My boss, and senior pastor of CedarCreek.tv in Perrysburg, Ohio; Lee Powell.

In an age of rockstar pastors and, as you said, the ability to listen to anyone anytime, I find the local — my local — church to still be the most relevant and needed in my life. I think if we all spent a little LESS time looking at what else is out there, we’d be able to better appreciate our current surroundings.

I’d sit under the teaching of my pastor, Norm Millar from Harvest Bible Chapel London. Loves the Scriptures, loves his people, and is incredibly gifted as a teacher/preacher. He definitely could go head-to-head with any of the most gifted preachers I listen to via podcast.

I listen to Mark Driscoll almost every week. not his current sermons but I listen to a series on the Mars Hill app. I don’t always agree with his tone but his high standard for biblical truth is helpful in discerning God’s word.

Dr David Jeremiah of Shadow Mountain Community Church. (www.shadowmountain.org) If I lived on the west coast, I’d be a member.

Actually, my current pastor would be my top choice. BUT…that’s kind of a chicken answer so if I had to choose one outside my church it would be James MacDonald.

Having done several of his small group studies (where I was able to see him on video) and reading his books, his passion for the Gospel and his biblical knowledge is inspirational.

Mine would be Matt Chandler from The Village Church in Texas. It doesn’t make me want to move to Texas, but I appreciate his passion for The Gospel. I hope God continues to heal him from brain cancer.

That is pretty easy…I already get to do this and that is Pete Wilson

But I would be interested in spending some time with Rob Bell, even though I think he would be a terrible mentor.

Well he’d never answer your questions. BOOM.

I kid, I kid.

Where on the west coast is that?

Yep, totally agree with you on that. Local church is local for a reason.

If I lived in Minnesota, I’d go with Greg Boyd. Otherwise I’m content to learn from whoever’s teaching at Sunset.

David Platt pastor of Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL. His preaching style is like none I’ve ever heard and he exudes humility (can you do that?)Loves the Gospel and has a heart for the nations.

He wrote the book Radical right? It’s on my need-to-read list.

Yeah he did. Powerful, but pretty short read. You could knock it out in a weekend. Well worth it

I learn so much by the variety of quality teaching at my home church. If given the opportunity, though, I’d jump at the opportunity to be taught by Sean Smith, prophetic evangelist. http://seansmithministries.org/

Outside of my current pastoral mentors? I can only think of one well known pastor who I really would want to learn from and have as my pastor, and that’s Eugene Peterson.

oh so true

Other than my pastor when I was in San Francisco, Jeff Garner, and my pastor here in Portland, Ken Garrett, I’d have to say Eugene Peterson as well.

This is a weird question, I think.

Matt Chandler is definitely at or near the top. An incredible combo of truth and humility.

Francis Chan would be up there as well.

My friend and former pastor Lance Humphreys would also be top 5. He used to pastor Bridgeway Church here in OKC, but stepped down few years ago. That guy believes in the Word and the Church like few I’ve met. Really inspiring.

Looks these seminarians Brian and Bryan pulling out Mr. Peterson. Good call there, for sure. Either of you read his new memoir?

The hybrid of Tony Evans, John Piper, and Alistair Begg.

Oh yeah, Tony Evans, that guy can preach. It just comes so natural from him.

pastor rick and donna shelton from Life Christian Church in St. Louis MO

Brent Stephens. He was my pastor in Georgia (fourpointschurch.tv), and while I’ve sat under some bigger names, he’d still be my first choice. He loves going deep into the scriptures, yet he has a knack for breaking everything down and presenting it in a way that those of us without an M.Div can still walk away actually feeling like we learned something of value. On top of that, he truly embraces the role of pastor, not just teacher. He is very approachable and loves to spend time with people in the church outside of service. I know that as that local church grows, that will become more difficult, but he’ll probably still try. He’s one of those guys who you can meet and feel like you’ve known for years after talking just a few minutes.

Second choice would be Matt Chandler – he strikes me as being very similar to Brent in his teaching style.

Peter Lord.

I love the creativity of Ed Young, but I really, really enjoy Steven Furtick right now.

I would say I am with you Mr. Braun. I think Matt Chandler is great. I try to not miss any of his teachings.

Love his passion for the Bible and for things being centered on Christ.

James MacDonald,and Darren Patrick would be good too!

If I could only be led by one pastor, I’d wonder why the church only has one pastor. :\

The majority of churches in America only have one pastor, is that a bad thing?

Pastor Kerry Willis from Harrisonburg, Virginia (abeaconofhope.org). He was my pastor during my teenage years, and helped encourage me as I pursued my own call into ministry. He is a great teacher, and an awesome example of a God-fearing man.

Well, y’know… just because most everybody’s doing something doesn’t make it right. I would argue that the biblical model calls for a local church to be led by a plurality of called and qualified men serving as pastors (or elders — same thing). Sure, there might be one main guy that preaches and/or is paid, but the way the question is framed (at least in the title of the post) makes it sound like the “solo-pastor-as-CEO” model that so many of us are used to.

The way the question is framed in the actual post is a little clearer — ie: whose teaching would you rather sit under. It’s not a bad question, really, but again, it kind of presents a dilemma that shouldn’t exist. For instance, what happens if you end up under your dream preacher from week to week, but then something happens where he’s unable to preach every week?

(Sorry. I’m really not the nitpicky jerk I seem like here. )

I don’t want just one. Give me some good tag-team preaching.

I think you mean well Rae but this is what I call overthinking the room. I said in the post my point wasn’t to talk about the pros/cons. The fact is this is a reality, might as well talk about it right?

Jesus Christ.

I guess someone had to be that guy.

Well I think it was an unintentionally loaded question. There is no one living preacher who is doing quite like God intended; yet the tradition of the modern Christianity has overglorified the “pastor” position to the point that we begin seriously asking each other questions like the one you presented here. Since Jesus is most certainly NOT dead, the fact that no one else mentioned Him is a troubling commentary on today’s Christian church.

Look, I’m not disagreeing with you. But you’re making a jump I’m not. Just because I enjoy and am blessed by the teaching of a pastor doesn’t mean I’m going to follow him like I follow Jesus. It doesn’t even mean I’d follow him or her at all. I just might get a lot out of his or her teaching and leadership.

I agree, but you asked for the ONE best teacher we could imagine who is living today. I just don’t see how any human could qualify, when we have a living, breathing, High Priest as an option. No animosity here, really; just careful observation.

Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. Just outside San Diego. David Jeremiah has been the senior pastor here 30 years.