How can I forgive myself? The most faithful response to this question is the reject it as an illegitimate question. The biblical teaching about forgiveness can be summarized in two main ideas: God forgives sinners freely, completely, and sacrificially. Ultimately, divine forgiveness is paid for by the cross of Christ. Christians must forgive those who wrong us, as God has forgiven us for the sake of Christ. That’s it. Sermon over. There is not third point. God has forgiven us and we must forgive others. Period. There are more than 125 direct references to forgiveness in the Bible. But the...

A Word For The Weary (Galatians 6:9)

I spent two days this week on the campus on the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. We were invited by David Miller, President of the 2017 SBC Pastors' Conference, as his team reviewed the conference. We were hosted by the NOTBS Caskey Center. Grateful for David Miller's kindness. And I am excited about leading the 2018 Pastors Conference! I wrote an article this week about a challenge every preacher will face at some time or another: Preaching Under Pressure  Make sure you check out the Tellis Chapman Interview. It is full of wisdom for pastors and preachers! This week's episode...

Tellis Chapman is the Pastor of the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where he has served for more than thirty years. He is also the President of the Pastors' and Ministers' Division of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. A much sought-after preacher, Chapman travels the country preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Chapman is also a friend of preachers. I have seen evidence of his kind and generous spirit since the moment I met him some years ago. [Tweet "The preacher's responsibility is not to shout the people but to give them marching orders. - Tellis Chapman"]...

We Are One (Ephesians 4:4-6)

[et_pb_section admin_label="section"] [et_pb_row admin_label="row"] [et_pb_column type="4_4"] [et_pb_text admin_label="Text"] Welcome to THE ON PREACHING PODCAST, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I talk to Pastor Herb Reavis Jr. about preaching and preachers. For the past twenty-six years, Herb Reavis has served as Pastor of the North Jacksonville Baptist Church, in the same city where I live and minister. Reavis was born and raised in the panhandle of Texas. He is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute, Milligan College, and the Southern Baptist School for Biblical Studies. He and his wife Lisa have...

  I drove to my pastor’s office to tell him I was going to resign my church. He asked what did I plan to do next. I did not have a plan. I told him I may become a talk-show host. It didn’t matter. I just wanted out! I desired to get married, finish my education, and move on with my life and ministry. I had wasted enough of my youth in congregational conflict. My pastor told me he knew what the problem was. I just wanted to get up to preach one Sunday in peace. He warned me, however,...

Welcome to THE ON PREACHING PODCAST, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I had the privilege to interview Arturo G. Azurdia III who is the senior pastor at Trinity Church in Portland, Oregon - a church planted in 2010. Azurdia  is also Associate Professor of Pastoral & Church Ministry and Program Director for Doctor of Ministry Program at Western Seminary and Founder and Director of The Spurgeon Fellowship. Arturo Azurdia is the author of the book Spirit Empowered Preaching: Involving the Holy Spirit in Your Ministry. Spirit Empowered Preaching is a compelling and...

It was a joy to preach "Marvelous Mondays" for Barry Crocker at the Cumming Baptist Church in Cumming, Georgia. I was originally scheduled to preach this meeting last week; but Pastor Crocker graciously moved my night back so that I would not miss Monday's session of the SBC Pastors' Conference in Phoenix last week. I am grateful for my friend Terry Brown, who preached the Midweek Services this week at Shiloh Church, as my family and I went on vacation. Check out my latest article: A Faithful Steward of My Other "Pulpit"  In this week's episode of The On Preaching...

Preach The Word (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Welcome to THE ON PREACHING PODCAST, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. I met John Adolph more than 17 years ago, when we preached a revival together at his uncle's church. It was the first meeting I preached after the birth of my son, H.B. III. Adolph and I have been friends since then. Over the years, I have watched Adolph's ministry grow and expand in every way. The Lord's hand is obviously with him. John Adolph is the Pastor of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas. He is also an itinerant preacher, who...

The pastor lives under a divine charge to preach the word. He does not have the right to proclaim his own message. He is a herald assigned to declare the message of the King. Every pastor has multiple responsibilities. But the pastor’s primary, central, and definitive function is to preach the word of God. A faithful pastor will not compromise the centrality of the pulpit. It is my desire and determination to be a faithful pastor. Therefore, I strive to guard the dignity of the pulpit that has been entrusted to me. How I live, study, and preach are shaped...