Biblical Preaching
Articles
Celebrating the Retirement of My Pastor
I preached three of morning services yesterday. Then I hightailed it to catch a flight to Los Angeles to meet my family. We traveled home for the weekend to celebrate the retirement of my pastor Melvin Von Wade Sr. has led the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles for forty-two years. Pastor Wade is a part of the legendary Wade family. His father, Dr. J.C. Wade Sr., pastored the Salem Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska for nearly half a century. During this pastorate, Wade Sr. developed a reputation as one of the leading African-American preachers in the country....
Interviews
Paul Felix Interview
I have known Paul Felix for some years now. We were both born and raised in Los Angeles. We are both the sons of pastors. In fact, our fathers knew one another, as they served in the same city. Years later, in God's providence, our paths would cross, and I am grateful for the Paul's Felix's consistent example and great encouragement. For the past two years, Paul Felix has served as the pastor of Fairview Heights Baptist Church in Inglewood California. His congregation meets not far from where my family lived before we moved to Jacksonville. Paul Felix currently serves...
Articles
An Invitation to Cutting It Straight 2017
September 19-21, 2017, it will be my joy and privilege to host the Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville (FL), where I serve as pastor. Cutting It Straight exists to train, model, and promote biblical preaching and teaching. This year there will be tracks for those who lead and serve in Christian Education (Sunday School), Worship & Arts, Women’s Ministry (including Ministers’ Wives), and Students Ministry. Yet our focus remains the same. We want to help all church leaders develop a biblical philosophy of ministry. Everyone should cut it straight! I am excited about...
Interviews
Tellis Chapman Interview
Tellis Chapman is the Pastor of the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where he has served for more than thirty years. He is also the President of the Pastors' and Ministers' Division of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. A much sought-after preacher, Chapman travels the country preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Chapman is also a friend of preachers. I have seen evidence of his kind and generous spirit since the moment I met him some years ago. [Tweet "The preacher's responsibility is not to shout the people but to give them marching orders. - Tellis Chapman"]...
Podcast
033: How To Find Good Sermon Illustrations [PODCAST]
Welcome to episode #33 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I point to seven resources to find good sermon illustrations... The Bible Biblical Commentaries Sermon Illustration Books General Reading Other Preachers Personal Experiences Everywhere Questions What do you think? How importance are sermon illustrations to your preaching? Where do you find illustrations for preaching? Recommended Resources On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr. On Pastoring by H.B. Charles Jr. Well-Driven Nails by Byron Forrest Yawn Using Illustrations to Preach with Power by Bryan Chapell Preaching that Connects by Mark...
Articles
Why Expository Preaching?
My father – H.B. Charles, Sr. – was a faithful preacher. He was not, however, an expositor. His messages were thoroughly biblical. But they were not expositional. My dad was more a textual preacher. He would often lift a verse and keep turning it to show the beautiful gospel implications in it. But the main point of the text was not necessarily the main point of his sermon. I was not led to Christ by expository preaching. The preaching that nurtured my faith was not expositional, either. Much of the preaching that continues to feed my soul is not classic...
Articles
3 Things I Need God To Do For Me As I Preach
I publicly pray before I start my sermons. I also privately pray as I preach. Can you preach and pray at the same time? You better! Multiple things go through the preacher’s mind as he preaches. I’m not sure the preacher thinks about multiple things at the same time. Rather, the mind quickly and constantly shifts from one thing to another – consisting of good and bad thoughts, true and false, wise and foolish. This is why I pray as I preach. There are three fundamental things I need God to do for as I preach. I Need God...
Articles
How the Pew Can Help the Pulpit
It was the last day of the revival. I had just finished my ninth sermon of the meeting. I stood to give my lasting remarks. And I said what I was thinking. Usually, I am able to mind my business when I preach away from home. But since I had no intention of ever returning to that church, I took a shot at them. Thanks for putting up with my preaching this week. And for all of your kindness and encouragement. But all the glory goes to God. Any human credit goes to the church I serve. They give...