Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students - On the Choice of a Text (pt 1)

Here is the first part of a lecture by Mr. Spurgeon to his students at the Pastor's College, 'On the Choice of a Text.' Due to the length of the original I have chosen to issue the reading of this lecture in two parts, here is the first part.

To those of us who have spent some considerable time deciding upon a text from which to preach, it appears as nothing compared to the time Mr. Spurgeon spent, in seeking God for the burden of his message.

In the first part of this lecture, Mr. Spurgeon brings his thoughts before us, under the following heads:

1: ".....We shall be most anxious, first of all, respecting the selection of the text"

2: "Do not be mislead by the sound and seeming fitness of scriptural words"

3: "As we would avoid a careless accidental pitching upon topics, so would we equally avoid a monotonous reqularity"

4: "Is there any difficulty in obtaining texts"

5: "What is the right text? How do you know it?"

6: "......Consider the condition of your hearers"

7: "Consider what sins appear to be most rife in the church and congregation"