Welcome to episode #35 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you to preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to talk to you about nine (9) steps to getting the sermon off to a good start...  Introduce something. Place the text in its proper context. state the point of the message. Give an accurate forecast. Write it out. No dumping allowed. Know your audience. Practice variety. Keeps it brief. Questions What do you think? What do you think makes an effective sermon introduction? What are the keys to getting the sermon off to...

David L. Olford is the president Olford is a preaching professor and leader of the Stephen Olford Institute. The son of the noted pastor and preacher, Stephen F. Olford, David continues his father's legacy of faithful preaching and training the next generation of Bible teachers and preachers. [Tweet "What God expects us to attempt, He also enables us to achieve. - Stephen F. Olford"] David Olford has also co-authored the book, Anointed Expository Preaching, with his father. It is one of the key books I recommend to preachers who want to grow in their preaching. I have previous interviewed David...

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of god. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. – Psalm 52:8-9 In many instances, the opening line of a psalm reveals its dominating theme. Psalm 52 is a case in point: “Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day” (Psalm 52:1). In this psalm, David confronts the wicked...

Congratulations to the Joe Pace and the Shiloh Church Choir of the release of the first single from their upcoming CD. Pick you your copy of "It is Well" on iTunes and your digital outlets. It was a joy to take part in the 2016 Legacy Disciple Conference this week in Chicago. I gave the ministry challenge to the speakers and led a workshop of biblical preaching. Check out my latest devotional: Praying to Walk Right The On Preaching Podcast: Preaching as a New Pastor An Invitation to the Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference 2016 Jared C. Wilson: 8...

Welcome to episode #34 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I offer ten helpful hints for preaching as the new pastor of a local church...  Make preaching a top priority. Do not neglect your sermon preparation. Plan your preaching. Introduce your congregation to series preaching early. Do the work of an evangelist. Don’t take it personally. Be a church historian. Love your people. Preach for tomorrow, not about yesterday. Avoid unnecessary controversy. BONUS SUGGESTION: Make haste slowly. QUESTION What advice would you give to a preacher who...

The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference will take place at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 20-22, 2016. This conference is designed to train, promote, and model biblical preaching and teaching. At its core, Cutting It Straight is a preaching conference for pastors, preachers, and teachers. The goal is to help those who preach and teach the word to present text-driven and truth-driven message. But Cutting It Straight is not just for pastors. There are tracks for worship, youth, and women’s ministry leaders to help build word-filled ministries. Expository Preaching Expository preaching seeks to explain what the...

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. – Psalm 25:4-5 Psalm 25 is a psalm of David. But this is all we know about this historical background of this psalm. The psalm reads like the wisdom literature of Proverbs. In that sense, it compliments Psalm 1. Psalm 1 teaches there are two ways to live – the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked – and bids us...

It was a joy to speak this week at the Black Church Life and Family Conference at Ridgecrest. Grateful for this Lifeway event to train and equip African-American churches to make disciples. Because of a scheduling mix-up, I was not able to attend the E.K. Bailey Preaching Conference for the first time in eight years. But I praise God for the good reports I have heard. And I am thankful for the ministry and example of Pastor Bryan Carter and the Concord Church. Mark your calendars for the 2017 E.K. Bailey Preaching Conference - July 10-13, 2017. This past Sunday, I...

Welcome to episode #33 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I point to seven resources to find good sermon illustrations... The Bible Biblical Commentaries Sermon Illustration Books General Reading Other Preachers Personal Experiences Everywhere Questions What do you think? How importance are sermon illustrations to your preaching? Where do you find illustrations for preaching? Recommended Resources On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr.  On Pastoring by H.B. Charles Jr.  Well-Driven Nails by Byron Forrest Yawn  Using Illustrations to Preach with Power by Bryan Chapell Preaching that Connects by Mark...

We have started a weekly national television outreach that features sermons I have preached at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, where I serve as pastor-teacher. In addition to our local broadcast that airs on Sundays in Jacksonville, we are now broadcasting on NRB TV (National Religious Broadcasters) on Saturdays at 9 PM EST. You can find the broadcast on Direct TV channel 378. Or you can stream it live on the NRB TV website. The broadcast is called Cutting It Straight with H.B. Charles Jr. This is also the name of our daily radio broadcast that airs...

In light of the national tumult last week, we had a special time of prayer in our worship services at the Shiloh Church yesterday. In fact, it was our joy to swap pastors with our brothers and sisters at the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Dr. Mac Brunson sent several pastors to pray and worship with us, as several of our pastors did the same with First Baptist. It was a simple, practical, yet important way for us to stand up for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and stand together in spiritual together during these critical times. NewsJAX4:...

With the filmed police shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge (LA) and Philando Castile in St. Paul (MN), along with the attack on police officers in Dallas, this has been a long, grief-filled, and troubling week. Issues of race, law, guns, class, and politics have dominated the discussions of these matters. However, the solutions to the problems we face in America are only found in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a time for the church to stand up and stand together. We must pray, trust, witness, love, work, and forgive, and sacrifice to faithful ambassadors of...