In the last year, I have been spending Thursdays in the car as I drive to physical therapy two hours away. At first, I dreaded the long drive, but those two hours have become a time that I look forward to because I have discovered some great pastors to listen to as I drive. Their sermons convict me and encourage me at the same time!
I have also found having access to sermons online to be really helpful during this cold and flu season. It allows me to listen to some really amazing sermons whenever I am stuck at home with sick kids.
Today I want to share a few of my favorite pastors to listen to with you.
1. Alistair Begg
Alistair Begg is one of the pastors that I look forward to on my Thursday drives. In fact, he has quickly become one of my favorites. I love how straightforward he is and his expositional style of preaching. And of course, his Scotish accent is amazing!
He is the Senior Pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from the London School of Theology and then served at two churches in Scotland before moving to Ohio. His sermons can be found on many radio stations throughout the country and on the Truth for Life website and phone app. I regularly listen to his sermons on the app if I miss when his sermons are scheduled on the local CSN Radio station.
He believes that the Bible is “verbally inspired by God and inerrant and infallible in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority.”
Begg is the host of the Truth for Life radio program.
2. Ravi Zacharias
Ravi Zacharias has been one of my favorite speakers to listen to for a long time. When I was a Park Ranger I would listen to his sermons in my patrol vehicle and find so much encouragement in his words. His words were a lifeline to me during a very difficult time.
Ravi Zacharias is a Christian apologist that was born in Madras, India in 1946. He was an atheist until the age of 17 when he attempted to commit suicide by taking poison. A Christian worker in the hospital he was at gave his mother a Bible and told her to read John 14 to him. He has said that John 14:19 gave him hope that he could live a different way. He thought, “This may be my only hope: A new way of living. Life as defined by the Author of Life.”
He later emigrated to Canada with his family. After that, he earned a bachelors degree from Ontario Bible College and a Masters of Divinity from Trinity International University.
He is the host of the Let My People Think and Just Thinking radio programs and the founder and chairman of the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.
3. James MacDonald
Another pastor that I have really been encouraged by is James MacDonald. Part of why I like him so much is that he is EXTREMELY bold and direct. Kind of in your face. I love it!
James MacDonald is an evangelical pastor that serves at Harvest Bible Chapel near Chicago, Illinois, but is originally from Ontario, Canada.
In 1997, he started broadcasting Walk in the Word on a local FM radio station, and it can now be heard on over 2000 radio stations daily. Walk in the Word can also be found on Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar. I listen to him on CSN International and his website JamesMacDonald.com
He has written 18 books. I personally have been encouraged by Always True.
4. Richard Ellis
Richard Ellis is another one of the great pastors to listen to that I discovered through CSN Radio. He is based out of Dallas, Texas and he seeks to create disciples by telling them the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I really enjoy listening to his sermons because he is empathetic, sincere and has a great sense of humor.
Richard Ellis grew up in Brazil as a missionary kid and then moved back to the states to pursue his education. He earned a BA from Baylor University and an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
In 1997 he founded the non-denominational church – Reunion Church. It began as a small group of 15 people on October 5, 1997, and has continued to grow so much that they now meet at the Dallas Convention Center Theater.
His sermons can be found on numerous radio stations and Richard Ellis Talks and the Reunion Church website.
5. Dr. Mike Fabarez
Mike Fabarez founded Compass Bible Church twenty-five years ago. He grew up in Long Beach, California and then earned a Bachelor’s degree at Moody Bible Institute and then a Master’s Degree at Talbot School of Theology, and a Doctorate from Westminster Theological Seminary in California.
He is the author of several books including Getting It Right, Why the Bible?, and Praying for Sunday.
One of the main reasons that I love his style of preaching, is that he is committed to teaching God’s word verse by verse and urges his listeners to practice what they have learned in their day to day lives.
I like to watch his live services at Compasschurch.org when the kids and I miss church.
Keli says
I was looking up Richard Ellis and ended up on your site because i was curious as to who the five pastors were. I knew three of the five you mentioned and that was exciting to me! I’m thinking now that i might even know the other two when i look them up. I’m not very good with names so we’ll see.
Jef says
I used to listen to James MacDonald. He suddenly disappeared. Found out he was embroiled in some controversy and got kicked out of his own church. I like the stories Richard Ellis tells and I used to listen to Alistair Begg. I like listening to Robert Jeffress and Tony Evans. I guess that makes me a Dallas preacher fan. I used to listen to Ben Stuart out of Passion DC but he’s kind of disappeared as well as Francis Chan.