UPDATE
In January 2008, the following post was identified as the 16th all-time most popular post with readers of this blog. The 17th most-read post was my interview with Dr. Sam Storms.

In this post I simply asked my readers to identify their favorite preachers, and listed my own as well. I saved all of the comments that were made to this post at that time and have now placed them at the end of this post. If you are interested in letting us know who your favorite preachers are, please e-mail your choices to adrian.warnock@gmail.com with BLOG PREACHERS SURVEY in the subject line and we will add them to the comments that have already been recorded below.

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I would like to ask my readers to identify their favorite well-known living preachers. I have deliberately said "well-known" because otherwise right at the top of my list would have been my own pastor, Tope Koleoso, and I suspect for many of my readers their own pastor would top their list also. I am sure that many would not have heard of the preachers who would be listed as a result.

My proposal is that people link to this post and share on their blogs up to five preachers (in no order of priority) who are well known to many, and who have blessed them and why.

My own favorite well-known preachers are, not listed in any particular order:

• Terry Virgo who is the leader of Newfrontiers. Every time he preachers his godly character makes almost as much impact on me as the words he says. His inspirational preaching has shaped an entire family of churches of which I am delighted to be a part.
  
  
• C. J. Mahaney leads Sovereign Grace and is a communicator par excellence. No one who has heard him preach on the book of Job, on the atonement, or on people God killed could ever forget the impact of his preaching. Reformed in theology, but charismatic in practice, C. J. and Terry's friendship and differing styles of preaching are an example to us all.
  
  
• Greg Haslam currently fills the pulpit previously occupied by R. T. Kendell, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and Dr. Campbell Morgan. I know of no one better qualified to do so. He is a walking quote, and no one I have ever listened to can craft an English phrase as he does. He is a clear prophetic trumpet in the crowded marketplace that is today's church.
  
  
• Wayne Grudem is better known for his books, but his preached message on the role of women was possibly the most outstanding message I have ever heard. He took one of the most controversial issues facing the Church today and left every hearer in a place of awe-inspired worship for the God who himself expresses order and humility. He is a gift to the global Church.
  
  
• John Piper is the pastor-theologian of his generation. He publishes prolifically in both book and online form. He is the only one of my preaching heroes who makes all of his sermons available as both mp3s and outlines every week. I wish that all these men and other great preachers would do the same.

COMMENTS

The following comments were salvaged prior to comments being disabled on this blog:

BENJAMIN
Great picks, Adrian! I'm probably a bit more boring than you, though, so here's my list:

1. Mark Dever (Actually, this is my favorite preacher, PERIOD!)
   
2. Ligon Duncan (despite the silly paedobaptist thing)
   
3. John MacArthur
   
4. Al Mohler
   
5. C. J. Mahaney

Actually, though, I haven't heard YOU speak yet, so maybe I shouldn't speak too soon. I should also note that I LOVE Fred Zaspel's sermons, but I've never actually heard him speak . . . I just read a lot of transcripts.

GLENNSP

1. Terry Virgo
   
2. C. J. Mahaney
   
3. Wayne Grudem
   
4. John Piper
   
5. Greg Haslam

Have you been reading my mind again, Adrian?

BRENT
Thanks for the question; good thought provoker. In no particular order and incomplete:

1. Alex Montoya
   
2. Mark Dever
   
3. John Piper
   
4. Alistair Begg

JAMES DEVENISH
Great post, Adrian! My favorite preachers living . . .

1. C. J. Mahaney
   
2. Michael Ramsden
   
3. Steve Brady
   
4. Wayne Grudem
   
5. John Piper
   
6. Ian Stackhouse
   
7. Terry Virgo
   
8. PJ Smyth

Loads deserve mention, though, like:

1. Sinclair Ferguson
   
2. Dave Devenish (had to say that!)
   
3. J. John
   
4. Alistair Begg

LITTLE MO
Okay, just to bring a name from a slightly different circle—Vaughan Roberts. No one has had more influence on me than Vaughan in implanting the view in my life that God actually does speak in a life-changing way as we study his Word. I remember those university days when I would wake up on Sundays, so excited about going to church!

PRESSING ON
Hi Adrian! I'm new to your blog, but thought I'd put in my two cents! Some of my favorites are:

1. John Piper
   
2. John MacArthur
   
3. Alistair Begg
   
4. Zac Poonen—from India

Thanks for sharing yours! I'll check them out on the Web.

DEBBIE WIMMERS
My favorites are:

1. John Piper
   
2. Mac Brunson (FBC Jacksonville—previously FBC Dallas)
   
3. Jack Graham
   
4. Chuck Swindoll
   
5. David Jeremiah
   
6. John MacArthur
   
7. William Anderson (interim at FBC Dalls, previously FBC Euless, Texas and Calvary in Clearwater, Florida)

GORDON CHENG
Check the Sydney Anglicans' website for mp3 files. There are many exceptional preachers here, but if I had to recommend three (and I haven't heard everyone on this list), I would say Phillip and Peter Jensen and John Chapman. Have a listen to Simon Manchester and John Woodhouse, too.

The following comments have been added to this post as of January 2008:

JOSHUA DOVE

1. Steven Lawson (free audio at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church of Mobile, Alabama. He also does conferences with Sproul and MacArthur frequently, the audio of the latest of which is also online under The Expositors' Conference at the address given.
   
2. John Piper
   
3. John MacArthur

Your blog is a pleasure. Thanks!