The 12 individuals named as the most effective preachers in the English-speaking world, according to George W. Truett Theological Seminary's national survey are:
Survey Results
Survey Results
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The effectiveness of preaching will find its true judgment before the judgement seat of Christ! I suspect the survey judged oratory, and a specific kind of oratory the judges liked, at that.How does one judge the effectiveness of preaching? Much of what is accomplished through our preaching will not be seen in this life. Spiritual work is invisible, though there are often visible results.
Methinks this survey is somewhat foolish. Furthermore, why does John MacArthur not appear in the list? That is incomprehensible.
I've heard four of them, Swindoll (in person and on the radio), Andy Stanley (podcast/YouTube), Begg (radio), and Gregory (in person). I actually know Gregory personally. We were in the same orbits with mutual friends from 1990 to 2003.I've only heard three of them (all on the radio). I do like Begg (maybe it's the Glaswegian accent) and Tony Evans. I used to listen to Swindoll on occasion, but he's not on my list of favorites.
I cannot endure women preachers. Andy Stanley is becoming notorious. I like Swindoll but I lost track of him. Nowadays, I am listening to Young Earth Creationists (YECs), as I found visiting the Ark Encounter in Kentucky to be a mountaintop experience for me myself personally.
Effective at what? Some of them down
I think it's the theological issue of our time. From the list, I know Tim Keller is one of the founding pastors of Biologos, an organization dedicated to help churches accept the theory of Evolution. John Piper compromises on Genesis also holding to a modified gap theory. Andy Stanley is just out there with all kinds of strange stuff, including his belief that the Garden of Eden story could be fabricated.
I'm surprised MacArthur is not on that list. I would be curious how they determined effectiveness. MacArthur is solid on Genesis. I would think Begg is also.
The one making the list will probably be shocked when Christ adjudges some obscure hick preacher who stuck with the same bunch of sinful, contentious folks for decades as more effective than all on the above list.
Effectiveness is tied neither to oratory nor audience size alone. Faithfulness is what matters in the end.
The link stated how some of the churches began with just a few folks and now membership is now in the Thousands. My Bible tells me that missions begins in "Jerusalem" I wonder how many mission churches have been started by these large churches. Often, many members live 50 + miles away. How can they be effective in a "local church" when they live so far away?
Criteria are going to be different depending on who you ask. It's not about how many you reach it's about how many are reached with the truth. It is odd when people drive that far for a Church, but it depends on motives.