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/

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 10, A Conversation with Dr. Jeremy Morton

Episode Theme: The devotional life of a pastor

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Jeremy Morton, Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, GA, about expository preaching, the influence of his childhood pastor, Rev. I.F. Rastus Salter, and the priority of what he calls heart training.

Key Highlights:

The importance of expository preaching: Jeremy gives a historical overview of how expository preaching has grown in prominence among Southern Baptists and the importance of faithful expository preaching for the church.

The blessing of his childhood pastor: Jeremy shares how the preaching and ministry of his childhood pastor, I.F. Rastus Salter, shaped and influenced him in the faith and as a pastor.

Heart training: Jeremy shares how faithful preaching requires that the pastor devote himself to time with the Lord in prayer. Jeremy calls this time heart training.

Join Ben Smith and Dr. Jeremy Morton for an honest discussion on the life of ministry and the holy task of preaching.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Dr. Jeremy Morton

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. Jeremy Morton is the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, GA. His daily devotional podcast, “Reset,” is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It blends personal stories with insights from the Word. Whether in the church, on the mission field, or at home, his life goal remains the same: to glorify God as a faithful husband, supportive father, loyal friend, and loving leader.

Listen to Reset on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4nIC0P0Rs5yVyCIKq5I9ac?si=dd94041ff6b440a2

Listen to Reset on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reset/id1481233650

Dr. Jeremy Morton has been preaching since he was 16 years old. From the beginning, he’s had a heart for serving people and leading the Church. Jeremy has pastored churches across Georgia, planted Cross Point Baptist Church in Perry, served as Senior Pastor at Cartersville First Baptist, and, since 2019, fulfilled God’s call as the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church Woodstock. In 2022, he earned his Doctor of Ministry in Expository Preaching from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

For more information on First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA, visit https://www.fbcw.org/

Podcast of the First Baptist Church, Woodstock preaching ministry: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-baptist-woodstock/id418596094

Video of the First Baptist Church, Woodstock preaching ministry: https://www.fbcw.org/sermons/

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 9: A Conversation with Dr. Don Hattaway

Episode Theme: The Importance of Pastoral Patience

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Don Hattaway, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Douglas, GA, about the role of preaching in growing and maturing a church, how Sunday school and the ministry of teaching relate to preaching, and the importance of pastoral patience

Key Highlights:

Long pastoral tenures and the power of the Word: Don discusses how preaching the Word of God is essential to every congregation, serves as the source of authority for the pastor, and will transform a congregation. Healthy evangelism and numerical growth stem from faithfulness to preaching God’s Word.

The blessing of churches who love the Word: It is the preacher's responsibility to preach God’s Word faithfully; however, Don shares how a church that loves and honors faithful preaching encourages and blesses the ministry of preaching.

Importance of expository preaching: Don advocates for the value and importance of expository preaching.

Teaching ministry of the church: Don discusses how the church's teaching ministry, such as Sunday school, is an important ministry and an extension of the preaching ministry. He also discusses his investment in training and teaching Bible study teachers, as well as the importance of teaching doctrine and Baptist history.

Learning to honor faithfulness to the Word more than style: Don shares how what is preached is more important than how one preaches. Referencing 1 Corinthians 2:2-5, Don encourages the church to respond to preaching as the power of God, not the wisdom of man.

Pastoral Patience: Don talks about how his long pastoral tenures affect how he preaches difficult passages. Don shares that the key is to love your congregation and speak to them faithfully, but in love and with great patience. He reflects on the command of 2 Timothy 4:2 to preach the Word with “all long-suffering.”

Join Ben Smith and Dr. Don Hattaway for an insightful discussion of how God uses faithful preaching and a faithful preacher to mature and grow the church.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Dr. Don Hattaway

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. Don Hattaway is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Douglas, GA.

Dr. Don Hattaway has been the pastor at First Baptist Church in Douglas, Georgia, since 2019. Formally, he was the pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia, where he served for 17 years. He also pastored Emmanuel Baptist in Blackshear, Georgia, for nine years. He holds degrees from Brewton-Parker College (Bachelor of Music Education) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry). He is the former President, Vice-President, and Parliamentarian of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He has also served as a trustee for Brewton-Parker College, Shorter University, and the Christian Index. Recently, Dr. Hattaway published a commentary entitled The Book of Revelation: God’s Last Word for the Last Days.

Hattaway has been preaching the gospel for 35 years and stands firm on teaching the inerrant and infallible Word of God. He is a true believer that God’s Word changes lives. His ministry seeks to encourage and teach Christians in their daily walk with God and lead others to experience saving faith in Jesus Christ.

You can find videos of Dr. Don Hattaway’s preaching at https://fbcdouglas.sermoncloud.com/.

For more information on First Baptist Church, visit https://fbcdouglas.com/

To purchase “The Book of Revelation: God's Last Word for the Last Days by Don Hattaway, visit: https://www.westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/855739-the-book-of-revelation

https://a.co/d/b0BnwBy

Book review of “The Book of Revelation by Don Hattaway” by J. Gerald Harris, The Christian Index https://christianindex.org/stories/book-review-the-book-of-revelation-by-don-hattaway,97523

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 8

Episode Theme: The Power of the Word to Change Lives

In this insightful episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith engages with Dr. Patrick Latham, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia, to explore the vital role of preaching in today’s churches. Together, they delve into sermon preparation, the best resources to help your congregation engage with the sermon, and much more.

Key Highlights:

Preaching Style and Preparation: Patrick discusses his three-week preparation process and the value of knowing the sermon so well that you can preach without notes.

Challenges and Growth in Expository Preaching: The conversation addresses the challenges of introducing expository preaching to churches unaccustomed to it.

Prayer and Bible Reading: Patrick encourages pastors to devote their time to prayer and develop the habit of faithful bible reading.

Join Ben Smith and Dr. Patric Latham for a compelling discussion on the transformative power of preaching and its ability to shape and transform church communities.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Dr. Patrick Latham

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. Patrick Latham was licensed to preach in 2004 and ordained into the ministry in 2005 at Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta, GA. He holds degrees from Gordon College, Pensacola Christian College, Georgia Highlands College, and the University of Oklahoma. He earned a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice University and Seminary.

Since 2019, he has been the lead pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church of Cartersville, GA. Before coming to Cartersville, he had pastorates at First Baptist Church, Lawton, Oklahoma, and Second Baptist Church, Cedartown, GA.

Patrick and his wife, Laura, have three children.

For more information about Dr. Latham and his church, visit https://tabernaclebaptist.org/

View Dr. Latham’s sermons at: https://tabernaclebaptist.org/previous-sermons

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. https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/

Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 7 A Conversation with Bob Richardson

Episode Theme: The difference between a talk and a sermon

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Bob Richardson, senior pastor of Altamaha Baptist Church, Jesup, GA, about his preparation process, sermon illustrations, and preaching lessons he has learned.

Key Highlights:

How to make your Bible for preaching: Bob explains how he marks his Bible to assist his preaching.

Sermon Illustrations: Bob talks about his approach to sermon illustrations

Helpful Criticism: Bob advocates for the benefits of developing relationships with those who can give helpful criticism and coaching to help you become a better preacher.

Joys and hardships of preaching: Bob describes the difficult labor of preparing to preach and the great joy of being able to proclaim God’s word to the church.

Challenges of Bi-vocational ministry: Bob served in a bi-vocational role for some of his ministry. He shares some of the difficulties of bi-vocational ministry and how God used this time to discipline his preparation time.

Join Ben Smith and Bob Richardson for a candid discussion of how God has matured and grown their understanding of and approach to preaching.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Bob Richardson

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

Bob Richardson is the senior pastor of Altamaha Baptist Church, Jesup, GA.

Pastor Bob earned a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education from Valdosta State University and served as a bi-vocational pastor and schoolteacher for 10 years.

Prior to his ministry with Altamaha Baptist Church, Bob served as pastor of Sand Hill Baptist in Race Pond, Georgia, Calvary Baptist Church in Waycross, Georgia (2006-2013), and First Baptist Church in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

Bob earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a second Master of Arts degree in Missiology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has served in various leadership roles in two Baptist associations and the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

You can find video of Bob Richardson’s preaching at https://altamahabaptistchurch.org/sermons/.

For more information on Altamaha Baptist church, visit https://altamahabaptistchurch.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 6

Episode Theme: The Preacher as Pastor

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Rusty Grace, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Waycross, Georgia, about the vital role of preaching and pastoral ministry in today’s churches. Together, they discuss sermon preparation, a little church history, and the challenges of sermon illustrations.

Key Highlights:

Preaching and Worship Planning: Rusty discusses how he plans the worship service in relation to the text he will preach.

Preaching Illustrations: Rusty discusses the dangers and blessings of sermon illustration.

Join Ben Smith and pastor Rusty Grace for a helpful discussion on the importance of preaching and its relationship to the church’s worship and ministry.

Host: Ben Smith

Guest: Rusty Grace

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

Rusty Grace is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Waycross, GA, where he has served since 2019. He and his wife, Lauren Grace, currently have five children and anticipate soon the adoption finalization of their sixth. For more information about pastor Grace and his church, visit https://fpcwaycross.com/.

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.