KANSAS CITY, Mo—Midwestern Seminary celebrated two new book releases in September from Geoffrey Chang, curator of the Spurgeon Library and assistant professor of historical theology at Midwestern Seminary.
In his new books, A Wondrous Mystery: Daily Advent Devotions and The Army of God: Spurgeon’s Vision for the Church, Chang offers theological, devotional, and practical insight from Charles Spurgeon for pastors and lay readers in the Church today.
“I want to extend a special congratulations to Dr. Chang on the release of these two new books, A Wondrous Mystery: Daily Advent Devotions and The Army of God: Spurgeon’s Vision for the Church,” said President Jason Allen. “I am confident that both of these works will prove beneficial for the Church and for her leaders. As most know, there is much to learn from the Prince of Preachers, but there is also much to learn from Dr. Chang. I am grateful we can be edified by both of these godly men.”
The first of the two releases, A Wondrous Mystery, published with New Growth Press, compiles 30 days of devotional readings from Spurgeon’s extensive writing and preaching on the doctrine of the incarnation.
As Chang documents in his introduction to the book, Spurgeon’s ministry coincided with the rise of higher criticism in biblical studies, a movement which led many to doubt the truth of miraculous biblical events like the incarnation. Through his writing on the incarnation, Spurgeon fought against this trend.
Chang writes, “Spurgeon would have none of this. Throughout his ministry, and especially during Christmas, he took every opportunity to proclaim the gospel: that the Son of God became a man in order that he might be the perfect sacrifice for the salvation of sinners.”
Sharing his hopes for how today’s readers will benefit from Spurgeon’s reflections, Chang said, “Amidst the busyness of the Christmas season, my hope is that this little volume will be a daily reminder of our unshakeable joy in the Son of God.”
Chang noted key themes in Spurgeon’s writing that he is excited to share with readers. “The incarnation is a tremendous comfort to the weary and the sad. Christmas can be a difficult time for many who are separated from or have lost their loved ones. But these advent meditations speak of a God who drew near to us in our sadness, even in the most intimate way.”
He went on to say, “The incarnation of Christ is the fulfillment of all that was promised in the Old Testament. Spurgeon helps us to meditate on the longing that Israel had, and all the world has, for the coming Messiah.”
Chang’s second new release in September, The Army of God, offers pastors and scholars a study on Spurgeon’s ecclesiology and its roots in the Reformed and Baptist traditions, serving as the first entry in the “Spurgeon’s Legacy” series from Christian Focus Publications.
“Spurgeon pastored during a time when evangelicals were moving from their rich ecclesiological heritage to much lower views of the Church,” Chang said. “The effects of that decline are still with us today.”
Highlighting Spurgeon’s example of faithful church leadership in this context, Chang added, “My hope is that The Army of God will encourage pastors and church leaders to once again see that the Bible indeed has a lot to say about how we lead our churches, and that they would be spurred on to biblical faithfulness in their pastoral leadership.”
Chang shared that the book takes its title from Spurgeon’s conviction that the local church is God’s army in the spiritual battles that wage until Christ returns.
“Spurgeon was drawing from a very old idea from the early church fathers,” Chang said. “They understood that while the Church was on earth, it was the Church militant. We are engaged in a fight, not against culture or our neighbors, but against the ‘spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places,’ as Paul says.”
Pointing to the importance of biblical ecclesiology like Spurgeon’s, Chang added, “In preaching the gospel, training up pastors, planting churches, and sending out missionaries, the Church marches against the kingdom of darkness and rescues those who are lost in their sin.”
The Army of God and A Wondrous Mystery have been endorsed by numerous pastors and scholars.
Tom Nettles, senior professor of historical theology at Southern Seminary, said of The Army of God, “We are exposed to the healthy zeal of Spurgeon for each member of God’s church army to wield the particular spiritual weapon granted by grace for the advance of the gospel in this fallen world.”
Ray Rhodes, Jr., Spurgeon scholar and pastor of Grace Community Church in Dawsonville, Georgia, said further, “Impeccable research and lively practical writing characterizes The Army of God.” He added, “A Wondrous Mystery contains pure gold from Spurgeon’s treasury of teaching on the incarnation. It will delight you, deepen your theology of Christmas, and be a helpful tool for family worship.”
A Wondrous Mystery and The Army of God are now available for purchase.
