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...

My secretary told me a new member wanted a meeting. His name was Phil. USC students from the campus InterVarsity ministry had started attending our church. Some joined. Phil was one of them. I was glad to have the young people in our church. But these meetings were getting on my nerves. They meetings were the same. The young person told me what he or she liked about the church. Then they told me the things that needed to change if they were to be comfortable enough to stay. It felt like they viewed my congregation as a project to...

Today is the National Day of Prayer. We are blessed to live in the United States of the America. In fact, God has so smiled on us that it is impossible to count our blessings. Yet these are critical times. Many good changes are taking place. But there are disturbing trends that mark a deliberate and obvious turn from God. America is not, and has never been, “a Christian nation.” There is no such thing. The church is a sign, herald, and foretaste of God’s present-but-not-yet kingdom, not any nation. Yet there was a day when this nation respected God's...

This has been Prayer Emphasis Week at the Shiloh Church. Our simple goal is to begin our year in prayer, submitting to God's will and depending upon power. And it has been a great week! In past years, we have prepared prayer guides with specific targets to pray for each day. And we had a daily prayer meeting at noon to pray together. But we have done something different this year. On Sunday, members wrote prayer requests on cards and brought them to the steps around our pulpit. And we left them there, asking members to come throughout the week...

There are two primary reasons why you should pray. The first is obedience to duty. That is, we should pray because the word of God commands us to pray. Period. The second reason why you should pray is more pragmatic: Prayer works! God answers prayer. It pleases God to meet the needs of his children through the means of believing prayer. But while answered prayer is one of the great motivations to pray; unanswered prayer can discourage your prayer life. If your prayers are not being answered the way you desire, I recommend that you do two things. Continue to...

This has been a difficult week in the life of the Shiloh Church Family. Last week, one of our faithful and beloved pastors, Mike Rodgers, suddenly transitioned from earth to glory. Pastor Rodgers' passing has left our entire congregation with heavy hearts. Mike was a man of God, a loving shepherd, and a spiritual mentor to many in our church. He is already missed. But we are strengthened by the gospel that he preached to us and the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life. Thank you to all of our friends and well-wishers...

Today is a pretty special day for me. I signed contracts this morning to publish my first book. It has been my prayer to write a work for publication for many years. In fact, this blog was initially started to give me practice in writing. The Lord has graciously opened the door for me to write a book to be published. And the Lord held it open! But I need your prayers. My deadline for submitting the completed manuscript is October 15. I have more than half of the work complete already. For the most part, I have more rewriting...

Eternal and almighty God, who by thy providence dost conduct and govern all creatures in this world, suffer us not to enterprise anything but what is agreeable to thy will and pleasure, that we, altogether discontented with ourselves, may wholly depend upon thy blessing; and that our only care may be that thou mayest be glorified in us and our posterity, through Jesus Christ, thy Son. Amen. - Prayers on the Psalms: From the Scottish Psalter of 1595, p. 131

“Help me to speak your word with faithfulness, clarity, authority, passion, wisdom, humility, and liberty…” These are words I often pray publicly, as I lead the congregation in prayer before I read my text and begin my sermon. I do not know when I started praying this prayer. And I don’t remember forming these words intentionally. But they have become a regular part of my prayers. I do not pray this out of vain repetition. I pray this because I need the Lord to do the same thing for me every time I stand to preach. Whether I pray this...

I preached my first sermon at the age of eleven. The first thing I did when I stood up was to pray. No one instructed me to do this. My father never prayed when he stood to preach. And none of the preachers I heard regularly or looked up to prayed at the beginning of the sermons. For some reason, I did. I remember a seasoned pastor advising me, “If you haven’t prayed before you stand up to preach, it’s too late. And if you have already prayed, it’s not necessary.” I couldn’t argue with this logic. Yet I have...

"First of all, then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." - 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV) Today is the National Day of Prayer. Let us use this as occasion to remember our nation in believing prayer before the Lord God. Our country is filled with many political, social, economic, cultural, and spiritual problems. But nothing is too hard for God. It happens after prayer! Tonight at 7 PM the Shiloh...

O my Lord, Let not my ministry be approved only by men, or merely to win the esteem and affections of people; But do the work of grace in their hearts, call in thy elect, seal and edify the regenerate ones, and command eternal blessings on their souls. Save me from self-opinion and self-seeking; Water the hearts of those who hear thy Word, that seed sown in weakness may be raised in power; Cause me and those that hear me to behold thee here in the light of special faith, and hereafter in the blaze of endless glory; Make my...