He is my most favorite preacher ever outside of the Bible: Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge was the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, CA, for over forty years. He died and went to be with his King Jesus on April 4, 2000.
S. M. Lockridge was born March 7, 1913, in Robertson County, Texas, the oldest of eight children and son of a Baptist minister. A graduate of Bishop College in Marshall, Texas, he worked for two years as a high school English teacher. In 1940 in Dallas, he felt led to preach. In 1941 he married Virgil Mae Thomas, but they never had any children. In 1942, he accepted his first pastorate at Fourth Ward Baptist Church in Ennis, Texas. In August 1952, he was named pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, CA, where he served until retiring in 1993. During Dr. Lockridge’s tenure at Calvary Baptist, his ministry touched the lives of thousands of people. He preached at crusades, revivals, religious rallies, and evangelistic conferences around the world. He held doctorates and numerous honorary degrees and was often sought as a public speaker, even after he retired in 1993. He served as a guest lecturer at numerous schools and universities and was on the faculty of several others, including the Billy Graham School of Evangelism. Dr. Lockridge was also very active in the civil rights movement. (This biography was taken from this video from Woodville Baptist Church - Cardiff, UK.)
Here is a short biographical video about Dr. Lockridge's life:
This is a short testimony he gave at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA (It's the only video footage I've ever seen of him):
This YouTube channel has compiled many of his sermons as well.
In a sermon on the word "Amen" from the Lord's prayer, Dr. Lockridge broke out into a glorious description of the Lord Jesus Christ known as "That's My King!" I heard one pastor say it may be the most listened to sermon [clip] in modern church history because of how many times it's been listened to and downloaded from the internet. Outside the Bible, it is the most glorious, powerful, amazing, beautiful, wonderful description of Jesus Christ I have ever read or heard. Nothing outside the Bible, prayer, and the local church has helped me fight depression, loneliness, sadness, self-pity, selfishness, fear, anxiety, and all manner of other sins more than this glorious description of Jesus Christ. It has helped me fix my eyes on Jesus – "the Founder and Perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2) – like almost nothing else!
His "That's My King!" poem and his "It's Friday, But Sunday's Coming!" poem have inspired me to write other poems based on books of the Bible (the first was this one from the book of Hebrews) and based on other topics (many compiled in this book). Almost every sermon I've ever preached has been influenced by Dr. Lockridge because I try to end my sermons with a poetic exultation in Christ.
Dr. Lockridge is my favorite preacher outside the Bible because he preached this greatest poem and description of the LORD Jesus Christ ever written by man (outside the Bible) that you will ever read or hear. And here it is:
Whoever heard of a Kingdom without a King?
Everybody's got a King!
Who is your King?
If when I ask you “Who is your King?” – you ask me Who is mine.
You got a minute?
My King is the only One qualified to be King!
My King has always been King!
You know these other Kings, they were born a prince and had to wait till their father died or their mother, if she was the ruling monarch, wait until she died and then become king!
But my King was born King!
In fact the Bible says He's a Seven Way King!
He's the King of the Jews – that's an ethnic King!
He's the King of Israel – that's a national King!
My King will let you know who's who and what's what!
My King always has been King and always will be King!
He's the King of righteousness!He's the King of the ages!He's the King of heaven!He's the King of glory!He's the King of kings,!And He is the Lord of lords!Now that's my King!
Well David said the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork!
That's my King!
My King is the only One of Whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love!
My King is a sovereign King!
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supplies!
That's my King!
Nobody can keep Him from saving me!
I don't care what you tell Him about me – He knows me!
No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing!He's enduringly strong!He's entirely sincere!He's eternally steadfast!He's immortally graceful!He's imperially powerful!He's impartially merciful!He's the greatest Phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world!He's God's Son!He's the sinner's Savior!He's the Centerpiece of civilization!
That's my King!
What I like about Him – He doesn't need me, and He doesn't need you!
He stands alone in Himself!He's august!He's unique!He's unparalleled!He's unprecedented!He's supreme!He's preeminent!He's the loftiest Idea in literature!He's the highest Personality in philosophy!He's the supreme Problem in higher criticism!He's the fundamental Doctrine of true theology!He's the cardinal Necessity of spiritual religion!He's the only One qualified to be an all sufficient Savior!
That's my King!
He's the Miracle of the age!He's the Superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him!He's in every way able to satisfy every need – your need and mine!He's the only One able to supply all of our needs simultaneously!He can hear all of us pray at the same time!He supplies strength for the weak!He's available for the tempted and the tried!He sympathizes, and He saves!He's the Almighty God Who guides and keeps all His people!He heals the sick!He cleanses the lepers!He forgives sinners!He discharges debtors!He delivers the captives!He defends the feeble!He blesses the young!He serves the unfortunate!He regards the aged!He rewards the diligent, and He beautifies the meek!
Now that's my King! Well! Do you know Him?!
Do you know Him?! Do you know Him?!
That's my King!
My King is the Key to knowledge!
He's the Wellspring of wisdom!He's the Doorway of deliverance!He's the Pathway of peace!He's the Roadway of righteousness!He's the Highway of holiness!He's the Gateway of glory!He's the Master of the mighty!He's the Captain of the conquerors!He's the Head of the heroes!He's the Leader of the legislators!He's the Overseer of the overcomers!He's the Governor of governors!He's the Prince of princes!He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords!
That's my King! Is He yours?!
What I like about Him . . .
His office is manifold!His promise is sure!His light is matchless!His goodness is limitless!His mercy is everlasting!His love never changes!His Word is enough!His grace is sufficient!His reign is righteous!His yoke is easy, and His burden is light!
I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable!
He's indescribable!He's incomprehensible!He's invincible!He's irresistible!I'm trying to tell you, the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him!You can't get Him out of your mind!You can't get Him off of your hand!You can't outlive Him, and you can't live without Him!
That's my King!
The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him!Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him!The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree about Him!Herod couldn't kill Him!Death couldn't handle Him!And the grave couldn't hold Him!
That's my King!
He always has been, and He always will be!I'm talking about He had no predecessor, and He'll have no successor!There was nobody before Him, and there'll be nobody after Him!You can't impeach Him, and He's not gonna resign!
That's my King! That's my King!
This book: That's My King!: Meditations on the Christ Who is All in All was written in honor of Dr. Lockridge and his poetry for Jesus.
This is my favorite video of Dr. Lockridge preaching this poem.
This is my second favorite video of his poem (a shortened version).
This version from Woodville Baptist Church is good as well.
You can listen to the whole sermon from which this poetic description comes from here.
God And The Gospel
To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here with a free, 3 day trial.
2 comments:
I’m so glad I found Jesus and I’m so glad that I found S.M.lockridge .
Amen! I'm glad you found them too!
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