Articles

Articles

The Complicated Legacy of a Bishop Who Was Sincerely Wrong

November 27, 2023
By H.B. Charles Jr.
Waking up after a long Sunday nap, I surfed channels and landed on Carlton Pearson’s broadcast. He was a younger preacher than many on TV. His church was jampacked, mega-sized, and racially diverse. A traditional black preacher, Pearson even “whooped” - backed by a Hammond organ. This set of ministry dynamics is rare now. Imagine how alien it was thirty years ago.  I was encouraged by the message I heard that night. Pearson was articulate, joyful, and – from what I could tell – sound. None of the subsequent messages I heard raised any red flags. For the record, I...
Articles

Celebrating 15 Years as Pastor and People

November 11, 2023
By H.B. Charles Jr.
In the Fall of 2008, my family and I moved to Jacksonville from Los Angeles. My wife saw this transition coming and was somewhat braced for it. My children were too young to fully understand what was taking place. I was in shock.  I was invited to speak at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church for the first time on Memorial Day weekend, 2008. I was told I was not and would not be a candidate for the church’s pastoral opening. Then, I was asked to speak to the committees. Then, I was asked to speak again more than a month...
Articles

The Gospel Hope of the Funeral Committal

September 21, 2023
By H.B. Charles Jr.
As a boy preacher, I accompanied my father to many funerals he officiated. I probably attended more funerals as a youth than most people attend in their lifetime.  My dad never allowed me to do anything in the services. But he often had me assist him during the processional before the service and the committal after the service.  As my dad led the family in the processional, he would read Psalm 91 as he walked down the aisle. Always Psalm 91. He frequently asked me to read the passage as I walked alongside him. One time, I started reading Psalm...
Articles

VIDEO | 50 Preaching Tips in 15 Minutes

August 3, 2023
By H.B. Charles Jr.
https://youtu.be/usVcaQ1Uiw4 50 Preacing Tips in 15 Minutes | H.B. Charles Jr. In this video, H.B. Charles Jr. shares fifty practical tips to help you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. These pieces of advice address the preacher's personal devotion, sermon preparation, and pulpit ministry. Of course, these fifty pointers are not exhaustive. But hopefully you will find these helpful hints beneficials to your Word work. Plan your preaching. Start preparing as early as possible. Prepare when you are at your best. Gather tools for sermon preparation. Consult the best commentaries. Read and reread the text. Observe before you interpret. Learn to...
Articles

Knowing The God Who Knows You | Psalm 139

July 23, 2023
By H.B. Charles Jr.
A cathedral was known for its beautiful organ. Its music filled the surrounding valley. People came from all around to hear its melodic sounds. One day, the music stopped. The organ broke, and no one was able to repair it. Then, as suddenly as it stopped, the organ filled the valley with music again. People descended upon the cathedral to hear. When the old man finished playing, they asked, “How did you fix the organ? He answered, “I made it.”  What is broken in your life?  Denying the problem won’t help. Do-it-yourself efforts can’t repair it. Having that thing, going to that place, being...
Articles

Thank God for R.A. Williams Jr.

July 20, 2023
By H.B. Charles Jr.
Three Black pastors directly and profoundly shaped my commitment to expositional preaching. Two are now in heaven with Jesus: E.K. Bailey and A. Louis Patterson Jr.   The third is alive and well: R.A. Williams Jr.  Dr. R.A. Williams – the longtime pastor of the McCoy Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles (for more than four decades) – was recently honored as the 2023 “Living Legend” at the E.K. Bailey Preaching Conference in Dallas. My schedule did not permit me to attend. But I am glad that Dr. Williams is being recognized for his role in the revival of expository...
Articles

Observations from the 2023 SBC

June 15, 2023
By H.B. Charles Jr.
I was on a panel in which the question was asked, “How will you talk to your congregation about this SBC meeting?” Other pastors shared the systematic ways they discuss SBC life with their church families.  The happenings in the Southern Baptist Convention are not a regular part of my congregation’s discussions. But I would like to comment on what I experienced at this year’s SBC. That is the point and purpose of this article.  SBC New Orleans  Bart Barber, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas, won reelection as President of the Southern Baptist Convention. To watch him...
Articles

Pastoral Prayer | May 22, 2022

May 22, 2022
By H.B. Charles Jr.
Precious Lord, we draw near to the throne of grace by the finished work of our great High Priest – the Lord Jesus Christ. We praise you that we are your regenerate and adopted sons and daughters through faith in the finished work of Christ. As we come to your throne for grace and mercy, we rejoice that in Christ all your promises are yes and amen.  We are sinful; you are holy. We were born in sin and have continued to sin. We are rebellious sheep who have turned away from the shepherd of our souls. We deserve curses, judgment, and punishment for the guilt of our selfish attitudes, fleshly desires, worldly...
Articles, Music

NEW SINGLE: “Thank You For It All”

May 24, 2021
By H.B. Charles Jr.
"Thank You For It All" | H.B. Charles Jr. My new single, "Thank You For It All," has been released. And it is now available on all the various music platforms. Over the past several years, I have been writing music. The process started someone spontaneously, during my devotional times. I would sing melodies as I prayed and read scripture. Other songs were born from study times in sermon preparation. I periodically try out some of these songs during prayer meetings and worship services. At this point, I am eager to share this music with a wider audience. We have...
Articles

Jesus Wept

December 10, 2020
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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...
Articles

The Salt of the Earth

December 3, 2020
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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...
Articles

My Cup Overflows

November 26, 2020
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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...