I am being greatly challenged by the study of Philippians. And it has been very convicting to preach the radical ideals of the Apostle Paul. Actually, Paul's thoughts here are not radical. They are Christian! However, many of us who follow Christ today (including and especially me) are so spoiled by the blessings of God that we do not really know what it means to live radically for the Lord Jesus Christ. I praise God for all that I am learning in my studies. And I pray that congregation of SMBC is also being edified as we study "the Epistle...

I am being greatly challenged by the study of Philippians. And it has been very convicting to preach the radical ideals of the Apostle Paul. Actually, Paul's thoughts here are not radical. They are Christian! However, many of us who follow Christ today (including and especially me) are so spoiled by the blessings of God that we do not really know what it means to live radically for the Lord Jesus Christ.I praise God for all that I am learning in my studies. And I pray that congregation of SMBC is also being edified as we study "the Epistle of...

First Sundays! I love them. The celebration of the Lord’s Table and Baptism are always special times in the life of the church. We showed a brief clip from our Make a Difference Day several months ago. And I continue to praise God for the way the Lord blessed us to be a blessing to others. May the Lord continue to use SMBC to be a lighthouse in our community and throughout the nations in these dark times. (Thanks to our media team for your work on the video.) Members of the graduating class of Clara White Mission’s culinary school...

I am a loyal Gospel Music fan. For years, I have joyfully collected Gospel CD recordings. More recently, I download music from iTunes. And I rarely go anywhere without my iPod. Keys, wallets, cell phone, and iPod - don’t leave home without them! I love Gospel Music. Praise and worship. Traditional. Contemporary. Old school. New school. You name it. I like it, except for quartet music (Oops). Sorry. Really, I just love music. But I especially love Gospel Music. However, most of the Gospel Music on my iPod, I would absolutely freak out to hear performed in an actual worship...

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...