On the day of judgment preachers will not be asked where they went to seminary or whether they earned any advanced degrees. They will not need to present membership statistics or submit their annual budgets. It will not matter how popular they were or whether they could make people laugh. instead, when they stand before the heavenly tribunal they will be asked, "Did you preach the word?" Those who followed their own agenda - or even worse, the world's agenda - will hang their heads in shame. But many humble preachers, who were held in little esteem, will shine in...

I have spent the past several days relaxing and hanging out with my wife. Much needed. Big fun. Way cool. A big shout-out to our Children Pastor, Lucious Johnson, Carol Sullivan, and our staff and volunteers who led our Vacation Bible School at Shiloh this week. Brothers, you should read Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard. Here is a great hymn by John Newton on preparing for the ministry of the Word. We will sing this hymn soon at Shiloh! Sound advice about wading into politics in preaching. What does your church budget say about your congregation? Here are seven...

Humor has its place: We use it to slice open hypocrisy, to keep our audience awake, to disarm our critics. But its place is always subordinate. We are funny to accomplish some end other than being funny. We are missionaries, not comedians.- Sue Nichols, Words on Target: For Better Christian Communication, p. 13

Today's post is a guest post by Michael McDaniel, who serves as pastor of the Northeast Missionary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Michael, who was a bi-vocational pastor for six years, recently taught a session for bi-vocational pastors at the E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference. He was kind enough to share some thoughts from his session with us. You can reach Michael here. Someone referred to bi-vocational pastors as “Iron Men.” I agree. Bi-vocational pastors face unique challenges… Time. Do I have enough time to get everything done? Balance. How can I maintain proper priorities? Self-Confidence. Will I ever find relief in...

I am sometimes asked how I developed my style of preaching. I laugh inwardly. The question assumes I have an intentionally developed style. I don’t. I just do what I do every week. After doing it for years, certain characteristics have formed in my preaching. Yet I believe there are ways you can establish your own voice in preaching. How can you develop your “style” in preaching? Preach. Preaching is caught as much as it is taught. You learn to preach by preaching. Take advantage of every opportunity to teach and preach. And take every preaching assignment seriously. Preach as...

I was preaching away from home on a Sunday morning. Before the service, the pastor asked an associate preacher to lead the offering. “Can you do that?” he asked, somewhat sternly. “Sure.” “Just receive the offering. That’s it.” “Okay.” This back-and-forth went on for several minutes. I didn’t get it… until it happened. The young preacher rose and said, “It’s offering time.” Then he added, “Before we receive the offering, let me tell you a story!” He went on to tell several jokes and then fuss at the congregation. The pastor was as hot as fish grease. I laughed. But...

The Lord blessed the worship services at Shiloh today. We had quite of few guests in worship today. Way cool. Our chorale, Forgiven, prepared to sing "Reach Out And Touch Him," a song from the new Marvin Winans CD, led by Bishop Paul Morton. I was to sing the lead. But I chickened out during the middle of the 8 AM service. Fail. I couldn't wait to get to the pulpit to preach to my congregation today. My people acted like this missed me back! Way cool. I preached from "Living with Heavenly Priorities" from Colossians 3:1-4. I argued that...

I am grateful to God for Pastor Bryan Carter and the entire staff of the Concord Church for the way they served pastors, preachers, and Christian workers this week. Mark your calendar! The 2013 E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference is scheduled for July 8-11, 2013 in Dallas, TX. One of the highlights of my week was to meet and fellowship with Dr. Steven J. Lawson. Do yourself a favor. Buy Steve Lawson’s new book, "Preaching the Psalms." Thanks to H. Meyers for ministering the word of God to the saints of Shiloh this past Wednesday night. I am hearing good...

The 2012 E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference is full swing. It kicked off Monday evening with Matt. Chandler, who lectured on “the Godness of God.” The message emphasized 5 ways scripture affirms the authority of God: (1) creation, (2) providence, (3) nature, human rule, and (5) Satan. It was powerful. I spoke after Chandler. I preached a message from Romans 11:33-36 that I called, “God Knows What He’s Doing!” Tuesday morning, Dr. Steve Lawson preached from Exodus 33:17-34:7: “Show Me Your Glory!” It was typical Lawson: Fantastic!!! Dr. Steve. Lawson is arguably the best expository preaching in the country. (Buy...

Praise the Lord for the way he worked today at Shiloh! Thank God for the one who was baptized today. Thanks to all of the volunteers who serve at the Shiloh Church. You make it happen! Our worship leader was on his post today, R. Scott, even though his sister passed away this weekend. Very encouraging. I preached Psalm 1. I called it, “Which Way Are You Going?” I stated the point of the sermon in three words: Choose God’s way. Sermon Outline: I.     Choose the way that is blessed (1:1-2) II.     Choose the way that bears fruit (1:3-4) III.    ...

The year was 1990. It was the week I turned 18. A sermon shaped my future. I was hosting a revival meeting. Our guest speaker was the late Rev. Jerome Kirby. One night after service, Rev. Kirby said he wanted to hear E.K. Bailey preach at Mt. Moriah the next day. I had heard the name before. But I did not know anything about E.K. Bailey. My guest said, “Shame on you!” My guest would not answer any of my questions about Dr. Bailey’s minstry. He told me my questions would be answered tomorrow. They were. The next, Dr. Bailey preached...

There is a sermon illustration I have used over the years in preaching about personal change, spiritual conversion, and new beginnings. It's called, Autobiography in Five Short Chapters, by Portia Nelson. I am often asked to repeat it or where it can be found. Well, here it is… Chapter 1 – I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost… I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. Chapter 2 – I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the...