Matt serves as the Lead Pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, NC. You can watch Matt’s sermon videos here, or listen to the sermons on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon.

Matt and Laura have been married since 2007 and have three children, Solomon, Ruby, and Abby.

Education (See CV)

• B.A., the Arts, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Fall 2005.
• M.Div. with Biblical Languages, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fall 2008.
• D.Min. in Pastoral Theology, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Winter 2017.
• Ph.D. student (under Brian Rosner), Ridley College (Australia), est. 2028.

Ministry Experience

• Ministry Intern, Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC (2005)
• Calvary School of Pastoral Leadership, Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC (2006 – 2008)
• Associate Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC (2009 – 2013)
• Brand Manager, The Gospel Project at LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, TN (2013-2015)
• Teaching Pastor, The Fellowship, Nashville, TN (2013-2015)
• Lead Pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, Apex, NC (2015-Current)
• Adjunct Professor, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC (2025-Current)

Leadership

• The Leadership Council for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (2016).
• The Pastors Network of North Carolina, founder with John Mark Harrison (2016).
• Young Pastors Council for the North American Mission Board (2017).
• Field Instructor, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (EQUIP) (2017-).
• Board of Directors for The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (2018-2021).
• President of the North Carolina Pastors Conference (2018).
• President of the Board of Directors for The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (2021)
• Speaker Selection Council, The Pastors Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention (2022-2023)
• Chair, The Committee on Nominations for the Southern Baptist Convention (2023-2024)
• Second Vice-President, North Carolina Baptists (2025).

Writing

Books

• Hebrews: A 12-Week Study, Knowing The Bible, Edited by J.I. Packer and Dane Ortlund, Crossway, 2015.
• 15 Things Seminary Couldn’t Teach Me (Contributor), Edited by C. Jeffrey Robinson Sr. and Collin Hansen, Crossway, 2018.
• The Timeless Truths Study Bible (Editor), Thomas Nelson, 2023.
• Drawn by Beauty: Awe and Wonder in the Christian Life, B&H Academic, 2025.
• Every Member Matters (with Josh Wredburg), B&H, 2025.
• A Short Guide to Church Revitalization (with Steven Wade), B&H, 2026.

Curriculum

• The Gospel Project 
• Explore The Bible

Selected Articles

• Theosthetics: Thoughts from the Intersection of Aesthetics and Worship; Collide Magazine
• Book Review of The God Who Is There by D.A. Carson; Beginning with Moses
• Adoption, Orphan Care, and the Southern Baptist Convention; Together For Adoption
• The Noetic Effects of Sin and Discipleship of the Mind, Gospel-Centered Discipleship
• Book Review of The God Problem by Robert Wuthnow, The Gospel Coalition
• Christ-Centered Reading, Preaching, and Teaching, Gospel-Centered Discipleship
• Pastor, Don’t Waste Your Summer!, The Gospel Project  (Also posted at Church Leaders)
• Fathering an Adopted Son, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
• Jesus and the Ten Commandments, The Gospel Project
• Book Review of What Happens After I Die? by Michael Allen Rogers, The Gospel Coalition
• The Discipleship Interview with Eric Geiger, Eric Geiger
• Why Do We Need Physical Rest?, The Gospel Project
• Belonging to Abba, Facts and Trends
• A Deeper Look at What the Bible Says About Spiritual Growth, Explore God
• What Is Our Problem With Hell?, The Gospel Project
• Following the Steps of the Crucified One, Kingdom People
• The Word in Community, Facts and Trends
• A Fellowshipping People, The Gospel Project
• The Benefits of a Church Membership Class, The Ministry Grid
• Christ Motivates a Sacrificial Life, The Gospel Project
• The Atonement and the Passover, Ed Stetzer at Christianity Today
• The Deadly Sin of Pride, The Gospel Project
• Pastoral Care, Confidentiality, and Sexual Abuse, Pastors Today
• The Power of Story: Captivated by the Gospel, Facts and Trends
• The Long Awaited King, The Gospel Project
• Book Review of Gospel Formed by J.A. Medders, The Gospel Coalition
• The Pastor as Shepherd, For The Church
• 5 Best Books On Hebrews, Church Leaders
• Our Words Will Be Thunder When Our Life Is Like Lightning, For The Church
• The Bible and Spiritual Formation, The Gospel Project
• Why Study The Book of Hebrews?, Crossway
• Why Theology Matters, Facts and Trends and Baptist Press
• Pastor, You Aren’t Superman, For The Church
• Shepherding with Sense and Sensibility, The Gospel Coalition
• The Beauty of Congregational Worship, For The Church
• Younger Southern Baptists seek a less partisan approach to political engagement Questions, The Washington Post
• Evangelism Through The Church Community, NC Baptist, and The Biblical Recorder
• Is There Really a Calvinist/Non-Calvinist Divide in the Younger Generation?, Conventional Futures
• Pastor, Let Your Deacons Serve, For The Church
• 5 Reasons Christians Neglect Beauty In Theology, The Gospel Coalition
• The Good News of Jesus in Jonah, The Gospel Project
• Counsel For The Counselor, For The Church
• In Christian Theology, Beauty Demands to Be Noticed, The Gospel Coalition
• A Distinctively Christian Appreciation of the Arts, Tabletalk Magazine Online
• Toward a Trinitarian Ecclesiology, Credo Magazine
• Integrity in Christian Leadership, Tabletalk Magazine Online

Sermons

• The Gospel and Our Adoption in Christ, Hickory Grove Baptist Church
• What, then, of the Temple (Mark 13)?, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• The Good News of Adoption (Galatians 4:1-7), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Sermons at Fairview Baptist Church (2015 – Current)

About Matt

• What is the gospel?
• What does Matt believe?

Media Photos

• Casual Indoors Smiling
• Casual Indoors Smiling 2
• Casual Indoors
• Formal Outdoors 1
• Formal Outdoors 2
• Formal Outdoors 3
• Formal Library 1
• Formal Library 2
• Casual Library 1
• Casual Library 2
• Casual Library 3
• Preaching 1
• Preaching 2
• Preaching 3

Nothing written or posted on this blog should be construed as being an official or unofficial opinion or position of my employer and church home.