Text Resources

Articles

Bible Study: The First Thing. The Main Thing.

June 25, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Bible is God’s self-revelation to us. To misrepresent scripture is to misrepresent God. The nature of scripture as God-breathed truth demands we study it carefully, present it faithfully, and obey it wholeheartedly. [Tweet "To misinterpret scripture is to misrepresent God."] The word of God is necessary, powerful, and sufficient for spiritual development and Christian service. It teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains in...
Articles

5 Questions to Ask of the Text

June 22, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
It is time to study the word of God. You pray for illumination (Psalm 119:18). You select a passage of scripture to study. You then… This is where many people get stumped. Every time. They come to the text with good intentions. But they do not have a clear process for properly understanding the text. To get the right answers in your study of scripture, you must ask the right questions. This is called inductive Bible study. Here are five fundamental questions to ask as you study a passage of scripture. OBSERVATION: What does the text say? Just because you...
Articles

Saturday Shout-Outs: SBC Columbus, Father’s Day, & Ministry Links

June 20, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
Happy Father's Day! Remembering my father - H.B. Charles Sr. - who transitioned to glory 26 years ago this weekend. My daddy was the man! A big birthday shout-out to my baby sister, Donetta! Happy Birthday Luv! We are praying for the families of the victims, the Emmanuel A.M.E Church, and the city of Charleston. We are also praying the gospel will bring healing to the continued racial divide in our nation! John MacArthur: Reflections on the Tragedy in Charleston. Russell Moore: It's Time to take down the Confederate flag Jerry Young: National Baptist Convention Response to Emanuel A.M.E. Church Shooting...
Articles

Saturday Shout-Outs: Lexington, SBC, & Ministry Links

June 14, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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.TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. Congratulations to Pastor Richard Gaines for nineteen years of service to the Consolidated Baptist Church in Lexington. It was a joy to preach the celebration this week.  Pray for me and all the men who will be speaking at the SBC Pastors' Conference. Please pray for the Southern Baptist Convention in Columbus, Ohio. The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference is designed to train, model, and promote faithful Bible...
Articles

Weak Sermons Need Music To Prop Them Up

June 11, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
Have you seen The Preacher’s Wife? It is a 1996 movie starring Denzel Washington and the late Whitney Houston. I went to see this movie when it came out in theaters. But I checked out during an early scene. The pastor was preaching his sermon. It was not going well. The preacher’s wife – Whitney Houston – who was also the music director, decide to save the day. The preacher made another point. His wife then led the choir in a musical response. It happened several times, until he gave her the look. I felt that way recently, preaching away...
Articles

Vacationing to the Glory of God

June 8, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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...
Articles

Saturday Shout-Outs: Youth Explosion, Chester, & Ministry Links

June 6, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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...
Articles

Don’t Assume Anything In The Pulpit

June 5, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
“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...
Articles

The Greatest Sign of All

June 1, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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...
Articles

Saturday Shout-Outs: J. Collier, Word Conference, & Ministry Links

May 30, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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...
Articles

Saturday Shout-Outs: Rummage, Preaching, & Ministry Links

May 23, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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!...
Articles

The King of the Jews

May 20, 2015
By H.B. Charles Jr.
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...