I am preaching through the book of Ephesians. This past week, however, I chose to pause my study until the new year and preach something that directly pointed to Christmas. Seeing it was the staff’s last week in the office before the holidays, I decided to pull of file and preach an old sermon. I landed on a Christmas message that I preached five years ago. It was a seven-page manuscript. At this point, I labor to keep my manuscripts between five to six full pages. So all I had to edit the sermon down one page, set it to...

A High View of God (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Merry Christmas!  A big shout-out to my wife, Crystal Crystal, who celebrated a special birthday this week! I love you! Happy birthday, Sunshine! Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. - Proverbs 31:28-30 Praying for the family and congregations of two friends who suddenly transitioned to their heavenly reward this week: Pastor Gordon Humphrey and Pastor John Teabout. Check out the Cameron Triggs Interview....

This is episode #12 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we will talk about the importance and practice of developing a sermon calendar for weekly preachers Here are 5 reasons why you should develop a sermon calendar... Getting on top of your schedule. Shepherding the church. Maintaining doctrinal balance (Acts 20:26-27). Planning corporate worship. Making best use of your time. Here are ways to develop a sermon calendar.. Set the length of the plan. Determine your process. Start with prayer. Talk to your team. Work through the calendar.  Questions...

Cameron Triggs is the Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, where I serve. I met this bright young man a few years ago in Orlando. We were on a bus together, riding back to the hotel at a conference. I continue to warn him not to talk to stranger on a bus! I am grateful to have a front-row seat to watch the spiritual and ministerial developing of this young man. And it is a joy to serve with him as partners in the gospel. This interview is a brief introduction to Pastor Cam....

The Good News of the Incarnation (Galatians 4: 4-5)

Thanks for the kind expressions as Crystal and I celebrated 16 years of marriage this week!  The Shiloh Church of Orange Park officially launches on January 4, 2015. Please remember this new work in your prayers. World Religion News: Two Florida Pastors Confront Racial Division by Merging Congregations Check out "The Pastoral Ministry of Shaking Hands"  I am excited to be a part of the 2015 Leadership Summit hosted by The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Hope to see you there! Baptist Press: ERLC Turns to race issue for March summit  The 2015 E.K. Bailey Preaching Conference should be awesome!...

There two big days in my life. I do not remember the date of the first one. It was a Saturday night. My parents sent me to bed. Church was in the morning. But I couldn’t sleep. Throughout the night, I wrestled with the implications of the gospel my father preached and my mother sang. At some point during the night – or morning – I surrendered my life to Christ. I was only six years old. But that dateless night was real to me. I believed that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. And I knew that...

Do you feel like shaking hands? I am often asked this question when I finish preaching away from home. I always answer affirmatively. Sometimes I add, “If they can sit and listen to me preach for forty-five minutes, the least I can do is stand and shake their hands.” On occasion, I cannot hide how shocked I am to be asked the question, even though I have heard it countless times. Of course I am going to shake hands, whether I feel like it or not. Preaching is hard work. If a man takes his work seriously, sermon preparation is...

We Are One (Ephesians 4: 4-6)

Thanks for your prayers, support, and encouragement as we prepare to launch Shiloh Church of Orange Park in January 2105. Huffington Post: Two Florida Churches Merge With Hope of Bridging a Racial Divide Check Out 31 Days of Prayer for Orange Park  I am looking forward to joining the G3 Conference | January 22-24, 2015.  Russell D. Moore: Ferguson and the Path to Peace Carolyn Tomlin: 7 Myths that Keep Pastors from Writing ProPreacher: 10 Reasons I Am Thankful To Be A Pastor  Thom Rainer: Nine Issues Regarding Pastors and Office Hours Eric Geiger: A Constant Struggle in a Growing Church...

We believe it happens after prayer! So as we approach the launch of Shiloh Church of Orange Park, we commit to 31 days of intercessory prayer for this new work. Each member of the Shiloh Church is asked to send time daily during the 31 days of December to cover Shiloh OP in believing prayer. This daily guide will enable us to pray together on one accord. 12/1 – On-Mission: Pray that Shiloh OP will make more and better disciples for Jesus Christ in the community and through the nations (Matt. 28:18-20). 12/2 – Believing Prayer: Pray our devotion to and dependence...