Pimps in the Pulpit

Church has reached an era where Pastor's and talented Christian Speakers are becoming celebrities of their own sorts. With advances in technology, you can find and listen to Pastors' sermons from all over the world. I have by no means heard a large portion of Pastors but have heard enough of them to pick my four favorite. The four of them in the same room would likely have vast arguments, as they wouldn't agree on many things, but these four men stir me to think about, understand, and love God in new ways. All of them challenge me to be better at living the life I should be living. All of them have at least a section of their most recent sermons online for free download, through their church websites.

Rob Bell - Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids Michigan
Efrem Smith - Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis
Erwan McManus - Mosaic Church in Los Angeles
Greg Boyd - Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul

Curious to know what speakers have impacted your lives. All four of these speakers target younger audiences, some of my other favorites would include Chuck Swindoll who is more broadly accepted and though I've never heard him speak, C.S. Lewis' books have changed my life, and he again is more broadly known and accepted.

Who has pushed you forward, or at least challenged you to consider God in a different way? They don't have to be famous in any way, most people I talk to have never heard of Efrem Smith, and possibly the most influential person to my Christian walk is Paul Hurckman, who only those closest to me have had the privilege of meeting.

In fact, the three men who have had the most impact on my life are Paul, Dennis Luce, and Matt Johsnon (those at my wedding could have met all three). None of them are famous, or available for download online, but each can encourage and challenge me in ways that others don't seem to know how to do.

Random Note: The title of this blog "Pimps in the Pulpit" is from a sermon that Efrem Smith preached on how many influential and "hollywood like" Pastors have abused their influence and vast audience and used them as a platform for an agenda that is often political, or social, but is not Christ.