Over at SBCVoices Jared Moore put a post up Who is Your Favorite Preacher in the SBC? The best part of this post is the reader comments. That’s no disrspect at all to Jared, I believe he meant it that way. In the comments the readers share their favorites, past and present.
But here’s the best answer yet. A commenter, Max, posted this reply. I’ve posted his comment word-for-word, though I have broken it up into smaller chunks to make it blog-format-friendly. Let all of us who aspire to ministry, or are already in it, learn from the man he speaks of. Enjoy and be challenged.
My favorite SBC preacher is my son-in-law. His name is not important – Jesus knows who he is. He doesn’t have a website or audio links to his great sermons;[*] he’s not published or promoted by men. He has a BS degree from an SBC college and his Masters from an SBC seminary.
A passionate preacher, he commutes a long drive to work full days in a secular job so he can serve in a bi-vocational role in a small rural church, while raising his family. He’s a young pastor who has not been caught up in the pursuit of cool-church or mega-church, although much larger churches would be blessed to have him on staff. He’s not distracted from the field he has been given to follow current trends or teachings of men. He loves the folks in his small church and ministers to them daily – phone calls, hospital visits – he rejoices and he weeps.
His days are long, but he always finds time to get a fresh message from the Lord for the flock he shepherds. He stays up late in the Word and up early to pray. He preaches a Gospel that saves and keeps the baptismal water stirred – his church is growing as the Lord adds to their number.
He is faithful to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry and they love doing church together. He’s not satisfied that the mission entrusted to him be confined to a small radius, but yearns for a regional presence so that more souls will come to Jesus through the lighthouse under his care. He’s currently preparing the hearts of his people for a Fall revival and they might just have one.
Yep, my son-in-law would be my favorite preacher these days … but don’t tell him – I’m trying not to spoil him.
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(*) Yes, I acknowledge the irony of posting this on my site, and one where I have my sermons. However, in all fairness, I want to exalt Christ, not me. In fact, Max’s son-in-law is a hero and role model to me, and I don’t even know him. My few sermons are on here so readers can get to know me and so family far away can listen and I hope my non-Christian friends & family might one day be curious. In fact, pray they would! -AFR
