What a year!

2023 will wrap with my 52nd sermon of the year as we gather with the saints called Waddill Street Baptist Church in McKinney. If you’re in the area and don’t have a church home, we’d love to worship with you at 1401 N Waddill St, McKinney, TX 75069 at 10:45 am.

It’s been an amazing year with our First Baptist Church family and our extended family of Collin Baptist Association churches (and beyond). I’ve always treasured every opportunity to preach and aim to share each one as is if its my last, but a highlight this year was probably preaching two sermons with a translator; one in Puerto Rico and another at a Brazilian church plant in Plano. It will forced me to narrow my focus, cut off any unnecessary fluff, and be crystal clear with language (I mean, I’d hope I always try to do that, but when you’re really going phrase-by-phrase, yeah…por que?! IYKYK).

Another highlight was when we gathered with a church in Farmers Branch where some of some extended family worships. We turned it into a good old-fashioned family reunion, complete with food and fellowship, as just about our entire family came out for the day. I also wrapped up an extended time of preaching at First Baptist Church Of Josephine and am incredibly grateful they called an incredible pastor in Wayne Slay.

All told, as I look back on sermons preached and some of the notes I sketched out about each one, there were a number of duds and only a few where I felt I nailed it. But, whether I felt not-so-great or amazing, God’s Word was proclaimed and He promises it never returns void. THAT’S the only reason I’d keep at this!

Pastor, keep that in mind in 2024…you’re gonna preach a few “homers,” and maybe even a grand slam! But there are gonna be a LOT of singles, or even sacrifice flies. Just aim for faithfulness in proclaiming Christ and Him crucified, buried, and risen again, not performing for an audience in the pews but the audience of One.