4th annual Spurgeon Library Conference explores Spurgeon’s preaching of the gospel
By Michaela Classen, MBTS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) hosted the fourth annual Spurgeon Library Conference on April 29, welcoming pastors, Spurgeon scholars, and seminary students to be encouraged by the ministry of Charles H. Spurgeon.
Through sessions led by Joel Beeke, Thomas Kidd and Geoff Chang, the conference focused on Spurgeon’s gospel-centered preaching.
“The annual Spurgeon Library Conference is a hidden gem,” said President Jason Allen. “Having the conference in the Spurgeon Library surrounded by Spurgeon’s books is truly a unique environment. Pairing that with the incredible scholars, like Drs. Beeke, Chang and Kidd, makes for a thoroughly edifying and equipping time.”
Held in the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Seminary, home to the world’s largest collection of Charles Spurgeon’s personal books and artifacts, the Spurgeon Library Conference engages Spurgeon scholarship to edify pastors and church leaders.
Spurgeon Library Curator Geoff Chang expressed the conference vision, saying, “Our goal here is not to look to Spurgeon, but to look through him to see a model for how we might follow the risen Christ and serve Him faithfully.”
The first keynote session was given by Joel Beeke, chancellor of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and pastor of Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Beeke’s session was titled “Spurgeon’s Reformed Experiential Preaching of the Law.”
While defining “experiential preaching” Beeke said, “It means that the preacher doesn’t just preach to the mind, but he also preaches to the heart and soul of the hearer, and he explains the experience of God’s people under the doctrines of grace.”
Beeke examined Spurgeon’s experiential preaching of the Law and noted that Spurgeon emphasized preaching the Law because it reveals God’s holy character and shows sinners their need for a Savior.
“The Law exposes our sin, which makes it a useful tool for bringing us to—and keeping us at — the cross,” Beeke said.
The next session was given by Thomas Kidd, research professor of Church history and the John and Sharon Yeats Endowed Chair of Baptist Studies at Midwestern Seminary. Kidd gave a lecture outlining the historical context of the Downgrade Controversy, a 19th-century theological controversy against which Spurgeon faithfully preached the gospel.
“Spurgeon had long been concerned about evangelicals deemphasizing traditional doctrines such as the substitutionary atonement of Christ for sinners,” Kidd said.
In his lecture, Kidd explored the impact of events such as the 1859 release of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species,”the Romantic movement and its emphasis on individual experience, and German higher criticism’s rising skepticism toward biblical truth.
To access more resources from the Spurgeon Library, visit spurgeon.org.
Two Lifeway releases win Christian Book Awards top honors
By Jill Waggoner, Lifeway
NASHVILLE — “Luke in the Land” and the “Christian Standad Bible (CSB) Oswald Chambers Bible” received the 2025 Christian Book Award in their respective categories during the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Celebration Dinner on April 29 in Nashville.
The Christian Book Award program recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards programs in the religious publishing industry.
“Luke in the Land: Walking with Jesus in His First-Century World,” written by Kristi McClelland, was honored in the Bible study category. The study, released last year by Lifeway Women, includes teaching videos from locations throughout Israel.
“I am not surprised that ‘Luke in the Land’ was honored with a Christian Book Award,” said Becky Loyd, vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources. “In this study, Kristi walks through key passages in the gospel of Luke, teaching the cultural and historical context of the text. Even if you have never been to Israel, Kristi’s knowledge and passion transport readers to the land where this history unfolded and help us to understand Jesus’ ministry in new and deeper ways.”
The “CSB Oswald Chambers Bible,” released by Holman Bibles, took the top honor in the Bible category, combining the devotionals of Oswald Chambers with the Christian Standard Bible translation.
“We are deeply honored by this award and recognition for the ‘CSB Oswald Chambers Bible’ by the highly respected ECPA. In many respects, it is a shared honor with our friends at Our Daily Bread who maintain the licensing rights to the collected works of Oswald Chambers,” said Andy McClean, publisher for Bibles and reference at Lifeway.
“They have been great partners from the very beginning, catching the vision behind this devotional Bible and sharing a mutual desire to help readers engage meaningfully with the message of Scripture alongside the timeless wisdom from Oswald Chambers. Our continued hope is that readers will find immense encouragement and insight into the biblical storyline as they journey through the pages of Scripture while being challenged by Oswald to live our ‘utmost for his Highest.’”
Five other titles published by Lifeway Christian Resources and its imprints, B&H Publishing Group and Holman Bibles, were honored as finalists.
- “Ephesians: A Study of Faith and Practice” by Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes and Melissa Kruger was also a finalist in the Bible study category.
- The “CSB Men’s Daily Bible” by general editor Robert Wolgemuth was an additional finalist in the Bible category.
- “Habakkuk: The Christian Standard Commentary” by Susan Maxwell Booth was recognized in the Bible Reference Works category.
- “When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful” by Kate Rietema and illustrated by Jennie Poh was a finalist in the Children’s category.
- “Advent for Exiles” by Caroline Cobb was recognized in the New Author category.
