Jesus wept. – John 11:35 John 11 records the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. John tells the story in a series of conversations. The passage begins with a conversation Jesus has with his disciples about the sickness and death of Lazarus. When he finally arrived in Bethany, Lazarus’ sister Marth confronted him. In the ensuing conversation, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Then Jesus talked with Lazarus’ other sister, Mary. Mary fell at the feet of Jesus, consumed with grief. Unlike his encounter at Jairus’ house, Jesus does not question the mourning...

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is not good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. - Matthew 5:13 Salt gets bad press. it is tied to hypertension, obesity, heart disease, and other ailments. The need for salt is questioned. The use of salt is discouraged. The presence of salt on many tables is more decorative than anything else. However, this was not the case when Jesus announced to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth." In New...

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. - Psalm 23:5 Psalm 23:5 envisions a great banquet. David is not just an invited guest. He is the guest of honor. As David enjoyed the delicacies at the table, his mortal enemies stand around the table looking on. David did not fear the evil in the valley because of his shepherd. And David did not fear the presence of his enemies because of his host. David was not a delegate who negotiated his way to the table. He...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to offer you several ideas to consider as you plan your preaching calendar for 2021. Pastors are busy people. Sermon preparation is hard work. Preaching through COVID-19 is burdensome. The new year is a golden opportunity. Effective preachers are good stewards of their limited time. One way to be a steward of your opportunities to prepare and preach is to have a sermon plan. It may be a few a month or the entire year. You may do...

The preacher should live as a preacher, watching his life and doctrine. The preacher should also labor as a preacher, giving himself to the hard work of prayer and the ministry of the word. And the preacher should lead as a preacher. The pastor is often judged by the work he does outside of the pulpit more than the work he does in it. Yet there is no biblical dichotomy between the pastor as a preacher and the pastor as a leader. Preaching is leadership! First and foremost, the pastor-teacher is charged to preach the word (2 Timothy 4:1-2). His...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicating to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to talk to you about preparing to preach. A passion to preach without the discipline to study is a desire to perform. Preparing to preach is hard work. Preaching is the fun part. Preparing is the hard part. Faithful preachers do the hard work of diligent preparation. How do you prepare to preach? Preparing yourself. First and foremost, prepare yourself to preach. This begins by affirming your call to preach. Ministry is a calling you receive, not a...

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. - Proverbs 4:23 Proverbs 4:23 consists of an exhortation and an explanation, a command and a reason. The verse begins with a call to keep your heart with all vigilance. Like a soldier defending his post against attack, you must guard your heart. We typically associate the heart with our emotions. In scripture, however, the heart represents the mind, the will, and the emotions. The heart is the seat of personhood. It is one's innermost being; the control-center of life. The command to keep your heart...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. The faithful preacher should live as a preacher (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 2:15). The faithful preacher should labor as a preacher, giving himself to the hard work of biblical research and sermon preparation. The faithful preacher should also lead as a preacher. There is no biblical dichotomy between the pastor as a preacher and the pastor as a leader. The pastor-teacher's primary work is to preach the word (2 Timothy 4:1-2). His leadership should flow out of his preaching, not compete with...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode of the podcast, I have the joy of talking preaching with Eric C. Redmond. Redmond is a Teaching-Pastor at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park (IL), an associate professor at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and the general editor of the new book on preaching, entitled, Say It! Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition. There is a wonderful heritage of faithful preaching in the Black church. That great heritage is carried on by a great cloud of contemporary...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  Pastors are busy. We have lives. We have families. We have churches. With all of our personal and ministerial responsibilities, Sundays keep coming with unrelenting regularity. How do you remain fresh and faithful in the pulpit over the long haul? In this episode, I talk to Ray Pritchard of Keep Believing Ministries about preaching and, more specifically, preaching sermon series. Ray is a longtime pastor, prolific authority, and dynamic preacher. His sermons are clear, compelling, and convicting. Busy preachers will mind many...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  I have been preaching through the book of Jonah at my church. During my studies, I have been helped and edified by the book Running From Mercy, by Anthony J. Carter. I reached out to Pastor Carter and he graciously agreed to join me for a conversation about preaching the book of Jonah. Anthony Carter is the founding pastor of East Point Church in East Point, GA, where he has served since 2008. A graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Carter is...

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. - Ephesians 5:18-21 The filling of the Spirit is the most controversial, divisive, and misunderstood ministry of the Holy Spirit. Christians respond to the subject with ignorance, fear, speculation, fanaticism, or indifference. Why is there so...