Question: Who are your five or six favorite living preachers? Why? What can we learn from them?
Reply:
Let me begin by saying I am going to answer a question that was not raised: who are my favorite preachers living or dead? I simply cannot resist. Three of my favorite preachers of all time are now with the Lord. That would be W.A. Criswell, Adrian Rogers and Stephen Olford. Each of these men were anointed by God … [Read More]
Q&A 16 (Part 1): What are your five or six favorite living preachers?
On the Dangers of Seminary (Pt. 7): On the Danger of Being THAT GUY
This installment is the last one in which I deal with the dangers of seminary (although I plan to follow up with a post speaking to the many positive aspects of seminary). I am certainly not saying that there are no more dangers. In fact, more than a few of you have pounded my inbox with suggestions for additional “dangers” that could be mentioned. Some of the suggestions were serious, but most of them were…not … [Read More]
Five Preaching Role Models, Part 2
In my last post, I shared my conviction that preachers become better preachers primarily through two means: regular pulpit experience and learning from good preaching role models. I shared my first two role models, Drs. Adrian Rogers and Jerry Vines. I continue in many ways to be shaped by their early example. It was a great joy to enroll in seminary and finally have the chance to hear both of these brothers preach in person. … [Read More]
Five Preaching Role Models, Part 1
I am thankful for the two preaching classes I took in seminary. I’m also thankful for many of the fine preaching books I’ve read over the years. And I’m thankful for many of the preaching conferences I’ve attended. Each of these tools has contributed to my own DNA as a preacher.
Though I am thankful for classes, books, and conferences, I am not convinced that any of them “make” a man a preacher, let alone a … [Read More]
The Future of the Southern Baptist Convention (Pt. 2)
Southern Baptists have a hopeful future if they continually make clear their commitment to the inerrant and infallible Word of God, affirming it’s sufficiency in all matters. (Matt 5:17-18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Southern Baptists won the “battle for the Bible” that began in 1979. Men of God like Jimmy Draper, Paige Patterson, Paul Pressler, Adrian Rogers, and Jerry Vines put it all on the line because they saw what the … [Read More]
Myths Concerning the GCRTF: A Postscript
In June at the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, I had a conversation with my father in the ministry and hero in the faith. That man is Dr. Paige Patterson. My love for this man cannot be measured in human words. My gratitude for his investment in my life is impossible for me to express. Now, I know he does not always agree with me, but I have never doubted he loves me and wants … [Read More]
Exciting Announcement from the W. A. Criswell Library
One of my frustrations as a Baptist history professor is that many of my students, particularly those under age 35 or so, cannot name one well-known Southern Baptist preacher from the 20th century. In my Baptist history class last fall, there was not one student–not one–who had ever heard of George Truett, R. G. Lee, W. A. Criswell, Herschel Hobbs, or even Adrian Rogers. There were a couple who knew who Jerry Vines was, but that was because of … [Read More]
