Episode 21: A Conversation with Dr. Landon Dowden
Dr. Landon Dowden (Photo Credit: Hebron Baptist Church, Dacula, GA)
Episode 21 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, explores the crucial role of preaching in the church, with a particular focus on expository preaching, the preparation process, and the importance of biblical literacy with Dr. Landon Dowden, Lead Pastor of Hebron Baptist Church, Dacula, GA. In this episode, Dr. Dowden shares insights from his extensive experience in both pastoring and training others in preaching.
Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 21: A Conversation with Dr. Landon Dowden
Episode Theme: “Nothing is better for God's people than God's word.”
In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Landon Dowden, Lead Pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA, about his approach to expository preaching, the preparation process, and the importance of biblical literacy.
Key Highlights:
Balanced preaching from both the Old and New Testaments: Dr. Dowden is a strong advocate for preaching from both the Old and New Testaments. He was influenced by his mentor, Jim Shaddix, who emphasized expository preaching. Dr. Dowden believes that avoiding the Old Testament robs people of a way God has spoken, particularly concerning Christ. Preaching the "whole counsel" of God, as Paul mentions in Acts 20, includes the Old Testament Scriptures. He is intentional about switching between Testaments and genres (narratives, wisdom literature, letters, etc.) to equip God's people with the full scope of God's word and how it points to Christ.
Expository Preaching: Dr. Dowden's exposure to expository preaching under Jim Shaddix was a transformative "Emmaus road experience" where his heart burned as the scriptures were opened. This experience led him to believe that "nothing is better for God's people than God's word." He contrasts this with earlier experiences where sermons relied heavily on illustrations or were more topically driven without a faithful handling of a specific text. Expository preaching shifts the focus from the preacher's rhetorical skill ("diving board preachers") to the richness of the biblical text itself ("swimming pool"). This emphasis on substance over style ensures that the audience connects with Christ through the word, rather than just with the preacher's performance.
Call to response should be tied to the text: Dr. Dowden believes the call to response should be directly tied to the specific text being preached, moving beyond traditional, generic options. He diligently considers what the Spirit is calling the congregation to do in light of the passage. For example, when preaching on Abram's decision to go to Egypt, the call to response was tailored to different situations: warning against heading towards "Egypt" (sinful choices), encouraging those already in "Egypt" that God is their only help, and supporting those coming out of "Egypt" who desire God's help to avoid future similar situations. This approach ensures the response is rooted in the biblical truth presented.
· Advice for proclaiming God’s word: Dr. Dowden offers several pieces of vital advice based on his years of ministry. First, he stresses that there is no substitute for prayer and personal intake of the word; sermon preparation should be worship as much as work. Second, he emphasizes the necessity of obedience in the pastor's life. Third, he highlights the importance of good accountability relationships for confession and receiving grace. Fourth, he urges young pastors to prioritize their families, as family time is limited compared to ministry meetings. Finally, he advises learning who you are okay disappointing. While you don't want to needlessly disappoint people, you also cannot be dominated by every agenda or preference. Learning to rest in the gospel and God's approval in Christ is crucial to avoid seeking approval elsewhere and to be free to serve others.
Join Ben Smith and Dr. Landon Dowden for an instructive conversation about ministry, preaching, and teaching God’s word.
Host: Ben Smith
Guest: Dr. Landon Dowden
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. Landon Dowden has served as the Lead Pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA, since 2018. He is originally from Louisiana, where he graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Management. He also earned a Master of Divinity, a Master of Theology, and a Doctor of Philosophy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to his wife, Tara, since 2003. They have four beautiful children, Arabella, Adalaide, Adoniram, and Alastair.
Landon has been a Lead Pastor since 2005. He has led student camps for many national student organizations since 1996. He currently serves as an adjunct professor for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, working in the Doctor of Ministry program in the field of preaching. He has published two commentaries in the Christ-Centered Commentary Exposition Series, which are Exalting Jesus in Ezekiel, Exalting Jesus in Esther, and forthcoming Exalting Jesus in Deuteronomy. Landon’s conviction regarding preaching is that nothing is better for God’s people than God’s word, which leads him to preach expositionally through books of the Bible. He also intentionally alternates between the Old and New Testaments, as well as the different genres. Landon has held numerous denominational roles at the associational, state, and national levels, as well as serving on 14 international mission trips.
Landon and his wife, Tera, have four children.
Follow Dr. Landon Dowden on X at https://x.com/landondowden
Listen to Dr. Dowden’s latest sermons through the Hebron Baptist Church Sermons podcast available in Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hebron-on-the-go-podcast/id1799251636
For more information on Hebron Baptist Church, Dacula, GA, visit https://hebronchurch.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.
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