Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

‘Poor in spirit’ can’t coexist with ‘rich in pride,’ Allen tells pastors

  • June 12, 2023
  • Grace Thornton
  • Featured, Latest News, SBC 2023
David Allen, professor at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and founder of PreachingCoach, preaches out of Matthew 5:3 during the 2023 SBC Pastors Conference.
(Photo by Sam Evans/The Baptist Paper)

‘Poor in spirit’ can’t coexist with ‘rich in pride,’ Allen tells pastors

One day when Adrian Rogers was in high school, he walked up and down his football practice field and prayed for God to use his life.

He didn’t have a grand vision to offer God — in fact, he felt like he needed to get lower, so he knelt. When that wasn’t low enough, he laid prostrate on the ground.

Then when that wasn’t low enough either, he dug a hole and stuck his nose into it until the dirt came up his nostrils.

The 2023 SBC Pastors Conference kicked off June 11 in New Orleans and will focus on “Beatitudes of a Pastor.”

David Allen, who now serves as dean of the Adrian Rogers Center for Biblical Preaching at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova, Tennessee, said he was a teenager when he heard a recording of Rogers telling that story in a sermon, and he “can still hear those words clear as a bell ringing in my ears.”

‘Totally dependent upon God’

He sees that image too when he thinks about humility and what it means to be “poor in spirit,” the topic of his sermon at this year’s Southern Baptist Pastors Conference June 11 in New Orleans. Allen’s sermon was the first of eight on the theme of “Beatitudes of a Pastor: Character Matters in Ministry.”

Preaching from Matthew 5:3, he said the phrase poor in spirit “comes to describe the humble, faithful person who has no hope on earth and places himself in the hands of God saying, ‘I am nothing; I have nothing; I am totally dependent upon you, O God.’ It’s the opposite of being rich in pride.”

Allen — who is also founder and editor-in-chief of PreachingCoach, a ministry that trains and mentors pastors and ministry leaders in preaching — said it’s impossible to reflect God’s light and seek the limelight at the same time.

“The worm of pride is ever threatening to eat into the fruit of the spirit in your life. The poison of pride sits inconspicuously on the shelf of your life,” he said. “It doesn’t take much to puff up these proud preacher hearts of ours, does it? A little praise, a little acclamation and we’re ready to burn incense to our own accomplishments.”

Character matters

Allen challenged pastors not to let their ambition or abilities carry them beyond where their character can sustain them.

“We could use a few more Adrian Rogers in our convention, and we could use a hole for our nose,” Allen said. “Matthew 5:3 is the hole for your nose — ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit.’ And Matthew 5:3 is the crown for your head — ‘for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.’ ”

To see more photos from Allen’s message, click here.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Providing more than meals, meeting ‘critical’ need
    Providing more than meals, meeting ‘critical’ need
    July 14, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for July 20
    Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for July 20
    July 14, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Fulani herdsmen kill, kidnap Christians in Kaduna State, Nigeria
    Fulani herdsmen kill, kidnap Christians in Kaduna State, Nigeria
    July 14, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Providing more than meals, meeting ‘critical’ need

For nine years, First Baptist Church in Portland has run a summer feeding program that does more than fill empty stomachs.

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for July 20

Here’s the Bible Studies for Life Sunday School lesson commentary for July 20, written by Bobby McKay, pastor of New Liberty Baptist Church in Morton, Mississippi.

Fulani herdsmen kill, kidnap Christians in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Fulani herdsmen attacked two villages in Kaduna state, Nigeria, July 7, killing two Christians and wounding three others, after terrorizing villagers in another area in June, International-Morning Star News reported.

Texas flooding update: Baptist relief teams, churches continue to ‘walk alongside’ hurting

Baptist relief teams hit the ground running Monday (July 14) after a rough weekend of  heavy rains and flash flood warnings in Central Texas that

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel