Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15 A pastor’s primary responsibility is to preach and teach the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 4:1-5). Faithfulness to this holy charge requires personal devotion, diligent study, and laborious preparation. Sermons don’t grow on trees! Well, biblical, Christ-exalting sermons don’t. Good preaching is hard work. But how do you get from text to sermon? What steps should a preacher take to preacher a sound, clear,...

Thanks for reading my blog this week. Thanks to my new subscribers. And thanks for your comments. Make sure you sign up for this blog under the picture to the left to receive email updates of new posts. If you missed my interview with my Dr. Melvin V. Wade Sr. this week, check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Shout-out to Pastor Mike Stone and the George Southern Baptist Convention for the opportunity to speak in their Pastor's Conference in Warner Robbins this week. Shout-out to Pastor John Barber and the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church of Miami...

Happy Veterans Day! I did not write Notes from Sunday last week. Someone later tweeted that they missed my notes. Way cool. Today marked 4 years since my installation as pastor of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. Thanks, Shiloh, for the kind expressions today. It has been a very encouraging day. I praise the Lord for you and praise for many more years together as pastor and people. Now, back to work! Best part of my day: A sister shared with me today that it was her anniversary today, as well. She joined Shiloh when I arrived. And she has...

Happy Veterans Day Weekend! We are grateful for the men and women who have sacrificed to preserve the freedoms we enjoy. Thanks for reading my blog this week. You can sign-up under the picture to the left to receive email updates of future posts. I am still praising God for the four years he has granted me to serve the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church as its pastor. We are still praying for those in the North East who suffered through Sandy and are now dealing with a cold front of snow. A birthday shout-out to S. Wesley, one of the faithful...

Ministers aren't kidding when they talk of troubles. It's the truth. Pick any ministry you want, and there will be enough problems in it to occasionally jerk the most optimistic person down off his toes. Ministries are few and far between that have no troublesome concerns stalking in the wings. More than likely, the best church you know about could be destroyed overnight if the right person made the wrong move. Even the best situation is fragile. Whether we know it or not, churches live on the brink. Something could go wrong at any time. If you are going to...

Four years ago, a monumental election took place. And right in the middle of the election, the economy collapsed. But I was not paying attention. I had monumental issues going on in my life and ministry that I was preoccupied with. During the summer of 2008, I was engaged in a process that would eventually result in me becoming the Senior-Pastor of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville. The Wednesday after the election of Barack Obama, my installation services began. I totally forget to mention that the nation had elected its first black president the day before. My guest...

Twenty-two years ago today, the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles took a chance on a seventeen-year-old boy preacher. It was a Monday night. November 5, 1990. It was about eighteen months after the former pastor, my father, died. The church gathered to select its third pastor. For the record, the church did not meet that night with to select a high-schooler as its new pastor. I was not on the agenda that night. After a yearlong search, the pulpit committee presented three names for the church to consider. (I was not one of them.) And they would...

Thanks for reading my blog this week. Thanks for your comments. And thanks for subscribing. You can subscribe to this blog under the picture to the left to receive email updates of future posts. Our prayers are with those who have suffered loss as a result of the storm, Sandy. A big shout-out to A. Francis, who serves as the receptionist and administrative assistant at the Shiloh Church. Happy Birthday! And thanks for all that you do. Thanks to the pastors of Pensacola for the opportunity to minister the word during their Pensacola Citywide Revival for the second year. I...

This post is a guest post by my friend, Charlie E. Dates. In 2011, at the age of 30, Charlie became the youngest pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago's rich 93-year history. Charlie is married to Kirstie and is the proud father of their firstborn son, Charles Edward Dates II. To learn more about Pastor Charlie, click here. The Scene The place was packed. He grabbed the microphone and went to the pulpit. He pulled out his phone, read several verses from an Old Testament passage, and then put the phone back in his jacket. He was smooth....

1. Getting married to spite someone else 2. Getting married without listening to the advice of your family and friends 3. Getting married to someone who practices a different faith 4. Getting married with concerns and/or questions you are afraid to discuss with your potential mate 5. Getting married with things you are hiding that you plan to tell your mate after you have tied the knot 6. Getting married on the rebound, within months of a painful breakup in a previous relationship 7. Getting married just because you want to get out of your parents’ house and out on...

Saturday morning, we began a new six-week Bible study for our men. 200 men showed up. Praise God! Worship was great today. The music team did an exceptional job. I really enjoyed teaching my Bible Study Fellowship group today. I finished my lesson, “A Defense against False Teachers,” from 1 Timothy 1:12-20. God willing, I will teach next week about the prayer ministry of the church from 1 Timothy 2:1-7. As always, I am grateful for the guests we had in worship today, including two local high school football teams. I preached from n interesting little passage in Mathew 17:24-27....

Thanks for reading my blog this week. Let me invite you to subscribe to the blog under the picture to the left to receive email updates of future posts. Shout-out to the men of the Shiloh Church who joined me this morning for the first session of 33 The Series men's Bible study. Shout-out to the Mid-America Pastors and Ministers Institute leaders for the opportunity to minister the word at their conference this week. Like all of the delegates, I was challenged to be a better preacher to the glory of God. A big shout-out to Tim Challies. I am...