Top 10 Podcasts by Pastors to Encourage You

If you attend church on Sundays, you know how those mornings can feel. They’re like a glass of cold water under a shade tree on a hot summer day. They’re an opportunity to pause everything else so you can worship God and grow in relationship with Him. They’re satisfying to the soul.

Shouldn’t every day be that way? If you’re in your car or on the move all week, podcasts can be a great way to sneak in a midweek sermon that helps you circle back to Jesus.

There are a lot of excellent Christian podcasts out there, and we can’t possibly cover them all. But here are 10 great ones (in no particular order) by some of the country’s most well-known pastors. These men might not be your Sunday pastor, but their words could be just the thing your soul needs to hear the rest of the week.

1. Rick Warren

Pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life
Location: Lake Forest, California
Why you should listen: Rick’s Monday–Friday messages teach complex theology in a way that’s simple, relevant and easy to apply to your life. Listen here.
Interesting note: Rick and his wife Kay planted Saddleback Church in 1980 with just a handful of people in their home. Today, more than 25,000 people attend weekly.

2. Robert Morris

Senior Pastor of Gateway Church and author of 14 books
Location: Dallas, Texas
Why you should listen: Robert’s sermons are practical and applicable for your daily walk. Listen here.
Interesting note: Robert and his worship team are broadcast to millions of viewers on The Blessed Life, a weekly TV program that can also be seen online.

3. Chuck Swindoll

Senior Pastor of Stonebriar Community Church and author of countless books
Location: Frisco, Texas
Why you should listen: Chuck is a dynamic speaker and his podcasts are regularly ranked in the top 100 religious downloads on iTunes. Listen here.
Interesting note: A pioneer of sorts, he began broadcasting his weekly sermons on the radio in 1977, long before digital media arrived on the church scene.

4. Andy Stanley

Senior Pastor of North Point Community Church and author of more than 20 books
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Why you should listen: A funny, insightful speaker, Andy’s messages will encourage you to see even the most classic Bible stories in a whole new way. Listen here.
Interesting note: Andy is well-respected for his wisdom on leadership and offers a podcast series for church leaders in addition to the Your Move With Andy Stanley podcast.

5. Tim Harlow

Senior Pastor of Parkview Christian Church and author of What Made Jesus Mad? Rediscover the Blunt, Sarcastic, Passionate Savior of the Bible
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Why you should listen: Tim is an unapologetically inclusive, loving speaker who leads campuses full of people from all walks of life. Watch here.
Interesting note: One of Parkview's core values is that you "never, ever have to get dressed up (either physically or spiritually)" to join them.

6. Chip Ingram

Pastor of Venture Christian Church and author of 15 books
Location: Los Gatos, California
Why you should listen: Chip’s messages are full of biblical truth and winsome. Listen here.
Interesting note: You can download message notes and purchase small group kits created for the podcast messages.

7. John Piper

Former Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, founder of desiringGod.com, Chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary, and author of many books.
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Why you should listen: In each episode John answers a single tough theological question in about 10 minutes and in a way that’s simple to understand. Listen here.
Interesting note: John’s website, desiringGod, is a great resource bank full of articles, sermons and links to a books by a variety of authors and addressing all kinds of Christian and human issues.

8. Craig Groeschel

Founder and Senior Pastor of Life.Church, author and leader
Location: Multiple
Why you should listen: Craig provides a wealth of experience and wisdom on leadership through his regular podcasting. Listen here.
Interesting note: Life.Church has locations across 10 states.

9. Skip Heitzig

Pastor of Calvary Albuquerque and author of several books
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Why you should listen: If you appreciate expository preaching (teaching the Bible verse by verse), then Skip’s twice-weekly podcast for you. You can also look up all of Skip’s teachings by verse.
Interesting note: A video podcast of the same teachings is also available, as is Skip’s worldwide radio broadcast, The Connection.

10. Kerry Shook

Pastor of Woodlands Church and author of the New York Times best seller One Month to Live: 30 Days to a No-Regrets Life
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
Why you should listen: Kerry addresses relevant topics in innovative ways and focuses on relationship with God, leaving a lasting legacy, and life values. Listen here.
Interesting note: Kerry’s website also includes a devotional blog and video teachings.

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