GOD’S VISION FOR HIS KINGDOM Revisiting the Meaning of The Gospel of The Kingdom BY WILLIAM DWIGHT MCKISSIC, SR. God established the gospel in order to establish families, in order to establish His Kingdom in every nation. The purpose of the family is to pass down a godly heritage. The family is God’s evangelism plan and small group discipleship program. The Church’s job is to disciple families so that they can continue the process at home. God’s business is His Kingdom, and the Kingdom business is the family enterprise. God wants to bless the families of the earth. If families are not … [Read more...] about God’s Vision for His Kingdom (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)
Archives for January 2014
What If Your Opinion Doesn’t Matter?
“Everybody’s opinion is valid,” said the teacher as she parroted the curriculum. It was one of those happy-feely Monday’s where the school was trying to help us love one another, accept differences, and play nice. We likely would have sang Kumbaya if it wasn’t so offensive to the atheists. One of my wise-cracking friends asked what I thought was a pretty solid question. “What if my opinion is that no other opinion is valid?” I don’t remember her answer. And I didn’t really care, nor did the kid asking the question. We just wanted to laugh. But I actually think that he had a good point. … [Read more...] about What If Your Opinion Doesn’t Matter?
Discussion: How does your church raise up leaders?
Leadership. This is a topic that I have much vested interesting for (1) being a pastor of a church, and (2) trying to find ways to raise up new, godly leaders. Ultimately, I am of the persuasion that each church needs a plurality of pastors (preferably homegrown) and a group of deacons that have servant hearts, as well as other mature men and women who lead and disciple without any "official" title. Presently, in my church situation, one of the constant concerns I hear from people is about our lack of leaders, and so I'm just trying to identify and build up others who can serve as good leaders … [Read more...] about Discussion: How does your church raise up leaders?
When One Wife Isn’t Enough: The Problems of Polygamy
Polygamy is the next battleground for marriage in the United States. In fact, just last month a federal judge declared laws on the books in Utah that guard against polygamy to be unconstitutional. The state may still outlaw plural marriages, but it cannot prohibit polygamous cohabitating, thus weakening anti-polygamy law. The plaintiff in the case was none other than the "star" of The Learning Channel's (TLC) polygamy reality show Sister Wives, Kody Brown. Mr. Brown, a fundamentalist Mormon, is an outspoken polygamist with four wives although he is only legally married to one of them. … [Read more...] about When One Wife Isn’t Enough: The Problems of Polygamy
God’s Providence and Influence on the Rise of Christianity
The providence of God gets lost in the singular discussion regarding salvation. When we talk about this topic this is the main idea. However, as I continue to look through a historical lens I see more than that. Maybe we do not think beyond salvific things in reference to God’s providence and allow ourselves to see His hand moving throughout history. It might be that we accept God’s providential work through the Scriptures, but somehow, someway, we lose sight of that same work after revelation stops. Have you ever thought about how God raised and crushed empires before the time of Christ, … [Read more...] about God’s Providence and Influence on the Rise of Christianity
Antinomianism: Too Far or Not Far Enough?
I'm a new-comer to the discussion of antinomianism. I've seen folks confidently toss the word around, the heptasyllabic term rolling off their fingertips and on to the digital page. Finally, disgusted with my own ignorance, I determined to ascend from the pit of theological cognitive stupidity in search of greater intellectual challenges. In short, I looked it up on Wikipedia. I also read an article on narcissism in dogs. As I understand the concept, antinomianism essentially claims freedom from all law, moral or otherwise, as an aspect of Christian living, justification, and … [Read more...] about Antinomianism: Too Far or Not Far Enough?
Why I Follow SBC Leaders Uncritically First and Critically Second
Jared Moore has asked us to remove his posts. There are a handful, like this article, which we've turned into a summary and left the comments section posted. Jared Moore argued that we should "try to follow SBC leaders uncritically first and critically second" giving five reasons, portions quoted below: 1. My heart is deceitful (Jer. 17:9)... 2. I am trying to love God and my neighbor (Matt. 22:37-39)... 3. Leaders have their necks out there answering to over 15,000,000 Southern Baptists and a board of trustees... 4. SBC leaders do not answer to me; SBC leaders answer to all … [Read more...] about Why I Follow SBC Leaders Uncritically First and Critically Second
Useful Church History
Here are ten stories from Church History that I tend to use in my ministry as the pastor of a local church. They are not listed in any particular order: Monica of Hippo and Her Son Augustine: Augustine was a little hellion. He grew up to be a big hellion. His mother, the pious Monica, despaired of seeing his redemption from a life of squalor and dissipation. She was tempted to throw in the towel until her pastor told her, "Woman, the child of so many tears shall never perish." I don't know that this is always true, but it proved to be true in the life of Augustine, who was converted and … [Read more...] about Useful Church History
Is Jesus Really the Hero of Every Text?
The inquisitive lads look at me like a little dog when he knows you are getting ready to drop treats in his bowl. I’m so happy that they are this hungry. We’re learning how to study the Bible better and they are soaking it up. “Jesus is the hero of every text”, I inform them. Then I go about showing how this is the case and how to find Jesus in texts of the Old Testament. Then one of our guys goes home and decides he wants to apply what he has been learning to 1 Chronicles 16:4-7: Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to … [Read more...] about Is Jesus Really the Hero of Every Text?
Too Much of a Good Thing
I blame my parents, really, for all my troubles. Mom had hearing so perfect she could hear paint dry. Dad couldn't hear a low-yield nuclear weapon. My sister took after Mom, and I - naturally - followed in my father's ever-silencing footsteps. A huge schnoz, blue eyes, and hearing loss are my primary paternal genetic hand-me-downs. Our mutual hearing loss was slowly progressive, making communication slightly harder as the years rolled by. No big deal for me, really; I can't recall a time when Mom didn't tell people that I had "a little trouble hearing." As little boys are wont to … [Read more...] about Too Much of a Good Thing