Episode 30 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, with guest Dr. Heath Lambert, pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL. In this episode, Dr. Heath Lambert reflects on the unique experience of pastoring First Baptist Church, which boasts a remarkable, nearly 100-year history of strong, expository preaching. He shares how he navigates the significant legacy of his predecessors, embracing God's unique plan for his own ministry rather than attempting to replicate others. Dr. Lambert delves into the intensely challenging period of leading his church through a major transition, which he also chronicled in his podcast "What Happened at First Baptist". He details his unwavering commitment to protecting the pulpit during this time, ensuring that sermons remained faithful to the biblical text despite immense personal and congregational pressures, including his own health crises. He shares powerful testimonies of God's grace and encouragement that sustained him and his family through these trials. The conversation touches on the distinction between faithfulness and fruitfulness in ministry, especially when dealing with declining attendance, and how God uses difficult seasons to refine and strengthen the church.

In episode 29 of The View From the Pulpit, host Ben Smith talks with Chris Roberts, lead pastor and elder of Bridge Church, Blackshear, GA, about expository preaching, particularly within the context of church planting. Roberts shares his journey to expository preaching, the importance of prioritizing God's word, and his practical approach to sermon preparation and training others to preach.

In episode 29 of "View From the Pulpit," host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Danny Akin, President and Professor of Preaching and Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Akin shares his journey and conviction for expository preaching, defining it as text-driven, where "the text of scripture sets the agenda both in terms of the structure of your sermon and the substance of your sermon". The conversation covers the historical shift towards expository preaching in pulpits and seminaries, Dr. Akin's meticulous sermon preparation process, and valuable advice for both preachers and congregations.

In episode 27 of The View From the Pulpit, host Ben Smith talks with Noah Oldham, Executive Director of Send Network, about his extensive experience in church planting. Noah shares insights into establishing the central place of preaching in new churches, the critical role of biblical, expositional preaching, training the next generation of preachers, and cultivating a church culture that deeply values God's word.

To close out the season, I’d like to record a special roundtable-style episode featuring listeners like you—pastors, laypeople, men and women, younger and older voices. I want to hear what you’ve learned, what’s helped you most, and how God has used the podcast in your own walk with Christ. It doesn’t matter where you live—we can connect remotely. The only requirement is that you’ve listened to the podcast and are willing to share your thoughts.

In episode 26 of The View From the Pulpit, host Ben Smith talks with Pastor Brian Carroll, Pastor of Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church in Flintstone, GA, about expository preaching and the challenges and rewards of long-term pastoral ministry. Pastor Carroll explains his commitment to faithful biblical exposition, his sermon preparation process, and the importance of loving and knowing one's congregation.

In episode 25 of The View From the Pulpit, host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Robert Smith, Distinguished Professor of Divinity and preaching at Beeson Divinity School, in Birmingham, AL. Dr. Smith describes his approach as an "exegetical weaver," interweaving explanation and application throughout the sermon. A notable aspect of his delivery is preaching without notes, relying on "internalization not memorization," which allows for improvisational, Spirit-guided expression. Dr. Smith emphasizes that "what counts is content," not just style, and teaches a 10-step Christocentric method that heavily focuses on deep textual study, including reading the text "50 times". He advocates for the sermon's form to reflect the text's genre, distinguishing between deductive and inductive approaches. Dr. Smith stresses the importance of unity in diversity within the church, encouraging preachers to learn from various cultural preaching traditions and for congregations to value faithfulness to the text over performative dynamics, warning against "emotionalism" that overshadows exegesis.

Episode 24 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, is an enlightening conversation about bi-vocational ministry with Pastor John Roland, Pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Sterrett, AL. In this episode, Pastor Roland shares his insights into the unique blessings and challenges of balancing secular employment with pastoral ministry, highlighting the importance of efficient study methods and relying on the Holy Spirit.

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.

Episode 22 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, discusses the great call of God to preach God’s word with Dr. Mac Brunson, Senior Pastor of Valleydale Church, Birmingham, AL. In this episode, Dr. Brunson shares his approach to Bible study, sermon preparation, and his lifelong pursuit of learning.