I preached this morning from Paul's doxology that bridges the doctrine (chaps. 1-11) and duty (chaps. 12-16) sections of Paul's letter to the Romans. I wanted to preach a "big God" text. And they don't come too much better than this one. In this doxology, Paul reminds us that God is worthy to praised even when we don't understand what God is doing. Sometimes our faith, worship, and obedience turns into doubt, complaining, and rebellion when we don't understand what God is doing in our lives. But this ought not be the case. God is worthy to be praised for...

As I prepare for this coming Sunday, it dawned on me that I had failed to post the sermon skeleton from last Sunday. Last Sunday was one of the most difficult Sundays of preaching I have ever had. But I felt that I had an important word to proclaim. And the Lord helped me to hand in there in both services to say what he had laid on my heart to say. My text was from one of passages that is so dear to me - Proverbs 3:5-6. I am sure that I did not anything new about the text...

On November 5, 1990, I was selected to served as the third pastor of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. My father, who had died a year and a half earlier, had served the church for more than 40 years. And after more than a year-long search, the congregation voted to extend a call to me to be its pastor, even though I was only a 17-year-old high school senior. A month or so later, MSMBC hosted a special installation celebration to officially welcome me as its new pastor. The late Dr. E.V. Hill, who served the Mt....

I stood up. I preached. I sat down. That's all I remember.

I am way behind my in my sermon preparation for Sunday this week. I am really looking forward to preaching in the morning. But I have not really had the time or energy or focus to spend the time in the seat that I needed to this week. So I am in the seat today until I have finished preparing myself and my sermon for preaching. I am going to take a detour from my study of the Sermon on the Mount tomorrow. And I am planning to preach on Proverbs 3:5-6. This is one of those weeks when I...

Biblical preaching must always occupy the leading place of influence in the life of any church. At the core of any healthy congregation is a vibrant exposition of God's Word. Unfortunately, though, many pastors are turning away from the central role of expository preaching and doctrinal teaching. But in so doing, they fail to realize that new converts, first and foremost, need to be taught God's truth. As a result, many other things are competing with - and even replacing - the primary role of biblical preaching in the church. Christian concerts, drama, pageants, festivals, musical, talk shows, and religious...

I read this poem, of sorts, some years ago. It is written anonymously. And it has been given many different attributions - a foreign missionary, an African pastor, etc. But while the author is unknown; the message is clear: Being a faithful and fruitful minister of Jesus Christ requires our total commitment, absolute devotion, and full allegiance. I reread this challenging testimony again this morning. May you be inspired, as I was again today, to give God your best as you read these words: "I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power, The die has...

I continued our study of the Sermon on the Mount this past Sunday with a message on Matthew 5:14-16, where Jesus declares, "You are the light of the world." This description of Christ-followers, along with Matthew 5:3 where Jesus declares, "You are the salt of the earth," teach us what it means to maximize our influence for the kingdom of God. They are challenges passages, in which the Lord exhorts us to be different that the world around us. But they are also comforting passages, as Jesus reminds us that God is willing and able to use ordinary people like...

I was having lunch with a pastoral colleague when the ground began to move. We were near the marina, and could see the nearby boats swaying. All around us, glass was shaking. And the building seemed to be rolling. There was no doubt about it. It was an earthquake. We sat quietly for the next several minutes after it ended, waiting for aftershocks. There were none. Yet. There has been no reports of hurt or harm to any in our membership or extending family of loved-ones. We are grateful to God for his sustaining grace and sparing mercy.Thanks to all...

Wow! What a great day. God richly blessed and marvelously helped me all day long. Weirdly, from about 4 to 7:30 AM, I was trying to get out of preaching our morning services. I must have called Crystal seven times after I got to the office to see if she would cosign my taking the day off. She did not, but kept insisting that I needed to preach. She was right. Note to self (and anyone else reading): Too many times we worry about things that never happen. Try Phil. 4:6-7.I continued our study of the Sermon on the Mount...

I am on my way home from Wichita. It has been a good week of preaching, even though I have ministered under a personal burden I am carrying. God is faithful. And I believe he used me to be a blessing to Pastor Floyd and the Mt. Gilead Church family. However, at the same time, at some point each night I became acutely aware of the fact that I was preaching to myself just as much as anyone else. Correction: This was my sixth straight year preaching for Pastor Floyd at Gilead, not my fifth. Cool. I really look forward...

I am in Wichita, Kansas. I am preaching a three-night revival at the Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, where Rev. Tarrance C. Floyd serves as pastor. Pastor Floyd organized this church about five years ago. And this is my fifth year preaching for him. Pastor Floyd and I have become warm friends. And I am honored that he would have me back again to minister the word to the Mt. Gilead family. Every year I come, the congregation has taken some step forward in the development of its ministry. This year is no different. The entire auditorium has been remodeled....