View From the Pulpit Podcast
Conversations about
expository preaching.
Conversations with pastors about faithful preaching, sermon preparation, and life in the local church. For those behind the pulpit and those in the pew.
New to the podcast?
Why a Podcast about Preaching?
Start with Ben’s introduction to the purpose and heart of the podcast.
Find a Conversation
Search the archive by guest name or topic, or choose a guest below.
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Browse Episodes
Newest first
Episode 34: A Conversation with Dr. Danny Cochran
Episode 34 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, with guest Dr. Danny Cochran. In this episode of View From the Pulpit, Pastor Ben Smith sits down with Dr. Danny Cochran, longtime pastor, author, and former editor of The Christian Index. Together, they reflect on Dr. Cochran’s decades of ministry, the lessons learned along the way, and the challenges facing churches today.
From his early call to ministry to his leadership in preaching, writing, and denominational life, Dr. Cochran shares wisdom, encouragement, and a pastor’s heart for serving God’s people faithfully. He also offers a perspective on how pastors can navigate cultural change while staying anchored in biblical truth.
Episode 33: A Conversation with Dr. Gerald Harris
Episode 33 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, with guest Dr. Gerald Harris. In this episode of View From the Pulpit, Pastor Ben Smith sits down with Dr. Gerald Harris, longtime pastor, author, and former editor of The Christian Index. Together, they reflect on Dr. Harris’s decades of ministry, the lessons learned along the way, and the challenges facing churches today.
Episode 32: A Conversation with Dr. Jerry Vines
In this episode of “View From the Pulpit”, host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Jerry Vines, who is often credited with "literally writing the book on expository preaching". Dr. Vines recounts his personal journey from topical preaching in his early ministry to embracing expository preaching and how this shift transformed his approach to teaching God's Word. He shares his three-step sermon preparation process—investigation, interpretation, and application—and discusses the importance of "passion-driven preaching" where the preacher's emotion reflects the passage's pathos. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Vines offers profound wisdom for young and seasoned pastors alike, emphasizing the primacy of preaching and the necessity of a strong devotional life.
Episode 31: A Conversation with Brad Waters
In this episode of “View From the Pulpit”, host Ben Smith talks with Brad Waters, pastor of First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst, GA, about 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.
Episode 21: A Conversation with Dr. Landon Dowden
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.
Episode 20: A Conversation with Randy Mullinax
In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Randy Mullinax, senior adult pastor of Northside Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA, on his experience working with two Baptist state conventions, how he came to appreciate expository preaching, and how he employs an expositional approach to ministry with senior adults.
Episode 19: A Conversation with Mitch Jolly
In this helpful and honest episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Mitch Jolly, pastor and founder of Three Rivers Church, Rome, GA, on how God taught him to study the word and how he has led his church to be rooted and grounded in God’s word.
Episode 14: A Conversation with Clint Pressley
In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Clint Pressley, senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC, and the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, on how he has strived to grow continually as a preacher and how he prepares to preach each week. Pressley also discusses the state of preaching among Baptist pastors from his perspective as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Episode 11: A Conversation with Randy Ray
In this helpful episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Randy Ray, Pastor of Pineview Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, on the challenges and blessings of bi-vocational ministry.
Episode 10: A Conversation with Dr. Jeremy Morton
In this insightful episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Jeremy Morton, Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, GA, about the vital role of preaching in today’s churches.
Episode 9: A Conversation with Dr. Don Hattaway
Episode 9 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, considers the influence of faithful preaching with Dr. Don Hattaway, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Douglas, GA. In this episode, Don shares his wisdom on the role of preaching in growing and maturing a church, how Sunday school and the ministry of teaching relate to preaching, and the importance of pastoral patience.
Episode 8: A Conversation with Dr. Patrick Latham
In this helpful episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Patrick Latham, the pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia, to explore the vital role of preaching in today’s churches.
Episode 7: A Conversation with Bob Richardson
In Episode 7 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, focuses on the integral role of the ministry of preaching in the church with Bob Richardson, senior pastor of Altamaha Baptist Church, Jesup, GA. In this episode, Bob shares his sermon preparation process, lessons he has learned about preaching, and other helpful insights into the ministry of preaching.
Episode 6: A Conversation with Rusty Grace
In this helpful episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Rusty Grace, the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Waycross, Georgia, to explore the vital role of preaching in today’s churches.
Episode 5: A Conversation with Freddie Smith
In this helpful episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Freddie Smith, a retired pastor from Waycross, Georgia, to explore the vital role of preaching in today’s churches and the insights he has gained from 63 years of pastoral ministry.
Episode 4: A Conversation with Dr. Levi Skipper
Episode 4 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, focuses on the integral role of the ministry of preaching in the church with Dr. Levi Skipper, senior pastor of Sagemont Church, Houston, TX. In this episode, Dr. Skipper shares his sermon preparation process, lessons he has learned about preaching, and other helpful insights into the ministry of preaching.
Episode 3: A Conversation with Jarrod Everson
In this insightful episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith engages with Jarrod Everson, the pastor of Deenwood Baptist Church in Waycross, Georgia, to explore the vital role of preaching in today’s churches.
Episode 2: Introduction to View From the Pulpit: Why a podcast about preaching?
Ben Smith introduces View from the Pulpit by explaining why the church must recover a biblical understanding of preaching. Drawing from his own story, he reflects on lessons learned about conviction over education, substance over performance, and faithfulness over crowd size. In this foundational episode, Ben casts a vision for a podcast devoted to strengthening the church’s love for the faithful proclamation of God’s Word.
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