Podcasts You Need #4: MacArthur and Zacharias

This week, we will feature two “scholarly level” podcasts to which I listen. Both feature in-depth sermons, but have distinctly different styles.

Grace to You. John MacArthur speaks on this program, featuring his sermons recorded over the past 20+ years. One great feature of this podcast is that it is often done in series format, so you can expect to learn much about one topic over a one- or two-week period. Another great feature is the amount of Bible used in each sermon. MacArthur often preaches from the New Testament, but uses the Old Testament to illustrate; and he does so, in most cases, beautifully. However, MacArthur is also deeply Premillinial, and that comes through in his preaching quite often. Recently on Grace to You, there was a series on “end-times,” and it was nothing more than a “handbook” on Premillenialism. The listener must beware of these things. It is still one of my favorites, and one of the podcasts that causes me to study more deeply. (Release: 5 times per week–Monday through Friday. Length: approximately 28 minutes.)

Let My People Think. Of all the podcasts to which I currently subscribe, this is my favorite. Ravi Zacharias’ sermons are deeply thought out, but are well presented. Originally being from India, Ravi’s sermons often reference Eastern culture, but he is able to make those illustrations accessible to Western hearers. These presentations are quite different from MacArthur’s, though, in that very few Bible verses are used in the sermons. Ravi is a master illustrator (in my mind), and he is able to take a few verses and truly make them come alive to the modern student. While I don’t preach with the same style, I enjoy learning illustrations from him. Again, there are certain beliefs he holds with which I do not agree, but they do not seem to be as prevalent in his preaching (at least, in the sermons I have heard thus far). If you like to think, you will love this podcast. (Release: 1 time per week–Monday. Length: approximately 25-30 minutes.)