The public ministry of Jesus was in its early stages. Large crowds gathered to hear his teachings and see his miracles. But Jesus was not caught up in his fast-growing popularity. He would not let the multitudes distract him from his Father’s business. And he did not want his new disciples to be seduced by the crowds. Matthew 5:1-2 reports: “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.” What follows is the greatest sermon ever preached. It is the first recorded discourse of Jesus – the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5-7, Jesus explains the righteous standard for citizenship in the...

In Mark 14:53-65, a religious court condemned Jesus for blasphemy.  In Mark 15:1-15, a civil court condemned Jesus for sedition.  The Sanhedrin unanimously voted that Jesus was worthy of death. But only the occupying powers of Rome could authorize capital punishment. Their charges against Jesus would have to matter to the Roman governor. Pilate would not care if Jesus committed blasphemy. So the religious leaders accused Jesus of claiming to be a king A self-proclaimed king was a potential threat to Caesar, which would matter to Pilate.  “The King of the Jews” is the dominating theme of Mark 15. In verse 2, Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” In verse 9, Pilate asks, “Do you want me to release for you the...

Luke 1:39-45 is preceded by the angelic announcements of two miraculous births:  Luke 1:5-25 is Gabriel’s announcement of the birth of John to his father, Zechariah. Luk 1:26-38 is Gabriel’s announcement of the birth of Jesus to his mother, Mary.  Our text is followed by the Magnificat in verses 46-55. It is the first of a series of songs that declare the meaning and magnitude of Christ’s birth. Our text bridges the divine revelation and the human response to the Incarnation. Here the glorious meets the ordinary. Gabriel foretold that Mary would give birth to a son. It would be a miraculous birth in that Mary was a virgin. Mary’s baby, conceived by the Holy Spirit, would be called holy – the Son of God. How did Mary respond to this...

A family went out to dinner. The waitress greeted them and offered them something to drink to start. The couple’s son blurted out, “I’ll have a cheeseburger and French fries!” His mother leaned over and unsuccessfully whispered that she would order for him and he would not be having a hamburger. When she finished her lecture, the waitress asked him, “Would you like anything else with your hamburger?” “Extra ketchup, please!” he answered. The mother looked at her son and saw his wide eyes and big smile. Then she looked at the waitress and nodded her approval.  Let me qualify. This...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode of the podcast, I have the joy of talking preaching with Eric C. Redmond. Redmond is a Teaching-Pastor at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park (IL), an associate professor at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and the general editor of the new book on preaching, entitled, Say It! Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition. There is a wonderful heritage of faithful preaching in the Black church. That great heritage is carried on by a great cloud of contemporary...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  Pastors are busy. We have lives. We have families. We have churches. With all of our personal and ministerial responsibilities, Sundays keep coming with unrelenting regularity. How do you remain fresh and faithful in the pulpit over the long haul? In this episode, I talk to Ray Pritchard of Keep Believing Ministries about preaching and, more specifically, preaching sermon series. Ray is a longtime pastor, prolific authority, and dynamic preacher. His sermons are clear, compelling, and convicting. Busy preachers will mind many...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  I have been preaching through the book of Jonah at my church. During my studies, I have been helped and edified by the book Running From Mercy, by Anthony J. Carter. I reached out to Pastor Carter and he graciously agreed to join me for a conversation about preaching the book of Jonah. Anthony Carter is the founding pastor of East Point Church in East Point, GA, where he has served since 2008. A graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Carter is...

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. - Ephesians 5:18-21 The filling of the Spirit is the most controversial, divisive, and misunderstood ministry of the Holy Spirit. Christians respond to the subject with ignorance, fear, speculation, fanaticism, or indifference. Why is there so...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  There are some sermons you can listen to. There are some sermons you cannot listen to. And there are some sermons you must listen to. What's the difference? Every preacher should strive to preach compelling sermons. This has nothing to do with how people respond to the message. Ultimately, that is in the Lord's hands. However, as much as it depends on us, we can strive to preach good sermons that demand a hearing and demand a verdict for Christ. What are...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  Memorial Day Weekend 2020 marked twelve years since I preached my first sermon to the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. Originally, I was only scheduled to fill the pulpit that Sunday. Before I arrived, however, I was asked to be presented as a pastoral candidate. I do not think the church leaders expected anything to come of this. Neither did I. Three months later, I was called to be the new pastor of the Jacksonville congregation. Here are ten lessons - good and...

  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 All Christians in all places at all times are to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful. The verbs are normal. The adverbs are radical: Always. Without ceasing. In all circumstances. The three exhortations stand together. To rejoice always is to pray without ceasing. To pray without ceasing is to give thanks in all circumstances. Yet each exhortation stands alone. What does it mean to pray without ceasing? Pray constantly. To pray without ceasing is...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  There are several ways to become a better preacher. First, you become a better preacher by preaching. LIkewise, you become a better preacher by listening to good preaching. Thirdly, you learn to preach by studying preaching. Leaders are readers. Specifically, preachers should regularly read books on preaching, as a part of your reading plan. There are classic books on preaching every preacher should read. Then there are many good books that should be added to your library and read for growth. Here...