Since Dr. Danny Akin announced his retirement yesterday, I thought I would share my Dr. Akin story.
Dr. Akin preached a revival at our south Georgia church when I was in high school. He was still at Southern seminary as Dean and professor of preaching. I felt called to ministry and thought preaching would be in my future, so I paid careful attention to his preaching.
He preached four or five times that week. I still remember one sermon warning us against falling away like Demas. I noticed that he started each sermon on the left side of the pulpit at the front of the stage. I suspected that he did that to connect with the congregation. After his introduction, he moved behind the pulpit and stayed there until he moved back to the left side of the pulpit to give one illustration and application. He did that in each sermon about 3/4 of the way through. Then he moved back to the pulpit for the rest of the sermon.
I’ve carried that model of a preacher’s movement with me ever since. Even now as a 41-year-old pastor, I start every sermon on the left front and then move into the pulpit. If I move, it is one time to personalize an illustration and application.
I went to Southern after Dr. Akin left. I never took a class with him. I never read a book by him. Every Sunday morning though, I start my sermon on the left hand side of the pulpit.
