Some preachers take off strong. They get to cruising altitude and pilot the sermon without turbulence. Then they land smoothly at the same airport from which they took off. It was good flight. Homiletical policies and procedures were followed. And the congregation enjoyed the ride so much that it never noticed they did not actually go anywhere. These craft-first preachers are lauded as great communicators. But they fail to preach the word, to the detriment of the crowds that sit under their preaching. Other preachers focus on the God-intended meaning of the text. The process is saturated in prayer for...

Today is the official release of my newest book, entitled, “On Pastoring: A Short Guide to Living, Leading, and Ministering as a Pastor." It is a companion, of sorts, to my previous book, On Preaching. I have been a pastor all of my adult life, serving congregations in California and Florida. I began my first pastorate in 1990 at the age of seventeen, succeeding my father’s 40-plus year ministry at the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. I was senior in high school. Yet this historic, established congregation called me to lead them. I served that congregation for...

Congratulations to my niece, Aysia Smith, on graduating today from California State University in Sacramento! It was a joy to talk in biblical preaching at the inaugural John A. Reed Jr. Institute at the Fairview Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. I was privileged to attend the board meeting of The Gospel Coalition in Chicago. I am speechless with appreciation for the opportunity to be a fly on the wall as a guest. What a blessing! Check out the Stephen John Thurston Interview.  David Prince: Why Legalistic Preaching Doesn't Work Jordan Pickering: Preacher, Teacher, Sunday Entertainer Kent Hughes: Power of Public...

Stephen J. Thurston has been the Pastor of the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago for thirty-seven years. He succeeded his father, who pastored the church for twenty-two years. Thurston’s grandfather, the founding pastor of the congregation, served the church for twenty-two years. A graduate of the historic Bishop College in Dallas, Pastor Thurston is known for his strong pulpit ministry. A well-respected leader, Dr. Thurston is the former President of the National Baptist Convention of America. In the following interview, Pastor Thurston discusses his Christian testimony, pulpit work, and pastoral ministry. Enjoy! Did you find this interview helpful? Join the conversation...

Happy Mother's Day to my Mother, Ellen Charles! And happy Mother's Day to my wife, Crystal Charles, and the mother of my three terrorists... I mean, children! It was a joy to preach at the Piedmont Bible Conference this week, hosted by Pastor Stoney Enfield and the Prospect Baptist Church in Albermarle, North Carolina. Check out the latest episode of The On Preaching Podcast: Seven Ways to Become a Better Preacher GUEST POST: Book Review of my new book "On Pastoring" (Available June 7, 2016)  Russell Moore: A White Church No More Aaron Earls: 5 Reasons Church Leaders Should Pay...

Welcome to episode #32 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to talk about seven ways to become a better preacher... Start early. Read repeatedly. Observe carefully Dig diligently. Read widely Write clearly. Pray fervently. Questions Are you growing in your preaching? What steps are you taking to intentionally develop as a preacher? Recommended Resources Doctrine that Dances by Robert Smith Jr. On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr. On Pastoring by H.B. Charles Jr. Announcements The National Conference on Preaching | May 17-19, 2016 | Washington...

The following is a guest post written by Kyle Robertson from NetGalley in review of my new book "On Pastoring" published by Moody Publishers (Available June 7, 2016). Pastor Charles has delivered a fascinating and well written book regarding pastoral ministry. I will begin by letting you know I am not a pastor. I work in the medical field, but I have served as a deacon in my church for the past two years. I try my best to encourage and support my pastor in his ministry and personal life, and I thought that reading this book might help give me...

A young preacher friend recently texted me. He was asked to preach a funeral for a family. It would be his first. And he wanted to know if I had any advice to offer him. I responded by mentioning a podcast I did on preaching funeral sermons: “Preaching Funeral Sermons.” I also offered offered several pieces of advice. It was a text-message. Not the way to elaborate. Yet I shared this advice with my friend: Brief. Gospel-centered. Be sensitive to family. There are other important factors to consider when preaching funerals. But these three pieces of advice are a good...

My wife, Crystal, and I am in Los Angeles today to attend the memorial service for my pastor's (Dr. Melvin V. Wade, Sr.) mother: Mrs. Mary Wade. Prayers appreciated. Shout-Out to R. Wayne Briant for the opportunity to speak at the Southwest Florida Evangelistic Conference with Dr. Stephen Nelson Rummage in Sarasota this past Monday. Check out my new article: Reflections On My First T4G Conference. NOTE: Clear here to see videos of all T4G main session speakers.  Here is the latest episode on The On Preaching Podcast: Praying for Sunday's Sermon Jesse Johnson: Should You Use Illustrations from Movies?  John MacArthur:...

Welcome to episode #31 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we talk about importance of praying for Sunday's sermon. When I was a boy growing up in church, I often heard it said... “Preaching and praying go together. If there is going to be preaching in the pulpit, there must be praying in the pews.” Indeed, powerful pulpits are prayerful pulpits. You fervently pray for Sunday’s sermon. And you should enlist others to pray with and for you as you prepare for Sunday. In fact, it is...

I attended the Together for the Gospel Conference in Louisville for the first time last week. It is a biennial conference for pastors led by Mark Dever, Albert Mohler, Ligon Duncan, and C.J. Mahaney. I have heard about T4G from its inception. I have seen the videos from past meetings. I have purchased the books produced from the messages. I have heard good reports from friends who have attended. But schedule conflicts have prevented me from attending, until this year. I unspeakably grateful that I was able to attend this year. My week began Monday by participating in the Council...

My big brother, Kevin Willis, was there to hear me preach my first sermon, at the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. I was a boy preacher, eleven years old. It was some years before he heard me preach again. Kevin was in town to preach a meeting. He was scheduled to preach at 3:30. And I had a preaching engagement later that evening. Of course, I went to hear my brother preach. And he came to hear me after he his meeting. I was "on" that night. I preached one of my "sticks" - a familiar sermon I had...