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Recent articles on holiness, discipleship, and knowing God.
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Meet Craig Brian Larson — Lead Pastor of Lake Shore Church in Chicago's West Loop since 1995.
Pastor Brian
Craig Brian Larson
Pastor Brian · Lead Pastor · Lake Shore Church, West Loop Chicago
Pastor Brian uses his middle name in everyday ministry. He loves the Lord supremely — because God is infinitely superior in every imaginable way. He cherishes his family, is energized by pastoring and preaching God’s Word, and is called to both. He enjoys writing as hard but satisfying work, likes to think (writing helps), and relaxes with classical music.
He has published many books and articles and served in editorial roles for Christianity Today’s Leadership Journal and PreachingToday.com for fifteen years. He holds a master’s degree in theology from Wheaton Graduate School and a bachelor’s from Illinois State University.
Pastor Brian has served Lake Shore Church in downtown Chicago since 1995 and previously served three other churches. He and his wife Nancy have four grown sons, four daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.
His writing has focused on perseverance, preaching, and sermon illustrations. As editor of Christianity Today’s preaching resources, he read and listened to thousands of sermons by outstanding preachers from many backgrounds — a rich, balanced perspective he brings to Sunday teaching.
Published works
- Preaching That Connects — co-author · Zondervan
- The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching — co-general editor · Zondervan
- Running the Midnight Marathon — also published as Hang in There…to the Better End · Revell / Spire
- The Preacher’s Toolbox — general editor · six volumes · Hendrickson
- Sermon illustration collections — author or editor · Baker, Zondervan, Tyndale
- Pastoral Grit — also published as Staying Power · Bethany House / Baker
- Know — Gaining Wisdom from God About Everything — available on Amazon
- Over 100 articles in Christian magazines
Connect with Pastor Brian
Teaching from Pastor Brian
Blog posts, podcast episodes, and published books from Pastor Brian’s teaching ministry appear on our site. Sunday messages from Lake Shore Church gatherings are in Sermons (main menu) — separate from his personal blog and podcast.
Podcast
Teaching episodes synced from Libsyn — general Bible topics, not Sunday worship recordings.
Listen to episodes →Books
Published books and free email teaching series.
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