Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you to preach faithfully, clearly, and better. I have recently concluded preaching through the Gospel of Mark. I started the study before the COVID-19 pandemic. It took me a few years to get back to it, preaching it in sections, as I preached other short series. The series consisted of eighty-seven sermons. I have around fifty commentaries on Mark's Gospel. I have read through each of them in my preparation for every message. That list of Mark-specific commentaries does not include study Bibles, multi-book commentaries, and other Bible study...

In his Ars Poetica, the Roman poet Horace advised writers, “Do not bring a god onto the stage, unless the problem is one that deserves a god to solve it.” Romans follows this advice perfectly. Paul begins this letter with a God-sized problem: sin.  Chapter 1 condemns Gentiles before God.  Chapter 2 condemns the Jews before God. Romans 3:10-12 indicts us all: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”  We are guilty, condemned, and helpless sinners. How can one get right with God? Various religions offer different answers. There is only one right answer. Romans 3:21-26 states it clearly, fully, and powerfully. Martin Luther called it: “The...

There are three main characters in the book of Ruth. Chapter 1 introduces two characters: Naomi and Ruth. Naomi was married to Elimelech. During a famine in Bethlehem, Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons became refugees in the country of Moab. Elimelech died in Moab. Naomi’s sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married Moabite women. Without having children, both sons died, Naomi was left without her husband and two sons. When the famine passed, Naomi returned to Bethlehem. Her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, followed her. Naomi pressed them to remain in Moab to restart their lives. Orpah obeyed. Ruth clung to Naomi.  When Naomi arrived in Bethlehem, the women asked, “Is this Naomi?” In Ruth 1:20-21, Naomi...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you to preach faithfully, clearly, and better. For the last several episodes, H.B. has answered questions about sermon presentation and delivery. One more time, we will tackle some questions about how to preach faithfully, clearly, and better. We hope you find these questions and answers beneficial. You can contact us to get your questions answers in a future episode of the podcast. If your preaching doesn't eventually offend everyone, you're likely guilty of favoritism or cowardice. Don't pull punches to please people, it's not safe for them or good...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you to preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, H.B. continues to answer questions about preaching. Royland Kirkwood joins H.B. again in this episode to ask him questions. We hope you find the answers helpful. In the future, we will dig into the On Preaching mailbag to respond to questions. Send us your questions, and it may end up on a future episode. HBC2 RESOURCES:  On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr.  On Pastoring by H.B. Charles Jr.  On Worship by H.B. Charles Jr.  It Happens After Prayer by H.B. Charles Jr.  The...

The story of Ruth begins with a time reference: “in the days when the judges ruled.” The Judges ruled during 400 years of moral chaos and corruption in Israel. Judges 21:25 explains: “In those days there was no King in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes.”  This was arguably the darkest period in Israel’s history. Yet against this dark backdrop, Ruth records a beautiful story of redemptive love.  Ruth is one of two books named after a woman – the other being the Old Testament book of Esther. Ruth is one of two books named after a Gentile – the other being the New Testament Gospel of Luke....

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you to preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode of the podcast, H.B. is joined by Royland Kirkwood (Associate Pastor of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church), as he answers questions we have received about sermon preparation and delivery. Send us your questions, and they may be selected for a future episode of our On Preaching Mailbag. Get a new website, unlimited custom graphics, & full-service podcast production services at Increase Creative.   HBC2 RESOURCES:  On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr.  On Pastoring by H.B. Charles Jr.  On Worship by H.B. Charles...

Jesus hung on the cross for six hours. Though weak and weary, Jesus cried out with a loud voice. Then he breathed his last. Mark 15:39 says, “And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God.’” The centurion’s confession is Mark's theological high point. Mark 1:1 says, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” A centurion’s declaration of Christ’s deity is the climax of the story. It is not the end of the story. The crucified Savior rose again. The burial of Jesus is the bridge between the crucifixion and the resurrection.  1 Corinthians 15:3-4 says, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also...

Matthew 5:10-12 is the last of the beatitudes of Jesus. This is the longest beatitude. It is stated in verse 10. It is restated in verses 11-12. This is the only beatitude Jesus explains. Verses 11-12 are a commentary on verse 10. This is the only beatitude that contains a direct address. Verse 10 is in the third person: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Verse 11 is in the second person: “Blessed are you…” This is the only beatitude that contains a command. Verse 12 says, “Rejoice and be glad.” These unique features transition from the introduction to the main body of the Sermon on the Mount. Moreover, these features emphasize the spiritual gravity of Christian persecution. Virtually every godly person you meet in the Old...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you to preach faithfully, clearly, and better. As a young preacher, "Preaching Through a Storm," by H. Beecher Hicks. It is about how the author navigated ministry conflict and the sermons he preached during that season. The last chapter is entitled "Storms Keep Coming." As a young man, I thought that was cynical. But, after decades of pastoral work, I'm convinced he's right. Storms keep coming! You are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or heading into a storm. How do you preach through a storm?...

In the sixteenth century, Matteo Ricci went on a mission to China. He brought along religious art to illustrate the Christian story for people who had never heard it. The Chinese responded fondly and favorably to portraits of the Virgin Mary holding her child. They were revolted to learn that Jesus died on a cross. They preferred to worship the Virgin and her baby rather than the Savior and his cross. Centuries later, that remains the preference of most people around the world. Biblical Christianity does not work that way. You cannot know, trust, or love Jesus without the cross. That’s the burden of Mark 15:33-39.  Jesus hung on the cross for six hours. Mark focuses on two blocks of these six hours.  Verses 22-32 tell us what happened during...

Alfred Bernhard Nobel invented dynamite in 1867. It is the most famous or infamous of the 355 international patents Nobel held. It was his goal to use dynamite to aid demolition and construction. It was used to create weapons of war that made Nobel rich. In 1888, Alfred’s brother Ludwig died. A French newspaper mistakenly published an obituary for Alfred, entitled “The Merchant of Death is Dead.” A chastened Nobel determined he did not want this to be his legacy. He quit the business of warfare, liquidated his assets, and used nine million dollars to establish the Nobel Peace Prize. It is the most prestigious award in the world.  Matthew...