The first Four Words of the Ten Commandments are calls to worship.  The First Word commands the proper object of worship: “You shall have no other gods before me.” The Second Word commands the proper manner of worship: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image.” The Third Word commands the proper attitude of worship: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” The Fourth Word commands the proper time of worship: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”  We must worship God exclusively, correctly, reverently, and regularly. If you are not careful, life will crowd God out. But redeemed people must never forget to make proper time for the God who created us, sustains us, and redeemed us. Ray Pritchard said: We give 1 day in 7 to...

What’s in a name? Proverbs 22:1a answers: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” Every person has three names: The name you inherit from your ancestors. The name you are given by your parents. The name you earn for yourself. Names are important. This was especially true in the Bible, where names were more than a label, title of address, or means of identification. A person’s name represents his or her nature, character, reputation, personality, influence, authority, and lifestyle. What a person was called reflected who that person was.  We still think that way. Take something as simple as a telephone call. You dial a number. Someone answers. You...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, The Podcast dedicated to helping you to preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, H.B. discusses four targets of gospel application in your preaching. A biblical sermon should include explanation, application, and illustration. Throughout the body of the sermon, you should explain the text, apply the text, and illustrate the text. For many, effective application is difficult to develop. But this principle might be helpful: Think about the who before you think about the how. Who are you trying to apply the text to should come before thoughts about how to make that...

During Freedom Summer in 1964, three workers for the Congress of Racial Equality helped a church in Mississippi with a voter registration drive. The church was burned down by the Ku Klux Klan. While investigating another church burning, these civil rights workers – Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, who were white, and James Chaney, who was black – disappeared. A month later, on August 4, 1964, the young men were found shot to death in a shallow grave in a remote field. Nineteen Ku Klux Klan members were indicted for these events, including the local sheriff. Seven were found guilty. The funeral of James Chaney is remembered for...

Exodus 20:3 records the First Word of the Ten Commandments: “You shall have no other gods before me.” The Lord demands his people to worship him and alone. Exodus 20:4 says, “You shall not make for yourselves a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” The Lord who demands his people worship to him exclusively also demands his people to worship him correctly. This is the message of the Second Commandment: We must worship God in a manner that is acceptable to him.  Earth’s first brothers, Cain and Able,...

My prayer life has richly benefited from studying the prayers of Paul. In his letters, the apostle assures the church he is praying for them. He also records what and why prayed for the saints. These prayer reports display Paul’s devotion to intercessory prayer. When he could not get to his pulpit, he went to his closet with confidence God would hear and answer. Paul’s belief in the power of prayer is seen in his prayer requests, as well as his prayer reports. Paul is the only apostle who asked the saints to pray for him. He asked young Christians and new congregations. In our text, he asks for prayer from Christians in Rome whom he had never met.  Romans 15:30-33 is the most outstanding of Paul’s...

According to Exodus 19:1, three months had passed since the Lord delivered the children of Israel from the oppression of Pharaoh and the bondage of Egypt. They entered the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp at the foot of the mountain. The Lord instructed Moses to sanctify the people, for in three days the Lord would meet with Israel. On the third day, the Lord’s presence was marked by lightning and thunder, thick clouds, loud trumpet blasts, smoke and fire, shaking and trembling. It was glorious, awesome, and terrible. In Exodus 20:19, the Israelites told Moses, “You speak to us; and we will listen; but do not let...

Paul planted the church at Thessalonica during his second missionary journey. Envy-induced persecution forced Paul to flee the city weeks after its formation. Being hindered from returning, Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians to teach Christian doctrine and duty. Shortly after, Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians to address confusion about the second coming of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2 rebuts the claim that the day of the Lord had already come.  2 Thessalonians 3 rebukes those who used the second coming as an excuse not to work.  Alongside these doctrinal and ethical concerns surrounding the Lord’s return, 2 Thessalonians 1:3 says they faced “persecutions” and “afflictions.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 addresses these issues head-on. Verses 13-14 is thanksgiving: “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose...

The Lord’s Prayer begins with an invocation: “Our Father in heaven.” The remainder of the model prayer consists of petitions to the heavenly Father. The first petition is “Hallowed be your name.” The last petition is “Deliver us from evil.” Prayer is both an act of worship and an act of warfare.  We pray for certain things and against certain things.  It is our prayer that god be exalted, and evil be defeated.  J.I. Packer wrote: “The vision of life in God’s family that we learn from the Lord’s Prayer has three dimensions. It is a life of devotion, of dependence, and of danger.” “Deliver us from evil” is a war cry that acknowledges the pervasive reality of evil, recognizes...

William Law said, “There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as prayer for him.” You cannot stubbornly hate a person you sincerely pray for. Prayer cultivates and characterizes love. Many relationships have benefited from what one writer has called “The Five Love Languages.” Unfortunately, prayer is not one of these love languages. Yet there is no greater way to love a person than to pray for that person. 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 shows us what it looks like when love prays.  During his second missionary journey, Paul preached the gospel in Thessalonica. Many repented of their sins and trusted Christ. The church at Thessalonica was born. Envious religious leaders stirred up a mob to cause trouble. Acts 17:6 says, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here...

Visiting his childhood church, the actor Richard Burton offered to perform something for the congregation. His pastor asked him to recite Psalm 23. Burton agreed on the condition that his pastor would do the same. The actor gave an impressive recitation that left the congregation spellbound. The room erupted in applause when he finished. When the room quieted, the old pastor rose to recite the same psalm. When he finished, there was not a dry eye in the room. Burton said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I reached your eyes and ears, but my old pastor has reached your hearts. The difference...

 Luke 13 begins with breaking news reported to Jesus. Some Galileans traveled to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. Under orders of Pilate, Roman soldiers stormed the temple and massacred the worshipers. After this atrocity in the holy place, the blood of the worshipers and the blood of their sacrifices flowed in a common stream.  Without comment on the personal tragedy, political violence, or legal implications of Pilate’s blasphemous act, Jesus responded to the theological assumptions of those who reported this news. Verses 2-3 read: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  Jesus played reporter in verse 4: “Or the eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them.” A tower in...