How to Evaluate Pastors and Bible Teachers (6 Things the Best Teachers Always Do)

Choosing a pastor is one of the most important things every Christian will do.

Few people have as much spiritual influence as our pastor, so choosing wisely is a must.

You wouldn’t trust a failing med student to perform your surgery. And you wouldn’t want a blind dentist to mess with your teeth. So why not hold that same standard with spiritual health?

You can’t just accept anything you hear from the pulpit. You have to focus, analyze, and search the Scriptures to see if what’s said is true (see Acts 17:11 NIV).

That’s why I wrote this article.

Most people are well aware of the influence Bible teachers possess, but they have no idea what to look for.

“Is he funny and engaging?”, “Is he passionate about the faith?”, “Will he say ‘hi’ to me in the foyer?”. Those are the questions people have.

Yes, those concerns are reasonable, but that is not how you choose a pastor. So instead of asking stuff like that, this post will take a biblical approach.

I’ve explained six things below that the best Bible teachers always do. Each one includes Scripture that supports the importance of each, and I’ve included plenty of examples too.

This is my ultimate guide to judge anyone teaching the Bible. I pray that it helps you find a trustworthy pastor soon.

6 Things the Best Pastors and Teachers Always Do

#1: They Submit to the Bible’s Authority

…These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. (Isaiah 66:2 NIV)

Submission to biblical authority is the most important thing to look for.

It’s ironic that submission is the most important trait for church leadership, but such is the nature of the Christian faith.

Sure, education is needed and good character is required, but if a teacher doesn’t submit to the Bible’s authority, nothing else matters. Every other point on this list flows from the act of submission, so we have to look for this first.

Now what exactly does it mean to “submit to the Bible”? It means we let Scripture dictate our actions no matter how much we think or feel to the contrary. Any pastor, teacher, or Christian in general should let the Bible have the final say on everything in life.

Why is this so important?

It’s important because the Bible is “God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16 NIV). It’s words aren’t simply human writings; they are the literal words of God.

Yes, God used men from various backgrounds and historical contexts to write Scripture, “but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20-21 ESV). The biblical authors retained their personality and consciousness, but God led them to write exactly what He wanted to say. And since God is the ultimate source of all Scripture, we can always trust what it says.

Good pastors and teachers know that “the entirety of [God’s] word is truth” (Psalm 119:160), that “the word of the LORD is proven” (Psalm 18:30), and that “the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8 ESV).

A failure to obey the Bible is a failure to obey God Himself. So we have to follow Peter’s example and “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

What does this look like in practice?

Well, it starts with revering the Bible as the truth it claims to be.

Doing this is what separates conservative and liberal churches.

Now when I say conservative or liberal here, I’m talking about theology, not politics. The two spheres are related, but it’s not a one-to-one thing.

The theological side pertains to how we treat the biblical text. And here’s how to tell the difference between both approaches:

Liberal teachers take liberties with the text, while conservative teachers conserve its original meaning.

If you see a church that promotes LGBT causes, appoints female pastors, and has interfaith services, you are seeing the effects of liberal theology. There are clear Bible passages that condemn all three of those actions, but because liberal teachers don’t fully submit to the Bible’s authority, they’ll compromise anything to stay “relevant”.

Many liberal teachers don’t even recognize Jesus as God in the flesh. To them, He’s just a good example we can follow in our own strength.

Liberal theology starts with “Did God really say…” and then devolves into a powerless false religion (see 2 Tim. 3:5 NIV). Liberal teachers and churches may call themselves Christian, but the Bible directs its sharpest rebukes for people like them (2 Pet. 2:21 NASB, 1 John 2:22, Luke 6:46, Prov. 30:5-6, Gal. 1:9 ESV).

This is why conservative theology is the only option.

Conservative teachers know that we don’t judge truth; truth judges us. They don’t judge the Bible by what they think or by what the culture says. They “trust in the Lord with all [their] heart, and do not lean on [their] own understanding” (Prov. 3:5-6 ESV).

This kind of submission is more important than degrees, smiles, or speaking skills. So no matter who you choose to watch, make sure God’s word is the highest authority.

#2: They Meet the Biblical Qualifications

Next, you need to see if the teacher is biblically qualified.

How do you that? It’s simple. You review the pastor’s character and compare it to Scripture’s convenient list of qualifications.

The Bible is very specific about the type of people who can serve in leadership. So it’s important to know the passages in Timothy and Titus that define what’s required.

The first passage in First Timothy says:

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Tim. 3:2-7 ESV)

The overseer described here is synonymous with the role of pastor.

Being able to accurately teach the Bible is a requirement I’ll cover more later, but the other qualifications here are about character and leadership ability.

A second passage in Titus provides a similar list:

…if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:6-9 ESV)

Here again we see the importance of high character and a good reputation. The ability to lead a household well is mentioned again too. But along with being able to teach, Paul lists the ability to “rebuke those who contradict [sound doctrine]”. This means the pastor should be able to instruct others in biblical truth and also know how to confront error.

But finally, one last passage in First Timothy describes a controversial, yet significant qualification:

And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (1 Tim. 2:12-14)

Paul, under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, limits the role of pastor to men.

His reasoning isn’t due to a lack of education, cultural norms, or perceived gullibility though. Instead, he bases this qualification in the order of creation and the events of the fall.

This prohibition doesn’t mean women aren’t smart or that they don’t have equal value to men. It is simply a difference in God-ordained roles.

This passage doesn’t prohibit women from being CEO’s, basketball coaches, or even the president, but it does prevent women from having teaching roles over men.

Female Christians can still teach other women and children. Public teaching to men is the only act the Bible forbids.

So now with all that said, let’s summarize these qualifications.

The pastor or teacher should be a man who is…

above reproach
faithfully married (or celibate based on Matt. 19:12, 1 Cor. 7:7-9, and 1 Cor. 7:32-34—although marriage is expected)
sober-minded
self-controlled
respectable
hospitable
able to teach
able to rebuke false doctrine
and a good leader of his home

This man should not be…

a drunkard
greedy
arrogant
quick-tempered
a poor teacher
violent
a recent convert
or a lover of money

Meeting these qualifications isn’t a suggestion. Doing this shows practical submission to the Bible’s authority.

This personal obedience also lets the pastor set an example for his audience as he himself imitates Christ (see Titus 2:7, 1 Tim. 4:12 NASB, 1 Cor. 11:1).

#3: They Let the Text Shape Their Message

[P]reach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Tim. 4:2-4 ESV)

Despite the laundry list of tasks pastors have, their main purpose is to do one thing:

Tell the truth.

We already saw that the God-breathed nature of Scripture cements its status as truth. And pastors are commanded to preach that truth “in season and out of season”.

It doesn’t matter what people want, and it doesn’t matter if the Bible is popular. Pastors are always required to stay true to the Word of God.

Every Bible teacher should “be diligent to present [their self] approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)

So how do good teachers “rightly divide the word of truth”?

They let the text shape their message.

Good Bible teaching stems from analysis, not imagination. You don’t want unbiblical allegories. You want to hear the straightforward, literal meaning of Scripture’s words.

The best teachers ensure that the point of the text is the point of their message. Yes, that sounds obvious, but people neglect this rule all the time.

That’s why you should look for teachers who show their work. Pastors are supposed to teach the truth of God’s Word, so if they don’t reference Scripture often, it’s a huge red flag.

All pastors should show verses that support their conclusions. It doesn’t matter if the audience is familiar with the Bible or if it takes a little longer. You’d rather have a transparent pastor who takes his time than a smooth-talking motivator who ignores the text.

I know Scripture-heavy sermons aren’t always popular, but staying anchored to the text keeps pastors focused and limits error. It moves the speaker out the way and gives the sense that God Himself spoke to the audience. No, not because the pastor learned to “hear God’s voice”, but because he accurately presented what God has already said.

That is the difference between good and bad teaching.

Good teachers let the text determine what they say. Bad teachers think of what sounds good and grab verses that seem to support it.

For example, everyone knows the story of Jonah, right?

A prophet runs from God, gets swallowed and spit up by a fish, and then eventually does what God told him to do.

It’s a popular story among Christians and nonbelievers alike, but this familiarity can actually distort the message if we don’t stay true to the text.

Many teachers—bad teachers—will paint Jonah as the ultimate coward. He ran from his “God-given dream”, and who knows how much better things would’ve been for him, and by extension, for us, if we all attacked our God-given dreams with courage?

Our Jonah complex keeps us from being all we can be, so let’s forget that attitude and become brave men and women of God!

That is a very inspiring message…but it has nothing to do with the text.

The book of Jonah’s introduction says:

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:1-3 ESV)

The intro here includes God’s command to Jonah along with the prophet’s disobedient flee. This passage doesn’t say why Jonah disobeyed, however, so we can’t assume he was afraid.

We don’t learn why Jonah ran until later in the book.

After Jonah eventually warned the city of Nineveh in chapter 3, the city’s king called for repentance throughout the land. And God’s response to their repentance leads to the reason why Jonah fled:

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” (Jonah 3:10-4:4 ESV)

Jonah didn’t run because he was scared. He ran because he knew God’s forgiving character (see Jonah 4:11).

A little research would show why Jonah didn’t want Nineveh to be forgiven, but if we just stick to the text here, we get the Bible’s intended message.

The text isn’t about having courage to follow dreams. It’s about God using a flawed man to reconcile enemies to Himself.

The book shows us lessons on obedience, divine sovereignty, and the gracious character of God.

Any teacher worth listening to will come to this same conclusion.

Why?

Because that’s what the text is all about.

#4: They Connect the Dots in Scripture

One of the most beautiful traits about the Bible is its consistency. There is an uncanny cohesion to the Book that can only be explained by its divine origin.

The Bible has no contradictions, no logical faults, and no historical errors. All its moral commands and themes are aligned throughout its 66 books. And because of this, we can connect the dots in Scripture to fully understand what it teaches.

This is why the best Bible teachers are masters at cross referencing. They won’t just quote one verse and use that to support their message. They’ll take multiple verses on the same topic and explain them so the audience understands the Bible’s position.

Doing this helps us confirm that messages are biblical instead of assuming those ideas are taught in Scripture.

To give an example, many people are quick to say that judging others isn’t Christ-like. After all, Jesus said, “do not judge”, so any follower of Christ should live in loving acceptance of all the actions people do.

This idea of tolerance sounds great to people who want nothing to do with the Bible, but this belief is actually foreign to Scripture.

Yes, Jesus said “do not judge”, but we have to view that statement in context and cross reference to see what the Bible really teaches.

The “do not judge” passage in Matthew says:

Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye! (Matt. 7:1-5 NIV)

Jesus’ words here speak against our tendency to hold others to higher standards than ourselves. We criticize the smallest faults people have while embracing our biggest sins as acceptable. We “look at the speck that is in [our] brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in [our] own eye”.

This kind of judgment stems from self-righteousness, and it lets the smallest flaws destroy life-long relationships.

James echoed this sentiment later in his epistle:

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (James 4:11)

Again, James shows how constant criticism harms relationships and leads to self-righteousness. The person judging is more concerned with finding fault than obeying God’s commands.

Finally, Paul also condemned this kind of judgment in his letter to the Romans:

Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? (Rom. 2:3 ESV)

The type of judgment the Bible condemns is presumptive, unforgiving, and hypocritical judgment. But does that mean we shouldn’t judge at all? Of course not.

The same Jesus who said “do not judge” commended a church in Revelation saying:

But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Rev. 2:6 NIV)

Clearly, a judgment call had to be made for this church to hate the actions of others. Notice how Jesus agreed with the church’s judgment too saying “which I also hate”.

Far from being the tolerant Man our culture paints Him as, Jesus didn’t approve of sinful actions (see John 7:7), and He didn’t condemn all forms of judgment.

This is why He was able to say:

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

So how do we ensure our judgment is righteous?

We go to the Word of God.

We read about the things God loves and the things He hates. Then we absorb those facts and use them to condemn evil and promote good (Eph. 5:10-11 NLT).

Mature Christians are “those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14 ESV). The Bible expects believers to learn the difference between right and wrong. It also commands us to speak out when the two are confused.

The book of Proverbs is also full of verses about discernment (Prov. 3:7, Prov. 5:3-4, Prov. 10:32, Prov. 14:8, Prov. 15:21, Prov. 18:15, Prov. 23:6-7, Prov. 26:24-25, Prov. 28:2, Prov. 28:5). So there is a right way to show judgment.

“…let the discerning get guidance” (Prov. 1:5 NIV)

This is how you connect the dots in Scripture. You cross reference verses on similar topics and review their principles. Then you use that data to arrive at biblical conclusions.

If a pastor doesn’t cross reference, he won’t present the full picture of what the Bible says. But the best teachers will always do this to let the whole of Scripture speak for itself.

#5: They Relate to the Larger Message

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. (John 5:39)

Time to state the obvious: the Bible is a huge Book.

It takes months to read it all from to cover to cover. And it can take decades to preach through the New Testament alone.

With that much material, it’s hard for any teacher to be strong on every topic. But the good news is, the whole Bible covers one unified message.

This larger message is about God saving a remnant of humanity from judgment through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, John 14:6).

Every book, chapter, and verse in the Bible ties back to that message somehow. And understanding this bigger theme keeps us from missing the forest for the trees. It gives the “why” behind seemingly insignificant passages—like those long genealogies you probably skip.

All of Scripture is linked by this larger story. So it’s up to pastors and teachers to explain those connections for us.

For example, many people think Jesus’ teaching to “turn the other cheek” is weak. They see forgiveness and a refusal to retaliate as impractical. And hey, if Christians were pragmatists, I would agree. But when we connect the Bible’s teaching on forgiveness to the larger message, we quickly see how important it is.

This is what Jesus did in Matthew 18. Verse 21 begins with Peter asking “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” But Jesus responded saying, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:21-22)

Jesus wasn’t saying that 490 was actually the magic number, but rather, that His followers should always forgive those who confess their sins against them.

After giving this command, Jesus immediately told the parable of the unforgiving servant (see Matt.18:23-35). To summarize, the story tells of a king who forgave his servant of an unpayable debt, but that same servant refused to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him by one of his peers. The servant even threw the debtor in prison because the latter couldn’t pay.

The king eventually heard of this act, and here is how he responded:

Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. (Matt. 18:32-34 NIV)

Jesus then followed with the story’s application:

So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (Matt. 18:35 ESV)

It seems ridiculous that the man forgiven of such a large debt would be unmerciful to his debtor—especially one who owed a much smaller sum. But this is exactly what believers do when they refuse to forgive those who ask for it.

Here, Jesus connects His teaching on forgiveness to the Bible’s larger message of human redemption. The debt we owed to God because of our sin was forgiven, so we should let that reality shape our relationship with others.

The Bible’s teaching on forgiveness isn’t a matter of strength, but perspective. That’s why Paul says in Ephesians:

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph. 4:32 ESV, emphasis added)

Likewise, in Colossians he writes:

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Col. 3:12-13 ESV, emphasis added)

Scripture’s command to forgive isn’t simply a rule that sounds good. We forgive because “God in Christ forgave [us]”.

This is why the best pastors and teachers constantly point to the gospel. It is through the lens of salvation that everything else makes sense.

#6: They Apply the Bible’s Goal to Your Life

The Bible isn’t a book we read simply for entertainment or education…

We read it to be transformed.

Second Timothy 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Scripture’s goal is to make mature Christians who consistently do good in God’s eyes.

Every competent teacher knows this, so they’ll craft their message with the goal of making you more Christ-like. They know the Bible wants us to “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (see Titus 2:11-14 ESV).

Bad teachers are a different story. Their goals won’t align with the clear purpose laid out in Scripture.

Sure, their words will sound good at first, but their message will eventually drift from the truth. And when their message drifts away, their audience will too.

This bad (yet often popular) teaching makes people who are “lovers of themselves”, “lovers of money”, and “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (see 2 Tim. 3:1-5 NIV).

These people will claim the Christian faith, but really, they’ll just use Christian words to meet fleshly desires.

That’s not what you want.

Truly biblical teaching isn’t about making you feel good. It’s about making disciples of Christ (Matt. 28:19-20 NASB).

Jesus said His followers are “the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matt. 5:13)

The Bible wasn’t written to make you crave what the world craves. The Christian faith will always be countercultural. And if we deny that fact, we’ll become useless salt.

The Bible challenges us to deny ourselves and live lives that reflect our new nature. It tells us about God so we can honor Him. And it teaches His commands so we know how to obey.

Those are the goals of biblical application. And they should be the goals of every pastor and teacher too.

How to Evaluate Pastors and Bible Teachers: A Summary

So those are 6 things the best Bible teachers always do.

Yeah, I know that was a lot, but like always, I wanted to be thorough. I did make a quick summary here though that should come in handy later.

I’ve listed the 6 actions below along with questions you can ask to see if a teacher fits the bill. (Note: All the answers here should be “yes” by the way):

#1: They Submit to the Bible’s Authority

Does the pastor believe all Scripture is “God-breathed”?
Does he conserve the text’s original meaning?
Does he condemn practices the Bible clearly condemns?

#2: They Meet the Biblical Qualifications

Is the pastor a man?
Does he display Christ-like character?
Is he a mature Christian who teaches well and rebukes error?

#3: They Let the Text Shape Their Message

Does the teacher’s message align with the point of the text?
Are relevant verses shown that support his conclusions?
Does his message rely on analysis (not imagination)?

#4: They Connect the Dots in Scripture

Does the pastor compare verses on similar themes?
Is his message consistent with other parts of the Bible?
Does he explain Scripture’s holistic view on its topics?

#5: They Relate to the Larger Message

Is the speaker’s primary message about salvation from sin and judgment?
Does the pastor relate to Christ and the gospel often?
Are spiritual concerns given priority over social ones?

#6: They Apply the Bible’s Goal to Your Life

Does the pastor’s teaching help you become more Christ-like?
Does he condemn the natural love of money, self, and pleasure?
Is faithfulness to Scripture encouraged even when it’s countercultural?

My Recommendations

Now that you know what the best Bible teachers do, I’ll recommend some people who actually do them.

The two men below provide great examples of what biblical teaching should be. They check every point on my list consistently. So check ‘em out if you haven’t already.

#1: John MacArthur

Masterful.

That is the word that comes to mind when I hear this man preach.

There aren’t many people I can listen to for hours, but Pastor MacArthur saturates his message with so much Scripture that every listen brightens my soul.

He’s the pastor-teacher at Grace Community Church in California. You can find most of his work and sermons on the church’s website, Grace to You.

MacArthur has written plenty of books on the faith, he’s produced detailed Bible commentaries, and he’s taught Scripture’s unchanging message for decades. But instead of listing all his achievements here, I want to show how good he is in practice.

I talked earlier about the book of Jonah, and the following sermon is a great example of how the text should shape a teacher’s message:

The skill displayed in that sermon is incredible. Not only is the text given priority, but the extra research gives more meaning and context. The relation to the Bible’s larger theme is also there and the story is explained to show how it fits within that frame.

Another reason I enjoy MacArthur though is his undeniable passion for truth. He’s bold in his preaching, uncompromising in his approach, and yet surprisingly tender when he needs to be.

This unwavering faith in biblical truth leads to excellent work like his sermon below:

If it’s not obvious already, I hold this man in very high regard.

I can’t help but appreciate skill when I see it. And John MacArthur is one of the most skilled teachers today.

Now do I agree with all his opinions and non-essential beliefs? No. But the man is amazing at teaching what the Bible explicitly says.

He has the rare mix of humility and boldness God requires in his spokesmen. He teaches the whole Bible and not just parts that sound good. He fights for truth but views people as the mission field, not the enemy. And for those reasons, I’ll always recommend him.

#2: Voddie Baucham

My next recommendation is Voddie Baucham.

I didn’t know much about him until recently, but after hearing him preach once, I went on a YouTube binge to soak up his material.

Dr. Baucham is the former pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in Texas, and he’s currently the Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Zambia. He’s got a pretty unique background for someone in his position though.

He was raised in a single parent home by his mother who was a practicing Buddhist. He didn’t even hear the gospel until he was in college.

This uncommon pastoral upbringing led him to a more rational approach to the faith—one that he explains and defends in the following sermon:

I love listening to Dr. Baucham because he has that bold commitment to truth the best teachers have. He’s committed to the text and he’s not ashamed of it. And that’s awesome.

But another reason I connect with him is because he, like myself, is a black American.

I’ve talked many times about the poor state of the church in America. Yet even though the church as a whole here isn’t great, many predominantly black churches are in worse shape. Anti-intellectualism, mystical practices, and downright heresy have ravaged communities that used to view church as a beacon of hope.

That’s why when I see Voddie, a man who loves Scripture and has a truly biblical worldview, it’s a breath of fresh air. He’s not afraid to criticize ideas our culture tries to ingrain in us (see his “Ethnic Gnosticism” for more on that). He’s a bold, highly intelligent, and challenging teacher. And his classic sermon below will show exactly what I mean:

Dr. Baucham is an excellent example of what every pastor should be. He sticks to the text, he challenges opposition to it, and he refuses to compromise no matter what.

Choose Wisely, Choose Biblically

And there you have it.

If a pastor checks all the boxes above, then I promise, you’ve found a keeper.

How can I be so sure, you ask?

Because all of that is what the Bible requires.

This article just showed you how to evaluate teachers biblically. So if a pastor is good enough to meet God’s standards, then he’s good enough for you and me.

-Drew

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