In this episode, Reverend Dr. Larry T. Crudup — Senior Pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC, and a part-time professor of Leadership at Anderson University and adjunct professor of New Testament at Belmont University — shares his transformative journey of preaching and leadership within the church. Drawing on his experience as a pastor, educator, and scholar of ethical and creative leadership, his story offers valuable lessons on connecting biblical exegesis with practical storytelling to enrich ministry and community engagement. If you're involved in church leadership or interested in the power of preaching, this discussion provides actionable insights on sermon design and fostering a hopeful church community.

In this episode:

1. How Dr. Crudup’s first sermon sparked his calling and the significance of early formative preaching
2. The role of the Academy of Preachers in developing diverse preaching styles and networks of young pastors
3. The structure of effective sermons
4. The importance of experimenting with different preaching styles and maintaining playfulness and imagination
5. The hopeful church as a community embodying love, hope, and the hands and feet of Jesus

Resources & Links:

1. From the Roots to the Branches: Building Sermons That Take Root and Bear Fruit
2. Sign up for A Day of Preaching - April 18th

Connect with The Moench Center for Church Leadership:

1. Sign Up for our Newsletter
2. Follow Us on Instagram
3. Watch The Hopeful Church Podcast on YouTube

Connect with Dr. Larry Crudup:

1. Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of Spartanburg
2. Instagram

Connect with Darrell Gwaltney:

1. LinkedIn
2. Twitter

The Hopeful Church Podcast is an initiative of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. To learn more about Belmont University, go to belmont.edu.