Happy Mother’s Day! I am grateful to God for my wife, Crystal, the mother of my three children. We did not torture her as severely today, in honor of Mother’s Day. We had quite a few guests in worship today. Grateful. We did Charles Jenkins’ new song, “Awesome,” corporately. It is a beautiful song. Our Children’s Choir sang today. It was great to have them participating on Mother’s Day. Our Men’s Chorus led the special music. It is encouraging to have men lead out in praises to our God. Praise God for the one who was baptized today. I preached...

We had a good day of worship at the Shiloh Church. I love my congregation! It is a privilege to serve such a great people. We did not have Bible Study Fellowship groups today. During our BSF hour, I met with our Deacons for prayer. It was refreshing and encouraging. I found renewed strength to preach our second service after our time of prayer. We celebrated the Lord's Supper and welcomed in our new members who completed our New Members Class Saturday. As always, I am grateful for all of our guests who joined us in worship. I preached a...

Philip Henry's advice to his daughter: "If you would keep warm in this cold season (January, 1692), take these four directions: 1. Get into the sun; under his blessed beams there are warmth and comfort. 2. Go near the fire. "Is not my word like a fire?" How many cheering passages are there! 3. Keep in motion and action - stirring up the grace and gift of God that is in you. 4. Seek Christian communion. "How can one be warm alone?" Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Feathers for Arrows, p. 237

"First of all, then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." - 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV) Today is the National Day of Prayer. Let us use this as occasion to remember our nation in believing prayer before the Lord God. Our country is filled with many political, social, economic, cultural, and spiritual problems. But nothing is too hard for God. It happens after prayer! Tonight at 7 PM the Shiloh...

I was introduced to the subject of “generational curses” some years ago in a strange way. I was sitting in the pulpit of the church I served, listening to an encouraging sermon by an out-of-town friend. He ended the message with a personal testimony of divine healing. He had been very sick. And the only explanation for his recovery was that God had healed him, for which I rejoiced. I had no problem with his testimony of healing. I did have a problem with his explanation of how he received the life-threatening disease. He claimed that it was a generational...

O my Lord, Let not my ministry be approved only by men, or merely to win the esteem and affections of people; But do the work of grace in their hearts, call in thy elect, seal and edify the regenerate ones, and command eternal blessings on their souls. Save me from self-opinion and self-seeking; Water the hearts of those who hear thy Word, that seed sown in weakness may be raised in power; Cause me and those that hear me to behold thee here in the light of special faith, and hereafter in the blaze of endless glory; Make my...

I believe the Holy Spirit is God, the third member of the holy, undivided Trinity. Therefore, I believe the Holy Spirit is sovereign. God the Holy Spirit has unimpeachable authority over the times, details, and circumstances of our lives. He (not “It”) operates with perfect wisdom, eternal purpose, and infinite goodness. With this confidence, I plan my preaching in advance. Well in advance. In the name of honoring the Holy Spirit, some inadvertently dishonor him by thinking and acting as if the Spirit’s work is someone quenched if he is not free to work spontaneously. They treat the Holy Spirit...

It was a good day of worship at the Shiloh Church. I thank God for all members who pressed their way to worship today in spite of the rain. I did not teach my Bible Study Fellowship Class today. BCP taught and called an “audible.” LOL As always, I am grateful for the guests who joined us in worship. It was a great joy to minister the word to my congregation today. I ditched my study of 1 John this morning. I preached a sermon from Matthew 7:24-27 that I entitled “Built to Last.” The Parable of the Two Builders...

Someone hears or sees my name, somewhere. They Google me. Whatever pops up, including several YouTube clip links. They click the links. There I am, probably in revival somewhere. It is the last few minutes of the sermon. I am happy and in mid-whoop. They read the comments below - good and bad. An opinion is formed. Sometime later, they meet me in person. They tell me they have heard me preach. "Where?" I ask. Answer: "On YouTube."  I reply, "Don't believe anything you see on YouTube." They laugh. I laugh, too, even though I wasn't making a joke. Good...

I recently received a message from someone who heard me speak at a conference on Bible exposition. He thanked me for my ministry. He also asked a question: What advice would you give to help me become a better expositor? What a great question! I am a student of expository preaching, not an expert. But I relish the opportunity to answer questions like this. My heart's desire is to be a better preacher. I trust that my preaching is clear and consistent. But I still have much to learn about the great task of Bible exposition. I pray this will...

Another good day of worship today at Shiloh. I finally finished my lesson today on the sovereignty of God in my Bible Study Fellowship class. I have enjoyed teaching on this great subject. I am grateful for all of our guests who joined us in worship today. Praise God for those who were baptized as followers of Christ today I sung "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior" before I preached this morning. Both services! I preached from 1 John 2:15-17 about "A Love That Hates." Sermon Point: Children of God must not and should not love the world. Sermon Outline:...