Any preacher who captures the heart of his congregation must have his own heart captured by the Word He is preaching.  Nothing is better than hearing a man of God who is altogether and convincingly sold on the message he proclaims.  Nothing is worse, however, than hearing someone speak who lacks passion and possession of the Holy Spirit of God.  The half-hearted man who enters the pulpit with a half-hearted message needs to sit down until the other half if ready.

Doing the work of exposition must be coupled with enthusiastic fervor.  No one uncovers a buried treasure without an …

Books abound in the preacher’s life.  At times I feel they overtake me.  They are on my desk, on my shelves, on my nightstand, on my electronic devices, in my briefcase, in my car, in the floor, at the house, at the church, at the office…everywhere I see them, I read them, and I pour them into my life.  Some of them inspire me, others offend me.  Some solidify my convictions, others rebuke them.  Some are creative, while others are contentious.  I love books; most preachers do.

It was Mark Twain who said, “A man who doesn’t read good books …