The 10 Best Preachers In the US Are...

[Rev. Joshua]

From the last time we did this:

Barbara Brown Taylor - Episcopal priest with several published sermon collections and a book on preaching. Did the Beecher lectures (among many others), and was listed by Newsweek (or was that U.S. News?) as one of the ten most influential preachers in the country.

Frederick Buechner - One of the contemporary seminary staples. Presbyterian (I believe) and the author of several bestselling books. Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC's is one of the most famous. Pretty sure he did the Beecher lectures.

John Claypool - Baptist who became an Episcopal priest. Did the Beecher lectures and is extremely well-published in and out of homiletics (he also writes on pastoral care).

Fred Craddock - Disciples of Christ. Beecher lecturer. Professor Emeritus at Emory and worte a phenomenal textbook on preaching (among other excellent publications).

Paul Duke - Baptist. Former Professor of Homiletics and NT at McAfee in Atlanta; now at First Ann Arbor. He only has a couple of published books, but is writing the new Smyth & Helwys commentary on John.

Tom Long - Presbyterian and professor of Homiletics at Emory (Fred Craddock's succesor).

Christi Sanders-Huskison - Wouldn't expect you to know her, but someday you will. She's local (Georgia) but incredibly talented. Baptist (M.Div. from SBTS in Louisville).

Dock Hollingsworth - Also baptist and also local. I don't know if he'll ever publish, but he should.

Walter Brueggemann - United Church of Christ and a professor at Columbia here in Atlanta. I think he may have done the Beecher lectures, but regardless he's one of the most respected OT scholars out there. He wrote Finally Comes the Poet.

David Buttrick Professor Emeritus at Vanderbilt Divinity School.

My list is somewhat locally biased (although living in a city with four seminaries means that we've drawn some top-notch local preachers), but it's hard for me not to weigh heavily in favor of people whom I've heard in person several times.

Joshua

 

[Speedpass]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rev. Joshua Villines:
Um, Jimmy, remember what I was saying about McAfee perhaps not being the best place for you...

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Is that because I listed Charles Stanley in my top 10? You did notice that I put two "moderates" in my list, didn't you?

 

[Rev. Joshua]

Charles Stanley
Adrian Rogers
Chuck Swindoll

were the three that caught my eye. Who were the "moderates"?

Joshua

 

[David Cooke Jr]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TomVols:


David, I'm really disappointed at your ignorant and callow post here. Not only is it narrow-minded and insulting, it's plain uninformed. Either you have not read much in the scholarly field at all, or you are simply being mean-spirited here.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

90% of the conservatives I know have never studied the different views on the formation of the bible and the different books that came to be the bible. Very few know anything about the culture of the times when the different books were written. Most know very little of church history. I say this having been raised in SBC churches and having 3 uncles and numerous in-laws who are Baptist preachers.
Most bible scholars who are well-regarded outside of Baptist life are considered too liberal by the SBC. That's not to say there aren't any good conservative scholars, but most are considered liberal by SBC standards.
Tom, I know you and many on this board are well-educated and have arrived at your conservative ideals honestly and with an open mind. All I'm saying is, based on my personal experience, most conservatives in the church have not studied the context and formation of the gathered body of works we call scripture.

[ February 22, 2002: Message edited by: David Cooke, Jr. ]

 

[Speedpass]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rev. Joshua Villines:
Charles Stanley
Adrian Rogers
Chuck Swindoll

were the three that caught my eye. Who were the "moderates"?

Joshua<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Buckner Fanning and Larry Harper are the moderates. You probably haven't heard of them since Fanning is from San Antonio, and Harper preaches in Raleigh. I don't know if I would consider Frank Pollard of Jackson, MS, a moderate since he seems to be supportive of the SBC but not of the "takeover".

 

[blackbird]

Jerry Vines, FBC, Jacksonville, FL
Adrian Rogers
James Merritt, FBC, Snellville, GA
Junior Hill, SBC Evangelist
Bailey Smith
Fred Luter
Tony Evans
E. V. Hill
Ronnie Floyd
Johnnie Hunt

 

[bking]

1. Bro. Duane King
2. Dr. Phil Kidd
3. Bro. Paul Sisk
4. Bro. Ronnie Simpson
5. Bro. Sammy Allen
6. Bro. Don Anderson
7. Bro. Larry Raynes
8. Dr. Don Green
9. Dr. Stinnet Ballew
10. Dr. David Jeremiah

Not in any specific order...I personally think Dr. Phil Kidd is the best evangelist in America.

 

[Cskokido]

Originally posted by Jimmy Edwards:

Billy Graham
Charles Stanley
Adrian Rogers
Chuck Swindoll
John MacArthur
D James Kennedy
Mark Corts(Calvary Baptist--Winston Salem)
Frank Pollard(First Baptist--Jackson, MS)
Buckner Fanning(retired--Trinity Baptist--San Antonio)
Larry Harper(Forest Hills Baptist--Raleigh)

Side:Hey!! Dr Corts is my former pastor. Oh he is good. Unfortunatley he is no longer able to preach there. His health is such that he was forced to retire. Last I heard he was in the hospital again. He sure would appreciate your prayers.

OK...as you were.

 

[Rev. Sam]

I am with Ernie on this one. I think that those preachers that are in the limelight are not the greatest. I think those preachers that Pastor those small country Churches and keep on the fireline when all odds are against them. The preachers that don't run at the sight of trouble and preacher who don't have someone else to bail them out. They don't have a big name so they just trust in the Lord for His help in time of need.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Brother King - We certainly must run in "different circles". Apart from David Jeremiah, I have not heard of a single person you classify as "best".

Any more detail on who they are or what they do?

 

[KEVO]

1.Peter S. Ruckman
2.Earl Hughes
3.Bob Jones Sr
4.Joe Coley
5.Walt Zigler
6.David Epps
7.Jason Coley
8.Tim Henry
9.Kenny Ball
10.Phil Kidd

 

[tnelson]

1. Steve Frazier
2. Paul Cartmell
3. DR. Bill Burge
4. Johnny Tucker
5. David Curtis
6. Eddie Brunson
7. Alvin Tucker
8. John MacAuther
9. Dr. David Jeremiah
10. Chuck Swindal

The first 7 names are men that preach in small town churches. They are Sovereign Grace Preachers.

Everyone knows the last 3.

Have more but you only ask for 10.

 

[Rev. Joshua]

Originally posted by tnelson:
...8. John MacAuther
9. Dr. David Jeremiah
10. Chuck Swindal

...Everyone knows the last 3.

That's what I thought about folks like Barbara Brown Taylor. Turns out I was wrong. (As a side note, I'd never heard of John MacArthur until I came until I cam to this forum and I don't know who David Jeremiah is.)

Joshua

 

[TomVols]

It's refreshing to hear of local pastors being listed, don't you think?

 

[Revelator]

seems that kevo knows who's who.

 

[cality]

How do you evaluate the pastors?

 

[cality]

Hey tom, the name of your Town in Tennessee is a french name. it means "the little crazy one!!!"

 

[Rev. Joshua]

Cality, thank you for confirming what many of us have always known.



Joshua

 

[cality]

OK and for the first question? How do you evaluate the pastors?
Sorry, I won't come a lot in this corner, because I am not a pastor and I don't want to disturb you.

 

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

I think it is unfair to have a top 10 list personally. I have known preachers that aren't pastors and vice versa. There is a difference you know..Anyways,I know God is the ultimate judge of who has pleased him with their service, recognized and un-recognized.