In episode 31 of The View From the Pulpit, host Ben Smith talks with Pastor Brad Waters of First Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, Georgia, for an insightful discussion on preaching the transformative power of the Gospel, driven by an urgent love for lost souls. Waters shares his unique approach to the pulpit, heavily influenced by his early exposure to "camp meeting" style preaching. The conversation explores Brad’s commitment to making every message an invitation for decision.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 31: A Conversation with Brad Waters.

Episode Theme: Preaching for decisions

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Brad Waters of First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst, GA, about expository preaching, particularly within the context of evangelism. Waters shares how the urgency of evangelism motivates his approach to every sermon.

Key Highlights:

The Evangelistic Burden of Preaching: Waters approaches every message as if it's the last, preaching "like a dying man to dying people," and consistently weaving an invitation to accept Christ into his sermons.

The Power of Content Over Style: While acknowledging that his "demonstrative" style is influenced by his early exposure to "camp meeting" preaching, Brad shares how the power of God in preaching lies in the "content of what you preach" – the Word of God itself – rather than the delivery style.

Join Ben Smith and Brad Waters for an instructive conversation on expository preaching, how a burden for the lost emboldens the preacher, and helpful insights into sermon preparation and delivery.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Brad Waters

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

For more information about Central Baptist Church in Waycross, GA, please visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

Sermon Shorts is a podcast featuring sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Brad Waters is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst, GA, where he has served since 2012. He and his wife, Cheryl, have five children and one grandson.

Watch and listen to Brad Waters’ latest sermons, visit https://www.fbchazlehurst.org/media

For more information about First Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, GA, visit: https://www.fbchazlehurst.org/

A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/. Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

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