Susannah Spurgeon: One of Church History’s Greatest Women with Ray Rhodes Jr.
Ray Rhodes Jr. serves as founding pastor of Grace Community Church in Dawsonville, GA, as well as president of Nourished in the Word Ministries. Ray holds a Master’s of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Ray has long been a Spurgeon enthusiast, and his doctoral thesis focused on the marriage and spirituality of Charles and Susannah Spurgeon. He is also the author of Susie and Yours, Til Heaven.
Show Notes
How has your study of Charles and Susie Spurgeon impacted your faith and personal ministry? Has this study increased your love for the Lord?
What led you to write a work on a female of the faith? What did you learn about her feminine contribution?
For those who might be unfamiliar with Charles and Susie Spurgeon, would you mind introducing us to them or providing a brief overview of who this significant couple was?
When did your admiration of Charles Spurgeon first develop?
Was there a particular work written by Spurgeon that sparked your interest in his ministry and writings?
At what point did you begin studying the life of Susie Spurgeon? What compelled you to study her life and ministry?
What led you to also study their marriage and relationship?
How would you describe the Spurgeons as a couple? What was their marriage like?
How did Susie contribute to Charles’ preaching ministry?
What could other Pastor’s wives, or wives in general, learn from Susie’s love for and support of Charles?
What difficulties or challenges did the Spurgeons face throughout their marriage? How did they face these challenges? What effect did these challenges have upon their marriage and walk with the Lord?
What can we learn from the Spurgeons and their example in the midst of adversity?
What led you to title your work about their marriage, “Yours, Til Heaven?” Why is this phrase significant?
Could you briefly share how depression impacted Charles and how Susie uniquely supported Charles through his most difficult/downcast days?
Another aspect of the Spurgeon legacy is the Pastors’ College. Can you tell us about this, and describe the role that both Charles and Susie had in it.
Why would you say that Susannah Spurgeon is well-described as “one of Christian history’s greatest women”?
What can female listeners and readers learn from Susie Spurgeon’s legacy?
Notable Quotations
“We are not the only folks who have ever existed or the only people who matter.”
“We can’t transplant what has happened in the past into our immediate context in all of its particulars but there are commitments, convictions, and general principles that are applicable for all.”
“I think it is arrogant, really, to not look into history and to imagine that we are it.”
“If we look at Charles and Susie and simply set out to be them, we will be frustrated. God has created us as we are, he’s gifted us with our gifts, and he’s given us the opportunities, circumstances, and providence that he has, and we are not to be anyone else in history but to be ourselves and to use the means He has given us for his glory and the good of others.”
“We don’t have Charles Spurgeon as we have him if he did not marry Susie.”
“Susie would often weep with Charles, simply because she loved him.”
“He saw the goodness of God even in the darkness of his sorrow.”
“Keep loving and keep supporting your husband.”
“In a good marriage, you know how to cry together, pray together, and laugh together.”
“Be in God’s Word and be in prayer. Allow the Scriptures to inform your prayer life.”
“Nothing is lost when we give. Giving is gaining.”
“Don’t withhold love. Keep short accounts. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Be honest with one another.”
Recommended Resources
Susie by Ray Rhodes Jr.
Yours, Til Heaven by Ray Rhodes Jr.
Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
Til He Come by Charles Spurgeon
The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter
Checkbook of Faith by Charles Spurgeon
Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
Marriage by Paul David Tripp
A Basket of Summer Fruit by Susannah Spurgeon
A Cluster of Camphire by Susannah Spurgeon
Ten Years of My Life in the Service of the Book Fund by Susie Spurgeon
Scripture References
Psalm 78
Hebrews
1 Peter 2:2
Podcast Sponsor
The Dwell Bible App – Dwell is an audio Bible App with a mission inspired by the Psalmist in Psalm 119. With over a dozen new recordings, hand-picked voices that both engage and inspire you, and your favorite Bible translations, you are sure to increase your daily Bible intake and memorization of the Word with this unique app. To get started with Dwell, go to dwellapp.io/theabouther to receive 10% off a yearly subscription, or 33% off Dwell for life.
