Ray Rhodes
Ray Rhodes Jr. (DMin, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is founding pastor of Grace Community Church of Dawsonville, Georgia, and president of Nourished in the Word Ministries.
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Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers,” authored 135 books, filled 63 volumes of sermons, sponsored 60 benevolent institutions, and preached to massive London congregations. His life and work still tower over Christian history. But how did one man accomplish so much, and how did he survive—and thrive—in the midst of relentless controversy, chronic sickness, debilitating depression, and heart-wrenching private grief?
Biographer Ray Rhodes focuses less on the thunder of the metropolitan pulpit and more on Spurgeon at home, tracing his inner strength back to the simple, quiet pastures of rural England. It shows how the very public man was forged in private valleys, where his faith learned to endure pain, sickness, and the shadows of death.
Spurgeon: The Man Beyond the Pulpit offers readers a substantive, accessible biography that captures the complete portrait of a beloved leader—the human heart beneath the towering legacy.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers,” authored 135 books, filled 63 volumes of sermons, sponsored 60 benevolent institutions, and preached to massive London congregations. His life and work still tower over Christian history. But how did one man accomplish so much, and how did he survive—and thrive—in the midst of relentless controversy, chronic sickness, debilitating depression, and heart-wrenching private grief?
Biographer Ray Rhodes focuses less on the thunder of the metropolitan pulpit and more on Spurgeon at home, tracing his inner strength back to the simple, quiet pastures of rural England. It shows how the very public man was forged in private valleys, where his faith learned to endure pain, sickness, and the shadows of death.
Spurgeon: The Man Beyond the Pulpit offers readers a substantive, accessible biography that captures the complete portrait of a beloved leader—the human heart beneath the towering legacy.
Chapter 1: Marriage, Birth, Trials
Chapter 2: James Spurgeon: An Independent Man
Chapter 3: Lessons from the Acres: Stambourne Memories
Chapter 4: From Persecution to Perseverance
Chapter 5: Charles Goes Home: New Beginnings
Chapter 6: John Spurgeon: From Conversion to Pastor
Chapter 7: A Mother’s Prayers and a Missions Leader’s Prophecy
Chapter 8: The Man He Would Become
Chapter 9: A Fresh Start at Newmarket
Chapter 10: The Greatest Event
Chapter 11: A Passion for Baptism
Chapter 12: A Thrice Happy Day
Chapter 13: A Prediction and a Sermon
Chapter 14: The Road to Waterbeach: Part I
Chapter 15: The Road to Waterbeach: Part II
Chapter 16: The Meeting That Never Happened
Chapter 17: A Sermon and a Letter
Chapter 18: A Dark City and a Depressed Chapel
Chapter 19: A Lonely Arrival
Chapter 20: Mr. Spurgeon Visits London
Chapter 21: London Calls
Chapter 22: Ministering During the 1854 Cholera Outbreak
Chapter 23: A Lady in London
Chapter 24: Spurgeon Rises
Chapter 25: Cheers and Jeers
Chapter 26: Pressing On, Building Up
Chapter 27: Spurgeon in Love
Chapter 28: The Ministry Expands
Chapter 29: The Royal Surrey Gardens Music Hall Disaster
Chapter 30: Winter’s Blast, a Growing Church, and Fiery Preaching
Chapter 31: Building the Tabernacle: Part I
Chapter 32: Building the Tabernacle: Part II
Chapter 33: 1860: Turning Points
Chapter 34: The Metropolitan Tabernacle
Chapter 35: The Dream of His Life
Chapter 36: Spurgeon Enters the Fray: The Baptismal Regeneration Controversy: Part I
Chapter 37: The Baptismal Regeneration Controversy: Part II
Chapter 38: Spurgeon the Builder
Chapter 39: Beautiful Episodes
Chapter 40: Seeing Needs
Chapter 41: The Death of James Spurgeon
Chapter 42: Spurgeon: A Real Man
Chapter 43: Teversham Memories, Mentone Recovery, and London Preaching
Chapter 44: An Audience of Fourteen
Chapter 45: Destination Westwood
Chapter 46: Arrival, Westwood
Chapter 47: Life, Family, Changes, and Warning Signs
Chapter 48: The Tabernacle Watchman
Chapter 49: The Down-Grade Controversy: Part I
Chapter 50: The Down-Grade Controversy: Part II
Chapter 51: The Down-Grade Controversy: Part III
Chapter 52: In His Hands
Chapter 53: Almost Home
Chapter 54: The Death of the “People’s Preacher”