“I’m taking back everything the Devil stole from me!”  Have you ever heard this statement? Have you ever made this statement? Have you ever thought about what this statement means? Spiritual catchphrases. Theological sound bites. Pulpit ear tickling. Harmful error set to beautiful music. Nonsense. These things are the order of the day. Consequently, many of our lives and churches are preoccupied with superficial things, rather than the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered, life-transforming, and culture-engaging mission and message of the gospel. For instance, there is a popular "Gospel" song that declares God to be faithful and holy. But the response to...

During his tenth anniversary, Garrison Keillor told a story (he said it was true) about an experience he had as a teenager. Walking down the sidewalk one day, he saw this unbelievably beautiful woman coming toward him. A stunningly beautiful woman. What could he do? He spied a large, white Cadillac parked next to the sidewalk. Strolling over to the Cadillac, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a dime, put it in the parking meter, and leaned confidently against the Cadillac, smiling at the approaching woman. To his delight, she returned the smile. She moved toward him, spoke to...

I am reading Journeying Through a Jungle by Sandy F. Ray. The late Dr. Sandy F. Ray, who served the Cornerstone Baptist Church in New York for 31 years, was regarded as one of America’s most dynamic pulpiteers. He was also president of the Empire State Baptist Convention and vice-president of the National Baptist Convention. I have known of Dr. Ray vicariously. He and my father were colleagues. I have heard that Dr. Ray and my father had similar preaching styles. But I have never been exposed to the preaching ministry pastoral biography of Dr. Ray until now. Dr. Ray...

Thanks, again, to all who served in our Vacation Bible School last week. You made it happen! 5th Sundays are Missions Emphasis Day at Shiloh. Today we highlighted the work of our own Outreach Center, under the leadership of Pastor Reginald Bryant. As always, grateful for our guests in worship today. I did not preach 8 AM. Was not physically up to it today. Pastor Al filled-in for me. At the last-minute, no less. I am glad to have ready and available help. I pressed my way to preach and lead worship at 10:15. It felt like I stood there...

On the day of judgment preachers will not be asked where they went to seminary or whether they earned any advanced degrees. They will not need to present membership statistics or submit their annual budgets. It will not matter how popular they were or whether they could make people laugh. instead, when they stand before the heavenly tribunal they will be asked, "Did you preach the word?" Those who followed their own agenda - or even worse, the world's agenda - will hang their heads in shame. But many humble preachers, who were held in little esteem, will shine in...

I have spent the past several days relaxing and hanging out with my wife. Much needed. Big fun. Way cool. A big shout-out to our Children Pastor, Lucious Johnson, Carol Sullivan, and our staff and volunteers who led our Vacation Bible School at Shiloh this week. Brothers, you should read Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard. Here is a great hymn by John Newton on preparing for the ministry of the Word. We will sing this hymn soon at Shiloh! Sound advice about wading into politics in preaching. What does your church budget say about your congregation? Here are seven...

Humor has its place: We use it to slice open hypocrisy, to keep our audience awake, to disarm our critics. But its place is always subordinate. We are funny to accomplish some end other than being funny. We are missionaries, not comedians.- Sue Nichols, Words on Target: For Better Christian Communication, p. 13

Today's post is a guest post by Michael McDaniel, who serves as pastor of the Northeast Missionary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Michael, who was a bi-vocational pastor for six years, recently taught a session for bi-vocational pastors at the E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference. He was kind enough to share some thoughts from his session with us. You can reach Michael here. Someone referred to bi-vocational pastors as “Iron Men.” I agree. Bi-vocational pastors face unique challenges… Time. Do I have enough time to get everything done? Balance. How can I maintain proper priorities? Self-Confidence. Will I ever find relief in...

I am sometimes asked how I developed my style of preaching. I laugh inwardly. The question assumes I have an intentionally developed style. I don’t. I just do what I do every week. After doing it for years, certain characteristics have formed in my preaching. Yet I believe there are ways you can establish your own voice in preaching. How can you develop your “style” in preaching? Preach. Preaching is caught as much as it is taught. You learn to preach by preaching. Take advantage of every opportunity to teach and preach. And take every preaching assignment seriously. Preach as...

I was preaching away from home on a Sunday morning. Before the service, the pastor asked an associate preacher to lead the offering. “Can you do that?” he asked, somewhat sternly. “Sure.” “Just receive the offering. That’s it.” “Okay.” This back-and-forth went on for several minutes. I didn’t get it… until it happened. The young preacher rose and said, “It’s offering time.” Then he added, “Before we receive the offering, let me tell you a story!” He went on to tell several jokes and then fuss at the congregation. The pastor was as hot as fish grease. I laughed. But...

The Lord blessed the worship services at Shiloh today. We had quite of few guests in worship today. Way cool. Our chorale, Forgiven, prepared to sing "Reach Out And Touch Him," a song from the new Marvin Winans CD, led by Bishop Paul Morton. I was to sing the lead. But I chickened out during the middle of the 8 AM service. Fail. I couldn't wait to get to the pulpit to preach to my congregation today. My people acted like this missed me back! Way cool. I preached from "Living with Heavenly Priorities" from Colossians 3:1-4. I argued that...

I am grateful to God for Pastor Bryan Carter and the entire staff of the Concord Church for the way they served pastors, preachers, and Christian workers this week. Mark your calendar! The 2013 E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference is scheduled for July 8-11, 2013 in Dallas, TX. One of the highlights of my week was to meet and fellowship with Dr. Steven J. Lawson. Do yourself a favor. Buy Steve Lawson’s new book, "Preaching the Psalms." Thanks to H. Meyers for ministering the word of God to the saints of Shiloh this past Wednesday night. I am hearing good...