These are not a list of the greatest preachers of all time, but the ones who have had the greatest effect on my life. My purpose in making this list is 2-fold.
1. to honor men who God has used to reveal himself to me
and
2. in hope that you might download there sermons and join me in benefiting from their preaching.
These are the preachers who have most positively effected my life:
1. Brian McCormack: Brian was my youth pastor, and remains a mentor to me. It was from his lips that I first heard and believed the gospel. My favorite thing about his preaching is his cross focused Christ-centeredness. He constantly brings everything back to Jesus and his centrality in all things. He taught me that Christianity isn’t about learning knew truths, but about coming to believe and understand this one truth more deeply. That is, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cam and died for my sins, and then rose on the third day conquering sin and death, and that the only rational response to such radical love is to love radically. He is a great man of God that I am happy to follow.
2. Matt Chandler: Matt is the preaching and lead pastor of the Village Church in Highland Village, TX. He preaches fearlessly and with passion. His sermon, “Are There Two Wills In God?” has had a great effect on my life and my passion for God’s word. God has used his preaching to reveal much of my idolatry and yet always pointing to the hope that is in Christ.
3. Dr. John Piper: Dr. Piper is the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He preaches with more passion and visible joy than anyone I have ever seen when speaking of the glory of God. His book Desiring God revealed to me the importance of joy in Christianity and his book, “When I Don’t Desire God” ministered to me when I saw that my joy was not in the Lord as much as the world. “Don’t Waste Your Life” is another one of his books that has had a profound impact on me and countless other Christians.
4. Francis Chan: Francis was the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California, but has since stepped down in order to follow God’s call elsewhere. His passion for truth is inspiring and his confessional approach to preaching. He preaches with a visible love for God and people. His books “Crazy Love” and “Forgotten God” are must reads, but he would tell you, as do I, if you’re not a big reader and it comes down to his books or the Bible, read the Bible.
5. Dr. R.C. Sproul: Sproul is the founder and chairman of Ligoneir Ministries and serves as the senior minister of preaching and teaching at St. Andrews in Sanford, Florida. He is a reformed theologian with a deep love for the holiness of God. He makes my list for his book, “The Holiness Of God”. This book has revealed to me much about who God is and has led me into a deeper desire for holiness motivated by love for God. I have listened to some of his sermons and he is also a great teacher.
6. Paul Washer: Paul Washer is one of the founder of HeartCry Missionary Society, a non-profit that helps support indigenous missionaries. He himself is also a missionary and preacher. I think I really liked this man when I first heard him, however later on I thought he was too harsh. I have no problem with harshness, but he seemed joyless. This was all based on one sermon on youtube. Since then I have watched a decent amount of his stuff, and have found his advice to young men to be very helpful. His words have been inspiring to me as well as convicting. This is a man who feels in his heart a deep love for God and people and truly believes that Jesus is the only way. This leads him to preach fearlessly and with much passion. His love for God displayed through his preaching and life is having a great effect on me.
7. Mark Driscoll: Mark Driscoll is the preaching and founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. He like all the men listed preaches with a passion and fearlessness. Although he is known most for being very doctrinal, it has been his practical teachings on life, relationships, and missions that have been most helpful to me.
8. Jeff Mangum: Jeff Mangum serves as a pastor at Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas. He used to preach monthly at a service called “Fresh Vibe” at my home church. I have only sat under his teaching a handful of times, but from the few times I have benefited greatly.
9. Matt Carter: Matt is the lead and preaching pastor of Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas. Long before my time he served as youth pastor at my home church. I first heard him at Edge Camp, our annual summer camp. I hardly remembered what was even said, but I remember that it lead me to examine my life, see my idols, and surrender everything to Jesus. I came home from that weekend a different person.
10. Jonathan Edwards: Jonathan Edwards no longer lives, but his words live on. He is regarded by many as the greatest thinker America ever produced. He pastored the church in Northampton, Massachusetts and his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sparked the great awakening. His writings on the holiness of God were a joy to read while researching him for a paper last year. His resolutions have also been inspiring to read. Oh and by the way he went to Yale at age 12. This was a brilliant man. Sadly most people only read his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and have no idea that this was a man of great joy. I recommend you read this mans writings. They will do your soul good.
