Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 20: A Conversation with Randy Mullinax

Episode Theme: Changes and Trends among Baptist churches in approaches to preaching

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Randy Mullinax, senior adult pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA, about his experience working with two Baptist state conventions, how he came to appreciate expository preaching, and how he employs an expositional approach to ministry with senior adults.

Key Highlights:

Learning to preach: Mullinax discusses how he “backed in” to learning to preach expositional sermons and how it changed his approach to preaching.

Encouraging trends: Randy shares how, through his work with State Baptist Conventions, he has witnessed encouraging trends toward more churches and pastors pursuing expository preaching.

Ministry Transition: Randy, who is now serving on staff after a career as a senior pastor, discusses how he enjoys his new ministry role.

Senior Adult Ministry: Randy Mullinax talks about his ministry as a senior adult pastor and the blessings and challenges of senior adult ministry.

Join Ben Smith and Randy Mullinax for a helpful discussion of ministry and preaching over a long career.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Randy Mullinax

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Randy Mullinax is the senior adult pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA. He pastored churches for 30 years before taking on the role of Director of Evangelism and Discipleship with the Illinois Baptist Convention. Later, he would serve the Georgia Baptist Convention (now known as the Georgia Baptist Mission Board) as a state missionary on the Evangelism and Church Revitalization team.

Wayne and his wife, Jeanee, have two adult children.

Follow Randy Mullinax on X at https://x.com/Randy_Mullinax

For more information on Northside Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA, visit https://nbcvaldosta.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.

Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id1796433489

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 19: A Conversation with Mitch Jolly

Episode Theme: Transformed by the word of God

In this episode, pastor Jolly shares his story of how God saved him and taught him to study the word. He talks about how he has led his church to be rooted and grounded in God’s word.

Key Highlights:

Transformation: Jolly shares how he was rescued from moralistic therapeutic deism and discovered the transforming power of God’s word.

Rooted in the text: Jolly shares the imperative that everything must be rooted in the text.

Use of Media: Though naturally a slow adopter of new technology, Pastor Jolly shares how he has used technology to further the impact of his Lord’s Day sermons through the online availability of his sermon manuscripts and a podcast focused on theology.

A clear audience: Pastor Jolly recognizes the usefulness of online tools to help the church engage more with his sermons. However, Pastor Jolly encourages pastors to stay focused and attentive to their congregation. Though others may find your church’s online resources helpful, the pastor must first be focused on preaching to the congregation of his church.

Join Ben Smith and Mitch Jolly for an honest and helpful conversation on how God uses his word to instruct and bless the church.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Mitch Jolly

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod 

Mitch Jolly is the pastor and founder of Three Rivers Church, Rome, GA, where he has served since 2001. Jolly earned his undergraduate degree from Shorter University and an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Mitch and his wife, Jennifer, have three sons.

For sermon resources and more from Mitch Jolly, visit www.theologyinthedirt.com.

For helpful theological discussions, find Mitch’s podcast, Theology in the Dirt.

·      Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-in-the-dirt/id1506829385

·      Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76TxcsD6XjGmpJaGmRRczL?si=6b724b7a27094c81

For more information on Three Rivers Church, Rome, GA, visit  www.threeriversc.org

You can find Mitch on X at https://x.com/mitchjolly

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.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 18: A Conversation with Mike Everson

Episode Theme: Changes and Challenges of Pastoral Ministry

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Mike Everson, interim pastor of Morningside Baptist Church, Bainbridge, GA, about the changes he has seen among preachers and the challenges that pastors face today.

Key Highlights:

The impact of COVID: Everson shares his observations of how the effects of COVID continue to discourage pastors.

Discovering and learning how to preach expository preaching: Everson shares how he was first exposed to expository preaching and how he learned to do it himself. He also shares how he has seen the value and impact of expository preaching in the churches he has pastored.

Lessons learned through ministry experience: Everson shares the lessons he learned through experience as a pastor, a state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Convention, and the father of two boys who grew up to become pastors.

Growing desire for faithful, expository preaching: Everson shares encouraging examples he has seen that indicate that churches are growing in their appreciation of and desire for faithful expositional preaching.

Join Ben Smith and Mike Everson for an encouraging and enlightening conversation that explores the wisdom and insights that Mike has learned through his years as a pastor and preacher.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Mike Everson

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Mike Everson is the transitional pastor at Morningside Baptist Church in Bainbridge, GA. He began his ministry as a youth pastor at Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA. He would go on to serve as senior pastor of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville, GA, and Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA. Mike also served the Georgia Baptist Convention (now the Georgia Baptist Mission Board) as a Regional State Missionary for South Georgia.

Mike and his wife, Debbie, have two adult sons who are both pastors. His son, Jarrod, was the featured guest on Episode 3 (https://www.bensmithsr.org/vftp/everson).

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.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 17: A Conversation with Pastor Dr. Bart Barber. 

Episode Theme: “I will occasionally explain myself.”

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Pastor Dr. Bart Barber, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Farmersville, TX, about how to integrate systematic theology with Biblical theology through expositional preaching, effectively utilize original language study in preaching, and his unique method of sermon preparation process. 

Key Highlights:

·      The challenge of demographic changes: Dr. Barber describes how the rural context in which his church has existed throughout its history has been transformed by population growth, and the effect and challenges this has had on his preaching, especially in relation to the sermon illustrations he uses.

·      Integration of systematic theology with biblical theology: Dr. Barber describes his approach to expository preaching and preaching through books of the Bible. He explains how this approach is focused on biblical theology and how he often preaches a conclusory sermon series to integrate a systematic theological approach to issues that were prominent in the book.

·      Use of original languages in preparation and preaching: Dr. Barber is an accomplished scholar in biblical languages, having conducted extensive academic work in both Greek and Hebrew. He explains how he integrates his linguistic expertise into his preaching and offers suggestions on how anyone, regardless of their linguistic ability, can engage in basic language studies.

·      Preparing to preach months in advance: During his PhD studies, Dr. Barber recognized that meeting the academic demands while handling the regular and often unexpected demands of ministry required that he prepare his sermon well in advance. Dr. Barber explains how he plans and prepares a year’s worth of sermons during an intensive week dedicated to this singular task.

Join Ben Smith and Dr. Bart Barber for a fascinating conversation about expository preaching and how to be most faithful when proclaiming God’s word.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Dr. Bart Barber

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Bart Barber has served as the pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, since 1999.  At an associational summer camp at the Mount Zion Baptist Camp in Walcott, Arkansas, Bart surrendered to pastoral ministry in the summer of 1981. The following year, just prior to the start of his senior year in high school, he assumed the pastorate at New Hope Baptist Church in Black Oak, Arkansas.

A National Merit Scholar, Dr. Barber earned his BA in the University Scholars program with an emphasis in Greek and Hebrew from Baylor University, Waco, TX. He would go on to earn an MDiv with advanced standing in biblical languages, a PhD in church history, and a minor in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Bart has served in various denominational capacities with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. At the SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, June 14-15, 2022, Bart was elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He and his wife, Tracy, have two children.

Find Dr. Barber on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbartbarber/

Follow Dr. Barber on X: https://x.com/bartbarber

Listen to Pastor Barber’s latest sermons on:

·      YouTube: https://youtube.com/@drbartbarber

·      Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0hINKd4GBOMJ8RxrFMqZ3d

Glossary of Key Terms

Biblical Theology: The study of what a particular book, chapter, or section of the Bible conveys about a specific theme or doctrine, examined on its own terms within its historical and literary context.

Christology: The study of the nature and person of Jesus Christ, including his divinity and humanity.

Conclusory Sermons: A series of sermons preached after completing an expository series through a book, designed to summarize and emphasize key doctrinal themes found within that book.

Eschatology: The study of the "last things" or end times, including topics such as the second coming of Christ, the millennium, and the final judgment.

Exegesis (Exegetical Work): The critical interpretation and explanation of a biblical text, involving careful study of the original languages, historical context, and literary features.

Expository Preaching: A style of preaching that aims to explain and apply the meaning of a specific biblical passage, often working through books of the Bible sequentially.

Historical Theology: The study of the development of Christian doctrines and beliefs throughout the history of the church, often focusing on significant figures and movements.

Homiletical/Homiletics: Relating to the art or science of preaching or giving sermons; the principles of sermon preparation and delivery.

Hypostatic Union: The theological term used to describe the union of the divine and human natures in the single person of Jesus Christ.

Logos Software: A popular digital library and research tool used by pastors and scholars for biblical study and sermon preparation.

Pericope: A distinct passage or section of scripture, often used as the basis for a sermon or study.

Pathos: An appeal to emotion, used in rhetoric to persuade or connect with an audience.

Systematic Theology: The study of Christian doctrines arranged in a systematic and logical order, integrating teaching from across the entire Bible on various theological topics.

Text Driven: Refers to preaching or teaching that derives its main points and structure directly from the biblical text being studied.

Trinitarian: Relating to the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that God is one God in three co-eternal consubstantial persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

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.

Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id1796433489

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 16: A Conversation with Wayne Woods 

Episode Theme: A preacher’s preparation and the role of preaching in the church

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Wayne Woods, pastor of Ten Mile Baptist Church in Alma, GA, about how God called him to the ministry, how he learned to preach, and the relationship between preaching and pastoral care.

Key Highlights:

Call to Ministry: Woods discusses how God worked in his life to call him to ministry after a full career with the United States Navy and how the maturity with which he entered the ministry helped him in his pastoral work.

Learning to Preach: Woods shares lessons he learned in seminary and beyond on how to prepare a sermon and how to preach.

All Preaching is Invitational: Sometimes, only the final conclusion of a sermon is considered invitational to respond to the gospel. Pastor Woods shares how every part of the sermon should be an invitation to the gospel.

Making the Gospel Clear: Pastor Woods and Ben discuss the need to be graciously bold with a clear gospel message in every context, and as the culture grows more secular, there is a growing appreciation for the true gospel.  

Join Ben Smith and Wayne Woods for a straightforward discussion of the calling of God to preach, the power of God to use His word, and the joys and sorrows of faithful ministry.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Wayne Woods

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Wayne Woods is the pastor of Ten Mile Baptist Church, Alma, GA. He has served churches in Georgia and Alabama. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Woods served as a U.S. Navy pilot flying P3 Orion sub-hunters. After retiring from the Navy and working a few years in the private sector, Woods felt called of God to the ministry. On an Easter Sunday, Woods said yes to God and immediately made plans to begin his seminary studies at Mid-America Baptist Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.

Wayne and his wife, June, have two adult children.

For more information on Ten Mile Baptist Church, Alma, GA, visit https://tenmilebaptist.com/

You can find videos of Wayne Woods’s preaching at the Facebook page of Ten Mile  Baptist Church https://www.facebook.com/tenmile.baptist

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.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 15, A Conversation with Mitch Hall

Episode Theme: Building relationships and relying on the Holy Spirit

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Mitch Hall, Pastor of Mershon Baptist Church, Mershon, GA, about his experience of being called to preach later in life, the unique ministry demands of a rural church, and the importance of building authentic relationships with church members. Mitch shares how successful ministry is dependent on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the blessing he received through the mentorship of an older pastor. And Ben and Mitch have a few laughs as they recount lighter ministry moments.

Key Highlights:

Called to be involved in the lives of church members: Mitch shares how the ministry requires personal investment and involvement in the lives of church members.

The necessity of Holy Spirit empowerment: Mitch explains that faithful ministry depends on being empowered and led by the Holy Spirit.

The power of prayer: Mitch describes how a call to prayer changed his church’s response to Lord’s Day worship.

The gift of mentorship: Mitch shares an older pastor helped his ministry and mentored him during the early days of his pastoral ministry.

How to balance loving your congregation and speaking hard truths: Mitch speaks honestly about the importance of accountable relationships within the church that help guard faithfulness in the pulpit.

Join Ben Smith and Mitch Hall for an informative discussion on authentic ministry, church community relationships, and biblically faithful preaching.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Mitch Hall

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Mitch Hall is the pastor of Mershon Baptist Church, Mershon, GA, where he has served since 2015. Before his ministry with Mershon Baptist, he served as youth pastor of Rehobeth Baptist Church, Blackshear, GA.  

For more information on Mershon Baptist Church, Mershon, GA, visit https://www.facebook.com/mershonbaptist/.

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.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 14: A Conversation with Clint Pressley 

Episode Theme: A Lifelong Labor

In this episode, Pastor Pressley shares how God has shaped and matured him as a pastor and how he continues to strive to be a more effective communicator of God’s word.

Key Highlights:

Learning to preach: Clint shares how his early opportunities to pastor and preach were vital opportunities to learn how to communicate God’s word effectively.

Handwritten manuscripts: In a world of technology, Pastor Pressley has found it helpful to handwrite his sermon notes. He shares his preparation process and why handwriting is helpful to his preparation and preaching.

State of the pulpits in the Southern Baptist Convention: As president of the Southern Baptist Convention, pastor Pressley has a unique perspective on SBC churches and pastors. Pastor Pressley shares his thoughts on the present state and future of SBC pulpits.

The recovery of a biblical understanding of the office of pastor/elder/overseer: In recent years, the Southern Baptist Convention has struggled to recover a biblical understanding of this office. Pastor Pressley shares his thoughts and perspective on where the SBC is on this issue.

Challenges of a multi-campus church: Hickory Grove Baptist Church has multiple campuses. Pastor Pressley shares the advantages and challenges of a multi-site church.

The pastor's uniform: Pastor Pressley is well known for being a sharp dresser. Pastor Pressley explains the background of why he dresses as he does and why it is more convictional than preferential.

Join Ben Smith and Clint Pressley for an honest and authentic conversation on how God uses and matures those he calls to preach.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Clint Pressley

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

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, NC, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Clint Pressley has served as Senior Pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, since 2010.

A native of Charlotte, Clint joined Hickory Grove as a teenager before earning a Bachelor of Arts from Wofford College in South Carolina and a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisiana. He pastored two churches in Mississippi before returning to Hickory Grove in 1999 as Senior Associate Pastor of Preaching. In 2004, he was called as Senior Pastor of the historic Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. In 2010, he returned to Hickory Grove as Co-Pastor and was installed as Senior Pastor in 2011.

In June 2024, Clint was elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He also served the Convention as Vice President of the SBC Pastor’s Conference in 2013, First Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2014-2015, Trustee of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary since 2015, and member of the NC Baptist Board of Directors since 2023.

Clint is married to Connie, and they have two sons.

For more information on Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC, visit https://www.hickorygrove.org/.

You can listen to Pastor Clint Pressley preach on the Hickory Grove Baptist Church sermon podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hickory-grove-baptist-church/id589559966

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2S798kxI65HeYnRWbxw7z7?si=f583a79992d141f0  

Clint Pressley can be found online at:

X: http://x.com/PastorClint

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clintpressley  

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.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 13, A Conversation with Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson

Episode Theme: Seasons and Challenges of Preaching

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson, Transitional Pastor of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Griffin, GA, about his journey through various stages of pastoral ministry. Dr. Patterson discusses his transition from topical to expository preaching, the impact of his health issues on his ministry, and the importance of genuine and non-performative preaching. The conversation covers practical aspects of sermon preparation, the significance of personal illustrations, and the necessity of maintaining connections with the community outside the church. Ben and Jimmy Dale also discuss the role of criticism from the congregation and one’s spouse in refining one’s preaching and ministry.

Key Highlights:

God’s grace: Jimmy Dale shares how God deepened his understanding of the Bible and transformed his preaching from topical to exegetical. (2:33)

Balance of ministry and community involvement: Jimmy Dale talks about how he balanced the demands of ministry while seeking opportunities to connect to the community and have a gospel witness beyond the church. (12:53)

Weekly sermon preparation process: Jimmy Dale describes his sermon preparation process. (23:40)

Health Challenges and God’s Grace: Jimmy Dale shares how recent health challenges have impacted his ministry and how God has demonstrated his grace through them. (38:06)

Advice for Young Pastors: With remarkable candor, Jimmy Dale shares powerful wisdom for young pastors. (43:27)

Join Ben Smith and Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson for an insightful discussion on preaching, church ministry, and celebrating the grace of God.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson is the transitional pastor of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Griffin, GA, where he has served since 2024. Prior to his work as a transitional pastor, he served as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Newnan, GA. He has served churches in Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Jimmy Dale graduated from Howard Payne University, Brownwood, TX, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX.

For more information on Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Griffin, GA, visit https://mgbc.org./

For more information on First Baptist Church, Newnan, GA, visit https://www.fbcnewnan.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.

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 12, A Conversation with Trey Herweck

Episode Theme: Preaching and Church Planting

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Trey Herweck, Lead Pastor of Refuge Church, St. Charles, MO, about the unique pressures he felt as a young church planter and how God has developed his understanding of preaching.

Key Highlights:

Pressure to be a celebrity: Trey shares how the desire to pursue celebrity can be dangerous and how he has come to honor faithfulness over celebrity.

The struggle to be both comforting and confronting: Ben and Trey discuss the difficulties of being welcoming and comforting to those who are hurting while unashamedly preaching the hard-to-hear truths of scripture.

The gift of a spouse’s critique: As part of his sermon preparation process, Trey shares how his wife provides helpful critique and insights to be a more effective communicator.

Join Ben Smith and Trey Herweck for an insightful discussion on preaching, church planting, and the life of a pastor.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Trey Herweck

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Trey Herweck is an elder, the Lead Pastor, and the founding pastor of Refuge Church, St. Charles, MO, where he has served since 2006. Prior to founding Refuge church, Trey served Ridgecrest Baptist Church in St. Charles, MO. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist University, Bolivar, MO, and has a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX.

For more information on Refuge Church, St Charles, MO, visit https://seekrefuge.net/

To subscribe to Refuge Church’s podcast, use the RSS Feed: https://seekrefuge.podbean.com/feed.xml or go to https://seekrefuge.net/sermons-page.

To watch Refuge Church sermon videos, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGEzl8kRiHogXBBNSUE1B1Q.

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music. https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 11, A Conversation with Pastor Randy Ray

Episode Theme: The Bi-Vocational Pastor

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Randy Ray, pastor of Pineview Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, about the blessings and challenges of bi-vocational ministry.

Key Highlights:

Time Management: Randy talks about the challenges of managing time between church demands, work demands, and family life.

Marketplace ministry:  Randy shares how his work outside the church provides opportunities to minister and share the gospel.

The importance of knowing your congregation: Randy shares the importance of knowing your congregation personally.

Join Ben Smith and Pastor Randy Ray for a revealing conversation about the joys and struggles of bi-vocational ministry.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Pastor Randy Ray

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 on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, 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 of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

Pastor Randy Ray is the Pastor of Pineview Baptist Church in Waycross, GA. A native of Florida, he has served churches in Georgia and Florida.

Video of the Pineview Baptist Church, Waycross preaching ministry is available on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1960bigr

To purchase the book that Pastor Randy referenced by Dr. Don Hattaway, use the links below:

https://www.westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/855739-the-book-of-revelation

https://a.co/d/b0BnwBy

Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music. https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/