4
February

Top 5

Top 5

I’ve been having an ongoing tweet discussion with Ryan Guard over at Mission 6:8 about various things, most recently I asked him what his top 5 preachers were, his response was;

“RT @PastorDuncan @ryanguard who is your top 5 to hear preach? // Hmm, in no particular order: Chandler, Giglio, Chan, Bell & Ron Merrell #fb“

Not a bad list at all, what I like about this particular list is there are 4 very well known people on it. Then a chap named Ron Merrell, who honestly I know nothing about. I have since discovered that he is speaking at our middle school summer camp, so I am REALLY looking forward to hearing that.

So my thoughts are this (thanks George in advance for leaving a post) who are your top 5 preachers of all time? The only rule I am imposing is, they can’t all be famous, you have to give some love like Ryan did to a local. Oh and honorable mentions are totally fine if you actually have 8 but don’t know who to drop.

To start things off here are my Top 5

1) Mark Driscoll – Sermon called “Reflections on the Cross”

I think Mark is one of the most gifted communicators I have ever heard. This particular message will stick with me for a long time, his insights into the suffering of Jesus and details might be horrific but they convey the power of that event. I like this style, his passion and his insights. His book Confessions of a Reformission Rev is incredible. Yes I do have a man crush on him, but not in the way where he gets angry about it. He challenges me to be better at what I do. Plus I’d love to have a grappling match against him, just to see if his love for UFC is backed up with some training somewhere.

2) Francis Chan – Sermon called “The Most important Lesson I could Ever Teach”

Ok so this one is knocking at the door of my number 1 spot. The Chanimal is knocking at the top spot, his examination of 2 Peter is incredible, his insights are of God and he is a brilliant communicator. The Chanimal has a deep heart for mercy and they are always reflected in his sermons. Crazy love is one of my all time favorite books and right now I am enjoying nearly everything he preaches on. Well worth a listen if you don’t know who he is.

3) Andrew Sloane – Morling Bible College Lecturer – The Psalter

OK no one probably knows who this guy is, but I had him as a lecturer at bible college and he is phenomenal. Perhaps I like a communicator who tells me I suck and for the most part I am wrong and need to do more study. It keeps me humble. His course on the Psalter is a cult favorite at Morling people love it, and there is no time to slack off. Besides anyone with a double doctorate and his on analysis technique probably has something worth listening to. His book At Home in a Strange Land is just out now, and I have one on order. If you don’t read much OT you will after this guy.

4) Graham Stanton – Youthworks Bible College Dean – TH201

OK I am giving a healthy smattering of home grown Aussies right now, but that is because some of them are REALLY good at communicating the words of God. Graham has a habit of making you feel safe and then like a ninja slapping you upside the head with everything that is wrong. It was some of the greatest coursework I had during my stint at that college. His sermons are thoughtful, reflective and challenging. His passion for the words of God is incredible.

5) Henry Cloud – Boundaries

Hearing this guy speak on the idea of Boundaries was a revelation from God. Sure his 17,000 willow creek books are all pretty much on the same thing just rebranded, that doesn’t make him any less good. He is witty, insightful and thoroughly engaging. Learning that we only need one messiah to die for people’s sins is often missed by Pastors. His insights on establishing boundaries for healthy relationships are brilliant.

Honorable Notables.

Mike Frost, Ed Stetzer, Chap Clark, Beth Moore, John Piper.

What I like about constantly learning is this list will forever be in flux. I will forever be challenged by powerful talks thanks to the internet.

Post yours!

Tags Posted under Previous Posts by duncan
  • Great idea. With the flood of technology it's so easy to find a plethora of preachers who are worth listening to (and many more who aren't)... with the corresponding challenge that any local preacher is always being compared to those who are world-class. This is my list...

    1) John North - national director for Ambassadors for Christ Australia, graduated from Dallas. Overall, he has the most challenging sermons I have heard. He is the best I know at being able to preach at a week-long conference and lead you to a whole new place. He also appeals to people from across the spectrum in Sydney.

    2) Haddon Robinson - I can say that now I heard him last Saturday. Last semester I had to listen to one of his talks titled "When Good Snakes become Bad" from 2 Kings and it was so good I listened to it again and again.

    3) Mike Frost - another one of your Morling guys (and so much more). When he unpacks a gospel narrative, he is explosive. And he was the only person who was able to speak in the open environment on campus and keep everyone's attention.

    4) James Montgomery Boice - I heard him at the SMBC preaching conference in 1995 and still remember two of his sermons.

    5) John Chapman - fmr Evangelist for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, influenced a whole generation of preachers, advocated that evangelists be theologians, but had an amazing ability to make the most complicated passages seem simple. I heard him preach the story of Joseph (at the same SMBC preaching conference) - covering 12 chapters in one sermon - and still draw upon that when teaching Genesis. Similarly, I heard him explain Romans 5 in an evangelistic talk and have wished ever since I could emulate his simplicity.

    Honourable mentions? Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, Bill Hybels...
  • pastorduncan
    Geoff you got some good ones there, Haddon Robinson is definitely on my shortlist.
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