Charles Spurgeon's contribution to preaching in the 21st century.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Colgate Crozer Theological Seminary, 2020.This dissertation argues the contemporary relevance of the ministry of Victorian preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon and his preaching style and content, and this research leads me, as a religious thinker and practitioner, to advocate that living religious leaders consider Spurgeon's life and words as models for their own teaching. The project analyzes Spurgeon's biography, historical context, and sermons in order to systematically understand his unique contributions to the field of ministerial studies. The first chapter introduces Spurgeon's background, which was unconventional in relation to other church leaders at the time. The second chapter defines and expounds upon key principles Spurgeon employed in his ministry that empowered his congregations through faith. Those principles include the necessity of earnest private prayer, the primacy and power of faith within oppressive social systems, and diffidence in one's relationship with God. My third chapter analyzes those unique contributions to Victorian theological perspectives and contextualizes those contributions with respect to the relevance of his work today. Finally, the fourth chapter describes techniques for twenty-first century theologians and church leaders to use Spurgeon's contributions in their work