When I first received a phone call from Highland Park Baptist Church’s pastor search committee, February 2, 2012, I was sitting in a Walgreen’s parking lot in North Texas.  A friend of mine thought I would be a good fit to pastor this historic church as Charity and I were open to moving closer to her family (in east Tennessee).   In an amazingly quick process, I preached in view of a call and accepted the pastorate of Highland Park.  … →

A few days ago, Thom Rainer wrote on article reflecting on the past decade he has served as a church consultant (// link).  Whether you’re reading this as one in vocational ministry or as a layperson, either way, you need to read his fascinating article.  Something that struck me is that most churches and church leaders do not know basic demographics surrounding their church.  This caused me to look-up some of the statistics my leadership and I studied during the … →

January 13 Title: Don’t Quit Text: Topical Sermon Details: I am preaching Dr. Lee Roberson’s famous sermon, “Don’t Quit” on our last Sunday at our Highland Park location   January 20 (LAUNCH Service) Title: Keep the Wind Blowing Text: Acts 2 Details: This is our first Sunday as Church of the Highlands.  The day Highland Park Baptist Church’s pastor search committee flew in my wife and me to interview to become the pastor is the day the tornado blew through … →

1. Christ would be born to a virgin Prophecy: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14)   2. Christ would be born to the family line of King David Prophecy: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, … →

In less than a month, Highland Park Baptist Church will re-plant from the downtown Chattanooga area to the Harrison Bay-Ooltewah section of town, and at that time our name will change to Church of the Highlands, and we’ll begin living out a much more progressive philosophy of ministry.   We are completely re-planting our church.  This experience can be summed-up in a few key words: Exciting.  Scary.  Gutsy.  Risky.  Fulfilling.   As our church goes through this process, I’ve received … →

We are just 38 days (a little more than five weeks) away from our transition to Harrison!  As this time is quickly approaching, we have a lot happening to prepare for our launch service January 20th. A parking lot will be poured either this week or next week in front of the cafeteria. The bathrooms being built in the gym are nearing completion. The bathrooms in the cafeteria will be remodeled in the coming two weeks. Screens, TVs, Lighting, and … →

  We push social media a lot at our church.  I’ve noticed that our strategy has begun to develop into a pretty fine art that I thought I’d share with you.  Before becoming pastor at Highland Park, I was on staff with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention where one of my responsibilities was serving as social media strategist.  I hope this post helps your church to more effectively engage people so you can fulfill your mission.   Here are … →

  Recently, I was interviewed by Clint Cooper, the Faith Editor for the Chattanooga Times Free Press.  He asked my thoughts on Mormonism, Christianity, the upcoming election, etc.  Here is what I wrote . . .   Mormonism is a cult.  However, the answer as to whether anything is a cult hinges on the definition of the word cult.  The ESV Study Bible defines a cult with the greatest clarity of what I would consider the average evangelical would probably … →