Episode 9: A Conversation with Dr. Don Hattaway
Dr. Don Hattaway (Photo Credit: First Baptist Church, Douglas GA.)
Episode 9 of the "View from the Pulpit” podcast, hosted by Ben Smith, considers the influence of faithful preaching with Dr. Don Hattaway, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Douglas, GA. In this episode, Don shares his wisdom on the role of preaching in growing and maturing a church, how Sunday school and the ministry of teaching relate to preaching, and the importance of pastoral patience.
Show Notes: “View from the Pulpit” Podcast, Episode 9: A Conversation with Dr. Don Hattaway
Episode Theme: The Importance of Pastoral Patience
In this episode of “View from the Pulpit,” host Ben Smith talks with Dr. Don Hattaway, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Douglas, GA, about the role of preaching in growing and maturing a church, how Sunday school and the ministry of teaching relate to preaching, and the importance of pastoral patience
Key Highlights:
Long pastoral tenures and the power of the Word: Don discusses how preaching the Word of God is essential to every congregation, serves as the source of authority for the pastor, and will transform a congregation. Healthy evangelism and numerical growth stem from faithfulness to preaching God’s word.
The blessing of churches who love the word: It is the preacher's responsibility to preach God’s word faithfully; however, Don shares how a church that loves and honors faithful preaching encourages and blesses the ministry of preaching.
Importance of expository preaching: Don advocates for the value and importance of expository preaching.
Teaching ministry of the church: Don discusses how the church's teaching ministry (Sunday school) is an important ministry and an extension of the preaching ministry. He also discusses his investment in training and teaching Bible study teachers, as well as the importance of teaching doctrine and Baptist history.
Learning to honor faithfulness to the Word more than style: Don shares how what is preached is more important than how one preaches. Referencing 1 Corinthians 2:2-5, Don encourages the church to respond to preaching as the power of God, not the wisdom of man.
Pastoral Patience: Don talks about how his long pastoral tenures affect how he preaches difficult passages. Don shares that the key is to love your congregation and to speak to them faithfully, but in love and great patience. He reflects on the command of 2 Timothy 4:2 to preach the word with “all long-suffering.”
Join Ben Smith and Dr. Don Hattaway for an insightful discussion of how God uses faithful preaching and a faithful preacher to mature and grow the church.
Host: Ben Smith
Guest: Dr. Don Hattaway
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
Dr. Don Hattaway is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Douglas, GA.
Dr. Don Hattaway has been the pastor at First Baptist Church in Douglas, Georgia, since 2019. Formally, he was the pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia, where he served for 17 years. He also pastored Emmanuel Baptist in Blackshear, Georgia, for nine years. He holds degrees from Brewton-Parker College (Bachelor of Music Education) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry). He is the former President, Vice-President, and Parliamentarian of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He has also served as a trustee for Brewton-Parker College, Shorter University, and the Christian Index. Recently, Dr. Hattaway published a commentary entitled The Book of Revelation: God’s Last Word for the Last Days.
Hattaway has been preaching the gospel for 35 years and stands firm on teaching the inerrant and infallible Word of God. He is a true believer that God’s Word changes lives. His ministry seeks to encourage and teach Christians in their daily walk with God and lead others to experience saving faith in Jesus Christ.
You can find videos of Dr. Don Hattaway’s preaching at https://fbcdouglas.sermoncloud.com/.
For more information on First Baptist Church, visit https://fbcdouglas.com/
To purchase “The Book of Revelation: God's Last Word for the Last Days by Don Hattaway, visit: https://www.westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/855739-the-book-of-revelation
Book review of “The Book of Revelation by Don Hattaway” by J. Gerald Harris, The Christian Index https://christianindex.org/stories/book-review-the-book-of-revelation-by-don-hattaway,97523
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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