October 2019 Blog Posts (14)

My evangelism team consisting of myself, a nine-year-old boy, a PhD student, and a former gang member who spent 15 years in prison. We approached a young lady trying to get her wiggly 2-year-old into the car. After small talk, bending down and introducing myself to Carter, I asked,…

The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

LUKE 19:10 MLB

I could have saved Myself a lot of trouble, if I had stayed by My Father’s side;

     instead, I made Myself nothing, donned the garb of a slave,

     and died a criminal’s death on a Roman cross.

          Skull Hill was a long way from glory.

          I went to hell so you would not have to.

          I…

My good friend, Phil, recently asked how I "re-imagine" discipling in today's world. My reply to him, as you'll see here, does not point to trendy technology or novel approaches. It points instead to timeless truth and ancient paths -- for ourselves and our grandchildren.

  I re-imagine that we'd "zero-base" our goals and strategies for cultivating Christlikeness in ourselves and others. Starting at zero, we'd…

This Week’s Question: There should be little disagreement that discrimination remains a part of the social fabric of America, so what are the underlying problems with showing partiality or favoritism, as commanded by James in James 2:1-9?

According to James there are several problems associated with showing favoritism! Nevertheless, the favoritism James describes is not based upon an affinity one person has towards another because of one’s personal knowledge…

Sometimes I am easily amused, like sitting in a coffee shop, reading T-shirts, while waiting on an appointment with a friend. On a recent day the back of a nearby t-shirt read, “Together is better,” which was a good thought. Then I noticed a scripture reference underneath, Ecclesiastes 4:9, which reads, “Two are better than one.” As I was able to pick up bits and pieces of the conversation, I realized that the one in the t-shirt was offering spiritual counsel with the other person at the…

Today's Question: Broadly speaking, what are the major issues James confronts in Chapter 2, and what is the gist of his arguments?

In Chapter 2 James discusses three important correlations that all Christians would do well to heed. The first (verses 1-9), addresses the relationship between the rich and poor. James scoffs at Christians who cater to the rich while ignoring the plight of poor people, and speaks of scoffers as…

Who am I? I am Rev. Philip L. Hilliard, the Senior Pastor of Austin Corinthian Baptist Church (ACBC), located on the Westside of Chicago. ACBC, was founded by my father, the late Rev. Clarence L. Hilliard – my mentor and spiritual leader, and I studied and received Biblical training under him. Therefore, I have no formal Bible Training since my undergrad degree is in business and I spent over 30 years in the Information Technology field; most of which was spent traveling coast-to-coast…

I lovingly embrace you and faithfully carry you close to My heart. What difference does it really make? All the difference in the world! When you follow Me as your Shepherd, I take good care of you.

Hungry? I alone can satisfy your heart’s deepest hunger. Like a sheep after a…

Paul was the disciple and discipler par excellence. While his and our perfect example is the Messiah, and we are commanded to "walk as He walked" (1 John 2:6) Christ was sinless and we are not. 

Because Paul had a sinful nature just as we do, and for several other important reasons, Paul understood the outworkings of the high calling as no one else did. Therefore Paul could make this astounding declaration "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" (1…

My GOD, my God, why have You forsaken me?

Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

Psalm 22:1 THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE

     The place of…

By Allen White

The American church is off-mission.

https://i0.wp.com/allenwhite.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/possible-4062861_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1 300w,…

People battling illness or other serious trials often turn to the book of Job looking for some kind of explanation for what’s happening to them. Although it’s unlikely our situation is even a fraction of the horrendous things Job endured, he becomes our model nevertheless.

If you remember the story, Job’s friends were convinced his suffering was God’s judgment on hidden sin in his life. They were sincere and passionate in their theology, yet they were totally misguided in applying…

She played fast and loose with life, she never considered tomorrow,

and now she’s crashed royally, with no one to hold her hand.

“Look at my pain, O God! And how the enemy cruelly struts.”…