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)

Do you know about my sermon email list? In the right column of this page, you can sign up for the HBC2 email list. By subscribing to the list, you will get blog articles, ministry updates, and special discounts. You will also be the first to know about free resources. Each week, those on the email list receive a complete sermon manuscript from a sermon I preached. You can read the manuscripts devotionally. Or you can use them to spark ideas for your own sermon preparation. At this point, we have published more than a year’s worth of sermon manuscripts. Our...

Last Friday (6/27/15), the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark 5-4 decision, making same-sex marriage the law in all fifty states. Pastors across the country prepared to respond to the verdict in the Sunday worship services. We had a guest speaker scheduled at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, where I serve as pastor. Our guest speaker challenged and encouraged us with Romans 8:31: “What then shall we say to these thing?” If God is for us, who can be against us?” God willing, I will be in the pulpit this coming Sunday. I plan on using that...

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT.  A big birthday shout-out my big brother, Kevin B. Willis Sr.! I love you! And I am proud of all God is doing in your life! Shout-out to Donald Whitney for leading the In-Training: Spiritual Disciplines Conference at the Shiloh Church. My devotional life will never be the same! We continue to pray for the victims of the Charleston shooting. May the funeral for Rev. Clemente Pinckney be one of many healing moments in our nation. R. Albert Mohler: The...

The Believer’s View of the Unseen Christ (1 Peter 1:8-9)

The following statement is found at the Southern Baptist Conventions' Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission website, where you can find other Christian resources in response to the SCOTUS ruling on same-sex marriage. I fully affirm and joyfully signed this statement. Please consider the following my personal and official response to the SCOTUS ruling.  As evangelical Christians, we dissent from the court’s ruling that redefines marriage. The state did not create the family, and should not try to recreate the family in its own image. We will not capitulate on marriage because biblical authority requires that we cannot. The outcome of...