Cover art for the podcast 'View from the Pulpit' featuring Ben Smith, a man wearing a navy suit and a light blue patterned bow tie, smiling against a textured blue background with geometric patterns.

View from the Pulpit

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.

New episodes every Monday. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app so you will not miss any of these great conversations.

Season 1 Guests Include:

Host Ben Smith

Jarrod Everson

Dr. Levi Skipper

Freddie Smith

Rusty Grace

Bob Richardson

Dr. Patrick Latham

Dr. Don Hattaway

Dr. Jeremy Morton

Randy Ray

Trey Herweck

Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson

Clint Pressley

Mitch Hall

Wayne Woods

Dr. Bart Barber

Mike Everson

Mitch Jolly

Randy Mullinax

Dr. Landon Dowden

Dr. Mac Brunson

Host Ben Smith Jarrod Everson Dr. Levi Skipper Freddie Smith Rusty Grace Bob Richardson Dr. Patrick Latham Dr. Don Hattaway Dr. Jeremy Morton Randy Ray Trey Herweck Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson Clint Pressley Mitch Hall Wayne Woods Dr. Bart Barber Mike Everson Mitch Jolly Randy Mullinax Dr. Landon Dowden Dr. Mac Brunson

Still to come

  • Chris Fowler, pastor of Fletcher Memorial Baptist Church, Statesboro, GA

  • John Roland, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Sterrett, AL.

  • Dr. Robert Smith, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Birmingham, AL

  • Brian Carroll, lead pastor of Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church, Flintstone, GA

  • Noah Oldham, church planter and executive director of the North America Mission Board Send Network.

  • Dr. Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, SC

  • Chris Roberts, lead pastor, elder, and founding pastor of Bridge Church, Blackshear, GA.

  • Dr. Heath Lambert, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL

  • Brad Waters, pastor of First Baptist Church, Hazelhurst, GA

  • Dr. Jerry Vines, a revival and conference preacher, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. (1982-2006) and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention (1988-1989).

Episode 23: A Conversation with Chris Fowler
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Episode 23: A Conversation with Chris Fowler

In episode 23 of View from the Pulpit, host Ben Smith talks with Pastor Chris Fowler of Fletcher Memorial Baptist Church in Statesboro, Georgia. Ben and Chris discuss the role of preaching in the church, focusing on Chris's ministry in the college town of Statesboro. Chris shares how God provided for Fletcher Memorial to grow a significant college ministry. Their conversation explores the joys and challenges of ministering to college students. Chris also details his approach to expository preaching, and he explains his weekly sermon preparation process.

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Episode 21: A Conversation with Dr. Landon Dowden
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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.

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Episode 20: A Conversation with Randy Mullinax
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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.    

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Episode 19: A Conversation with Mitch Jolly
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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.

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Episode 18: A Conversation with Mike Everson
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Episode 18: A Conversation with Mike Everson

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Mike Everson, interim pastor of Morningside Baptist Church, Bainbridge, GA, on the changes and challenges of preaching. Everson shares his wisdom and experience from his pastoral ministry and time as a regional state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Convention (Now the Georgia Baptist Mission Board).

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Episode 17: A Conversation with Dr. Bart Barber
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Episode 17: A Conversation with Dr. Bart Barber

In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Pastor Dr. Bart Barber, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Farmersville, TX, about how to integrate systematic theology with Biblical theology through expositional preaching, effectively utilize original language study in preaching, and his unique method of sermon preparation process.

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Episode 16: A Conversation with Wayne Woods
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Episode 16: A Conversation with Wayne Woods

In this down-to-earth episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Wayne Woods, pastor of Ten Mile Baptist Church, Alma, GA, on the calling of God to preach, the power of God to use His word, and the joys and sorrows of faithful ministry.

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Episode 14: A Conversation with Clint Pressley

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.

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Episode 13: A Conversation with Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson
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Episode 13: A Conversation with Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson

Episode 13 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, engages in an insightful discussion with  Dr. Jimmy Dale Patterson, Transitional Pastor of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Griffin, GA, who shares his journey through various stages of pastoral ministry and how God has developed him as a preacher.

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Episode 9: A Conversation with Dr. Don Hattaway
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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.

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Episode 7: A Conversation with Bob Richardson
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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.

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Episode 4: A Conversation with Dr. Levi Skipper
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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.

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Episode 2: Introduction to View From the Pulpit: Why a podcast about preaching?
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Episode 2: Introduction to View From the Pulpit: Why a podcast about preaching?

In this introductory episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith shares his personal story of how God has changed his understanding of biblically faithful preaching. Ben explains why there is a need for a podcast about preaching and hopes that it will help the church recover a love and greater honor for preaching. Preaching is not only good for the church but essential to its health.

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Introducing View from the Pulpit
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Introducing View from the Pulpit

Hello, my name is Ben Smith, and this is “View From the Pulpit,” a podcast devoted to discovering why preaching is fundamentally central to the church. 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 you are behind the pulpit or in the pew each Sunday, I hope you will tune in for engaging conversations that will help you better understand why preaching is vital to the church's health.

The first episodes are expected to go live in March, so be sure to follow and subscribe in your favorite podcast app so you will not miss an episode.

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