Today was another long but blessed Sunday. The worship services were rich at Shiloh today. Praise God for another wonderful Lord’s Day. Our Women’s Chorus sung in our two morning worship services. Thank God for all the women who served us by leading us in musical praise today. I taught our mass Bible Study Fellowship today. I did an exposition of 1 Peter 2:1-3 – “A Call To Spiritual Growth.” In our worship services, I continued my exposition of Philippians today with a message on Philippians 1:14-18, which I entitled, “Facing Friendly Fire.” Next Sunday’s text: Philippians 1:19-21. Praise God...

I am having a ball preaching through Philippians!I am still in Paul's missionary report to the church, where he discusses the advancement of the gospel. In verses 14-18, Paul describes how God worked through his difficult circumstances to advance the gospel. Now, in verse 15-18, Paul describes how God worked through his ministerial opposition to advance the gospel.Some parents were not satisfied with the explanation they were given about their son's death in the Vietnam War. They continued to ask questions and demand answers, until the found out the truth. Their son was not killed by the enemy. Rather, he...

Last night I spoke at the 2009 Holy Convocation services being hosted by Bishop Victory Couzens and the Inspirational Baptist Church of Cincinnati, Ohio. It was a great worship service. Joe Pace, of the Colorado Mass Choir, is the worship leader of this congregation. And the musical praise was very uplifting. And the congregation was eager to hear the word of God explained. Who could ask for more? I met Pastor Couzens for the fist time last night. But I was very grateful to see the good work the Lord is doing through him and his congregation. Since his arrival...

I am a husband, a father, and a pastor. These are my primary responsibilities. And these central roles, and all that go along with them, do not include the other responsibilities and opportunities the Lord has entrusted to me. I have a full and busy life. But there is one responsibility that is the more demanding than them all. Bar none. Without question. Sermon preparation! The wonderful privilege and terrible responsibility of weekly preparation is bondage. A sweet, rewarding bondage. But bondage nonetheless. Most other things in my life are shaped by this primary task. That is, I am convinced...

Tonight, in our Midweek Worship Service at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, I plan to conclude my exposition of the longest passage in the Bible – Psalm 119.I began preaching through Psalm 119, stanza by stanza (or eight verses at a time), last September. I had not yet moved from Los Angeles. But I was traveling to Jacksonville to preach the Wednesday night services.It is easier for me to prepare to preach when I am working through one extended passage of scripture. Moreover, I believe sequential exposition is the most faithful way to preach the word of God. And I knew...

This Sunday, I continued my exposition of Philippians. I preached from the beginning of the main body, verses 12-14. Here is the sermon skeleton from Sunday's message:Title: "What Happens to What Happens to You"Text: Philippians 1:12-14Sermon Series: Philippians: Partnership in the Gospel Theme: The overruling providence of God Point: God is in control of everything that happens in your life. Transitional Sentence: Look beyond what happens to you and trust that God rules over and works through the circumstances of life. Outline: I. God reigns over the circumstances of life (1:12) A. God's sovereign providence overrules what happens to you...

I was quite sentimental yesterday. I had spent the week preparing to preach on the ironic providence of God. All the while, I could not forget that it was Memorial Day weekend 2008 when I first met the leaders and members of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. Boy does time fly! I remember meeting with various leadership groups that Saturday. Later that evening, I talked to Crystal about how my day went. She asked, "Well, what do you think?" I replied, "I think I have two sermons to preach in the morning. And then I am coming home to get back...

This past Sunday, I continued my exposition on the book of Philippians with a message on the prayer report of Paul recorded in Philippians 1:9-11. Here is the sermon skeleton. TITLE: Praying for God’s Best TEXT: Philippians 1:9-11 SERMON SERIES: PHILIPPIANS: PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL THEME: A prayer for spiritual growth and maturity POINT: Pray for God’s best. (God accomplishes his best with our partnership through believing prayer.)TRANSITIONAL SENTENCE: Philippians 1:9-11 teaches us three ways to pray for God’s best. OUTLINE: I.    Pray that love may abound (1:9)     A.    True love goes beyond the boundaries: "And it is my prayer...

At the end of last year, I put on the church calendar for us to celebrate the 134th church anniversary of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church on May 17. With so many things going on recently, I was not able to properly plan for it. I even failed to mention it yesterday. May the Lord help me make up for that next year. No, I am not into traditional church anniversary celebrations. But I am really into celebrating the faithfulness of God. Each week, churches around America shut their doors for the last time. And the fact that the Lord...

I am in Buffalo, New York. I am preaching the citywide revival hosted by the local Baptist Minister's Conference. President Daniels extended the invitation to me, after hearing me preach the Faith Seminary graduation at the WHW Expository Preaching Conference in Los Angeles some years ago. Isn't amazing how God works through us even when we have no idea what he is doing and who he is touching? The first three days have been great meetings. One of the local pastors, Pastor Blackburn, has been lecturing each night on saving our youth. There has also been a citywide mass choir...

“What made you move?” is the provocative question I was asked this afternoon. “I heard you mention that you recently relocated,” he continued. “What made you do it?” The inquirer did not know me personally. He has heard me preach and teach over the past several days, I presume. At the least, he had just listened to me lecture for an hour and a half, during which I compared my pulpit work in Los Angeles to my new work in Jacksonville several times. And without knowing anything about my story, he was curious. So he asked. He went on to...

I preached on the perseverance of the saints (eternal security) this past Sunday from Philippians 1:6. Here is the sermon skeleton. SERMON: “The Perseverance of the Saints” TEXT: Philippians 1:6 SERMON SERIES: PHILIPPIANS: PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL THEME: The perseverance of the saints POINT: The perseverance of the saints is enabled by the preservation of the saints by God. TRANSITION SENTENCE: Philippians 1:6 highlights two sovereign acts of God that guarantee the perseverance of the saints. OUTLINE: I.    God has begun a good work in you.      A.    It is a work of God.      B.    It is a good work....