It was youth Sunday afternoon. I was hanging out on the church grounds with my dad, waiting for the youth musical to begin. A car pulled up and a woman got out and walked up to me and asked, “Are you ready?” She was the lady assigned to pick me up to preach the youth service at her church that afternoon. The service my father forgot to tell me about. As a boy preacher, just into his teens, this was an indescribable crisis. But I got through it. Barely. This early experience taught me to always be prepared to preach....

It was a good day of worship and fellowship today at Shiloh. The Lord blessed both of our services today in a special way. We had quite of few guests in worship with us today. Some were special guests - teachers and administrators from local schools. And others who were invited by our members. However, they got there today, I was glad to have them in worship. For the record, a church cannot grow if no guests are attending. When is the last time you personally invited someone to church? Praise God for the one who was baptized today. Our...

"You have to do whatever the Lord says you have to do in order to preach that Bible." When I heard a friend say this in a conversation with a group of preachers, I laughed. He was asked his philosophy of sermon preparation. Specifically, they wanted to know what steps he takes to get from text to sermon. How long does it take him to prepare? Things like that. His answer: "You have to do whatever the Lord says to do in order to preach that Bible." I laughed. (Some things we laugh at because they are funny. Some things...

I am in Oxford, England. I am participating in Proclaimer’s Place – a week of group Bible study and seminar of sermon preparation led by Joel Gregory. I flew all night Monday night. I was armed with books, magazines, calendars, notebook, and study tools. I boarded the plane with big plans to get a great deal of study and reading done during the uninterrupted quiet time. But I basically went to sleep not long after the flight took off. It was 6:30 AM when I arrived in London (five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time). The ride from London to...

We had a good day of worship and fellowship today at the Shiloh Church. Praise God for those who were baptized in worship today. Our children’s choir led in musical praise today. As always, it was encouraging to have the little ones participating in worship today. It was really cool to meet some of the guests who were in worship today. It is great that the members are inviting their family and friends to church with them. Our choir sung “But God” today from Ron Winans Family & Friends IV. I really love this song. And it was a great...

It was a long but good day of worship yesterday. I really enjoyed worshiping with and ministering to the Shiloh family. I started my day a little earlier than usual, so that I could check my bags in at the airport before our 8 AM service. I did not want any hassles for my 12:40 PM flight to Atlanta. I am grateful for all who volunteer to serve at Shiloh. May the Lord be glorified as we speak his word and serve in his strength (1 Peter 4:10-11). I really had a great time teaching my new members class yesterday....

It was a good day of worship and fellowship at Shiloh Church today. We sang, “Here I am to Worship,” today. This song is really growing on me. We had quite a few guests in worship today. Way cool. I am thankful for all of our volunteers for their service. You make it happen! Praise God for those who were baptized today. One of our pastors had the privilege of baptizing his two daughters today. I really had a good time teaching our new members class today, so much so that I did not finish my lesson today. I sat...

Praise God for a blessed day of worship at the Shiloh Church today! I am grateful for all of our guests in worship today. I have been away from home preaching all week. It was great to be home to worship with and minister to my own congregation this morning. The musical praise was exceptional today. I am grateful for our music team. Thanks for your service today. I rejoice with all who were baptized today to express their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is very encouraging to be a witness to this important step of faith today....

I am attending the E.K. Bailey International Expository Preaching Conference in Dallas. Pastor Bryan Carter and the Concord Church host this conference. The theme this year is “Preaching Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:5). The late Dr. E.K. Bailey, the founding pastor of the Concord Church, established this conference. In a recent article by Michael Duduit, Dr. Bailey was listed among the twenty-five most influential preachers of the past twenty-five years. I fully agree. My own commitment to expository preaching was sealed as a result of hearing Dr. Bailey preach. He is one of my homiletical heroes. And his conference has been...

Happy Independence Day weekend! It is a great blessing to live in the United States of America, with all of the liberties we enjoy. Thank God for those who have given their lives and continue to stand in harms way for our freedom. Because it was the 4th of July, we adjusted our worship schedule. All Bible Study Fellowship groups were cancelled. And we only held one worship service – at 9 AM. For the record, attendance was much better than I thought it was going to be. I am praying for all the members of Shiloh who are traveling...

God, I am just too busy. Too many people, too many questions, too much to do. We confess we stay busy because we fear acknowledging our emptiness. How amid this busyness do we rest? How do we worship you? Please create space, which may be other people, to make time, our time, serve you. Force us to rest through the activity of prayer so that all our loves and fears might be made perfect in you. Help s see how such busy service, if it is service, may be just the rest we need – just the worship we need....

I resumed my study of the Ten Commandments this past Sunday with a message on the seventh commandment. Yes, where's still counting number seven!Here is the sermon skeleton... Title: "Keeping Pleasure in its Place" Text: Exodus 20:14Series: The Ten Commandments: Loving God, Loving Your Neighbor Theme: The sanctity of marriage and sex Point: Do not have sex with any person you are not married to. Outline: I. Do not commit literal adultery: To commit adultery is to put pleasure beyond its God-designed place. II. Do not commit moral adultery: To commit fornication is to put pleasure beyond its God-designed place....