Pastor Bob O'Bannon
Thankfully, there are more opportunities today to hear good preaching than ever before, as one can hear multiple sermons from high-profile preachers on the Web. Below is a list of seven preachers that I consider to be highly skilled and Gospel-centered, and from whom I personally receive much spiritual edification and inspiration. Click the links and you will be directed to a list of sermons you can hear on-line:
Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian (PCA) in
New York City
No surprise here. Keller has gained a measure of fame for his unique ability to make the Gospel plausible to skeptical, postmodern twenty-somethings in New York City. Some would call Keller soft, but even the most strident traditionalist has to admire how Gospel-centered his sermons always are.
John Piper, former pastor of Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis
Piper can get pretty deep in the weeds exegetically, but he can make just about any Biblical text seem like the most glorious and inspiring passage in all of Scripture. New believers might find Piper too erudite, but preachers in particular tend to look to Piper as a kind of mentor and example.
Zach Eswine, pastor of Riverside Church (EPC) in St. Louis
Eswine, a former Ball State student and later a published author and professor at Covenant Seminary, has the rare gift of being able to speak directly to the fragile human heart. He doesn’t speak about people; he speaks to people, right where they live, with all their fears and longings. Zach knows people.
Kimber Kauffman, former pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis
I would have never gone to seminary if it weren’t for Kimber Kauffman’s influence in my life. Sadly, he is no longer in the pulpit and I could not find audio sermons of his on the Web, but back in the 1990s, he was a powerhouse preacher whom God used to dramatically grow College Park Church.
Passion, relevance, theological soundness, profundity — these are all important aspects of preaching. But hardly anything is more important than clarity, and this is where Pratt excels.
Rankin Wilbourne, pastor of Pacific Crossroads Church (PCA) in Los Angeles
Rankin teaches the Bible from the same kind of apologetic stance as Tim Keller — seeking to answer the big questions and make the Bible credible to the skeptic. He’s clearly influenced by Keller, but I don’t hold that against him. The church will need more preachers like Keller and Wilbourne as we move forward in the 21st century.
Alistair Begg, pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland
His sense of humor and Scottish accent are added benefits, but most importantly, Begg is the consummate expositor of the Bible, exploring all the nuances of a text and yet making it all seem so relevant and engaging.