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View from the Pulpit with Ben Smith

View from the Pulpit with Ben Smith

Auteur(s): Ben Smith
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Discover why preaching is fundamentally central to every church with "View from the Pulpit" hosted by pastor Ben Smith. Each episode will feature interviews with pastors and church members exploring the role of preaching, the labor of preparing to preach, the effectiveness of how one preaches, and so much more. This podcast is about preaching, but it is not just for preachers. Whether each Sunday you are behind the pulpit or in the pew, tune in for engaging conversations that will help you better understand why preaching is vital to the church's health.

@2025 View from the Pulpit with Ben Smith Christianisme Pastorale et évangélisme Spiritualité
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  • Episode 32: A Conversation with Dr. Jerry Vines

    Episode 32: A Conversation with Dr. Jerry Vines
    Sep 29 2025
    Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 32: A Conversation with Dr. Jerry Vines. Episode Theme: Passion Driven PreachingIn this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Jerry Vines, Key Highlights:The Transformative Shift to Expository Preaching: Dr. Vines vividly describes growing up in an era where most preaching was topical or textual-topical, with very little actual exposition of scripture. He found the constant search for new sermon topics a "misery" early in his ministry. A pivotal moment arrived when he heard Warren Wiersbe at a conference, realizing Wiersbe was "pulling it right out of scripture". This, along with the influence of W.A. Criswell, prompted a dramatic shift to expository preaching, which he believes is the "best way in the world for a congregation of people to really learn the scriptures". He informed his early congregation of this change, and while it was an adjustment that "forced them to bring their Bible", they eventually "fell in love with it and frankly would not be happy with anything else going forward". He notes that while some younger preachers still favor topical approaches, he is encouraged by a growing movement toward the exposition of books, which "bodes well for the future.”Rigorous Preparation and Passion-Driven Delivery: Dr. Vines outlines a meticulous three-step process for sermon preparation: 1) Investigation: "What does the passage say?" involving extensive reading and consulting various translations and original languages. 2) Interpretation: "What does the passage mean?" through word studies, parallel passages, and understanding Greek/Hebrew words, consulting commentaries only last as a check. He wisely states, "If it's new, it's not true. And if it's true, it's not new". 3) Application: "What does the passage tell me and the people to do?" ensuring the message connects to daily lEnduring Wisdom for Pastors: Drawing on over 60 years of ministry, Dr. Vines offers timeless advice. He stresses the paramount importance of preaching, stating it is the "primary ministry of the pastor". He encourages pastors to "preach at the place God has put you", emphasizing that the size of the church doesn't matter, as one never knows who they might be influencing. A crucial piece of counsel is to develop a "strong strong devotional life," including daily Bible reading and prayer, as it helps deal with life's challenges. Finally, he advises pastors to "not let the critics bother me". Citing 1 Peter 2:23 and Job 16:19, he says, "Don't defend yourself. Your enemies won't believe it and your friends don't need it". He also humorously suggests not taking oneself "too seriously" and "enjoy the journey" with joy in the Lord. Join Ben Smith and Dr. Jerry Vines for valuable insights into what expository preaching is and how to develop a preaching ministry that is faithful to the word.Host: Ben SmithGuest: Dr. Jerry VinesBen 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-allforthekingdomSermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod Dr. Jerry Vines is a native of Carrollton, GA. He was educated at Mercer University (B.A.), New Orleans Theological Seminary (B.D.), and Luther Rice Seminary (Th.D.). His 60+ years of pastoral ministry included pastoring churches in Georgia and Alabama. He served the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, for twenty-four years. Dr. Vines is an author and a much-sought-after revival preacher. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Dr. Vines has served as president of the Alabama Pastors’ Conference, president of the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention.For more information and resources by Dr. Vines, visit: www.jerryvines.com. There you will find Bible preaching and teaching materials that include Books, DVDs, and CDs of expository teaching from God’s Word. There, you will find over 2000 of Dr. Vine’s sermons available.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/id##96433489 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/...
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    1 h et 10 min
  • Episode 31: A Conversation with Brad Waters

    Episode 31: A Conversation with Brad Waters
    Sep 22 2025

    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.

    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/id3196433489

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead
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    1 h et 10 min
  • Episode 30: A Conversation with Dr. Heath Lambert

    Episode 30: A Conversation with Dr. Heath Lambert
    Sep 15 2025
    Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 30: A Conversation with Dr. Heath LambertEpisode Theme: Preaching faithfully in every seasonThis episode of the View from the Pulpit podcast features host Ben Smith in conversation with Dr. Heath Lambert, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. Dr. Lambert.In this insightful conversation, Dr. Lambert reflects on the unique experience of pastoring First Baptist Church, which boasts a remarkable, nearly 100-year history of strong, expository preaching. He shares how he navigates the significant legacy of his predecessors, embracing God's unique plan for his own ministry rather than attempting to replicate othersDr. Lambert delves into the intensely challenging period of leading his church through a major transition and controversy, which he also chronicled in his podcast "What Happened at First Baptist". He details his unwavering commitment to protecting the pulpit during this time, ensuring that sermons remained faithful to the biblical text despite immense personal and congregational pressures, including his own health crises. He shares powerful testimonies of God's grace and encouragement that sustained him and his family through these trials. The conversation touches on the distinction between faithfulness and fruitfulness in ministry, especially when dealing with declining attendance, and how God uses difficult seasons to refine and strengthen the church.Additionally, Dr. Lambert explains how his extensive background in biblical counseling profoundly impacts his preaching, making his sermons more practical and relevant to the everyday struggles of his congregation. He also outlines his diligent sermon preparation process, which involves deep study and prayer leading to preaching without notes. The episode concludes with Dr. Lambert's poignant advice, emphasizing that ministry will rarely unfold as initially envisioned and that true joy is found in embracing God's sovereign leading and being faithful to His unique call, regardless of personal expectations or external circumstances.Key Highlights:• Embracing Unique Ministry and Legacy: Dr. Lambert openly discusses the pressure of following a nearly century-long line of gifted expository preachers at First Baptist Jacksonville. He shares how he consciously avoids trying to replicate previous ministries, choosing instead to trust God's sovereign plan and embrace his own distinct giftedness and perceived weaknesses. This perspective helps him navigate the natural ebbs and flows of church size and external expectations, believing God uses each leader for a specific purpose at a specific time.• Protecting the Pulpit During Crisis: He details the immense personal and congregational challenges of pastoring through a period of intense controversy and personal health crises, including brain surgery. Dr. Lambert highlights his unwavering commitment to expository preaching throughout these times, ensuring the pulpit remained steadfastly focused on God's Word and not on personal grievances or emotional distractions, consistently relying on divine grace to sustain him.• Biblical Counseling's Transformative Influence on Preaching: Dr. Lambert explains how his extensive background and deep commitment to biblical counseling have profoundly shaped his approach to preaching. He argues that engaging in counseling forces him to understand the real-life problems, difficulties, and challenges of his congregation, which in turn prevents him from delivering abstract sermons. This commitment enables him to craft and deliver messages that are practical, relevant, and deeply connect God's Word to the daily lives of his hearers.Join Ben Smith and Dr. Heath Lambert for a candid and authentic discussion of how to faithfully preach in difficult and challenging seasons in the church.Quick note: In this episode, Ben mentions a book and credits it to Boice. He actually meant John A. Broadus’ On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons.Host: Ben SmithGuest: Dr. Heath LambertBen 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-allforthekingdomSermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspodDr. Heath Lambert has been preaching at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, since January of 2016, and became Senior Pastor in September of 2017. Prior to serving at First Baptist, Pastor Heath served as the Executive Director of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and as a professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.Heath earned a Bachelor of ...
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    1 h et 9 min
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