One week ago the sermon email list went over the 10,000 mark for the first time. That’s a significant milestone that was 14 years in the making. I started sending out sermons by email in 1998 shortly after we returned from a trip to India. I started with about 20 names on my list, a handful of friends who wanted to read the sermon they heard …
In the last month I’ve spoken at churches in Indiana, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont. Although they varied in size, denomination and worship style, I noticed one common factor in each church:Hearty congregational singingNote that I did not say “hearty congregational worship.” I meant singing. Hearty, enthusiastic, d…
A few days ago I received a message alerting me that a certain pastor (whom I do not know) has been preaching my sermons word for word on Sunday morning. And he does so without attribution.To make matters worse, he posts the audio files online.Let me start by saying that I am a friend and supporter of preachers everywhere. I post my sermons precise…
A few thoughts on a variety of topics:1. The China broadcasts continue three times a week (M-W-F) at 6 AM CDT (7 PM China time). Check out our Chinese website and the iPhone and Android apps.2. We have just posted the Spring 2012 KBM Newsletter with the headline “We Need More Anchors.” Later this month we expect delivery of 100,000 copi…
Someone recently turned in this question: I’ve struggled with assurance of salvation for years. Could it be that I’m not one of the Elect? Here is my answer:The short answer to your question is that your struggles are proof of the opposite, that you are indeed a child of God. A truly lost person has no desire to know the Lord and would h…
New England has a reputation as a difficult place to do ministry. One pastor from Massachusetts called it a “cold” region for gospel ministry. But almost everyone senses that a “quiet revival” is underway. No, it’s not like the South where megachurches sprout up like dandelions in the spring. But churches are growing i…
I talked with a friend whose grandson was born with some difficulties that mean he will never grow up to a “normal” life.
Yesterday Pastor Dan Coffin told me that after I preached for him at Small Point Baptist Church this morning, he would treat us to a genuine Maine lobster feast. He started by going to the dock very early today and buying 16 lobsters that had been swimming in the ocean yesterday. Then he steamed them in a large pot on his back porch. When we (…
Recently Dallas megachurch pastor T. D. Jakes was asked by Oprah Winfrey to give his stance on homosexuality. Given Oprah’s huge audience and vast popularity in our culture, it would be easy to evade that question by trying to change the subject. Here is what Jakes said:"I’m not called to give my opinion. I’m called as a pas…
Southbridge, MAI’m writing this update from the lobby of the Southbridge Conference Center, a vast convention center built on the site of the former American Optical Company building. We arrived on Friday after a longish trip from Tupelo via Memphis, Detroit, and Hartford. Someone welcomed us on Facebook by saying that, “No one ever come…