Summer is a much-needed time of rest and relaxation for many people. This break from the various responsibilities of home, work, or school is a good thing. However, there is no such thing as a vacation, leave-of-absence, or sabbatical from your responsibilities as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus told his disciples, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). This call also applies to present-day disciples. Even though your life in Christ is supernatural; it's not superhuman. If you do not ever come apart, you'll fall apart. All of us need...

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST IN THE BOX AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. Shout out to Pastor Cameron Triggs and the Impact-180 team for leading Youth Explosion 2015 at the Shiloh Church this weekend. Shout-out to Pastor Robert Williams for the opportunity to speak at the New Fellowship Bible Church in Chester, PA, this week. Be sure to check out the latest episode of The On Preaching Podcast: Steven Rummage Interview. Check out my latest post: "Don't Assume Anything In the Pulpit"  The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference...

“You remember the three Hebrews boys in the fiery furnace…” “You remember when Jesus stilled the storm on the Sea of Galilee…” “You remember what Paul said about justification by faith alone…"  My sermons were filled with statements like these, as a young pastor. I took for granted that the congregation knew and understood these passing references. So I skipped the explanation and rushed to the point I wanted to make. That all changed with a conversation with a member. I considered her one of the most mature young adults. But I had to hide my surprise when she told...

The Greatest Sign of All The Gospel of John was written to lead the reader to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that there is life in him (John 20:30-31). John makes the point by recording specific miracles of Jesus. John calls them “signs.” The miracles of Jesus point beyond themselves to the true identity of Jesus. They prove that Jesus is the Son of God. John 20:1-23 records the greatest sign of all: the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Christianity stands on two historical facts: Jesus Christ died on the cross...

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST IN THE BOX AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. I am grateful to Dr. Fred Campbell for the opportunity to lecture and preach this week at The Word Conference in San Fransisco.  I am grateful and excited to speak at the 2015 SBC Pastor's Conference in Columbus, Ohio (June 14-15). June 1 is the cut-off date for early bird registration for the 2015 Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference in Jacksonville, September 22-24, 2015.  Make sure you check out my new interview with Jarvis...

Thanks for reading my Saturday Shout-Outs! I hope you find something helpful in the lists of resources below.  YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST IN THE BOX AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. It was a joy to teach on preaching at the Church of Christ Holiness Conference this week in Jackson, Mississippi. It was also a joy to speak this week for the Sixth Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church in Columbus, Georgia! You don't want to miss the E.K. Bailey Preaching Conference in Dallas - July 6-9, 2016!...

The King of the Jews  John 18 begins with the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. It ends with his interrogation before the Roman governor, Pilate. At this point, Jesus had already been questioned by Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest (vv. 19-23) and the high priest him, Caiaphas (vv. 24-27). Now Pilate will question Jesus about his true identity. This deposition by Pilate gives further evidence that Jesus is the King of the Jews, the fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophesies. What does this text teach us about the kingdom of Jesus? I.  The kingdom of Jesus is established...

This weekend, the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church will celebrate 140 years of God's faithfulness! We praise God for the past! We trust god for the future! It was a joy to host the 2015 National Conference on Preaching at the Shiloh Church this week. I hope to see you at the 2015 Expositors Summit at Southern Seminary. Check out my latest post: 3 Things I Need God to Do For Me As I Preach Erik Raymond: Mix in Some Off-Speed Pitches Jay Mitchell: 5 Signs That It's Time to Hire An Executive Pastor Kevin DeYoung: 6 Reasons Why Membership Matters...

  I publicly pray before I start my sermons. I also privately pray as I preach. Can you preach and pray at the same time? You better! Multiple things go through the preacher’s mind as he preaches. I’m not sure the preacher thinks about multiple things at the same time. Rather, the mind quickly and constantly shifts from one thing to another – consisting of good and bad thoughts, true and false, wise and foolish. This is why I pray as I preach. There are three fundamental things I need God to do for as I preach. I Need God...

Happy Mother's Day!   A special happy Mother's Day to my wife, "Baby Momma," and best friend, Crystal! I love you!!! Happy Mother's Day to my mommy, Ellen Charles! Next week, the 2015 National Conference on Preaching will meet at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville (May 12-14). It should be a great week of preaching, training, and fellowship. I hope you can join us! This week, the Shiloh Church affirmed elder-leadership. I wrote a this week about "Our Journey to Biblical Eldership." Check it out! Click here to hear my sermon "Calling Faithful Elders" (1 Peter 5:1-4) on the Shiloh...

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. – Acts 20:28 I sat in the back seat. Two church leaders sat up front. They thought they were talking to me. They were actually talking to one another. At some point, they asked my philosophy of church leadership. I answered: “Jesus Christ is the head of the church. And he exercises his authority through a plurality of godly men.” Those two sentences express my convictions about...

“I Was Blind, But Now I See!” John 9:1 says Jesus was passing by and saw a man blind from birth. Jesus is still passing by. And he still sees those who cannot see him! We have been blinded by sin. We have been blind since birth (Psalm 51:5). But Jesus is able to open the eyes of the blind! The miraculous healing of this blind man in John 9 teaches us that those who do not believe in Jesus are the ones who are truly blind (vv. 18-42)! John 9:1-17 records the good news that Jesus is able to...