When I first started preaching, I had no idea what to do. I had listened to sermons but had no concept of how to prepare one. So I prayed fervently and practiced reverse engineering to figure out biblical exegesis, sermonic structure, sermon content, illustrations, applications, introductions and conclusions. I remember hearing one preacher humorously sayContinue reading “Teach Me to Preach”
Category Archives: Leadership
These Are Our Graduates
On May 10, 2024, I had the privilege of attending and reading Scripture for the 232nd commencement ceremony of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. This graduating class was one of the largest in the school’s history with 396 students receiving degrees. God blessed the day with beautiful weather and a large crowd ofContinue reading “These Are Our Graduates “
A Well-Placed Question
Jesus was known for asking questions. According to Bob Tiede of Biblical Leadership, the four gospels record 339 questions that Jesus asked. Others say the number is a little lower, but all agree that Jesus asked lots of questions. Tiede mentions, “He sometimes answered questions with questions of his own.” Jesus was the master of well-placed questions.Continue reading “A Well-Placed Question”
Bad Eating Habits
I confess — sometimes I eat too much. The Bible calls that gluttony, and gluttony is a sin. It is a sin, like all sins, that believers must take seriously, confess and turn from. Many of us struggle with overeating. I feel like I was born hungry and never really got full. Years ago, IContinue reading “Bad Eating Habits “
Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
Many of us remember the Snickers candy bar commercials featuring well-known celebrities with a sour attitude and a friend saying, “You’re not yourself when you’re hungry.” Of course, as the commercial goes, a Snickers candy bar is the solution. The same could be said about sleep. In ministry leadership, and most other lines of work,Continue reading “Are You Getting Enough Sleep?”
Why We Need More Leaders
I began teaching a course on organizational leadership this past week at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. One of the goals of the course is to demonstrate how organizational leadership can promote human flourishing. What an encouraging possibility for those in leadership to think that they can contribute not only to the advancementContinue reading “Why We Need More Leaders”
Preach to Yourself
Followers of Jesus need preaching. Hearing God’s word preached reminds us of the goodness of our God and His gracious plan for His people. In a typical week, I will listen to the Sunday morning sermon from my home church as well as a couple of other preachers God has used in my life. PreachingContinue reading “Preach to Yourself”
Welcome to 2024
I love starting a new year. There is excitement about what can happen, and the possibilities seem endless. My work schedule allows for a slower pace to finish out one year and prepare to start a new one in fresh ways. Every January is an opportunity for us to think about the year ahead andContinue reading “Welcome to 2024”
The Ministry of Presence
Bill Cutrer was a medical doctor turned pastor turned seminary professor. That’s where I met him and formed a profound appreciation for his ministry. He taught Crisis Counseling at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and I was blessed by God to have him as a professor. The class focused on the unfortunate reality that peopleContinue reading “The Ministry of Presence”
Getting Healthy Enough to Evangelize
I wish every member of a Kentucky Baptist church could participate in the monthly Kentucky Baptist Convention staff forum. Forum, as we call it, is a two-hour meeting where we celebrate ministry wins, challenge ourselves in our work, inform team members about upcoming ministry, employee benefits, etc. and talk about how we can improveContinue reading “Getting Healthy Enough to Evangelize”
Dr. Todd Gray 