My father, H.B. Charles Sr., led the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles for four decades. He passed away in 1989. I was sixteen-years-old. Mt. Sinai met on November 5, 1990, to select a new pastor. E.V. Hill Sr., Pastor of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, moderated the church meeting. I attended the meeting to cast my vote. In the meeting, I was nominated from the flood and the congregation voted me to be its new pastor. I was a seventeen-year-old senior at Los Angeles High School. E.V. Hill returned to preach my pastoral...

What Should the Church Be Devoted To?

A Prepared Statement of Grateful Praise

In this video, I discuss the importance of having a system of sermon preparation. Likewise, I share three essential elements every sermon preparation system should include. Enjoy!

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preaching you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this first 2020 episode of the podcast, I interview Bryan Samms, Pastor of the River City Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, where he has served since 2016. A former youth pastor and professor of preaching, Samms is a faithful and clear preacher of the gospel. During our conversation, he shares parts of his ministry journey, his philosophy of ministry, and his process of sermon preparation. Enjoy! Did you find this conversation helpful? Join the conversation in the comments section.  Recommended...

When Jesus Gets Sick of Church

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. – Matthew 11:29 Matthew 11:28 is one of the great declarations of Jesus, golden verses of the Bible, and best invitations ever offered: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus extends a personal, exclusive, and compelling invitation to anyone, everyone who is tired of to-do list religion. You cannot find rest in yourself, material possessions, or anything this world offers. But Jesus promises true rest...

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ

I Can See Clearly Now!

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  Preachers learn to preach three ways: (1) Preachers learn to preach by studying preaching. (2) Preachers learn to preach by preaching. (3) Preachers learn to preach from other preachers. Every preacher needs homiletical heroes to learn from. In this episode, we will discuss the learning to preach by listening to and learning from other preachers. What should you look for in selecting a preaching hero? Real Preaching Heroes Personal Preaching Heroes Multiple Preaching Heroes Sound Preaching Heroes Dead Preaching Heroes Diverse Preaching Heroes Godly...

The Great Confession

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better When you study a text to preach or teach for the first time, you should do a good job and take good notes. You should read widely, record diligently, and reflect prayerfully on every text you study to preach. I personally make a study file for each sermon text I study. In my study files, I keep the following documents... Scripture Document Observations Notes Context & Background Commentary Sermon Ideas Sermon Outlines Sermon Skeleton Application Grid Photocopies What study notes do you keep...