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View from the Pulpit with Ben Smith

View from the Pulpit with Ben Smith

By: Ben Smith
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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.

@2025 View from the Pulpit with Ben Smith Christianity Spirituality
Episodes
  • Episode 21: A Conversation with Dr. Landon Dowden

    Episode 21: A Conversation with Dr. Landon Dowden
    Jul 14 2025
    Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 21: A Conversation with Dr. Landon DowdenEpisode Theme: “Nothing is better for God's people than God's word.” In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Landon Dowden, Lead Pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA, about his approach to expository preaching, the preparation process, and the importance of biblical literacy. Key Highlights:Balanced preaching from both the Old and New Testaments: Dr. Dowden is a strong advocate for preaching from both the Old and New Testaments. He was influenced by his mentor, Jim Shaddix, who emphasized expository preaching. Dr. Dowden believes that avoiding the Old Testament robs people of a way God has spoken, particularly concerning Christ. Preaching the "whole counsel" of God, as Paul mentions in Acts 20, includes the Old Testament Scriptures. He is intentional about switching between Testaments and genres (narratives, wisdom literature, letters, etc.) to equip God's people with the full scope of God's word and how it points to Christ.Expository Preaching: Dr. Dowden's exposure to expository preaching under Jim Shaddix was a transformative "Emmaus road experience" where his heart burned as the scriptures were opened. This experience led him to believe that "nothing is better for God's people than God's word." He contrasts this with earlier experiences where sermons relied heavily on illustrations or were more topically driven without a faithful handling of a specific text. Expository preaching shifts the focus from the preacher's rhetorical skill ("diving board preachers") to the richness of the biblical text itself ("swimming pool"). This emphasis on substance over style ensures that the audience connects with Christ through the word, rather than just with the preacher's performance.Call to response should be tied to the text: Dr. Dowden believes the call to response should be directly tied to the specific text being preached, moving beyond traditional, generic options. He diligently considers what the Spirit is calling the congregation to do in light of the passage. For example, when preaching on Abram's decision to go to Egypt, the call to response was tailored to different situations: warning against heading towards "Egypt" (sinful choices), encouraging those already in "Egypt" that God is their only help, and supporting those coming out of "Egypt" who desire God's help to avoid future similar situations. This approach ensures the response is rooted in the biblical truth presented.· Advice for proclaiming God’s word: Dr. Dowden offers several pieces of vital advice based on his years of ministry. First, he stresses that there is no substitute for prayer and personal intake of the word; sermon preparation should be worship as much as work. Second, he emphasizes the necessity of obedience in the pastor's life. Third, he highlights the importance of good accountability relationships for confession and receiving grace. Fourth, he urges young pastors to prioritize their families, as family time is limited compared to ministry meetings. Finally, he advises learning who you are okay disappointing. While you don't want to needlessly disappoint people, you also cannot be dominated by every agenda or preference. Learning to rest in the gospel and God's approval in Christ is crucial to avoid seeking approval elsewhere and to be free to serve others.Join Ben Smith and Dr. Landon Dowden for an instructive conversation about ministry, preaching, and teaching God’s word.Host: Ben SmithGuest: Dr. Landon Dowden Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.Other podcasts by Ben Smith:All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdomSermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod Dr. Landon Dowden has served as the Lead Pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, GA, since 2018. He is originally from Louisiana, where he graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Management. He also earned a Master of Divinity, a Master of Theology, and a Doctor of Philosophy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Landon has been a Lead Pastor since 2005. He has led student camps for many national student organizations since 1996. He currently serves as an adjunct professor for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, working in the Doctor of Ministry program in the field of preaching. He has published two commentaries in the Christ-Centered Commentary Exposition Series, which are Exalting Jesus in Ezekiel, Exalting Jesus in Esther, and forthcoming Exalting Jesus in Deuteronomy...
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Episode 20: A Conversation with Randy Mullinax

    Episode 20: A Conversation with Randy Mullinax
    Jul 7 2025

    Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 20: A Conversation with Randy Mullinax

    Episode Theme: Changes and Trends among Baptist churches in approaches to preaching

    In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Randy Mullinax, senior adult pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA, about 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.

    Key Highlights:

    Learning to preach: Mullinax discusses how he “backed in” to learning to preach expositional sermons and how it changed his approach to preaching.

    Encouraging trends: Randy shares how, through his work with State Baptist Conventions, he has witnessed encouraging trends toward more churches and pastors pursuing expository preaching.

    Ministry Transition: Randy, who is now serving on staff after a career as a senior pastor, discusses how he enjoys his new ministry role.

    Senior Adult Ministry: Randy Mullinax talks about his ministry as a senior adult pastor and the blessings and challenges of senior adult ministry.

    Join Ben Smith and Randy Mullinax for a helpful discussion of ministry and preaching over a long career.

    Host: Ben Smith

    Guest: Randy Mullinax

    Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

    For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

    Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

    For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

    Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

    All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

    Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

    Randy Mullinax is the senior adult pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA. He pastored churches for 30 years before taking on the role of Director of Evangelism and Discipleship with the Illinois Baptist Convention. Later, he would serve the Georgia Baptist Convention (now known as the Georgia Baptist Mission Board) as a state missionary on the Evangelism and Church Revitalization team.

    Wayne and his wife, Jeanee, have two adult children.

    Follow Randy Mullinax on X at https://x.com/Randy_Mullinax

    For more information on Northside Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA, visit https://nbcvaldosta.org/

    A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

    Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.

    Subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app and never miss an episode.

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/view-from-the-pulpit-with-ben-smith/id1796433489

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4H8yxbzbDmymNHZz5Z5JUI?si=a7ab7b7157a14ead
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Episode 19: A Conversation with Mitch Jolly

    Episode 19: A Conversation with Mitch Jolly
    Jun 30 2025

    Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 19: A Conversation with Mitch Jolly

    Episode Theme: Transformed by the word of God

    In this episode, pastor Jolly shares his story of how God saved him and taught him to study the word. He talks about how he has led his church to be rooted and grounded in God’s word.

    Key Highlights:

    Transformation: Jolly shares how he was rescued from moralistic therapeutic deism and discovered the transforming power of God’s word.

    Rooted in the text: Jolly shares the imperative that everything must be rooted in the text.

    Use of Media: Though naturally a slow adopter of new technology, Pastor Jolly shares how he has used technology to further the impact of his Lord’s Day sermons through the online availability of his sermon manuscripts and a podcast focused on theology.

    A clear audience: Pastor Jolly recognizes the usefulness of online tools to help the church engage more with his sermons. However, Pastor Jolly encourages pastors to stay focused and attentive to their congregation. Though others may find your church’s online resources helpful, the pastor must first be focused on preaching to the congregation of his church.

    Join Ben Smith and Mitch Jolly for an honest and helpful conversation on how God uses his word to instruct and bless the church.

    Host: Ben Smith

    Guest: Mitch Jolly

    Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

    For more information and resources from Pastor Ben Smith, visit www.BenSmithSr.org.

    Follow Ben Smith on X at https://x.com/bensmithsr.

    For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit https://cbcwaycross.org/.

    Other podcasts by Ben Smith:

    All For the Kingdom is a weekly podcast of pastor Ben’s preaching ministry. https://www.bensmithsr.org/bensmith-allforthekingdom

    Sermon Shorts is a podcast of sermon clips that are 5 minutes or less. https://www.bensmithsr.org/shortspod

    Mitch Jolly is the pastor and founder of Three Rivers Church, Rome, GA, where he has served since 2001. Jolly earned his undergraduate degree from Shorter University and an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Mitch and his wife, Jennifer, have three sons.

    For sermon resources and more from Mitch Jolly, visit www.theologyinthedirt.com.

    For helpful theological discussions, find Mitch’s podcast, Theology in the Dirt.

    · Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-in-the-dirt/id1506829385

    · Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76TxcsD6XjGmpJaGmRRczL?si=6b724b7a27094c81

    For more information on Three Rivers Church, Rome, GA, visit www.threeriversc.org

    You can find Mitch on X at https://x.com/mitchjolly

    A special thanks to Jim Gibson for permission to use his recording of “Brethren We Have Met to Worship” for this podcast. You can find more information about Jim Gibson’s music and many other recordings at https://www.hickorycovemusic.com/.

    Music by Jim Gibson. “Brethren We have Met to Worship.” Songs of the South III, @2003 Hickory Cove Music.
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    1 hr and 4 mins

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