Thanks for reading my blog this week.You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. My son, H.B. III, played his first team basketball games this weekend. His team is now 0-3. But I am a proud father, nonetheless. It was an indescribable privilege to speak at chapel at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I am grateful for the kindness of Dr. R. Albert Mohler, for whom I have great respect, and the new friends I met. Excited about the Shiloh Church staff and volunteers that attended the Go Forward Conference hosted by...

I think that there are people who enjoy Bible study the same way that other people enjoy filling out crossword puzzles. Get all the parts and get the thing completed – they find satisfaction. I think there are people that study the Bible that way. They can see how it relates to its context and how its details work to get across the concept. But if it never gets into your life, if it never really touches your experience, I doubt seriously that you can call it a study of biblical truth, because I think God’s truth is always designed...

I had a good Sunday. But I missed worshiping with and preaching to the Shiloh Church. Thanks to Pastors West Wilson and Donald Lewis for ministering the word to the congregation at Shiloh. It was my privilege to speak during the celebration of the 50 years Dr. John A. Reed Jr. has served as Pastor of the Fairview Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Pastor Reed was one of my father's closest friends. He was "Uncle John" to me, when I was a boy. The morning my father died, I was flying home to Los Angeles. Dr. Reed was flying home...

Thanks for reading my blog this week. You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. A big shout-out to my son, H.B. Charles, III, for making the track team this week - along with making the basketball team!  Go, H.B.!!! Shout-out to Pastors Todd, Benson, and Washington for the opportunity to preach to their congregations in Alexander City/Rockford, Alabama, Thursday and Friday nights. I posted my latest "On Preaching" article this week: "On Sermon Conclusions." ChurchLeaders.com posted my article on "How to Avoid Pulpit Plagiarism" this week. I am looking forward to...

“So how was your flight?” When I am asked this question, I typically respond by saying it was a good flight. I speak positively about the flight for one reason. It landed. I may not like my assigned seat. There may have been no room for my bag in the overhead compartment. It may have been a bumpy flight the whole ride. But none of that really matters as long as the flight lands safely. The same is true of sermons. It may get off to a bumpy start. You may have to play catch up to stay within the...

It is a very cold day here in Jacksonville. The only good reason to be outside was to go to church! We celebrated the Lord’s Supper today in both of our morning worship services. I was glad to have all of our guests in worship today, especially the interns from the local 2nd Mile Ministries of Jacksonville. The music was good today. I resumed our Family Matters series with a message, entitled, “Live-In Love: What the Bible Says about Cohabitation” (Hebrews 13:4). I gave three reasons why it is wrong for Christians couples to live together without being married. The...

Thanks for reading my blog this week. I hope you find the following resources helpful. You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. A big birthday shout-out to my daughter, Natalie, who turns 11-years-old Monday (3/4). Both of my daughters were born in March. Hailey's big day is coming at the end of the month (3/24). Shout-out to all the men of Shiloh who studied with us the past 6 weeks for 33 The Series (Part 2). Preorder my upcoming book: "It Happens After Prayer" Follow Shiloh Church on Twitter: @ShilohJAX Thanks...

I recently preached a message on the biblical grounds for divorce. This is not a subject where all agree. But I read the scriptures to teach two circumstances in which God permits divorce: God permits divorce when sexual immorality has been committed (Matt. 5:32; 19:9). God permits divorce when a believer is deserted by an unbelieving spouse (1 Cor. 7:15-16). These are the only grounds scripture gives for divorce. And, as it relates to sexual immorality, I believe that we should view this as unrepentant sinful behavior, not just a single act. If a believer divorces outside of these grounds,...

Today was Ministry Emphasis Day at the Shiloh Church. There was a ministry fair after both services today. Ministry leaders answered questions. Members signed-up to serve. Way cool. I am grateful to God for all the volunteers of our congregation. You make it happen! We did not have Bible Study Fellowship groups today, to give members the opportunity to browse ministry displays today. As always, I was glad to have our guests in worship today, including the New Stanton High School class of 1977. Praise God for the two who were baptized today. I preached on “The Good Samaritan” from...

Thanks for reading my blog. You can sign up for email updates under the picture to the left. Tomorrow is Ministry Emphasis Day at the Shiloh Church. A big-shout to all of our volunteers for your service and sacrifice. You make it happen! Shout-out to Elder Benard Yates and the Primitive Baptist Church Convention for the opportunity to speak at their board meeting and institute this past Monday and Tuesday. 10 Ways to Avoid Indecent Exposure in the Pulpit by H.B. Charles, Jr. The Concord Church has published information about the 2013 E.K. Bailey Preaching Conference. I am honored to...

Happy President’s Day! It was a long but good day of worship and ministry at Shiloh yesterday. In my Bible Study Fellowship class, I continued my study of 1 Timothy with a lesson on the ministry of deacons (3:8-13). Didn’t finish. Praise God for those who were baptized yesterday. I continued our Family Matters series with a message from Matthew 19:3-10: “Jesus’ Answer to the Question of Divorce” In Matthew 19, Jesus affirms the sanctity of marriage (vv. 3-6) and explains the grounds for divorce (3:7-10). Matthew 19:9 is the crux of the text and is the subject of much...

Thanks again for all of your kind birthday expressions. I have been 40 for about a week and survived! I hope I am getting better as I am getting older. Thanks for reading my blog. And thanks for signing up. If you have not done so, you can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. Shout-out to SermonCentral.com for posting my article this week: "How to Be an Awesome Guest Preacher."  Shout-out to ChurchLeaders.com for posting my article this week: "The Danger of Spiritual Catchphrases"  Shout-out to Michael Jordan - The greatest of all time!...