Top 10 Preachers of 2007

While magazines and newspapers are publishing their top ten “everything” of 2007 I though I would publish my top 10 Preachers of 2007. Those preachers and pastors who have made the list have greatly impacted my life in 2007 by their sermons and writings. These men of God have pointed me to the cross of Christ and the glory of God in 2007 by explaining God’s Word. Thank you to all who made the list. If one of these men has impacted your life in some way in 2007 please let me know.

1. John MacArthur
I suppose John MacArthur would make any top 10 list of preachers. Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God’s Word, John MacArthur is a fifth-generation pastor, a popular author and conference speaker, and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. I have had in 2007, as a companion, the John MacArthur Study Bible in my daily Bible reading. Dr. MacArthur is a frequent visitor to my mailbox through his mailing list. I am greatly indebted to Dr. MacArthur for showing me how to be a pastor, preacher and man of God, thank you.

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2. Alistair Begg
Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry for 32 years. Following graduation from The London School of Theology he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. Since 1983, he has been the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. Upon my morning commute, Alistair Begg comes into my car through my radio showing me, through the Word of God, the beauty, simplicity and sheer grandeur of our great and holy God.

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3. Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was England’s best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, just four years after his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 20, became pastor of London’s famed New Park Street Church. The congregation quickly outgrew their building, moved to Exeter Hall, then to Surrey Music Hall. In 1861 the congregation moved permanently to the newly constructed Metropolitan Tabernacle. I spoke with Spurgeon every day in 2007 through his timeless and classic devotional, Morning and Evening.

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4. R.C. Sproul
Dr. Sproul is the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries and senior pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel both based in Orlando, Florida. He is also featured daily on Renewing Your Mind, an international radio broadcast. Dr. Sproul has come into my home 12 times in 2007 through the monthly magazine, Tabletalk, a publication of Ligonier Ministries. I feed on his timely articles and thoroughly enjoy his daily teaching on Renewing Your Mind.

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5. Iain Murray
Iain H. Murray was born (of Scottish parents) in Lancashire, England, April 19, 1931, and educated at King William’s College, Isle of Man, and the University of Durham. He helped found The Banner of Truth Trust, was assistant to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and pastor for numerous years. Dr. Murray authored several books that were influencial to me in 2007 including, Revival and Revivalism, The Old Evangelicalism and Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography (which I try to read each year). Thank you Iain for your kind letters, pastoral advice and mentorship through the years!

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6. Derek Prime
Derek Prime is an itinerant minister and writer. A former president of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, Mr. Prime has served as a pastor for more than 30 years, the last 18 as minister of Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh. Derek Prime continually filled my mind and heart with 3 sermons I heard him preach at Parkside Church (Alistair Begg’s church) entitled, On Being a Pastor. These three sermons caused me to reflect on my life and future ministry as a pastor. I probably heard these sermons 10 times each in 2007. Thank you Derek.

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7. Eric Alexander
Dr. Alexander was born and educated in Glasgow, where he earned degrees history, philosophy and theology at the University of Glasgow. After 15 years in a rural parish in Ayrshire, Scotland, he spent 20 years at historic St. George’s-Tron Church in the city center of Glasgow, retiring at the end of 1997. Every time I could hear or get my hands on a sermon my Eric Alexander in 2007 I downloaded, purchased, bought or read it. He is a phenomenal preacher and man of God.

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8. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Martyn Lloyd-Jones was possibly the greatest British preacher of the twentieth century. His ministry at Westminster Chapel and his writings earned him respect and affection throughout the world. He had a decisive influence on many individuals and on evangelicalism as a whole. Dr. Lloyd-Jones lifted me often in 2007 into the throne room of grace through his numerous published sermons.

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9. John Piper
John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. John is the author of more than 30 books and is founder of Desiring God Ministries. Dr. Piper influenced me greatly in 2007 mainly through his writing. He lifts my heart to God in each sentence putting on display the glory of God in a way that is marvelous and joyous. He points me to the joy-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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10. Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards was born into a Puritan evangelical household on October 5, 1703, in East Windsor, Connecticut. He was the fifth of eleven children born to the Rev. Timothy and Esther Edwards. In 1726, Edwards succeeded his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, as the pastor of the church in Northampton, Massachusetts, the largest and most influential church outside of Boston. He is the author of numerous works, many of which are spoken of on Pastor and People. I read many of these marvelous works in 2007. In 2007 Edwards taught me how to be a disciplined man of God creating in my heart a desire for holiness in my personal and public life. He continues to be and will always be one of my favorite preachers of all time.

All of these preachers, and many more have made huge impacts in my life in 2007. I owe a great debt of gratitude to all of these men and hope to thank them all in Heaven one day. Again, if any of these men have impacted your life in 2007 I would very much like to hear from you.

Filed under: Charles Spurgeon, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Derek Prime, Iain Murray, John MacArthur, John Piper, Jonathan Edwards, Pastors, Preaching, R.C. Sproul

Pastoral Advice from Derek Prime

Derek Prime is an itinerant minister and writer. A former president of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, Mr. Prime has served as a pastor for more than 30 years, the last 18 as minister of Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh. Being interested in his wisdom and possible pastoral advice, I wrote a letter to Derek Prime a few months ago. I received a wonderful letter from Edinburgh filled with insights and advice for someone in preparation for ministry as well as the seasoned pastor who needs to be reminded of the task that lay before him. As he “jots down things that come immediately to mind” he writes,

- Aim to establish the best habits you can of study, self-discipline and carefulness in preparation for preaching since the habits you form now are lightly to remain with you for the rest of your life.

- With regard to study, read the best books – in other words, do not waste your time on books that you sense to be superficial. If you find something valuable in a book or worthy of remembering, establish a system of noting where such an item is so that you can recall it when you want it. I describe it in On Being a Pastor as indexing. Read widely and link the reading of solid theological books with the reading of Christian biography and not least that of pastors and preachers of former generations.

- With regard to self-disicpline, recognize that your personal holiness is what matters most. Be disciplined in systematic daily reading of the Bible and in prayer.

- With regard to carefulness in preparation for preaching, always do your own personal study of the text before looking at your books. It is helpful to have a list of questions that you ask of any verse of the Bible or passage. Those I would recommend are as follows:
1. What do the words actually mean?
2. What light do other parts of the Bible throw upon this part?
3. Where and how does what this part declares fit into the complete revelation God gives us in the Bible on this subject?
4. What does it teach about God?
5. What does it teach about men and women in their relationship to God?
6. What relationship do these words have to the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, and what light does the gospel as a whole throw upon them?
7. What experiences do these words outline, or explain, or try to create or cure?
8. What was the application of these words to the people at the time?
9. How do these words apply to us now?
10. What are we told either to believe or to do?
Only when you have answered such questions, turn to other helps. By the time you have answered the questions, you will be well on the way to understanding the text and seeing how you should preach it. I would underline the importance of question 6.

- When you teach and preach, always be open to criticism and aim to have someone whose judgment you can truest who will genuinely tell you both what has been good and perhaps what has been not so good.

- Above all, aim to keep your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and to walk humbly with Him as you aim to be the servant of His people for His sake. The possibilities then of your usefulness are beyond all you can imagine.

Derek Prime and Alistair Begg provide practical advice for both the spiritual and practical aspects of pastoral ministry in their book, On Being a Pastor. They delve deep into topics such as prayer, devotional habits, preaching, studying, and specific ministry duties. The result is an essential tool for those in pastoral ministry. I would highly recommend this book to all pastors and seminarians.

Filed under: Book Recommendations, Derek Prime, Pastors, Preaching