principles shared and guidance given bring light to areas where ministers struggle and where Christian life is trouble and misaligned with God’s calling and purpose for a dedicated Christian life. This book will now be a “go to” for me! I would highly recommend this book based on being a short read but highly insightful and helpful beyond my abilities to describe!
• 
  Josiah Richardson

  Spurgeon in his final manifesto wrote on three things: Our armory for the fight which is principally the Holy Scriptures, and our army which is the church herself, as well as our source of strength which is the Holy Spirit.
  
  There were some really good parts in here and some that I wrote down in my commonplace book. Other portions were just utter whiffs, such as his comments on paedobaptism. All in all, really good.
• 
  andrew

  First time with Spurgeon
  
  I have heard the name Charles Spurgeon, but had never read any of his works. What a convicting book! Although not a preacher by profession, I still have an obligation as a disciple of Christ to preach the Gospel, and Spurgeon offers incredible insight and exhortation in this duty. Highly recommend!
• 
  Eric Naykalyk

  A Manifesto For The Church In Every Age
  
  Written towards the end of his ministry, this treatise speaks clearly to the most pressing needs of the church in every age. It should be read by every new Christian and re-read by every Christian entering ministry. It is short, but it reaches tremendous depths in a short time.
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  T.J. Telfer

  This should be required reading for every seminary student. Not a long read but an important one. It speaks primarily to the importance of Scripture and our relationship to it. Also deals with the church and the Spirit of God at work in and through the gospel minister. Delivered/written to preachers.
• 
  Zachary Houghton

  Tremendous
  
  A book that provides a true rallying cry in days of downgrade and weakness. In one of Spurgeon’s last addresses, he lays out a stirring argument and appeal for being zealous and firm in the true Christian faith. Trust God, preach the Word, and fight the good fight to the very end.
• 
  Anthony Lambert

  For any one feeling called to preach, or anyone who is a pastor…. Read this book. It is such a great reminder of where our strength comes from, as Christians, but much more as shepherd’s. The Armoury we have in the Scriptures, the Army we have in the Church, and our Strength we have in the power of the Spirit. This book is very, very encouraging for all believers.
• 
  Morgan

  Good read and breaks his message down to "Our Armoury," "Our Army," and "Our Strength."
  
  "Make our hearts tenderly impressible, and then turn us as wax to the seal, and stamp upon us the image of the Son of God."
• 
  Rodrigo D'Cristo

  Excelente livro com conselhos práticos para a vida pastoral. Spurgeon, não fugindo do título de “príncipe dos pregadores, aborda vários assuntos referentes a importância da Palavra de Deus fazer parte da vida ministerial. Recomendo.
• 
  Jimmy King

  Simple Christian truth
  
  I recommend this to anyone who seeks to understand the distractions of modern compromise of faith and how destructive it is to pure faith when we exchange it for new fancy preaching and teachings that do nothing to build out faith.