Disciple-Making Is THE Priority

The longer a congregation exists, the more concerned it tends to become with self-preservation - and the less concerned with its original purpose. Time, money, staff, and even the prayers become increasingly inward-focused. The result, not surprisingly, is that the church stops growing. The foremost principle says that leaders must keep, or turn, the focus of their church away from themselves and back to their primary goal -and Christ's primary goal - of making disciples. This happens through prayer, engaging the Bible, programming, budget, staffing, and evaluating all the church's ministries on their contribution to increasing the number of Christian disciples. - A church can do many good things. A church should do a few important things. But there is only one essential thing a church must do: "... God out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life..." - (Matthew 28:19, The Message). - Charles Arn

Notes from Sunday - 09/12/10

There are very few experiences like Sunday morning at the Shiloh Church.

As always, I am grateful for the guests who were in worship with us at Shiloh.

Shiloh is filled with many very kind people. It is very encouraging.

Bless God for those who expressed their faith in Christ through water baptism yesterday.

Praise God for our children's choir who led us in musical praise during our 10 service.

The choir sung the Edwin Hawkins version of “God Will Take Care Of You.” Yes!!!

I finished my little series on the book of Ruth with a message on chapter 4 that I entitled, “The Best Is Yet Come.”

I preached a part of the sermon to Crystal Saturday night. She replied, "So you are preaching to yourself in the morning." I said, "Nope." I thought, "Absolutely."

My prayer is that these messages on Ruth have and will encourage God-inspired hope for those who heard the messages.

I greatly enjoyed preaching through the book of Ruth. I am not strong at preaching narratives. But the challenge of working through these long Old Testament narratives has been a blast. And I have really needed each of these messages more than anyone else.

I intentionally avoided spending on the typological comparison of Boaz to Jesus. It is hard for a Christian to read this story without thinking about our great redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. But that is not the point of the book of Ruth. The connection is more with David and Jesus, rather than Boaz and Jesus.

That air was coming down on me so hard that it was painful. Literally. Painful.

Have you ever read H.Beecher Hick’s book, “Preaching Through a Storm”?

On of my favorite chapters of Charles Spurgeon’s “Lectures To My Students” is about the importance of ministers having one blind eye and one deaf ear. He’s right.

Praise God for those who were added to the church in our worship services.

Saturday night, the USC Trojans defeated Virginia. The Trojans are under sanctions this season. Thanks Reggie Bush. That is all the reason I need to wish for the Trojans to have a great season.

The Dallas Cowboys lost last night to the Washington Redskins last night. We deserved to lose that game. That’s all I have to say about that.

The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Denver Broncos yesterday. I am not a Jags fan. But I am cheering them on this year. If they keep losing, the odds go up that they will leave town. Maybe Los Angeles? And I do not want that to happen.

The Detroit Lions scored a touchdown last night. It was a stupid rule.

Is Michael Vick back?

The Faith of a Frequent Flier

I was on a flight this week that ran into an extended patch of rough air. The turbulence was like being on a roller coaster, as the plane bounced up and down. For the record, I hate roller coasters.

I kept reading as the plane danced a jig, until I heard a scream. A young lady, sitting nearby with her mother, cried out in fear. It was her first airplane flight. And she was overwhelmed by the turbulence, clutching onto her mother for dear life.

I understood. I smiled. I continued reading.

May the Lord help me to be that at peace when I am going through turbulence in my personal life, walk with Christ, and pastoral work.

"There is no fire on that paper!"

It was youth Sunday afternoon. I was hanging out on the church grounds with my dad, waiting for the youth musical to begin. A car pulled up and a woman got out and walked up to me and asked, “Are you ready?” She was the lady assigned to pick me up to preach the youth service at her church that afternoon. The service my father forgot to tell me about. As a boy preacher, just into his teens, this was an indescribable crisis. But I got through it. Barely.

This early experience taught me to always be prepared to preach. And it taught me that I could actually preach without notes. My father was a manuscript preacher. And most of the preachers I admired as a boy were also manuscript preachers. I just thought it was the way to preach, with a manuscript in front of you. But that day introduced me to a whole new world, as it were. And as time passed, I began to hear other men I admired who preached without notes. I even heard about one preacher who actually moved the podium from the platform when he preached revivals, standing there with just a mike (and a Bible, I hope). I never saw him do it. But I was impressed with the idea that he could stand without notes and preach.

At some point, I made an intentional decision that I wanted to preach without notes. I still wrote complete manuscripts, for the most part. I just would not take any notes to the pulpit. My dad used to say that I would stand there “flatfooted” and preach. It became something I was very proud of. Not a good thing. And not something I feel the same way about anymore.

As an older and hopefully more mature preacher, I am less neurotic about whether or not I preach with notes. In fact, when I moved from Los Angeles to Jacksonville several years ago, I planned to begin preaching with notes. No one in my new church would know the difference, I thought. But it never really happened. I still basically write out a manuscript or extended outline and review it thoroughly enough that I do not have to carry any notes to the pulpit. But it is not a big deal to me anymore. My philosophy of preaching can be summed up in the words of Malcolm X: “By any means necessary.” If I can do it with nothing in front of me, fine. If I need some notes to make sure I stay on point, fine. The goal is that I am faithful to the text and clear in my presentation. Whether or not I am able to do that without a “cheat sheet” in front of me is irrelevant.

If a younger preacher asks me how I preach without notes, I usually try to share some of the “tricks” I use to remember the major movements of my messages. But I confess that I have been doing it the way I do it for so long that I am not really conscious of my process anymore. I just do what I do. I also try to encourage them to put a lot of effort into the preparation of the message. Good preparation is the birthplace of good presentation. After you have fully prepared yourself in the study, the best advice I can give is that you do what it most comfortable to you. It may be that you preach best with a full, word-for-word manuscript in front of you. It may be that you preach best with an extended outline or just a few reminders. Or maybe you are able to prepare your message and deliver it without anything in front of you except your Bible. Good.

Think yourself empty. Read yourself full. Write your way clear. Pray your way hot. And then go to the pulpit and be yourself. Remember, preaching is, to use Phillip Brook’s famous definition, truth through personality. So be yourself. Don’t preach yourself. But offer the best you to God when you stand to proclaim the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Two men were walking together to a preaching engagement. One of them pulled a manuscript from his pocket and began to review it as they walked. His colleague observed this and said, “What are you doing with that manuscript? You need the fire of God to preach. And there is no fire on that paper!” Without breaking his stride, the manuscript preacher answered, “You’re right. There is no fire on this paper. But I can use this paper to start of fire!”

Notes from Sundays - 08/22/10

It was a good day of worship and fellowship today at Shiloh. The Lord blessed both of our services today in a special way.

We had quite of few guests in worship with us today. Some were special guests - teachers and administrators from local schools. And others who were invited by our members. However, they got there today, I was glad to have them in worship. For the record, a church cannot grow if no guests are attending.

When is the last time you personally invited someone to church?

Praise God for the one who was baptized today.

Our young adult chorale and youth choir led the musical praise today. It is always encouraging to have our young people serving in worship.

Deacon Harold Simmons, a member of the 8th Street Baptist Church of Kansas City and president of the Laymen's Department of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc., led a special class for our men today during our Bible Study Fellowship time. Deacon Simmons was with us this week to speak at our Deacons' retreat. He was a blessing to our men all weekend.

In our 10 AM worship service, we held a special time of prayer for the school administrators, teachers, and students who begin classes tomorrow. As always, my prayer is that our children will grow as Jesus grew - in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:51).

Pastor Kenneth A. Duke, who has served the New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church in MIami, was our guest speaker today. He preached from Habakkuk 3:17-19 in both services. He entitled the message, "I Still Have Joy!" It was a very encouraging message.

I met Pastor Duke a few years ago, as we were both preaching in Oklahoma City. It was during that meeting that I heard him preach for the first time. I have followed his ministry since then. And I have a great respect and appreciation for him. It was an honor and blessing to have him minister the word to our church family today.

Habakkuk is a Minor Prophet with a major message! My faith is always stretched in great and unique ways when I read or hear this book.

Praise God for those who were saved and added to the church today.

I cannot describe how good it was today to sit under the teaching of the word and to join the saints in being ministered to today. Most Sundays, I am preaching in worship. Today was a rare treat to be under the teaching of the word today.

Not being scheduled to preach today, I was all more prayerful today for my brothers who had to stand today to declare the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

I have a compulsion. Before I was out of church three hours, I was thinking about the next sermon I have to preach on this Wednesday night. Woe unto me if I do not preach!

Throughout the day, I have been thinking that the real strength of a church is not found in what happens on Sundays, but on what happens between Sundays.

Just in case you did not know, NFL football has begun. I know it's only preseason. But I am enjoying the games anyway. I am ready to get the season started and cheer the Dallas Cowboys onto a Superbowl championship!

Wondering what AFC team will meet the Cowboys in the Superbowl. Any predictions?

You Have To Do What You Have To Do

"You have to do whatever the Lord says you have to do in order to preach that Bible."

When I heard a friend say this in a conversation with a group of preachers, I laughed. He was asked his philosophy of sermon preparation. Specifically, they wanted to know what steps he takes to get from text to sermon. How long does it take him to prepare? Things like that. His answer: "You have to do whatever the Lord says to do in order to preach that Bible."

I laughed.

(Some things we laugh at because they are funny. Some things we laugh at because they are true. And some things we laugh at to keep from crying.)

Sermon preparation is both an art and a science. It is a science in that there are basic rules and principles you must follow to develop a biblical sermon (assuming you are seeking to prepare a biblical sermon). But it is an art in that the dynamic of each person's process is unique. Two men can go through the same steps of sermon preparation on the same text. But that does not mean they are going to end up with the same sermon (that is, unless they both wind up stealing a sermon from the same internet site).

But one thing is the same for all who would preach faithfully. You have to do whatever the Lord says you have to do in order to get ready to faithfully preach the word of God.

There are times when you go through all the steps and still end up without a sermon. You have read the text dozens of times. You have performed word studies and examined comparative translations. You have researched the historical and contextual background of the passage. You have looked up cross-references. And you have consulted the commentaries. As the Gospel song says, "You prayed and cried... You prayed and cried...." But still no sermon.

I have a cartoon picture in my study of a man on his hands and knees crawling through a dessert. He approaches a sign that says, "SERMON." Under the sign is a map with a dot that says, "You are here." But there is absolutely nothing else on the map! I have approached the weekend feeling that way many times.

Other times you sit at your desk and it almost seems that the Lord is sitting next you whispering in your ear. "This is what I meant in that text. And this is what I want you to say to my people Sunday." The point of the text is clear. You have a good idea about how to organize the text for preaching. The material you need to develop the sermon just falls into your lap like manna from on high. It rarely happens like this. But some times it does.

I think this mystery of sermon preparation is meant to both encourage and humble preachers. The sermon can be hard to come by when you have had a great week of study to remind us that scholarship alone does not produce the message God wants us to deliver. And the sermon can just come to you when you have had a hectic week that has stolen hours from your study to remind us that God is with us and he understands the burden we bear.

Above all, this mystery of sermon preparation keeps us from cheating! You have to do whatever you have to do to get ready to preach.

We preachers need to remember this. And so do those who sit in the pew and listen to us from week to weak. I often think that church members either misunderstand or underestimate what it takes most preachers to prepare. It seems they think that preachers learn everything they need to know in seminary. And from week to week, we just pick a text and stand up to preach from some storehouse of biblical wisdom. Believe me, you do not want to sit under a preacher who just picks a text and stands up to preach! If your pastor makes preaching look easy, it is usually the result of much hard work.

When the MacArthur Study Bible was being released, I saw an advertisement in a magazine that said something like this: "A young preacher asked Dr. MacArthur was the different is between average preachers and great preachers. He was surprised by the answer. 'Good preachers stay in the seat until the hard work is done.'" How true.

You have to do whatever the Lord says that you have to do to get ready to preach the word of God.

Day 1 of Proclaimer's Place 2010

I am in Oxford, England. I am participating in Proclaimer’s Place – a week of group Bible study and seminar of sermon preparation led by Joel Gregory.

I flew all night Monday night. I was armed with books, magazines, calendars, notebook, and study tools. I boarded the plane with big plans to get a great deal of study and reading done during the uninterrupted quiet time. But I basically went to sleep not long after the flight took off.

It was 6:30 AM when I arrived in London (five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time).

The ride from London to Oxford is a little more than an hour. After I checked into my hotel, I walked a few blocks down the street and joined the session that had already begun.

Yesterday, we spent the entire day studying Jonah 2. I cannot believe how much I learned! I just preached a series on Jonah last summer. Yet I learned so much out of that chapter that I had missed before. I also learned several tools and keys to help me dig a little deeper in my studies.

Today we will study Acts 27.

More than the specific study of the text, I benefited greatly from the discussion about preaching. I believe that most preachers preach too often. We are always in the batter’s box, and do not get enough batting practice to check our swing. Or let me just speak for me. Preaching is my passion. But with so many other things I am responsible for, it is hard to give my preaching as much attention as I desire, during this season of my life. So it was very refreshing to just spend a day just studying the Bible and talking about preaching!

It is about fifteen of us studying together this week.

Several of us followed one of my friends to a special place he found to eat for lunch… Kentucky Fried Chicken!

I am staying at the historic Randolph Hotel, where some of the filming of the C.S. Lewis movie “Shadowlands” was filmed. It is said that was in the restaurant of this hotel that Lewis first met his wife in person. Way cool!

I did not get an opportunity to do much sightseeing. I hope that I will be able to get some in before this trip is over.

They are not pants here. They are trousers. It is not an elevator here. It is a lift. It is not a bathroom or restroom here. It is the toilet.

Please pray for the remainder of this trip. I hope to come home spiritual refreshed and with my skills for preaching sharpened.

Notes from Sunday - 08/08/10

We had a good day of worship and fellowship today at the Shiloh Church.

Praise God for those who were baptized in worship today.

Our children’s choir led in musical praise today. As always, it was encouraging to have the little ones participating in worship today.

It was really cool to meet some of the guests who were in worship today. It is great that the members are inviting their family and friends to church with them.

Our choir sung “But God” today from Ron Winans Family & Friends IV. I really love this song. And it was a great blessing to hear it today. I was tempted to get a piece of it when I stood up to preach, but my better judgment prevailed. I had work to do.

I continued my brief series on the book of Ruth today with a message on Ruth 2 that I entitled “Nothing Just Happens!”

I’ll let you in on a little secret: I needed that sermon that I preached today more than anyone else!

This is the second week in a row that I have struggled to organize the text for preaching. Late last night, I wrestled with two different ways to preach the text. I am glad the Lord led me to preach it the way I did.

I had a lot of text and a limited amount of time. It was a challenge. But I really enjoyed preaching this message today. What a mighty God we serve!

I read a statement years ago that has really stuck with it: “The Bible is filled with stories about people. Let them live.” The more time I spend studying the stories of the Bible, the more I am learning to appreciate the rich theology embedded within biblical narratives.

I cannot wait to get to chapter 3.

I am thinking about and praying for a family that suffered a tragedy this weekend.

Praise God for those who were added to the church today!

Crystal cooked dinner today. It is rare for her to cook on Sundays. It was a rare treat! We “fared sumptuously”!

The Dallas Cowboys are playing the Cincinnati Bengals in a pre-season game this evening. It is still in the first quarter as I write, but you already know my prediction. Cowboys win!!!

In the morning, I am scheduled to fly to London to participate in The Proclaimer’s Place preaching seminar under the leadership of Dr. Joel Gregory. Pray for my travels and that my skills as a student of the word and preacher will be sharpened.

Notes from Sunday - 08/08/10

We had a good day of worship and fellowship today at the Shiloh Church.

Praise God for those who were baptized in worship today.

Our children’s choir led in musical praise today. As always, it was encouraging to have the little ones participating in worship today.

It was really cool to meet some of the guests who were in worship today. It is great that the members are inviting their family and friends to church with them.

Our choir sung “But God” today from Ron Winans Family & Friends IV. I really love this song. And it was a great blessing to hear it today. I was tempted to get a piece of it when I stood up to preach, but my better judgment prevailed. I had work to do.

I continued my brief series on the book of Ruth today with a message on Ruth 2 that I entitled “Nothing Just Happens!”

I’ll let you in on a little secret: I needed that sermon that I preached today more than anyone else!

This is the second week in a row that I have struggled to organize the text for preaching. Late last night, I wrestled with two different ways to preach the text. I am glad the Lord led me to preach it the way I did.

I had a lot of text and a limited amount of time. It was a challenge. But I really enjoyed preaching this message today. What a mighty God we serve!

I read a statement years ago that has really stuck with it: “The Bible is filled with stories about people. Let them live.” The more time I spend studying the stories of the Bible, the more I am learning to appreciate the rich theology embedded within biblical narratives.

I cannot wait to get to chapter 3.

I am thinking about and praying for a family that suffered a tragedy this weekend.

Praise God for those who were added to the church today!

Crystal cooked dinner today. It is rare for her to cook on Sundays. It was a rare treat! We “fared sumptuously”!

The Dallas Cowboys are playing the Cincinnati Bengals in a pre-season game this evening. It is still in the first quarter as I write, but you already know my prediction. Cowboys win!!!

In the morning, I am scheduled to fly to London to participate in The Proclaimer’s Place preaching seminar under the leadership of Dr. Joel Gregory. Pray for my travels and that my skills as a student of the word and preacher will be sharpened.

Notes from Sunday - 07/26/10

It was a long but good day of worship yesterday. I really enjoyed worshiping with and ministering to the Shiloh family.

I started my day a little earlier than usual, so that I could check my bags in at the airport before our 8 AM service. I did not want any hassles for my 12:40 PM flight to Atlanta.

I am grateful for all who volunteer to serve at Shiloh. May the Lord be glorified as we speak his word and serve in his strength (1 Peter 4:10-11).

I really had a great time teaching my new members class yesterday. It did not hurt that I was explaining the gospel, either. What a Savior!

Good to have our guests in worship yesterday. Three families, celebrating their family reunions over the weekend, attended our service yesterday.

No Hailey incident yesterday. Security must have stepped their game up. Good job!

I preached from 1 Peter 2:1-3. I entitled the message, “It’s Time To Grow Up.” Peter exhorts the saints to change their clothes (v. 1) and change their appetites (vv. 2-3) to grow in spiritual maturity.

I love this text. I pray through this passage regularly before my private study of the word. I also pray this passage publicly in worship before I preach. It is a remarkable reminder that the power of the word will be nullified in our lives if our hearts are not cleansed of unconfessed sin and set on the pure spiritual milk of the word.

For some reason, I felt that I was not clear in our 8 AM service. I left out of the serving considering whether I should preach something else at 10. I am glad I did not.

Praise God for those who were added to the church in our worship services yesterday.

Next Lord’s Day, I plan to begin a new series on the book of Ruth. I intend to preach the four chapters of Ruth in four messages. This will be my first time ever preaching from Ruth. And I find it quite difficult to preach from narrative texts. Pray for me.

After putting on a dry shirt, Crystal and the kids drove me to the airport. I flew to Atlanta and went straight to church to preach again. I am here to preach for Dr. Timothy Fleming and the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.

It is hot in Jacksonville. It is HOT in Atlanta.

Mt. Carmel celebrated their annual homecoming yesterday. It was an “old style” worship service. And food was prepared for the members of the community. I preached as briefly as I could. The congregation was very kind, considering the smell of B-B-Q was in the air.

Dr. Fleming sung his signature song, “Got The Devil Under My Feet,” in the service last night. It was great.

Crystal and the kids arrived last night. We hung out and then passed out.

Notes from Sunday - 07/18/10

It was a good day of worship and fellowship at Shiloh Church today.

We sang, “Here I am to Worship,” today. This song is really growing on me.

We had quite a few guests in worship today. Way cool.

I am thankful for all of our volunteers for their service. You make it happen!

Praise God for those who were baptized today. One of our pastors had the privilege of baptizing his two daughters today.

I really had a good time teaching our new members class today, so much so that I did not finish my lesson today.

I sat on the floor today. All was going well until a little girl named Hailey confronted me. Apparently, I look like her dad or something. She jumped on my lap and would not leave. Her mother finally had to come get her so that I could preach. Last I heard, security escorted the little girl from the auditorium.

I prefer to sit on the floor. Definitely.

Today I concluded my series on the Ten Commandments with a message on Exodus 20:17 entitled, “Overcoming Covetousness.”

I think I had a good understanding of the text. I wish, however, that my message had been better. I don’t think I was as clear I wanted to be. Praise God for blessing his Word in spite of the weakness of the messenger.

I really enjoyed preaching through the 10 Commandments. And I am really glad this series is over. It was hard work.

Praise God for those who were saved and added to our church family today.

I have a free Sunday next Sunday before I get to my next series. I need to determine what I will preach next week. Fast.

We ate soul food for lunch after church. I give you one guess where were ate.

This evening, a beloved deacon of Shiloh, Charles Brown, went home to be with the Lord. Please remember his wife, family, and our congregation, in your prayers.

Notes from Sunday - 07/11/10

Praise God for a blessed day of worship at the Shiloh Church today!

I am grateful for all of our guests in worship today.

I have been away from home preaching all week. It was great to be home to worship with and minister to my own congregation this morning.

The musical praise was exceptional today. I am grateful for our music team. Thanks for your service today.

I rejoice with all who were baptized today to express their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is very encouraging to be a witness to this important step of faith today.

It was tough preaching today after being at a preaching conference all week long. I have been reminded this week of how far I have to go as a preacher. May the Lord help me to continue to grow as a Christian and pastor-teacher.

Today I continued my series on the Ten Commandments with a message on Exodus 20:16 entitled, “Tell The Truth.” I argued that God commands us to be people of truth who (1) tell the truth about God, (2) tell the truth about ourselves, and (3) tell the truth about God.

A little boy came up to me after church and told me what he learned from the message today, “Do not lie!” I think he was listening.

God willing, I will conclude this series with a message on Exodus 20:17 entitled, “Overcoming Covetousness.”

Praise God for all who were saved and added to the church in our services today.

A big “shout out” to our security team for the service today. Thanks guys!

I received the news this evening that Dr. WIllie Smith, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, went home to be with the Lord Saturday. Please remember his family and congregation in your prayers.

I also received news that Walter Hawkins passed away today. Please remember his family and congregation in your prayers.

The 2010 E.K. Bailey International Expository Preaching Conference

I am attending the E.K. Bailey International Expository Preaching Conference in Dallas. Pastor Bryan Carter and the Concord Church host this conference. The theme this year is “Preaching Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

The late Dr. E.K. Bailey, the founding pastor of the Concord Church, established this conference. In a recent article by Michael Duduit, Dr. Bailey was listed among the twenty-five most influential preachers of the past twenty-five years. I fully agree. My own commitment to expository preaching was sealed as a result of hearing Dr. Bailey preach. He is one of my homiletical heroes. And his conference has been used by God to introduce and equip many preachers to rightly handle the word of truth.

The conference is already off and running. Last night, Michael Duduit and Maurice Watson brought the opening messages. Wow! That’s all I can say. This morning, Dr. Ramesh Richards and Pastor Bryan Carter will speak in the general sessions. Many other great preaches will be speaking this week. And there are many classes that area available. At the same time, a women’s conference is taking place under the leadership of Dr. Shelia M. Bailey.

I am scheduled to teach a session this afternoon on developing expository sermons. I will bring the message in the general session this evening. Wednesday morning, I am scheduled to participate in an extended session on developing a preaching plan. Then I have two sessions to teach Thursday afternoon, on developing expository sermons and the theology of preaching.

Please pray for the meeting and for the hundreds of Christian ministers who are here to learn, worship, and fellowship. And pray for Pastor Bryan Carter and the Concord Church, as they give leadership to this meeting.

Next year’s conference is scheduled for July 11-14, 2011.

Notes for Sunday - Independence Day Weekend 2010

Happy Independence Day weekend!

It is a great blessing to live in the United States of America, with all of the liberties we enjoy. Thank God for those who have given their lives and continue to stand in harms way for our freedom.

Because it was the 4th of July, we adjusted our worship schedule. All Bible Study Fellowship groups were cancelled. And we only held one worship service – at 9 AM.

For the record, attendance was much better than I thought it was going to be.

I am praying for all the members of Shiloh who are traveling over the holiday. May the Lord put a hedge of protection around you and grant you to come and go in safety.

I am grateful for all the guests who were present in worship with us yesterday.

It was our privilege to celebrate the Lord’s Table yesterday. This is always a special time of worship and fellowship for us as a congregation.

Thank you to our deacons and deaconess for your service in and for our celebration of Communion.

I was greatly encouraged by the musical praise yesterday.

I continued my series on the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) with a message on the eighth commandment that I entitled, “How Did You Get That?” (Exodus 20:15)

Sermon Point: Do not take or keep anything that does not belong to you.

Outline:

I. Do not rob other people.

II. Do not rob yourself.

III. Do not rob God.

Next Sunday’s sermon: “Tell the Truth” (Exodus 20:16)

Praise God for those who were saved and added to the church in our worship service yesterday.

I am grateful to God for our Health Ministry and Security Team at Shiloh. When there is a medical emergency, these men and women are there to care for the sick and calm our members. Thank you for your service yesterday.

After church, I did absolutely nothing. It was wonderful!

What team do you think LeBron James will finally end up signing with? My guess is that he is going to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Congratulations to Serena Williams Rafael Nadal on their 2010 Wimbledon championships.

Please pray for me this week as I participate in the E.K. Bailey International Conference on Expository Preaching in Dallas.

Save Us from False Ambition

God, I am just too busy. Too many people, too many questions, too much to do. We confess we stay busy because we fear acknowledging our emptiness. How amid this busyness do we rest? How do we worship you? Please create space, which may be other people, to make time, our time, serve you. Force us to rest through the activity of prayer so that all our loves and fears might be made perfect in you. Help s see how such busy service, if it is service, may be just the rest we need – just the worship we need. Finally, and most importantly, save us from false ambition. Amen. - Stanley Hauerwas, Prayers Plainly Spoken, p. 72

I resumed my study of the Ten Commandments this past Sunday with a message on the seventh commandment. Yes, where's still counting number seven!

Here is the sermon skeleton...

Title: "Keeping Pleasure in its Place"

Text: Exodus 20:14

Series: The Ten Commandments: Loving God, Loving Your Neighbor

Theme: The sanctity of marriage and sex

Point: Do not have sex with any person you are not married to.

Outline:

I. Do not commit literal adultery: To commit adultery is to put pleasure beyond its God-designed place.

II. Do not commit moral adultery: To commit fornication is to put pleasure beyond its God-designed place.

III. Do not commit emotional adultery: To lust is to put pleasure beyond its God-designed place.

IV. Do not commit spiritual adultery: To live in sin is to put pleasure beyond its God-designed place.

Notes from Sunday - 6/27/10

What a joy it was to be in worship with the Shiloh Church family and to minister the word of God to them today.

By the way…

I had the privilege of preaching at the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education this past Tuesday in Houston. It was my first time attending the congress. I appreciate the privilege of preaching the word to this assembly.

Wednesday, I preach in Dallas for Pastor Brian Carter and the Concord Church as they celebrated their 35th anniversary.

I returned to Houston to hear President George Waddles’ address to the congress.

I also got to hear Dr. Jerry Black from Atlanta preach for the first time in a very last time. It was very encouraging.

I made it home Saturday afternoon. Hung out with the family. Prepared for Sunday.

Thank you to all of our volunteers. You make it happen!

I led our parent-child dedication for the first time today. It was a joy and privilege to lead the church in this important act of devotion.

Praise God for the one who was baptized today.

I am grateful for all of our guests in worship today, including our special guests - the Jean Ribault High School (not the William M. Raines) graduating class of 1985.

Two weeks in a row.

I continued my study of the Ten Commandments today with a message on Exodus 20:14 entitled, “Keeping Pleasure in its Place.”

I was supposed to preach this three weeks ago, but changed in the last minute. The next Sunday was Youth Sunday. And last Sunday was Father’s Day. So I am just getting to it today. Better late than never!

During lunch, H.B. told me to stop “double-looking” at his mother. Later, he asked me if my wife was my sister. At least he was listening to the sermon.

Next Sunday’s sermon: “How Did You Get That?” (Exodus 20:15)

Praise God for those who were added to the church today.

Thanks Mae for learning the tag to that song so quickly for me.

I enjoy baseball. But I am ready for football to begin. Go Cowboys!

Hung out with the kids this evening. Caught a movie. Good times.

Remember my Dad on Father's Day

My Father passed away Father’s Day weekend, 1989 – twenty-one years ago. I was 16-years-old.

I remember that day like it was just yesterday. I was young. But I think I understood what was going on. I prayed that I would be able to at least say goodbye to my day. That did not happen. But I was not angry with God at all. I did not know what was going to happen next in my life without my father. But I was not really worried.

I was numb with grief.

But I was also grateful. Very grateful.

I was immeasurably blessed to have H.B. Charles to be my father. He was not a perfect man – by no means. He made a lot of decisions that did not understand. Still don’t. But he was a good man. I am still reaping the harvest of the seeds he planted in my life. And I am still benefiting from the things he taught me over two decades ago.

It’s been a long time since that memorable last conversation with my dad. But I can still hear his voice. I can still see his smile. I smile as I remember his style, mannerisms, and idiosyncrasies. He was truly one of a kind. And I miss him.

My theology of heaven doesn’t allow me to think that he is looking down on me. I think heaven is too wonderful and Jesus Christ too glorious for him to be paying me any attention. But I hope I have become (and am becoming) the man and preaching he was praying, nurturing, and encouraging me to become.

I love my dad. I miss him greatly. And I thank God for him on this Father’s Day.

Bible Study Is Not Meant To Satisfy Our Curiosity

I think that there are people who enjoy Bible study the same way that other people enjoy filling out crossword puzzles. Get all the parts and get the thing completed – they find satisfaction. I think there are people that study the Bible that way. They can see how it relates to its context and how its details work to get across the concept. But if it never gets into your life, if it never really touches your experience, I doubt seriously that you can call it a study of biblical truth, because I think God’s truth is always designed to challenge and change us. – Haddon Robinson (Michael Duduit, Preaching with Power, pp. 155-56)

The Magical iPad at Work