YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. It was a joy to preach the Corpus Christi Citywide Revival this week. Shout-out  to my friend, Pastor Arthur Lane, for the invitation. Shout-out to Bob Kauflin for the opportunity to speak at the 2015 WorshipGod Conference in Louisville. The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference is fast approaching. I hope you will join us September 22-24, 2015, at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville (FL), for three days of model preaching, practical instruction, and warm fellowship. There will also...

Out of the Saltshaker (Matthew 5:13)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his followers not to practice spiritual devotion with ulterior motives (Matthew 6:1-18). Do not give to the needy to be celebrated for your generosity. Do not pray to be heard by men. Do not fast so people will consider you spiritual. How do you avoid practicing Godward acts with man-centered motives? Jesus teaches that acts of devotion should be done in private, before God not man. Preachers also struggle with the temptation to make their charge from God a performance before men. But we cannot overcome this temptation by moving the pulpit...

Preachers are getting in shape. Social media is littered with pictures of preachers exercising to get or keep their weight under control and live healthy lives. Way cool! In the crucible of my schedule, I often neglect to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen. But the noted milestones of exercising preachers challenge me to “get it in,” as they say. I once read about a preacher who worked himself to death. On his deathbed, he lamented, “God gave me a message and a horse. I have killed the horse! What will happen to the message?” I think of this...

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. It was a joy to take part in the 2015 Legacy Conference in Chicago. To see so many youth and young adults on fire for Jesus is greatly encouraging. And grateful for the opportunity to team teach the Cutting It Straight preaching track. It was our pleasure to host the Union St. James Congress of Christian Education at the Shiloh Church this week. I hope to see you at the For The Church Conference at the Midwestern Baptist Theological...

How the Kingdom of God Grows (Mark 4: 26-29)

The church was growing. The threat of persecution could not stop it (Acts 4). The threat of corruption could not stop it (Acts 5). But the enemy still had another trick up his sleeve: internal division. The Greek-speaking Jews complained against the Hebrews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. The apostles called the church together and directly addressed the matter: "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and...

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. Last Sunday, I had the wonderful privilege of preaching for Dr. Johnny Hunt at the First Baptist Church of Woodstock. What a church! Shout-out to Pastor Lebron Crisp for the opportunity to preach Super Mondays at the Living Water Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was a joy to speak at the BGCT African-American Fellowship Conference in Houston. The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference is September 22-24, 2015, in Jacksonville, Florida.This conference is to teach, model,...

This is episode #022 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we talk about seven reasons why you should plan your preaching in advance. Here are 7 reasons why you should plan your preaching: To fulfill your divine call to preach the word  (2 Timothy 4:1-2). To practice biblical wisdom (Proverbs 3: 5-6; 15:22; 13:3). To maintain doctrinal balance (2 Timothy 3: 16-17; Acts 20: 26-27). To faithfully shepherd the congregation (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 2:15). To strategically oversee corporate worship (Colossians 3:16). To be a good steward...

I have always wanted to preach a sermon or teach a lesson entitled, “Give Mark a Minute!” Do you know who John Mark is? John Mark assisted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:5). At some point, however, John Mark left the team and returned to Jerusalem (13:13-14). The gospel work continued without him. As Paul and Barnabas prepared for their second missionary journey, Barnabas proposed they bring John Mark. Paul flatly refused. John Mark had gone AWOL the last time. Paul saw no benefit in bringing this ministerial deserter with them again. Disagreement over John...

The Marching Orders of the Church (Matthew 28: 16-20)

All In His Hands (Psalm 90)