The Pulpit and the Prayer Closet: Dr. Keeney Dickenson on Spurgeon’s Legacy

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Apr 8, 2025

Keeney Dickenson, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Crockett, Texas, shares his journey of faith and preaching since he was 17. He discusses how Charles Spurgeon's emphasis on prayer has shaped his ministry and commitment to expositional teaching. Keeney explains turning Scripture into prayer as essential sermon prep and the importance of personal integrity in preaching. With insights on long-term pastoral care and the deep connections formed with congregants, he offers encouragement for both new and veteran preachers to remain rooted in God's Word.

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ANECDOTE

First Sermon at 17

Keeney Dickenson preached his first sermon at age 17 during a youth revival in his home church in Clovis, New Mexico.
He preached four sermons in four days, which was a challenging start that shaped his early preaching experience.

ADVICE

Value Long-Term Ministry

Long-term ministry allows you to deeply know your congregation’s circumstances and tailor your preaching pastorally.
Presence through life’s events strengthens bonds and makes preaching more meaningful to people.

INSIGHT

Spurgeon’s Deep Influence

Spurgeon’s influence on Keeney extends beyond preaching to personal integrity and spirituality.
Spurgeon’s teaching helped shape Keeney’s commitment to self-evaluation and ministry focus.

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How did Charles Spurgeon’s theology of prayer shape one preacher’s lifelong commitment to expositional ministry, personal integrity, and staying rooted in a single congregation? In this conversation, Mike Neglia sits down with Dr. Keeney Dickenson, a seasoned pastor and mentor, to explore the spiritual and pastoral depth that comes from decades of prayer-soaked preaching and long-term faithfulness in one place.

From his first sermon at age 17 to a lifetime of week-in, week-out preaching through entire books of the Bible, Keeney shares the lessons, struggles, and joys of walking closely with the Lord and his congregation. Drawing deeply from Spurgeon’s example, he explains how prayer isn’t just part of sermon prep—it is the sermon prep. He walks us through his rhythm of turning Scripture into prayer, resisting the temptation to preach second-hand insights, and staying attentive to the Spirit and the lives of his people.

Whether you're preparing your first sermon or your 500th, this conversation is a warm and wise reminder that faithful preaching flows from a faithful life.

Highlights & Topics:

Preaching your first sermon at 17… and still learning
How long-term ministry deepens both sermon and shepherd
Lessons from Spurgeon on prayer, integrity, and health
Writing prayers from the text before writing sermons about the text
Why approval from God matters more than applause from people
Encouragement to remain personally tethered to the Word, not just to study tools
The pastoral danger of preaching disconnected from lived experience

About Dr. Keeney Dickenson:

Dr. Keeney Dickenson has served as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Crockett, Texas since 2003. With over two decades of local church leadership, he is known for his deep commitment to Christ-centered preaching, pastoral longevity, and the integration of prayer into every aspect of ministry. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Truett Theological Seminary and is the founder and director of Prayeridigm Ministries, a training and resource initiative aimed at helping pastors and churches grow in their understanding and practice of prayer. Dr. Dickenson regularly mentors young leaders and speaks on topics related to spiritual formation, biblical exposition, and sustainable ministry.

Related Links:

In Times of Loss: Preaching at Funerals and Consoling the Grieving with Paul Beasley-Murray:
https://cgnmedia.org/podcasts/in-times-of-loss-preaching-at-funerals-and-consoling-the-grieving
Hard Work, Charles Spurgeon and You - David Guzik on lessons learned from the life and ministry of Charles Spurgeon : https://open.spotify.com/episode/2eaB8MhareGvYXdAhIA7eV?si=xWB1N-JDQOaMcLx8AG4qUQ
Dr. Keeney Dickenson's Prayeridigm resources:
https://cgnmedia.org/ministries/prayeridigm

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