The Greatest Battle in This World

Library of Christian Classics. Volume 1

The Library of Christian Classics is comprised of classic works that every Christian should read at least once in their lifetime. They are wells of biblical wisdom that speak to us across the centuries.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon is known as "the Prince of Preachers," and for good reason. Spurgeon combined extensive biblical and theological knowledge with a unique rhetorical ability. He connected with his audience like no one else in his generation. Furthermore, he had a great passion for the conversion and edification of his listeners. All of this is evident in each of his sermons.

Under Spurgeon's ministry, thousands of people were converted. An average of 40 baptisms were held in his churches each month throughout his 40-year ministry. Many more were converted by reading his sermons in other parts of England and in other countries. When Spurgeon died, there were some 50 million copies of his sermons in print, many of them translated into other languages. He had a tremendous global impact in his day.

Spurgeon's influence remains relevant in the 21st century. It is difficult to know how many copies of his sermons are in circulation, but it was estimated around 1990 that about 300 million had been sold. Today there will be many more. Spurgeon's sermons continue to be read because they are penetrating, challenging, and edifying. Abba Ediciones publishes this book to provide readers with an opportunity to experience some of his power firsthand.

The first part of this book contains one of Spurgeon's most well-known speeches: The Greatest Battle in This World. It was the last message he delivered to his colleagues and students at the Pastors' College, an institution he founded and of which he was president. In this speech, Spurgeon characterized life and ministry in particular as a battle and offered several pieces of advice on how to fight it well with the weapons (the Scriptures), the army (the church), and the strength (the Holy Spirit) that God provides. The Greatest Battle was published just before his death and is one of his most famous speeches. It should be mandatory reading for pastors and every believer who wants to take their service in the local church seriously.

The rest of the book consists of ten sermons by Spurgeon that describe the Christian life as a war. In these messages, Spurgeon used military metaphors, speaking of battles, weapons, soldiers, wounds, ammunition, defense and attack, and, of course, our Great Captain, Jesus Christ. Something interesting about these sermons is how relevant they remain today, more than 150 years later. The Christian life in this fallen world will be a war in every generation, until Jesus comes on the last day. If you want to be challenged in your spiritual lethargy, these sermons are an excellent resource.