Paul instructed Timothy to "preach the word" (2 Tim. 4:2). What does this solemn charge (2 Tim. 4:1) mean? At the least, it means that our preaching should be focused on and filled with the truth, wisdom, and message of the scriptures. Of course, just because a man reads, quotes, and talks about the Bible in his sermon does not mean he is preaching the word. Many use the word of God as a springboard to proclaim a self-styled, man-centered message. But it is clear that you cannot preach the word if you do not actually use the word in...

We had a great day yesterday at the Shiloh Church. I love Easter Sunday morning! One of my favorte Easter quotes is from John Irving: “Anyone can be sentimental about the Nativity; any fool can feel like a Christian at Christmas. But Easter is the main event; if you don’t believe in the resurrection, you’re not a believer.” A very special thanks to all of our staff and volunteers for your diligent service. You made our guest feel welcome. You ministered with excellence. You sacrificed your comfort for others. You brought glory to God. You made it happen. Thanks again....

Great job to the Shiloh Media team for putting this together for our visitors.  

You have heard of C.M.E. Christians, haven't you? This has nothing to do with a particular denomination. C.M.E. Christians are in every church. They are people who only come to church on Christmas, Mother's Day, and Easter Sunday. Get it? Ironically, C.M.E. Christians are usually not true Christians. They are nominal Christians, at best. They have enough religion to come to church  on these special occasions on the Christian calendar. But you most likely will not see them again... until the day Christian holiday. During weeks like this, we pastors are prone to complain about the many C.M.E. Christians who...

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. - 2 Peter 1:2 Good day Shiloh! I pray you are having a great week. Here are a few reminders for Holy Week. 3-1-6 Cards. We asked you to join us this week in praying for 3 persons for the 6 days of Holy Week with the goal of bring one unsaved/unchurched guest to worship with you on Easter. If you haven't done so yet, you still have time. Start praying today. Invite someone in your life who needs Jesus to be...

I am in Detroit. I am preaching three nights for Pastor Nathaniel Caldwell at the Greater Burnette Baptist Church, where he has served as pastor for seven years. I first preached at Burnette when I was seventeen-years-old. Dr. J. Allen Caldwell, the late, founding pastor, invited me to fill in for his regular speaker. He continued to invite me every year during Holy Week until his death. I have many friends and adopted family at Burnette. It is a joy to see familiar faces and to have the opportunity to preach the word of God to this great congregation again....

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. I am very excited! Saturday was our Make a Difference Day. Our members participated in various service projects to show the love of Christ to our community and city. It was a great day of service. Thanks to all of our volunteers. You make it happen! In my Sunday school class, I continued my lesson on the sovereignty of God. I still did not finish the lesson. And I haven’t even got the best part yet! It was great to have all of our guests in worship yesterday. The Appalachian State...

Today is Make a Difference Day 2012 at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. MADD12 is a special day of "servant evangelism," in which we blitz our community and city with good works that demonstrate the love of Chirst in practical ways. Here are some of the projects we will be participating in: Ride With Me for Autism Hubbard House Domestic Walk Duval County Public Schools Multiple Pathways Project City Rescue Missions IM Sulzbacher Center Hope Totes for the homeless Clothes collection/give-away Free car wash Cleaning up trash in several neigbhorhoods Passing our gospel tracts and fliers And more... We believe the...

We had a good day of worship and fellowship at Shiloh today. Yesterday was Hailey’s birthday. She turned four-years-old. You would think she turned twenty-five. In my Bible Study Fellowship class, I continued my study of the attributes of God with a lesson “The Sovereignty of God.” The lesson argues the truth and scope of divine sovereignty. I was not able to finish the lesson today. But I really had a great time study this important subject with my “class.” I am grateful for all the guests who were in worship with us today. Praise God for those who were...

Today is my baby daughter’s – Hailey Breanne Charles – fourth birthday. I use the word “baby” for my own sake. She is not a baby anymore. Ask her, and she will quickly tell you that she is a big girl. But, of course, she will always be daddy’s baby. I begged for Hailey. Literally, begged. More specifically, I wanted another son. But I could not be more happy to have this been given a precious little girl. Hailey is Crystal. So is Natalie. But while Natalie has more of my personality, Hailey is Crystal. On steroids! But this is...

Long weekend. Really long weekend. But I am grateful for God’s strengthening grace. Weekends like this past one make me respect my father all the more. My dad was the best. I count it a privilege to serve the Shiloh Church. The maturity of this congregation has been most evident of the past weeks. God is faithful. And the best is yet to come! I had a great time teaching my Sunday school class. We are studying the attributes of God. I taught on the holiness of God. I only made it halfway through the lesson. I am eager to...

"It is impossible to overestimate the importance of Christ's Cross. For whether we are thinking about the necessity of the Cross, the meaning of the Cross, the preaching of the Cross, the offense of the Cross, or the way of the Cross - however we may think about it - in every case what we are saying, and must be saying, is that the Cross is central to Christianity. Indeed, we are saying more. We are saying that without the Cross of Jesus Christ there is no true Christianity at all." - James Montgomery Boice, Whatever Happened to the Gospel...