Dillon T. Thornton (MDiv, Beeson Divinity School; PhD, University of Otago) serves as the lead pastor of Faith Community Church (EPC) in the Tampa Bay area. Dillon is a gospel-centered, dechurched- and unchurched-loving, mission-leading pastor with over two decades of diverse ministry experience. He’s served small, medium, and mega-churches; shepherded nationally and internationally; and has experience in church planting, church revitalization, and theological education. Dillon is a senior fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians. He’s authored numerous articles and four books, including Give Them Jesus: Raising Our Children on the Core Truths of the Christian Faith (Hachette, 2018) and Deathly (De)Vices: Our Ever-Present Portals to Seven Ancient Sins (Cascade, 2026). Dillon’s wife, Jamie, is his co-laborer in ministry and co-adventurer in life. His two sons, Aidan and Cullen, reluctantly supply him with the arsenal of illustrations he uses in his preaching, teaching, and writing.

Professional Societies

  • Senior Fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians

  • Member of the Evangelical Theological Society

  • Member of the Evangelical Homiletics Society

Research and Teaching Interests

  • New Testament Studies

  • Pastoral Theology and Preaching

  • Reformed Theology

  • Technology and Spiritual Formation

  • Inklings Studies

Publications

Books

  • Deathly (De)Vices: Our Ever-Present Portals to Seven Ancient Sins. Eugene: Cascade, 2026.

  • Long Story Short: Dwelling in the Good News of the Great Story. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2022.

  • Give Them Jesus: Raising Our Children on the Core Truths of the Christian Faith. New York: Hachette, 2018.

  • Hostility in the House of God: An Investigation of the Opponents in 1 and 2 Timothy. BBRSup 15. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2016.

Articles

  • "How Proverbs Can Help Us Wield Power Selflessly." Center for Pastor Theologians (2021).

  • “God’s Gift of Himself.” Inspiration (December 2020): 10-11.

  • “How to Become a Better Fielder of Your Children’s Questions.” More to Life (September 2018).

  • “Parent-Theologians and Children-Disciples.” Westminster Society Journal 2 (2018): 117-128.

  • “Consecrated Creation: First Timothy 4:1-5 as a Remedy for the Cosmological Dualism Prevalent in the Church.” Bulletin of Ecclesial Theology 4.1 (2017): 15-26.

  • “Welcoming One Another at the Waters.” Churchman 130.3 (2016): 229-240.

  • “‘Saying What They Should Not Say’: Reassessing the Gravity of the Problem of the Younger Widows (1 Tim 5:11-15).” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 59.1 (2016): 119-129.

  • “En Route, in Prayer.” Expository Times 127.8(2016): 416.

  • “Satan as Adversary and Ally in the Process of Ecclesial Discipline: The Use of the Prologue to Job in 1 Cor 5:5 and 1 Tim 1:20.” Tyndale Bulletin 66.1 (2015): 137-151.

  • “‘This Poor Soul Cried’: A Testimony to the Taste of God.” Expository Times 126.12 (2015): 600-602. 

  • “Unity, Diversity, and Ministry in the Body of Christ.” Expository Times 126.10 (2015): 491-492.

  • “Sin Seizing an Opportunity through the Commandments: The Law in 1 Tim 1:8-11 and Rom 6-8.” Horizons in Biblical Theology 36.2 (2014): 142-158.

  • “Curbing Interpulpit Criticism.” Preaching (September/October 2014): 32-33. 

  • “Forgiveness Knows No Bounds.” Expository Times 125.11 (2014): 546-547.

  • “The Kingdom of Heaven is like ... ” Expository Times 125.9 (2014): 449-450.

  • “God Our Savior: The Redemptive Arrangement of God and the Participation of His People.” Expository Times 124.11 (2013): 549-551.

  • “The Fruit of the Gospel.” Expository Times 124.9 (2013): 438-440. 

  • “Genuine Confession and the Joy of Forgiveness.” Expository Times 125.2 (2013): 67-75.

  • “Kindling the Fire of Meditation.” Banner of Truth (December 2012): 16-20. Translated into Danish. 

  • “To Him Belong Glory: A Plea for Pastors to Unpack the Jargon.” Preaching (May/June 2012): 22-23.

Reviews

  • Review of Dead to Sin, Alive to God in Christ: Romans 6 for the Life of the Church, by Klyne Snodgrass and Stephen Chester. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (2026).

  • Review of Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits are Hurting the Church, by Katelyn Beaty. Center for Pastor Theologians (2024).

  • Review of Science and Religion: A New Introduction, by Alister McGrath. Bulletin of Ecclesial Theology (2017).

  • Review of When Men Were Not Men: Masculinity and Otherness in the Pastoral Epistles. Bible in the Modern World 62, by Manuel Villalobos Mendoza. Bulletin for Biblical Research 26.4 (2017): 605-606.

  • Review of The Myth of Rebellious Angels: Studies in Second Temple Judaism and New Testament Texts. WUNT 335, by Loren T. Stuckenbruck. Bulletin for Biblical Research 25.3 (2015): 418-419.

  • Review of Christ Absent and Present: A Study in Pauline Christology. WUNT 2.354, by Peter Orr. Bulletin for Biblical Research 25.1 (2015): 125-126.

  • Review of The Qumran Rule Texts in Context: Collected Studies. Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism 154, by Charlotte Hempel. Bulletin for Biblical Research 24.4 (2014): 573-574.

  • Review of Paul and the Law: Keeping the Commandments of God, by Brian S. Rosner. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 57.2 (2014): 438-440.

  • Review of Men and Women in the Household of God: A Contextual Approach to Roles and Ministries in the Pastoral Epistles. NTOA/SUNT 103, by Korinna Zamfir. Bulletin for Biblical Research 24.1 (2014): 123-125.

  • Review of Ears That Hear: Explorations in Theological Interpretation of the Bible, edited by Joel B. Green and Tim Meadowcroft. Expository Times 125.6 (2014): 303-304.

  • Review of Onesimus Our Brother: Reading Religion, Race, and Culture in Philemon, edited by Matthew V. Johnson, James A. Noel, and Demetrius K. Williams. Bulletin for Biblical Research 23.4 (2014): 602-603.

  • Review of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. Two Horizons New Testament Commentary, by Robert W. Wall and Richard B. Steele. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 56.4 (2013): 882-884.

  • Review of Pioneer and Perfecter of Faith. WUNT 2.338, by Christopher A. Richardson. Bulletin for Biblical Research 23.3 (2013): 442-443.

  • Review of Called to Lead: Paul’s Letters to Timothy for a New Day, by Anthony B. Robinson and Robert W. Wall. Expository Times 125.2 (2013): 101.

  • Review of Opening Paul’s Letters: A Reader’s Guide to Genre and Interpretation, by Patrick Gray. Expository Times 124.8 (2013): 383.

  • Review of Jews, Gentiles, and the Opponents of Paul. Apostasy in the New Testament Communities 2, by B.J. Oropeza. Bulletin for Biblical Research 23.1 (2013): 134-135.­­­­­

Sample Interviews

Fun Facts

  • Favorite Book of the Bible: Whichever one he’s preaching through at the moment

  • Favorite Aspect of Ministry: Expository preaching

  • Favorite Author: C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien

  • Favorite Director: Christopher Nolan

  • Favorite Artist: His wife

  • Favorite Pastimes: Running/working out, hiking or anything outdoors, reading, writing, watching movies

  • Favorite Places on Earth: New Zealand, the Cotswolds, his study