The following article is part of a series of articles that will traverse church history to examine the preaching of great preachers.

The halls of history echo the names of preachers who have shaped the very bedrock of the pulpit. Much could be said—and has been said—of such significant figures. One name stands among them and is worthy of recognition—Shadrach Meshach Lockridge. S. M. Lockridge was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, California, from 1953 to 1993.[1] His powerful preaching passionately proclaimed Christ—His enduring strength, sincerity, steadfastness, grace, and power. Lockridge’s impact extended beyond the pulpit as he was active in the civil rights movement and hosted leaders like Martin Luther King. His friendship and travels with Billy Graham further accelerated his renown as an evangelistic preacher.

Passionate and vivid expositions of the Bible marked his preaching. Powerful storytelling, emotional engagement, and a deep reverence for Scripture characterized his sermons. Lockridge’s ability to connect with his audience made his biblical teachings impactful and memorable.

Though not an expository preacher, S. M. Lockridge offers three marks of evangelistic preaching.

1. Let our passion for Christ mark our preaching. Expositional preaching has received some warranted criticism for being stoic and passionless at times. However, topical preaching often relies too heavily on emotional response and winsome oration that misses the impact of truth. Francois Fenelon argued that truth and beauty must be for persuasion to work correctly.[2] Lockridge provides an example of appealing to mankind’s central need for Christ with the relevance of the oratory appeal. Carl Bradford asserted, “He epitomized evangelistic passion and commitment when preaching about the Lord Jesus.”[3] Daniel Gillespie demonstrated how Lockridge’s sermons are a “great example of the build so common to African American preaching.”[4] The passion for Christ must be woven into the fabric of the sermon itself.
2. Let our compassion for the lost mark our preaching. Carl Bradford noted, “For Lockridge, to preach the gospel meant to provide the solution to a sin-sick fallen world and exaltation of King Jesus and His kingdom.”[5] This conviction sets the perception of the ethos of Lockridge. He was one devoted to Christ and his fellow man. His life further exemplified his commitment, as demonstrated by his faithful years of service at Calvary Baptist Church for 40 years. Through those years, he connected with the individual listener in a mighty way. Bradford stated, “While Lockridge had a great sense of humor and animated imagination, he approached the task of evangelistic preaching with reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ.”[6]
3. Let our faithfulness to Christ mark our preaching. Lockridge set the example of faithfulness to Christ. He stated, “Stay in the study chamber of faith and on the watchtower of prayer. Study the Word and proclaim it as the Holy Spirit leads you. Don’t try to copy anybody else like I did.”[7] The emphasis on the faithfulness to Christ in preaching and not to emulate others was the pivotal point in Lockridge’s preaching. He stated, “I found that the Lord had called me individually, and if I waited on Him, He would give me what He wanted me to have.”[8] Daniel Gillespie noted in his dissertation that Lockridge’s sermons remained worshipful “even while listening for rhetoric.”[9] The blending of rhetorical devices and genuine worship through proclamation is a testament to his faithfulness to Christ and serves as our example.

Preachers can glean a lot from listening to other styles of preaching. From Lockridge, we can gather that his passion for Christ draws to mind the Christological focus of the Prince of Preachers—Charles H. Spurgeon. Spurgeon wrote, “Preach earnestly the love of God in Christ Jesus, and magnify the abounding mercy of the Lord; but always preach it in connection with His justice.”[10] Although not much is written on Lockridge, his impact on the kingdom is unquestionable. Let us strive toward greater kingdom impact through passion for Christ in the pulpit, urgency of concern for the lost, and faithfulness in exalting Christ.

[1] “Rev. Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge,” San Diego History Center, accessed Aug 7, 2024, https://sandiegohistory.org/celebrate-san-diego-black-history-heroes/rev-dr-shadrach-meshach-lockridge/

[2] Francois de Salignac de Lamothe Fenelon, Three Dialogues on Pulpit Eloquence (London: Thomas Baker, 1897), 3.

[3] Carl J. Bradford, “Shadrach Meshack (S. M.) Lockridge: Pastor and Evangelist,” A History of Evangelism in north America, ed. Thomas P. Johnston (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2021), 227.

[4] Daniel Lee Gillespie, “Training Preachers in Sacred Rhetoric Commonly Associated with African-American Preaching at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina,” (D.Ed.Min., diss. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, 2023), ProQuest (30486309), 60.

[5] Bradford, “Shadrach Meshack (S. M.) Lockridge,” 225.

[6] Bradford, “Shadrach Meshack (S. M.) Lockridge,” 227.

[7] “S. M. Lockridge: Preaching Christ to Every Creature,” Fundamentalist Journal, vol. 8, no. 6, June 1989, 36–37.

[8] “S. M. Lockridge,” 36–37.

[9] Gillespie, “Training Preachers in Sacred Rhetoric Commonly Associated with African-American Preaching at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina,” 60.

[10] Charles H. Spurgeon, “Lecture 23: On Conversion as Our Aim,” Lectures to My Students (Las Vegas: Dream Publishing, 2021), 284.

Bruce Gale serves as the Family Ministry Pastor of Paragon Church in Rio Rancho, NM. Bruce Gale is also a PhD student in evangelism and preaching at SWBTS.