Joyful and thoughtful, A Wondrous Mystery offers 30 devotional readings drawn from Charles Spurgeon’s sermons.
*A Wondrous Mystery: Daily Advent Devotions by Charles Spurgeon, edited by Geoffrey Chang. New Growth Press, 2024. 144 pages.
Reading Level: Teens (ages 12 and up)
Recommended For: Teens and up
Did you know that our contemporary Christmas tees come originally from Germany’s tradition? Or why early Protestants did not want to celebrate Christmas? Or what famous preachers like Charles Spurgeon thought of Christmas? The introduction to this slim volume is a treasure trove of interesting Christmas-related information, particularly relevant for biblical Christ followers who have mused over the lack of “December 25th” in Scripture.
Of course, the real gem of this book is its collection of excerpts from Spurgeon’s sermons on Christ. As Chang writes in the introduction, “the readings in this volume are taken from Spurgeon’s sermons and are designed to help you grow a deeper understanding of the theology of Christmas and a greater love for the Savior.” 30 days’ worth of sermon excerpts await the thoughtful reader. Chang lightly edited Spurgeon’s work, but the readings sound like Spurgeon; Chang did not modernize them. As such, the rich text rewards contemplative reading. While not long (2-3 pages), the readings are probably better read silently and pondered versus a family sitting around a dinner table.
Bottom line: Spurgeon was a joyful preacher and a pastoral one: you will come away from this volume encouraged to look to our Savior and all that He did for us (and does still). Merry Christmas indeed!
*indicates a starred review
Related Reading From Redeemed Reader
- A Review: Love Came Down at Christmas by Sinclair Ferguson : perhaps more suitable for those with middle school children/students instead of high school students)
- A Resource: Advent Family Devotionals List (LOTS of options for all ages!)
- A Review: Journey to Bethlehem, edited by Leland Ryken: a similar approach in that this devotional pulls from classic hymns, poetry, and devotionals. Also highly recommended.
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