After teaching on this subject in Bible Study, a member asked me about the term “Bapticostal” – a Baptist and Pentecostal mixed. I acknowledged the term is often a tongue-in-cheek description of a doctrinal conservative who embraces a passionate worship style. But I added that any Christian with integrity might claim to be one or the other – Baptist or Pentecostal – but not both. Baptists and Pentecostals that have saving-faith are brothers and sisters in Christ. But we believe different things about the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit that are not compatible. Just ask a conscious Baptist...

Thanks for reading my blog. Saturday Shout-Outs is my weekly bulletin board of things I have found helpful and worth noting. You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. I am looking forward to being a part of the Biblical Exposition Conference in Chicago in a few weeks. You still have time to register for the National Conference on Preaching 2014 in Atlanta. We are gearing up for the Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference this Fall. Hope you will join us this September in Jacksonville. You can now pre-order my new...

One of my associates preached our early service some years ago. He preached the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). His introduction focused on the fact that it was a story about a father who was there for his two sons and took care of their needs. As a sinner listening to the message, I was moved. As a preacher listening to the message, I couldn’t help but think that I would have never thought of getting into the text that way. It was doorway into the story that I had never even seen. Later that week, the associate...

I have been richly blessed over the years by the preaching ministry of Reginald D. Terry. He is a well-traveled and much sought-after preacher, because of his sound and faithful handling of the word of God. Reginald Terry is also the author of a helpful book, Associates in Ministry. Enjoy this conversation about following Christ and preaching the word. Did you find this interview helpful? Feel free to comment. 

As he passed through Ephesus, the Apostle Paul met several believers. He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed. “No,” they replied, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). In a real sense, this was my testimony for many years. Sure, I had heard of the Holy Spirit. And I believed in the Holy Spirit. But I did not know who the Holy Spirit was. There was not much talk about the Holy Spirit in the church I grew up in. But there was a lot of talk after...

Thanks for reading my blog. You can sign up for email updates of future posts under the picture to the left. SPECIAL NOTE: I received news that Dr. Timothy Winters, longtime Pastor of the Bayview Baptist Church in San Diego passed away this morning. Pastor Winters was a faithful shepherd, sound preacher, and friend of preachers. I will always be grateful for the investments he made in him. Please remember the Winters family and Bayview Church in your prayers. I had the joy of speaking at the Watermelon Shed Revival in Tifton, Georgia, this week. Had a blast! Thanks to...

Clint Pressley is the Pastor-Teacher of the Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clint grew up in Hickory Grove Church. And God called him back to serve the church of his youth several years ago. Pressley is a joy-filled Christian who is a joy to be around. He is a strong and faithful preacher of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Enjoy this conversation with Clint Pressley about his life and ministry! Did you find this interview helpful? Join the conversation in the comments section. 

Thanks for reading my blog! Saturday Shout-Outs is my weekly bulletin board. Hope you find something useful here. Shout-out to Bailey Smith for the opportunity to speak a the Real Evangelism Conference this week in Charlotte. It was a great experience! It was way cool to host Youth Quake Live at the Shiloh Church this weekend. Check out my interviews Bryan Loritts and Phillip Pointer. Read my new post: "In Praise of Long Pastorates" Thabiti Anyabwile: Why We Should Reject Queen Bey's Depiction of Black Womanhood R. Albert Mohler: Inerrancy: a modern definition of an historic view John Piper: Some...

My orientation to pastoral ministry is bent toward long pastorates. My father served the church I grew up in for more than forty years. My adopted dad has also served his congregation for forty years. My own pastor has served his congregation for thirty-five years. And most of the men who have shaped my faith, theology, and ministry philosophy have had long pastorates. Of course, not every man is cut out for long pastorates. The calling of the Lord on each person’s life is unique. And some men are not divinely wired for long pastorates. Some pastors are called to...

Bryan Crawford Loritts is the Lead-Pastor of Fellowship Memphis. This multicultural congregation, which a little more than ten years old, is a model of the unity in Christ. Bryan Loritts is also an author of several books. He has recently edited a important book entitled, Letters to a Birmingham Jail. I had the opportunity to talk to this much sought-after preacher about his life, fait,h and ministry. I truly enjoyed the conversation and hope that it will lead to future conversations about more theological topics. I trust you, too, will enjoy this conversation. Did you find this interview helpful. Join...

Phillip L. Pointer is the Pastor of the St. Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock. After pastoring in the greater Washington D.C. area for some years, Pointer has now led the St Mark Church - one of the largest congregations in Arkansas - for the past two years. I occasionally listen to Phillip Pointer's sermons online. And I am encouraged by how he handles the scriptures and his clear preaching. He is a much sought-after preacher who travels the country speaking at special events, alongside of his pastoral duties. It was a joy to have the opportunity to interview Phillip...

Please pray for Dr. John A. Reed, his family and congregation, as he celebrates the homegoing of his wife of 52 years today in Oklahoma City. Shout-out to our youth pastor, Cameron Triggs, and his volunteer team for leading a purity conference this weekend with more than 100 teens from Shiloh Church. You can preorder my upcoming book, "On Preaching," which will be released May 1. Make sure you check out the A. Louis Patterson Jr. Interview. Read "On Praise Dancing." Ray Ortland: Faithful Pastor, You're Not Crazy Daniel Darling: What Pastors Owe Their People Nathan Busenitz: Are Tongues Real Languages?...