Phil Johnson

Conference Details 2026 Equipping Conference: The Spurgeon Conference Speaker: Phil Johnson June 5-5, 2026 Spurgeon quick facts 1834–1892 (Victorian England) Known as “The Prince of Preachers.” Became pastor of New Park Street Chapel in London at age 19. Preached to thousands weekly before microphones existed. Led the Metropolitan Tabernacle, one of the largest churches of his day. Sermons were transcribed and published worldwide, eventually exceeding 3,500 sermons and dozens of books. Strongly Reformed/Calvinistic but intensely evangelistic. Converted at age 15 after hearing a simple sermon on Isaiah 45:22: “Look unto me, and be ye saved.” Founded a pastors’ college, orphanages, and numerous ministries. Battled severe depression and chronic illness throughout much of his ministry. Opposed theological liberalism in the famous “Downgrade Controversy.” Often called the last great Puritan, though he lived 150+ years after the Puritans. Session 1: Spurgeon the Soul Winner Converted on Jan 6 1850 when he was 15. Began preaching almost immediately. Preached his first sermon to the London congregation at 19. Never attended university or seminary. Many circumstances that led to maturity early. Father and grandfather were pastors. Especially gifted - devoured books and remembered them well did not take notes in his books - memory too good became a book collector Spurgeon library sould to William Jewel College shortly after his death sold to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary best place to go see Spurgeon stuff books shaped Spurgeon very popular sermons made lots of money from selling them “Penny Pulpit” gave most of that money away to university he founded, orphanage he founded, widows, etc. Mary King - housekeeper at his boarding school Spurgeon - the greatest influence on my theology “I learned more from her than I would from any six doctors of theology we have nowadays.” strong calvinist who loved the doctrines of grace One of the elderly women Spurgeon supported her in her old age. Spurgeon joined the same church as Mary King relatively dead church pastor was not pastoral wanted to be baptized (even though Father and Grandfather taught infant baptism) convinced from reading Baptist theology as a 14yo (before conversion) found a pastor 8 miles away wrote to parents for approval granted, but a warning from his parents: don’t trust in your baptism. Baptized May 3, 1850 became a bold witness to Christ from this point forward. wrote that baptism loosened his tongue and he has not been quiet since. partook of the Lord’s Supper for the first time that next week committed to baptism but not to Baptist denomination began teaching young boys in SS This became a key influence on his teaching. Spurgeon - learning to teach to young boys made him a good preacher and helped him to keep an audience engaged. Spurgeon - a good illustration will stick in the mind and drive home the point long after the sermon is forgotten tricked into his first sermon Spurgeon - thankful to just get through the sermon Ppl - sermon was very good and beneficial to us Naturally gifted as a preacher voice was never recorded - technology existed, but was never recorded preaching was theologically rich Waterbeach Chapel 1851 preached/pastored there for 2 years first experience of preaching and pastoring first convert here Spurgeon - this is my most prized convert. God saved a soul through my ministry. Decided he needed to go to college President Angus of baptist college and cambridge met with Spurgeon both waited in another room for another but never saw each other due to miscommunication Spurgeon gave up thoughts of going to college and made plans to serve wherever God put him. Preaching fame spread New Park Street Chapel (Baptist Church) John Gill, famous pastor there before Spurgeon very good commentator but in theology a bit hyper-calvinist set some baptists down a wrong path with hyper calvinism pastor for 51 years there died 1771 (cf Spurgeon dates 1834-1892) Spurgeon - church building in a terrible location. This is an indictment on the wisdom and miserliness of the deacons who purchased the cheapest plot of land they could find. Industrial area - breweries, vinegar factories and no residential area close On other side of toll, so no cabs Low spot on Thames, so always stunk and occasionally flooded No public transport Rippon Pastor immediately before Spurgeon pastor for 63 years first to introduce a Baptist Hymnal - Rippon’s selections , key source of some of our modern hymns Church invited Spurgeon to come preach because they were looking for a pastor. Deacon at Waterbeach encouraged Spurgeon to move to London due to his gifts. Don’t bury them in Waterbeach. Asked to preach in the oldest and most venerable baptist church at 19 years old Had never been to London looked like a country bumpkin church put him up in a boarding house 2 miles from the church in a bad area. Spurgeon remembered the bad experience 25 years later London at this point was a bleak place the time of Dickens extreme poverty preached from James 1:17 - every good gift is from above deacons impressed - “church will be full in three months if Spurgeon stays people refused to leave the building until they promised Spurgeon would return promised that he would return three times on that final sunday asked him to stay as interim for 6 months, would be a probationary period Spurgeon countered with 3 months and they accepted Probationary period was not reached, offered and accepted before it was up. welcomed by the church, but not by the Baptist denomination nervousness over the youth of the young phenom First Q&A What was final outcome of legal issues with state of California after Covid? Better than expected Grace Church won every legal battle. Even the removal of renting of the parking lots was overturned as vindictive. County had to pay a settlement to Grace Church grew because they were constantly in the news and other churches were closed. MacArthur was surprisingly accurate throughout time. From Driscoll to wokeism. 9Marks guys outspoken critics of Macarthur on Covid cf Jonathan Leeman’s Article What is GTY and Grace like without John? GTY suprisingly similar. Everything the same. John was not essential to GTY. GTY going to be the same regarding speaker (a la Martin Lloyd Jones) Phil Johnson is 73. has been at GTY for 43 years. would like to make it to 45, but prob done then. If he gets pressed into retirement, fine. GCC Would take up to 2 years to find a replacement for John Macarthur. How is it going? Assumed ppl that are driving 80+ miles for MacArthur would go to other local churches. Should let things settle before calling new guy so he is not blamed for decline. Attendance has not declined. Have started convo after Shepherd’s Conference with who to find. Have had three 8 hour meetings All of the elders surprised at how easily and unified the convos have gone. Not far from deciding who the next pastor is. Should be announced in next few months. All elders submit nominees and work from there. What was John MacArthur like in private? John is great. Meet your heros is not true with this. How to survive as John’s coworker: do not do small talk. He doesn’t care. Talk ministry, theology, and important stuff. John not going to complain about physical ailments. Went into surgery without anyone but his wife knowing. PJ: You wouldn’t tell me if you had terminal cancer and were dying next week. JM: You are right. Similarities between John MacArthur and Charles Spurgeon Same birthday June 19 Both died of liver-related issues. Both very prolific in preaching and writing. Both very involved in surrounding ministries like college, seminary, and other institutions. John MacArthur had more support staff than Spurgeon. maybe JM a bit more prolific because of that John and Spurgeon both very hard workers. John MacArthur did not like modern technology and distrusted it. Spurgeon would have liked it and used it effectively. John had no social media. MacArthur scold PJ for being involved in it too much. MacArhur would be informed about online controversies, but it was generally second hand. Single greatest strength that the other did not have? Macarthur - verse by verse exposition Spurgeon not a verse by verse expositor Spurgeon - his ability to know who could be trusted and who could not John trusted everyone to a fault Could spurgeon and macarthur pastor a church together? no, they would have agreed that no one church needed two pastors like them. They should part ways and minister to more people. Spurgeon well known for extemporanous preaching. Could JM do that? John could have done that, but did not. Wrote out full manuscripts in felt-tip pens. Highlighted important points in red felt tip pen. Didn’t really look down at his notes. His wording was extemporaneous. When PJ editing books, would look at the notes for pieces left out of the sermon. MacArthur dispensationalist. Spurgeon not. Early in dispensationalism was tangled up a lot of bad theology (lots that would lead to the non-Lordship view.) Spurgeon concerned about the hints to antinomianism. Spurgeon concerned about Larkin and the idea that God deals with people differently according to the different dispensations. Gospel According to Jesus Moody contract - dropped by Moody because it disagreed with Ryrie who was Moody’s best selling author Zondervan called the next day and took the contract for two months and made it the basis of a marketing push. Became a best selling book, only theological book to do that. Was Spurgeon a charismatic? prone to mysticism eg. Spurgeon make an illustration about someone’s conscience is pricked from stealing gloves. Turns out someone had stolen gloves. Spurgeon would call it a prophecy. PJ would call it a profound providenceo. happened a few times in Spurgeons life. not a charismatic in the modern sense at all Session 2: Charles and Susannah Susannah Thompson Opposite of Spurgeon Upscale and stylish city girl Unbeliever at this time First impression of Spurgeon on his first Sunday evening - he was a country bumpkin and funny looking. 2 years older than Spurgeon Spurgeon’s country bumpkin-ness was something to work on Complaint/amusement by many - Suzzy, deacons, etc He dropped his blue polkadotted pocket square for white ones when the deacons purchased him a dozen white ones Deacon Olney pushed Spurgeon to success at New Park Street Chapel recruited Suzzy and others to come to the evening service on the first sunday. Spurgeon called him “the model deacon” introduced Suzzy and Spurgeon immediate attraction between them during Spurgeon’s interim period Spurgeon became the pastor on April 20. Spurgeon gave her a book the next day with a personal note the next day. Suzzy converted in his first month there. Relationship Opening of the Crystal Palace Spurgeon and Suzzy and many friends there for the opening. 40,000 people there. Queen there, etc. Spurgeon reading Tupper’s Proverbial Philosophy Passe at this point. section on marriage in it. Spurgeon asked her - what do you think about this section, “Pray for your spouse”? Suzzy blushed and could not think about the gala. Walked around the grounds together Engaged two months later, August 2nd Suzzy “dreary and unromantic place”, but now I consider it a sacred place. Spurgeon baptized her during the engagement. Regularly met at the Crystal Palace for walks together. Married 15 months later (Jan 8, 1856) Pregnant with twins in September 1857 Suzzy permanently injured after birth. Basically permanently homebound by 1868 Spurgeon had to travel to warmer climates due to his health, so they were often separated. She went with him on his final three month trip before his death. Recalled as her favorite period of life. Spurgeon died in France Suzzy gave a prayer of thanksgiving to the gift God had given her. Letters became a primary way for them to “be with” one another since he travelled so much his letters are full of affection and devotion wrote to her almost every day of his life Time together Favorite activity of Suzzy was sitting with Spurgeon while he worked since he was always working. silence but presence She was a help to him in the home and for his study Session 3: Afflicted, but not Crushed Spurgeon suffered with depression throughout his life. unsure of the cause weight of responsibility? physical malady? constant criticism and attacks from 19yo through the rest of his life social hardship (time of Oliver Twist) fundamental disposition unhealthy atmosphere of London (“miasma”, cholera, sewage, Jack the Ripper and crime) involvement in many controversies through his life be aware of overdoing it does not have marks of depression as we think of it. one of the most productive pastors in church history shows humor very often focused on others and gives them help letter sent with a widow to the deacons – this woman needs some help. I think we ought to help her. However, “be forewarned that she talks like a parrot with its tail on fire.” Spurgeon said he had a “perpetual struggle with sadness”. Struggled with this from childhood. Sent to live with his grandparents from 18 months. 25 miles away Spurgeon did not return to live at home until he was 8. Spurgeon always spoke affectionately about his mother, but something must have been strained there. Spurgeons mother gave birth to 17 children. Only 9 survived. Seems like his mother suffered from some sort of infirmity. Mainly cared for by his Aunt. She taught him to read when he was 3. He was reading the puritans by the time he was 8. Pilgrim’s Progress was his favorite book. He felt like the burdened Pilgrim. felt the weight of sin and condemnation that was out of proportaion to his age At a young age he had a lot of solitude. Would hide in a tomb in the graveyard. “To be alone was my boyish heaven” Spurgeon kept this private struggle private, even with a father and grandfather who were capable pastors. Spent five years searching for salavation. Refused to deal superficially with matters of guilt and divine judgement. Listened to sermons, read books, refused to allow mental knowledge to substitute for real faith Called these five years the greatest depression of his life. Recalled that this made him an effective soul winner. He could articulate the fear and angst of the lost and point to the way to salvation. Saved at 15 - poor message on the simplicity of the gospel. The preacher called him out directly and told him that he looked miserable. recognized the joy of heaven in his forgiveness. began to speak of the mercies of God almost immediately Began meeting in Exeter Hall 5 years after taking the New Park Street Chapel due to large crowds. bitter criticism made him a bit melancholy learned to take the abuse received large praise made him more melancholy never became accustomed to praise made him feel inadequate and a need to work harder Decision to build the Metropolitan Tabernacle one of the busiest intersections in London preached at Surrey Gardens Music Hall to 12000 people at the end of the pastoral prayer, some shouted “Fire!” 7 killed, 28 seriously injured attacked afterward that it was his ego of gathering sich large crowds that led to this disaster 22 when this happened shock never left him would call his reaction to this today as PTSD. Did not have a strong physical constitution lifelong health problems especially with his liver and kidneys pain from rheumatism, gout, sciatica, etc. in relatively constant pain during winters health worsened every winter - began at age 37 to take a vacation every winter to southern France said cigars gave him relief - so maybe don’t trust his medical advice eg letter to congregation when invalided in France: “know that if this soldier could stand, he would march”. Lord willing, I will be able to get out of bed and return in two weeks. Constantly preached to downcast people. made the encouragements and promises of the gospel more prominent than the condemnation make the good news of the gospel stand out One passage that he preached on at least 10 times Spurgeon generally only preached a text once. Preached excerpts from every book of the Bible except 2 John. Did not repeat sermons even when traveling. Exception: Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. ...