In 1988, Dr. Joel Gregory – then pastor of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX – preached the annual sermon of the Southern Baptist Convention. It has become known as “The Castle Sermon” and has achieved legendary status.
Gregory would later serve a turbulent tenure as pastor of First Baptist Dallas, chronicled in his memoir “Too Great a Temptation.” The book should be required reading for those who feel a ministerial call.
I came to know Dr. Gregory further down the road as he served as preaching professor at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. As a new seminarian, I preached a sermon in his Preaching I course and was thrilled to have him critique my exposition of 1 Peter 2. As a more seasoned minister, Gregory led my first doctor of ministry seminar. I sat beside him for 10 hours a day for two weeks. I’ll always remember his belly laugh (and wisdom).
This sermon was a massive call for unity after years of infighting within a denomination.
Jeff Gravens 