When I first began preaching 21 years ago, I did my best to imitate some of my favorite preachers. I didn’t know how to do anything else. I particularly liked the simple clarity of R. C. Sproul, the convincing passion of Al Martin, the convictional firmness of John MacArthur. I love Alistair Begg, but he’s Scottish—no way a Georgia boy’s going to replicate that. The passion of John Piper? Impossible to work that up in the flesh. Eventually, I knew I’d have to settle for my best version of me.

Over the years, I’ve sought to develop my own voice in the pulpit in the same way I’ve sought to develop my own “sound” as a writer. Those preaching heroes, all of them, remain in there somewhere, but now it’s all mixed in with my own personality and abilities. It’s taken a number of years, but I hope I’ve found my own pulpit persona and sound—for better or worse!

How can a young preacher find his own voice? In the article below, fellow pastor Matt Rogers—who’s been preaching for a long time—provides some expert help in that important pursuit.