Making Time for God

MAKING TIME FOR GOD
Exodus 20:8-11

Exodus 20:8-11 continues the train of thought of the previous three commandments. The first commandment -“You shall have no other gods before me” - instructs us to have the proper object of worship. The second commandment - “You shall not make for yourself a cared image” - instructs us to have the proper manner of worship. The third commandment - “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” - instructs us to have the proper attitude of worship. The fourth commandment - “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” - instructs us to have the proper time of worship. We must worship God exclusively, correctly, reverently, and – and this fourth commandment teaches - regularly. If you are not careful, life has a way of crowding God out. But redeemed people must never forget to make proper time for the God who created us, sustains us, and redeemed us. That is the message of this text. We must make time for God. Let’s talk about three aspects of this fourth command.

I. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SABBATH

This fourth commandment charges us to be faithful stewards of the gift of time. It gives us three ways to sanctify our time to and for God.

A. IT IS A CALL TO WORSHIP.

Exodus 20:8 commands: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” This command to remember the Sabbath indicates that they already knew about it. After God delivered Israel from Egypt, he provided heavenly food called “Manna” for them to eat. Every day, when they woke up, it would be on the ground. And they would go out and collect enough for their households. On the sixth day they were to collect twice as much, because God did not provide the manna on the seventh day. Exodus 16:23 says, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord.’” So Israel had already been introduced to the concept of the Sabbath. Now, in this Mosaic legislation of it, God tells them to remember the Sabbath. Verse 8b states the reason why it is to be remembered: “to keep it holy.”

The word “holy” means to be sanctified or set apart for the special purposes of God. In scripture, certain people, places, and things are called holy. But here we find that certain times are also holy. The Sabbath was to be remembered so that it would be kept holy. This emphasis on the holiness of the Sabbath is a call to worship. It is a call to deliberately set aside time for God. It is a call to regularly schedule time in your life where you and your family stop working to worship God. MATTHEW HENRY rightly said that the Sabbath was made a day of holy rest so that it might be a day of holy work. The Sabbath is a call to worship.

B. IT IS A CALL TO LABOR.

Verse 8 commands Israel to stop working one day a week to worship God. But verse 9 commands, “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work.” This verse makes it clear that God expects his people to work daily and diligently. This call to labor reminds us that work is good. Many people view success as getting to the place where you do not have to work anymore. But that view of life reflects our sinful nature, not God’s holy wisdom. God has wired us to work. Work is not the curse. God created us to work. Genesis 2:18 says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” The dignity of work was established by God in creation. The fall of man into sin in Genesis 3 resulted in work being difficult, exhausting, and frustrating. But work itself is good. Work is a part of what it means for human beings to be made in the image of God. Our God works.

• God was at work in the creation of the world.
• God was at work through the history of Israel. God was at work in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• God is at work in the church of Jesus Christ.
• God is at work in and through every one of you who has been born-again by faith in Jesus Christ.
• God is at work in this place right now.

GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS, HIS WONDERS TO PERFORM
HE PLANTS HIS FOOTSTEPS ON THE SEAS, AND RIDES ON EVERY STORM

God works. People often say that the devil is busy. But the devil cannot out-busy God. God never takes a break. God never calls in sick. God never takes a vacation. God is always at work. God works the night shift. And God always finishes the work that he begins. Our God works. And he commands us to work. ARTHUR W. PINK has written, “He who never works is unfit for worship. Work is to pave the way for worship, as worship is to fit us for work.”

C. IT IS A CALL TO REST.

In The Tender Commandments, Ron Mehl writes of waking up in the ICU to see the face of his friend Jack Hayford, who had flown from Los Angeles to Beaverton to check on him. “Good enough for you?” was Hayford’s strange greeting. “You’re a prideful man, Ron,” he went on to say. “You think people are really impressed that you work seven days a week.” Hayford had told him this many times before. But Mehl always found a way to escape the subject. But this time he was trapped in ICU, recovering from a heart attack. Hayford continued “This is an ego thing for you, isn’t it, Ron? You want affirmation. You want everybody to say, ’Isn’t he amazing? Look at that Ron Mehl. Always in the office. Never misses a service. Works seven days a week!’ Get serious, Mehl. Who are you trying to impress? God? Well, I can tell you something. He’s not impressed. God’s only impressed with one thing, and that’s His Son?”

After this stern confrontation, Hayford lovingly counseled his longtime friend to take the life principle of Sabbath-rest more seriously. And I want to challenge us to embrace the wisdom of God that calls us to rest. Exodus 20:9-10 says: “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work.” This commandment should is not some restrictive rule. It is loving concern of a good God. Our heavenly Father, in his infinite wisdom, commands us to rest. It’s a personal call to rest. God knows that you cannot make it without rest, refreshment and rejuvenation. So he gave us this human maintenance schedule. God calls those who will not work lazy. But God calls those who will not rest disobedient. In Mark 6:31, Jesus told his disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” VANCE HAVNER used to say of this verse that if we do not come away we will fall apart. You need rest.

It is also a communal call to rest. Verse 10 says: “On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” Every one was to rest – you, your children, servants, and animals, even strangers. This all inclusive call to rest was meant to affirm equality and justice for all, the precious nature of creation, and the human dignity of even the people from foreign lands. We need to remember that our family, coworkers, and possessions belong to God. Every person that you come across is a person of value who has been created in the image of God. The Lord affirmed this by calling the entire community – including the cattle – to rest on the Sabbath.

Lastly, it is a spiritual call to rest. Exodus 20:11 explains: “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, an rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath and made it holy.” God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. God did not rest because he was tired. Omnipotence cannot become weary. He rested in order to set a pattern for us to follow. The Lord blessed and sanctified the seventh day in creation to get us to stop and remember that he is the Creator. God established the pattern of six days of work and one day of rest to remind us to that our lives do not depend on our work. It depends on God’s work. God is our creator, sustainer, and redeemer. Our lives depend on his work; not ours. RAY PRITCHARD said it well: We give 1 day in 7 to God because 7 out of 7 belong to him!!!

II. THE PRESCRIPTION OF THE SABBATH

This fourth commandment is the longest of the Ten Commandments. It is the only one that is not taught, repeated, or affirmed in the New Testament. And it is, without a doubt, the most controversial commandment. The principle of this commandment is clear. But the prescription of it is very controversial, because it does not just tell us to make time for God; it tells us when that time should be. The prescribed time is named in verse 8: the Sabbath day. It is specified in verse 10: the seventh day.

For the record, today is not the Sabbath day. It is not the seventh day. It is not Saturday. Today is what the people of the text would have called the first or eighth day. Today is what the early church called the Lord’s Day. It is what we call Sunday. This Saturday-Sabbath/Sunday-Lord’s Day distinction makes this commandment so complicated. The issue is this: Do Christians violate this commandment by worshiping on Sunday? Why do Christians worship on Sunday when this commandment sets apart Saturday as the day of worship? Sabbath keeping is the fourth commandment; therefore, if we believe that Christians are obligated to obey the Decalogue, aren’t we saying that they are to keep the Sabbath? My answer is no. As I mentioned, each of the Ten Commandments is emphasized in the New Testament, except this fourth commandment. There is no place in the New Testament where Christians are taught to keep the Sabbath. It is not even suggested.

Matthew 19:16-20; Mark 10:17-20, Luke 18:18-21; and Romans 13:8-10 record summaries of the law. But none of them mention the Sabbath-keeping. In Romans 13:9, Paul gives a summary of the commandments, without mentioning the Sabbath. But he says that any other commandment can be summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In the New Testament, love is the law. In John 13:34, Jesus says: “A new commandment I give to you, that your love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” This verse affirms the fact that love supersedes the law. It also affirms the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ over everything. This is the key reason why the New Testament church is not commanded to observe the Saturday-Sabbath. The impeccable life, bloody cross, and empty tomb of Jesus has changed everything. This is why the early church intentionally, willingly, and naturally changed their day of worship to Sunday. It was to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. They did not just celebrate the resurrection in an annual Easter observance. They celebrated it in their Lord’s Day worship meetings every Sunday.

Colossians 2:16-17 says: “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” This is God’s word to every person who defines his relationship to God in terms of strict diets or special days. Stop chasing shadows. Embrace the reality. Trust in Jesus. Christ is our Sabbath-rest. Hebrews 4:9-10 says: “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” Did you get that? True rest comes through saving-faith in and personal devotion to Jesus Christ. In Mathew 11:28-30, Jesus says: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus is our rest.

The Sabbath was one of the greatest points of tension between Jesus and the Jewish religious establishment. By the time of Jesus, Sabbath-keeping had been entangled with many restrictive rules that made the fulfillment of the fourth commandment hopeless for most Jews. It is said that there were some 1521 rabbinical rules that many religious leaders could not faithfully keep. In what I believe was a sincere attempt to keep this commandment, the religious establishment built “fence laws” around the Sabbath. And these applications were eventually given the same authority as the commandment itself, so if one broke the rules of the establishment he was viewed as a Sabbath breaker. That was one of the religious leaders’ charges against Jesus himself. The Gospels record six incidents in which Jesus’ actions resulted in controversy over the Sabbath. Mark 2:27 records how he responded on one of those occasions. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

III. THE PRACTICE OF THE SABBATH

The prescription of the Sabbath is controversial. However, the controversy must not as an excuse to neglect or reject the principle of the Sabbath. The confusion about the specific designation of this command does not free us from the reality that God commands that we make time for him. What is the practical application of this commandment for us today? Let me give you two ways we as Christians can honor the spirit of this fourth commandment.

A. PRIVATE DEVOTIONS

Psalm 118:24 says: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This verse affirms a fundamental fact you can count on every day: God is in charge. God is in control. God is sovereign over every moment, event, and situation you will face today, tomorrow, and everyday. The Lord makes every day. And he reigns over all that he creates. Because God is in charge, you ought to rejoice and be glad every day. If you really believe that God the Father is good, faithful, and sovereign, you ought not to be miserable, frustrated, and hard to get along with. You ought to be grateful, joyful, and content. I am not saying that you have to like everything that is going on in your life. But you ought live with the confidence of Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore.” It is one thing to know the truth of the Lord’s unchanging goodness. But it is another thing to live it out. The question is how do you practice the presence of God on a daily basis? Let me answer that by recommending to you that you make it a priority to spend quality time with God in private devotions every day.

• Make time to offer thanksgiving to God everyday.
• Make time to read a portion of his holy word every day.
• Make time to bring your personal needs to God in prayer every day.
• Make time to pray for the needs of others every day.
• Make time to bless God every day.

I was a teenager preaching out of town. I was bored, lonely, and homesick. It was miserable. And I didn’t know what to do about it. I ended up turning on the TV. A football game was on. After watching the game for a few minutes, I saw something that I have never paid attention to before. The quarterback threw an interception. And when they showed him on the sideline after the series, he had a phone to his ear. And the commentators began to talk about the instructions he might be getting from the press box. And God used that to turn my room into a sanctuary. You see, the head football coach is on the sidelines. But the other key coaches are often up in the press box, where they can have a better vantage point on the whole field. When the series is over; players call up to the press box to get instructions about what they are doing wrong and what they are doing right. And every day God blesses you to go out on the field of life; call up your press box through scripture and prayer.

B. CORPORATE WORSHIP

Hebrews 10:24-25 says: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” This passage emphasizes the fact that we need one another. And the mutual care that builds one another up requires that we regularly meet together for worship, prayer, service, fellowship, and instruction. In fact, we should disregard the profession of faith of any person who habitually neglects the corporate meetings of their local church. Our failure to submit to the wisdom of this text dishonors the Lord, stunts our growth, and hinders our mission.

Don’t use your family as an excuse to neglect corporate worship. “God understands,” people say. “Sunday is the only time I have to spend quality with my family.” Let me respond to that two ways. First, if you really want to spend quality time with your family, the best thing for you to do is bring your husband, wife, and children to worship God together. Shame on you if you think that staying in or hanging out with your family on Sunday is of more quality then bringing them to praise the Lord for who is he and thank the Lord for what he has done. Likewise, if Sunday is really the only time you have to spend with your family, you need to check your priorities. Shame of you if the Lord gives you six other days every week, and you cannot find any time in them to spend with your family. This also applies to extended family and friends. “God understands,” people say. “But I couldn’t come to church because I had guests at my house.” Let me remind you of something: God gave you what you have. So use your family as an excuse to miss corporate worship.

Do not use your work as an excuse to miss corporate worship. I know you are busy. I know you have a lot to do. I know that you have bills to pay. I know that you have places to go, things to do, and people to meet. But if your are too busy to come to worship the God who has been so good to you, you may too busy. J.C. PENNY said: If a man’s business requires so much of his time that he cannot attend the Sunday morning and evening services, and Wednesday night prayer meeting, then that man has more business than God intended him to have. Don’t use your work as an excuse to miss corporate worship.

A certain man took over the presidency of a large corporation. An aide told him that there was a very important meeting called for the next day at ten o’clock. He said, “I’m sorry. I won’t be able to be there.” The aide said, “But, sir, this is regarding a very important matter. It’s a crisis that must be dealt with.” But he just shook his head and said, “I’m sorry, but I have a previous appointment. I can’t make it.” His aide said, “Sir, “I’d really like to know what appointment means so much to you that you can’t break it for something as important as this.” The president smiled and explained, “I have an appointment with the Lord God Almighty tomorrow at ten-thirty, in his house, at his table, and I will be there.” This man’s name was James Garfield. And he went on to become the president of the United States.

Lastly, don’t use church as an excuse to miss corporate worship. I have pastor friends who extended the invitation to church membership by saying, “If you aren’t growing; why are you going?” I struggle with this statement because I am convinced that church-hopping weakens Christians and sheep-stealing weakens churches. But, I admit, that statement does make a good point. You ought not force yourself to go to any church where you are not being taught, edified, and challenged. It grieves me to hear that some person or family has left our church. But I recognize that the best thing some people can do for the development of their faith is to find another church.
• If you cannot receive the clear and faithful teaching of the word of God, you may need to find you another church.
• If you live so far away that the distance easily becomes a regular reason why you can’t make it, you may need to find you another church.
• If you do not respect the leadership of your church, you may need to find another church.
• If your heart is hardening so that you cannot worship freely, serve willingly, and fellowship sincerely, you may need to find you another church.

Before you run out and find another church, let me challenge you to examine yourself. The problem may be your unwillingness to submit, reach out, forgive, get involved, or consider others. But there is a right time, a right reason, and a right way to leave your church. And you ought to find a new household of faith before you allow yourself to use the church as an excuse to miss corporate worship. God is too good, time is too short, and life is too hard for you to keep going to a place where you are not growing. So don’t let the church keep you from coming to corporate worship. And don’t let the church keep you from worshiping when you come.

There was an old lady who shouted in church every week, not matter what. If the preach died or hit it out of the park, she shouted. If the choir was on it or missed it, she shouted. If the atmosphere of the worship was warm or cold, she shouted. Some people around her could understand how she praised the Lord like that every Sunday. And they asked her how is that you praise God like that every Sunday, no matter how good or bad the service is. She answered, “Well, when the preacher is good; I look at him and see Jesus, and I shout. But if he’s bad, I look around him to see Jesus, and I shout. If the choir is good, I look at them and see Jesus, and I shout. And if they’re bad, I look around them and see Jesus, and I shout.

JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME, MY LIFE, MY JOY, MY ALL
HE IS MY STRENGTH FROM DAY TO DAY, WITHOUT HIM I WOULD FALL
WHEN I AM SAD, TO HIM I GO, NO OTHER NAME CAN CHEER ME SO
WHEN I AM SAD HE MAKES ME GLAD, HE’S MY FRIEND

Notes from Sunday - 05/23/10

This was a great weekend in the life of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church.

Saturday was our “Make a Difference Day.” The ministries, districts, and Bible Study fellowship groups blitzed our city with good works to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ. It was a wonderful day of service, fellowship, and witness. May the Lord be praised for all that was done in his name (Matt. 5:16)!

Thank you to all who served during MADD10. You make it happen!

As always, I am thankful for all of our guests who were in worship with us today.

There were two couples in worship today that celebrate 53 years of marriage this week. Way cool.

Our Youth choir and young adult choir led the music in worship this morning. I am grateful for their service.

They did not listen to the “Mand of Gawd” and allowed my wife Crystal to sing with the young adult choir today. What a setback to music! As wonderful as Crystal is, singing is not one of her gifts. However, she lip-syncs excellently

Lawrence Flowers, a very talented young man, led a selection in our 8 AM service. I was glad to have him as our special guest.

I continued our series on the Ten Commandments with a message on Exodus 20:8-11 entitled, “”Making Time for God.”

A good Ray Pritchard quote that I did not get to use in either message today: “We give 1 day in 7 to God because 7 out of 7 belong to him!”

As strange as it sounds, I actually had a good time preaching on “remembering the Sabbath day.”

Next Sunday’s message: “God’s Pro-Life Policy” (Exodus 20:13).

Now, in the latest episode of “The Strangest Things Happen in Church:” So I am preaching during the 8 AM service. And out of nowhere, a balloon begins to descend from the rafters right in front of the main camera. It took everything for me not to freak out when I saw some U.F.O. floating down on my members!

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

Sunday afternoon, our congregation worshiped with the Emanuel Baptist Church to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Pastor Herb Anderson. Pastor Anderson is a beloved son of Shiloh. And it was a joy to join in this special celebration. Our youth choir led the music. I preached with the little bit of gas I had left in the tank.

Did the Lakers lose last night?

Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church History Video

Notes from Shiloh's 135th Anniversary Sunday

Today we celebrated 135 years of God’s faithfulness to the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. What a church! What a history!! What a God!!!

Our media team prepared a brief video highlighting the history of our church. It was a wonderful testimony to the faithfulness of God to and through this wonderful local church.

Today’s worship was very encouraging to me. I believe our dreams are greater than our memories.

May the Lord be pleased to use Shiloh to spread the gospel and make disciples in a even greater way until Jesus returns!
I am especially grateful today for all our volunteers who serve at Shiloh. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. You make it happen!

Praise God for those who were baptized today.

I led an “old school” number with the choir today, “Rise Up and Walk,” by Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers. I enjoyed leading in the musical praise and singing with our choir.

All of the music was uplifting today.

Pastor Keelan Atkinson of the Word Reformed Baptist Church of Greensboro (NC) was our guest speaker today.

I still “blame” Keelan for me being at Shiloh (LOL!). He is the one who repeatedly encouraged Shiloh’s chairman to look me up and invite me to preach.

Keelan preached from Jonah 1 during the 8 AM meeting and from Philippians 3 in the 10 AM service. Both messages were timely, challenging, and encouraging.

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

Today was the first Sunday I have not preached (somewhere) since my installation as Shiloh’s pastor in November 2008. It felt weird at first. But I really needed it. I cannot describe what it meant for me to worship with my congregation today and sit under the word preached with them.

Lord willing, I will resume our study of the Ten Commandments next Sunday with a message entitled, “Making Time for God” (Exodus 20:8-11).

I took daughter Natalie out for a date this afternoon. We had a good time. But she wished her big brother was with us. That’s love!

Thanks for praying for me this past week as I preached the citywide revival in Buffalo. It was a great week of worship, ministry, and fellowship.

Please pray for our Make a Difference Day 2010 that will take place this Saturday. We plan to blitz the city of Jacksonville with good works that will demonstrate the love of Christ (Matthew 5:16).

Pray for a Busy Week of Preaching and Teaching

Tuesday begins a busy week of preaching in which I am scheduled to preach 11 sermons in 8 days in 3 different cities.

Tuesday: I am to preach the third week of the A.W.E. (April Word Experience) hosted by Pastor Kevin L. Pullam and the Friendship Baptist Church of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Wednesday: I will come home to preach our Midweek Service at Shiloh. I plan to continue our study of the Sermon on the Mount with a message on Matthew 5:38-42 entitled, “Radical Retaliation.”

Thursday: Our congregation will worship with Pastor Leophric Thomas and the Open Arms Christian Fellowship here in Jacksonville. I will be preaching their church anniversary and celebration of their new facilities.

Friday: I am to preach for Pastor Curtis Monroe for the closing night of the spring revival at Redeemer Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Saturday: I am to speak twice for the annual Men’s Conference sponsored by the Los Angeles Bible Training School (President Paul Felix). The service will be hosted by Pastor Carl Hargrove and the Fairview Heights Baptist Church.

Sunday: I am to preach the three morning worship services for Pastor George E. Hurtt at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

My friend, Romell Williams, Pastor of the Lilydale Baptist Church of Chicago, will be our guest speaker at Shiloh during our two morning worship services at 8 and 10 AM.

Sunday night, I am to attend the 35th pastoral anniversary for my Pastor, Dr. Melvin V. Wade, at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles.

Monday: I am to be “the Order of the Day” (preacher) for the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Los Angeles and Vicinity. Monday evening I am to speak for the chapel service at the Los Angeles Bible Training School (President Paul Felix).

Please remember this busy week of preaching and teaching in your prayers.

Notes from Sunday - 04/18/10

We have a good day of worship at Shiloh today. For the record, each Sunday we are privileged to gather together for worship is a great blessing.

I went into our main building much earlier than usual this morning to get my Bible. But our Greeters were already gathered, preparing to greet the worshipers as they came into the doors. Thank you sisters for your service.

I enjoy my time with our new members this morning. I did not finish my lesson, however. I don’t know where the time went.

We sung “How Great Thou Art” as a congregation this morning. I love the great hymns of the church!

The choir sung a song from Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers: “Making a Way.” You can’t go wrong with the Tommies!

I was a great joy to baptize our new members this morning.

Praise God for all of our guests in worship on Sunday. I am always encouraged by the presence of guests. It means our people have been inviting their family and friends to worship.

I continued my study of the Ten Commandments with a message on Exodus 20:4-6 entitled “How to Worship God.”

I think I get really caught up with I am teaching about worship.

I worked hard to edit down my thoughts for preaching. But I still did not feel like I finished explaining the text in either service. It was a horrible feeling. May the, as always, look over my poor work and bless his people.

Random observation: People who sleep during the sermon should sit in the back of the church. Or maybe the balcony.

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

Today was the second week of our new youth service for our teens. I have received good reports that it is off to a good start. Continue to pray for Pastor Andrae Robinson and the volunteers that are working alongside of us.

Our new Director of Media, Dan Beckwith, is on his way back to Texas to bring his wife and children to Jacksonville this week. Pray for their safe travel and relocation process.

Pray for our baby girl, Hailey. She has been having stomach problems all weekend. It got worse this morning. Crystal had to stay home with her today.

My prediction for the NBA playoffs: The Cleveland Cavaliers will be your new NBA champions.

How long will it be before Nike breaks out the new Kobe and Lebron puppets commercials?

Fight fans: Kelly Pavlik lost his middleweight belt to Sergio Martinez on Saturday night in a 12-round unanimous decision.

Prediction: This will be a very long week.

Notes from Sunday - 4/11/10

We had a good day of worship yesterday at Shiloh.

I was really glad to be home after preaching in Chicago last week.

I enjoyed teaching my new member!s class yesterday. I started off with an illustration yesterday that really did not work. But I think I was able to recover. So much for trying to be clever!

As always, I am glad and grateful for all the guests who were in the worship yesterday.

Where were the rest off the saints yesterday?

Our children's choir led us in musical praise during out 10 AM service. I was so excited to hear the adapted hymns they sung that I did not know what to say.

For the record, I love hymns. The older the better!

Yesterday, our youth pastor, Andrae Robinson, begin a new worship service for our middle and high schoolers. I understand that the first meeting went well. Please pray for God's blessings on this section.

I began my new series on the 10 Commandments with a message on Exodus 29:1-3 called "No Competition."

I think my 8 AM sermon sounded very different from my 10 AM sermon. But I enjoyed preaching both times.

Next week's sermon: "How to Worship God" (Exodus 20:4-6).

Praise God for those who were saved and added to the church in our 8 AM worship service yesterday.

Texas Stadium, former home of the Dallas Cowboys was demolished yesterday morning. Precious memories, how they linger!

Are you ready for the NBA playoffs?

Heading Home from the Biblical Exposition Conference of Chicago

I preached my final sermon this morning at the Biblical Exposition Conference of Chicago this morning. This has been a great week of worship, study, and fellowship. And it has been a joy to minister to the word of God to this eager minds and hearts this week.

I really do believe that pastors, Sunday school teachers, and counselors are on the front line of Christian ministry. They are the unsung heroes of the church. I praise God for the opportunity to minister to them this week.

The meeting ends this evening with a closing service. Pray God's blessings for this final time together and for all the delegates who will be heading home in the morning.

Most years I have been in Oklahoma City the week after Easter. I have had the privilege of speaking for Dr. John Reed, Jr. at the Fairview Baptist Church.

Because of the schedule conflict, I was not able to attend this year. But Fairview and OKC are on my mind this week. I am praying that the Lord will send revival to and through the OKC churches through this unique week of spiritual renewal.

Speaking @ the Biblical Expositional Conference in Chicago

I am in Chicago. I preached the opening message of the Biblical Expositional Conference. Dr. George Waddles, Pastor of the Zion Hill Baptist Church, is the host.

I preached from 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

The rest of the conference will consist of classes that Bible study techniques like observation, context, culture, and grammar.

I am to preach at 8 AM each morning to begin the dat of classes.

Outside of my own pulpit, it is my greatest joy to have the opportunity to minister to pastors, teachers, and Christian educators.

Please pray God's blessings on this conference this week.

Notes from Easter Sunday 2010

The choir did a song from Walter Hawkins' "Love Alive IV" called. This one of my favorite Gospel albums. But I have never heard this song performed in a worship service before.

The ensemble really did set the stage for preaching with their selection.

I preached on "Seeing and Believing" from John 20:24-29.

Praise God for all who were saved and added to the church in our worship services today. To God be the glory!

Thank you to all of our volunteers. You make it happen at Shiloh? And I am glad to have you on our team.

An open appeal to Roy Jones, Jr. Please retire. Please.

My friends asked if a was doing a bracket. I told them no. All that mattered to me was that Duke was going to win it all. They should listen to the Mand of Gawd!

One word: iPad!

I have a flight to Chicago in the morning to bring the opening message at an expository preaching conference tomorrow night. Remember me in your prayers.

Because of Easter

Because of Good Friday you can look back and not be afraid.

Because of Easter you can look ahead and not be afraid.

Because of Ascension Day you can look up and not be afraid.

Because of Pentecost you can look inward and not be afraid.

Speaking @ St. Thomas in Jacksonville

I am speaking tonight for Pastor Ernie Murray at the St. Thomas Baptist Church tonight. This will be my second year participating in their Holy Week Revival. We had a great time of worship last year. And I am looking forward to tonight's service.

The service starts at 7 PM at 5863 Moncrief Road. Our mass choir will lead the musical praise. And I am to bring the message.

Please pray God's blessings in this service tonight.

And remember Shiloh's Good Friday Service is scheduled for tomorrow at 12 PM. Join us or watch online at www.smbcjax.com.

Holy Week Schedule Reminders

Midweek Worship Service will not be held tonight at the Shiloh Church in observance of Holy Week.

We will meet instead for a special Good Friday Service at 12 Noon. If you are available (and your local church does not have something scheduled), join us as we worship our all-sufficient Prophet, Priest, and King - the Lord Jesus Christ. Or you can catch us online at www.smbcjax.com.

On Thursday evening we will worship with Pastor Ernie Murray and the St. Thomas Baptist Church here in Jacksonville for their annual Holy Week Revival. Our mass choir will lead the musical praise and I am scheduled to bring the message. That service begins at 7 PM at 5863 Moncrief Road.

Remember, Shiloh members, our 3-1-6 evangelism effort this week. We are praying for three unsaved and/or unchurched people every day over these six days of Holy Week with the goal of bringing one guest to worship with us on Easter Sunday.

May you continue to have a blessed and Christ-centered Holy Week.

Speaking @ Word Fellowship Reformed Baptist Church

I am in Greensboro, North Carolina, preaching for my friend Keelan Atkinson. I started Sunday night. I will conclude the meeting tonight.

I have know Keelan for some years now. This may be the fourth time I have come to Greensboro to preach for him. Keelan's young church - only several years old - has been very kind and encouraging to me over the years. And I am glad to be here to minister the word of God to them.

Pastor Atkinson is the one who recommended me to the leadership of Shiloh during their pastoral search. I still blame him for me being in Jacksonville! LOL!!!

Please remember the final night of this meeting in your prayers.

By the way, this past weekend - Friday and Sunday - I was speaking at a conference hosted by the African American Ministries Department of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. It was a good meeting.

Saturday, as I was making my way home, I had a flight delay in Houston. Then I missed my connection to Jacksonville. So I was stuck in Dallas for the night. My flight was scheduled to arrive at Jacksonville at 10 AM. But it snowed overnight in Dallas. So we were delayed, as they removed snow and ice from the plane.

When I finally arrived in Jacksonville, church was over. In fact, I was a little more than a hour away from my flight from Jacksonville. So I repacked my bag with the things Crystal brought and rechecked it for my flight to Greensboro. I sat with Crystal and the kids for a few, and then headed here.

I have never, ever had a weekend of travel like that. And I hope it never happen agains.

Thanks to the entire staff and leaders of SMBC for stepping up and filling during our mini-crisis. And thanks to the entire Shiloh family for covering me in prayer as I travel to minister the word of God.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night for our Midweek Worship Service.

God bless.

Notes from Sunday - 3/7/10

Yesterday was another wonderful day of worship and fellowship at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville.

I was not feeling well physically. But the Lord gave me strength to get through the day and blessed our worship services in a rich and powerful way.

We celebrated the Lord’s Table in both of our worship services yesterday. I believe it is one of the highest times of worship when the saints commune together to deliberately remember the Person and Work of Christ in the manner he prescribed.

I taught my New Members Class yesterday for the first time in about two months. It was great to be with our new members and to teach them about the essential elements of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was good to meet some of the guests who joined us for worship yesterday.

Our new Youth Pastor, Andrae Robinson, led the congregation worship song – “Here I Am To Worship.” It is a beautiful song. I hope it will become a regular part of our worship life.

We had special guests yesterday. The Concert Choir (not Gospel Choir) of Florida A&M University (FAMU) led the musical praise in our 10 AM worship service. Their two musical selections were very good.

I preached on “The Freedom of Forgiveness” from Matthew 18:21-35.

The Lord sovereignly “tricked” me into preaching this sermon. I had been working on a message from Luke. But the Lord took it from me about 5 AM Sunday morning. As reverently as I could, I told the Lord he had 15 minutes to share with me what the agenda for the day was. When the Lord led me to a message on forgiveness, I protested. I did not think my congregation was ready for this message. But it was 5:30 AM. I was too desperate to argue. So I did what the Lord was leading me to do. And he proved, as he always does, that he knows what is best for his people. Praise God!

In his book, The Power and Freedom of Forgiveness, John MacArthur argues that most spiritual problems are rooted in either guilt (the need to receive forgiveness) or bitterness (the need to express forgiveness). I agree.

Praise God for all who were saved and added to the church in our worship services yesterday!

I am tempted to say what next Sunday’s sermon will be. But the way things have been going the past few weeks, I had better just keep my mouth shut and wait and see!

I had several important announcements that I wanted to emphasize yesterday. And I did not make any announcements in either service. Oh well.

A brief testimony: I am starting to have fun learning how to pastor Shiloh.

Crystal and I tried to watch the Oscars last night. But we had not seen most of the movies that were winning the awards. So we did more fast more fast forwarding through it, rather than actually watching it. Let the church say, TiVo!

Notes from Sunday - 2/28/10

Today was Ministry Emphasis Day 2010 at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church.

Our worship services today were meant to challenge the church to get plugged into a place of Christian service. There was also a ministry fair to give our members an opportunity to learn more about our ministries and to get involved.

Our theme for today was “Get Plugged In.” I planned to say this to members I greeted today. However, many of the members I chatted with today were people I recognized to be already serving in some area of ministry. Praise God! And may their tribe increase!

Thanks to all our ministry leaders and teams for being on your post today. You make it happen. And I thank God for you.

I media team prepared a video that featured some of the members and ministries who are actively involved in the body life of the church. Thanks, guys, for your service.

As always, I was grateful and glad for all of the guests who were in worship with us this morning.

Our Youth Choir and Young Adult Ensemble led the musical praise today. They did a great job. I am greatly encouraged by their progress under the leadership of Reggie Bass.

The youth choir sung “I Belong to God” this morning. This is an “old school” gospel song that the youth choir used to sing when I was in it years ago. (I am getting old!)

I preached from 1 Peter 4:10-11 today. I labeled the message, “Serve One Another.’ My goal was simply to explain the priority of Christian service and challenge the membership to serve one another.

My sermon was actually the third message I selected for this morning. The first half of the week I worked on a passage from the Gospel of John. The second half of the week I worked on a message from Message. I finally landed on a message from 1 Peter. Go figure.

I was preoccupied with the clock today, for some reason.

Next Sunday’s Sermon: “The Cost of Discipleship” (Luke 9:57-62).

Praise the Lord for all of those who were saved and added to the church in our worship services today.

Many of the members were still rejoicing today from the ministry of the word this past Wednesday by Dr. John R. Adolph of the Antioch Baptist Church of Beaumont, TX. The entire Wednesdays in the Word series was a great blessing!

The kids had a late night last night, hanging out with the men of Shiloh at the Monster Truck Show. Apparently, Monster Trucks are a big theme here in Jacksonville. The football arena was sold out. Thanks P. Wesley for letting the kids tag along.

While I was typing these notes, George Hurtt sent me a text that he was having dinner with John Piper – Yes, that John Piper – who spoke to at Mt. Sinai this evening. I am officially a hater tonight!!!

John R. Adolph Speaking at Shiloh Tonight

Tonight brings to an end our Wednesdays in the Word 2010 series at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church.

Over the past three weeks, we have been challenged and encouraged by the faithful preaching of Ralph Douglas West, Joel C. Gregory, and William C. Curtis.

Our guest speaker will be Dr. John R. Adolph, senior pastor of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas.

I have known Pastor Adolph for more than 10 years. We met as we preached together for his uncle. I have been greatly encouraged to watch the Lord’s hand on his life and ministry over the years.

God is doing great things through Pastor Adolph’s ministry within his local church and around the country. And I am excited to introduce him to the Shiloh Church family tonight.

If you are in the Jacksonville area – and your local church does not have a meeting scheduled – please join us for worship tonight at Shiloh at 7 PM. If you are not able to attend, join us only at www.smbcjax.com.

Pray for us.

God bless.

William Curtis Speaking at Shiloh Tonight

Boy, how time flies when you are having fun!

We are in the midst of a great meeting here at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church: Wednesdays in the Word 2010.

Over the past two weeks, we have been richly blessed by the ministry of the Word from Dr. Ralph Douglas West and Dr. Joel C. Gregory.

we are excited to have Dr. William H. Curtis – Senior Pastor of the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Pittsburg and President of the historic Hampton’s Minister’s Conference – as our guest speaker.

Dr. Curtis participated in this meeting last year and was a great encouragement to our congregation. We are looking forward with great expectation to what the Lord will say to us tonight through this servant of the Word.

If you are in the Jacksonville area, and your own congregation does not have a meeting scheduled to night, please join us for worship tonight at 1118 W. Beaver Street at 7 PM. If you are not able to attend, you can watch the service online through www.smbcjax.com or www.streamingfaith.com.

Please pray for tonight's service.

May the name of the Lord be glorified!

Joel C. Gregory Preaching @ Shiloh Tonight

Tonight, we will continue our series of special services at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church that we call Wednesdays in the Word.

Last week, Dr. Ralph Douglas West of the Church Without Walls in Houston blessed us in a great way through the ministry of the word.

We are grateful and honored to have Dr. Joel C. Gregory as our special guests tonight.

Dr. Gregory is a former pastor, itinerant preacher, seminary professor, author, and mentor of preachers. In fact, last night he did a seminar on contemporary preaching that was very challenging, encouraging, and beneficial for our associate preacher, Bible study leaders, members and guest pastors who joined us.

If you are in the Jacksonville area, please join us tonight at Shiloh at 7 PM. You can also view the service through www.smbcjax.com or www.streamingfaith.com.

May the Lord be glorified by the worship of the saints and the preaching of the word tonight.

We have a corporate prayer meeting at the Shiloh Church that meets every Saturday before the 1st Sunday. It is a great time of supplication and intercession.

I often prepare a prayer guide for these meetings, so help guide our times of prayer.

Here is the prayer guide from last week:

• Pray for Haiti.

- Pray for President René Préval and the entire government of Haiti.

- Pray that the suffering and grieving people of Haiti will receive the aid they need.

- Pray for the salvation of the Haitian people who have not trusted Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

• Pray for President Obama and all who are in authority over us (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

• Pray for the salvation and discipleship of the children, youth, and young adults (Prov. 22:6).

• Pray that Christ would be exalted by the married couples of SMBC and for the health, maturity, and strength of their marriages.

• Pray that more members of SMBC would follow the example of Jesus by becoming active in serving one another and the world (Matt. 9:38).

• Pray for the ongoing growth, Christlikeness, and fruitfulness of Shiloh.

• Pray for our upcoming Sunday morning series on Christian discipleship: “Following Christ: What it Means to be a Disciple of Jesus.”

• Pray for the pastors of Shiloh that we would guard persevere in guarding our lifestyle and doctrine (1 Tim. 4:16).

• Pray that the Lord would help us to be more faithful stewards of the financial resources he entrusts to us (Luke 16:10-13).