My home church in America, Bethel Brentwood, is about 45% African-American, about 45% white, and about 10% Latino and Asian. It did not get that way by accident—but by combination of divine call and deliberate leadership decisions. Bethel is a big church, but if we...
If you are an American, or if you are a foreigner living in America (or if you like American TV, movies or music) you need to pray for “all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quit lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:2) That means, whether...
Got an email from my friend, Brett Fuller this morning about his post-election thoughts. Brett leads a church in the DC area—a multi-ethnic church that is about 50% African-American, about 40% European-American and about 10% Asian and Latino. Here’s Brett’s...
Sunday AM. Up early again. Jet lag. Been working on my sermon for a few hours. . . This blog started me thinking that something might be wrong in the Church when we. . . – are more passionate about a political party, than about the Church – boldly tell our neighbors...
I’m back in Nash just in time to vote, and to preach my ’08 election sermon at Bethel. Let’s pray I don’t blow the whole church up. I’ve been preaching a long time, and I’ve never received so much advice about a sermon. Emails arrive daily encouraging and warning me...
Sorry, no funny stories this time. When Joey asked me to preach at the Victory-Fort 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services, I knew I was supposed to talk about what it means to follow Jesus and carry a cross—especially the carry the cross part. Warning: this will be one of...
