Acts 2 records the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost. As the disciples prayed in the Upper Room, the sound of hurricane-force winds swept through Jerusalem. Investigating the sound, the crowd found the disciples praising God in languages they had not learned.  The crowd dismissed the disciples as drunk. Then Peter arose and addressed the crowd. The disciples were not drunk but filled with the Holy Spirit. He proclaimed that Jesus – whom they crucified but God raised from the dead – was the Messiah. Cut to the heart, the people repented of their sins and trusted Christ for salvation. Acts 2:41 says, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:42-47 picks up the story. It is a summary of...

Some Christians are known as “prayer warriors.” They may not hold any church title, office, or position. Yet they are easy to identify. They are the ones members go to when they need prayer. It is good for the church to have members who are devoted to prayer and know how to get a prayer through. But this designation should not be for an elite group that is specially trained in warfare prayer. Every Christian is to be a prayer warrior. That is the message of Ephesians 6:18.  Ephesians 6:10-20 is the most clear and comprehensive statement about spiritual warfare in the Bible. The Christian life is a battleground, not a playground. If you live for Christ, Satan will fight back. Ephesians 6:10-13 calls us to combat readiness: “Finally,...

Before electricity, a famous musician performed a sold-out concert on a pump organ. After the concert, the young man who pumped the organ said to the musician, “We had a great concert tonight, didn’t we?” “We did not have anything,” replied the offended maestro. “I had a great performance.” Nothing happened the following evening when the musician began to tickle the keys. He kept playing, waiting for the sound of music, but to no avail. The musician finally went behind the organ and asked the young man, “What’s going on?” He replied, “It looks like you’re not having a performance tonight!”  That...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, H.B. shares several of his new year preaching resolutions to grow in his pulpit ministry in 2024. To be more prayerful in my sermon preparation. I recognize the vital role prayer plays in sermon preparation. For this reason, I desire to be even more prayerful in my word-work for pulpit ministry. To finish my sermon preparation earlier in the week. I have been committed to starting my sermon preparation as early as possible. I now want to be more diligent...

A small town was selected for the site of a hydroelectric plant. A dam would be built across the nearby river, submerging the city. When the project was announced, the citizens were given ample time to arrange their affairs and relocate. During those months, a curious thing happened. Home improvements, neighborhood upkeep, and infrastructure repairs ceased. The city looked and felt abandoned long before the citizens moved away, and the waters came. One resident explained: “When there is no hope for the future, there is no power in the present.”  That’s a life lesson worth remembering: Hope for tomorrow produces strength for today. There are three types of people. Some have no hope. Circumstances have made them downcast, defeated, discouraged, depressed, and desperate....

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, H.B. issues a challenge to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Preach divine truth. The preacher is called to be a message for God. This is a wonderful privilege and an awesome responsibility. Preach as one who will give account to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Preach biblical truth. God has spoken through his word. Scripture is breathed out by God. It is our responsibility to preach scripture as the divine revelation from God...

In 1865, William Ross Wallace wrote a poem entitled “What Rules the World.” It was an ode to the power of motherhood to influence society. The poem is largely forgotten. But its refrain remains a commonly quoted proverb: “For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” No one would argue with Wallace’s sentiments. But there is one great exception. The birth of Jesus is the cradle that rocked the world. Luke 2 records the birth of Jesus. In Chapter 1, angels predict the miraculous births of Jesus and John the Baptist. But these relatives will not be peers. Their births reveal that Jesus was greater than John. Chapter 1 records the birth of John...

Assyria was quickly becoming the world’s superpower. Its conquering armies threatened all of the ancient Near East. However, Assyria’s growing power was not the result of political skill, military dominance, or economic strength. It was divine intervention. The Lord raised up Assyria to execute judgment on his unrepentant people. Resin of Syria and Pekah of Israel sought to establish a treaty with Ahaz of Judah, hoping their coalition of nations would stave off the armies of Assyria. Ahaz refused to participate. So Pekah and Resin turned against Ahaz.  This political intrigue is the occasion of our text. The armies of Assyria were on their way. Judah’s...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. Good preaching is hard work. That hard work includes the life you live, the text you select, and the message you craft. In this episode, H.B. discusses the hard work of biblical interpretation. What does the word work of biblical preaching involve? Book Introduction  Observational Reading  Word Studies   English Translation  Literary Context Structural Argument  Historical Background Cross References  Bible Commentary  Systematic Theology  Practical Application  The work of preaching is the highest and greatest and most glorious calling to which anyone can ever...

Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” This is the theme of Philippians 2. The chapter begins with a call to spiritual unity. To walk worthy is to walk together. Spiritual unity requires selfless humility. To be humble is to be like Christ. In the middle of the chapter, Paul exemplifies the Christlike humility he exhorts the church to practice. The chapter ends with the commendation of Timothy and Epaphroditus. At first glance, verses 19-30 appear to be a typical report of Paul’s travel plans. It is more than that. Timothy and Epaphroditus were prime examples of Christlike servanthood.  Epaphroditus is not on any...

In Springs in the Valley, Lettie Cowman writes of a man who found a barn where Satan stored the seeds he sows in the human heart. The seeds of discouragement were more numerous than the others. Satan claimed they could be made to grow almost anywhere. But Satan reluctantly admitted there was one place he could never get the seeds of discouragement to grow. “Where is that?” the man asked. Satan answered, “In the heart of a grateful person.” The story is mythical. The point is accurate. Discouragement cannot grow in the heart of a grateful person. The Apostle Paul is exhibit A. Satan did...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to discuss the vital role of the pastoral prayer in corporate worship. Pastors should be devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). Therefore, our worship services should be filled with biblical preaching and believing prayer. As we model how to handle scripture from the pulpit, we should also model how to address the Father in prayer. To lead the pastoral prayer faithfully and effectively, you must prepare yourself to lead in prayer. We should...