Text-Driven Blog
Rooting out Sin in the Church: Making Use of Systematic Exposition
“Preacher, you must have been reading our mail.” “Have you been listening to us over the back fence?” “How did you know what I’ve been struggling with in my life?” Expressions like these are heard in churches everywhere. The implication is th... Read More »
The Word Cycle: Edifying the Body of Christ
One of the most amazing aspects of God’s provision on planet earth is the water cycle. Ocean waters supply solar evaporation. Atmospheric air circulation transports water vapor to all seven continents. Condensation and precipitation provide fresh water to la... Read More »
A Preacher’s Response to Individualism Invading the Church
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things in the church. While some of them were good, a lot of them were terrible. The pandemic has shut down many churches from meeting together, which has then caused a decrease in ministries, which then led to a decrease... Read More »
The Corporate Nature of Preaching
No one can deny that the digital revolution in the past two decades has found its way into the art of preaching. Through livestreams, podcasts, and blogs (words that would be alien to our predecessors a few years ago) are ubiquitous and breathtaking in their v... Read More »
Great Commission Preaching
Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everythin... Read More »
The Pastor’s Character
Perhaps one of the most monumental events in my life was when I left my hometown of Flint, Michigan, to attend Prairie View A&M University in Texas. I remember scrambling money together from family and friends to help me to pursue my academic and professio... Read More »
Death by Plagiarism
I remember very clearly those early days of doing church ministry as an intern. The thought of speaking in front of people terrified me. I remember the very first sermon that I have ever preached. I barely made it through. That was only because I read every wo... Read More »
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Eugene Peterson penned a classic book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, many years ago. We live in a day where we can pull a small rectangle from our pocket and have near-limitless access to near-countless mediums for information––instantly. With t... Read More »
Christmas Love
John Fawcett, English Baptist preacher, author, and hymn-writer, entered the ministry as a Baptist pastor in 1764, pastoring a church in Halifax for the next 53 years until his death. He is mostly remembered today as the author of “Blest Be the Tie that Bind... Read More »
Advent Devotion: You Will Go out with Joy
Can we have joy in COVID? The answer is yes and no. We might have joy during COVID, but our joy is not IN COVID. Our joy is in Christ! That’s a message Isaiah wanted us to know in Isaiah 55. I’ve never actually heard hills singing or seen trees clapping, b... Read More »
Advent Devotion: Peace
Glory to God in the highest And on Earth peace, goodwill toward men. If you’re anything like me, you find yourself caught in the web of constant busy-ness. Despite my protestations to the contrary, I clearly believe (at least according to my actions) that aw... Read More »
Noncancelable Hope: Musings on Mary’s Hope-Filled Magnification in Luke 1:46–55
Most of us have had it with cancellations connected to this year’s COVID-19 crisis. For far too many, this year has been a season of postponed plans, delayed dreams, and skewered schedules. Whether the cancellation of a favorite football team’s game or the... Read More »