Comments on: KBC Pictures an Unsteady Future for the Convention At-Large http://sbcvoices.com/kbc-pictures-an-unsteady-future-for-the-convention-at-large/ Southern Baptist News & Opinion Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:19:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ted E http://sbcvoices.com/kbc-pictures-an-unsteady-future-for-the-convention-at-large/#comment-2909 Ted E Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:49:25 +0000 http://sbcvoices.com/?p=1416#comment-2909 Todd, I regret the delay. We took a two day hiatus away from all things computer. I think your thought is in line with my thoughts. It is measurable and manageable and gives more insight into reality. I have always thought the 'fat' needs to be skimmed from the rolls. For me, it is about positively and pervasively extending the Kingdom of God through every influence we, the church, have. Todd,

I regret the delay. We took a two day hiatus away from all things computer. I think your thought is in line with my thoughts. It is measurable and manageable and gives more insight into reality. I have always thought the ‘fat’ needs to be skimmed from the rolls. For me, it is about positively and pervasively extending the Kingdom of God through every influence we, the church, have.

]]> By: Todd Burus http://sbcvoices.com/kbc-pictures-an-unsteady-future-for-the-convention-at-large/#comment-2890 Todd Burus Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:23:53 +0000 http://sbcvoices.com/?p=1416#comment-2890 Ted E, In expanding on your evangelism comment, what if our churches made it a goal to put 50% of their membership rolls through FAITH or some equivalent program in a year. That would serve either to (1) well-equip our people for sharing their faith with the world, or (2) force our churches to skim the fat off their rolls. What do you think? <abbr><em><abbr><em>Todd Buruss last blog post..<a href="http://toddongod.com/2009/04/25/what-we-believe-article-xiii-stewardship/" rel="nofollow">What We Believe- Article XIII, Stewardship</a></em></abbr></abbr></em> Ted E,
In expanding on your evangelism comment, what if our churches made it a goal to put 50% of their membership rolls through FAITH or some equivalent program in a year. That would serve either to (1) well-equip our people for sharing their faith with the world, or (2) force our churches to skim the fat off their rolls. What do you think?

Todd Buruss last blog post..What We Believe- Article XIII, Stewardship

]]> By: John Mueller http://sbcvoices.com/kbc-pictures-an-unsteady-future-for-the-convention-at-large/#comment-2885 John Mueller Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:27:49 +0000 http://sbcvoices.com/?p=1416#comment-2885 In the year and a half that Jay Tigner has been our senior pastor, Finchville Baptist Church in Shelby County has had more than a dozen believer's baptisms--several from the youth group, the rest people 20+ and older. For a congregation of a hundred, that's better than a 12% increase--and we're running in the black financially even after building a new high-tech family center in renovated existing space. Strong preaching and teaching, friendly people, great music and family ministry and a pastor who genuinely cares about people are the not-so-secret secrets of how God is at work in our church. Our doctrine is solidly, biblically Baptist, but we have avoided the quarrelsome fights that some churches and pastors seem to absolutely delight in picking over such issues as the role of women, divorce and remarriage, how to exclude as many Christians as possible from taking the Lord's Supper, and just how Presbyterian our Baptist churches ought to become. Many churches really are NOT friendly and many pastors do NOT genuinely care about people and many Southern Baptist churches DO have a mean spirit (deny it all you want but that's reality). People who visit our churches may sometimes be lost, but they're not totally dumb and they can tell in a hurry if it's a place worth hanging out at or not. A lot of sports bars are friendlier than a lot of churches. In the year and a half that Jay Tigner has been our senior pastor, Finchville Baptist Church in Shelby County has had more than a dozen believer’s baptisms–several from the youth group, the rest people 20+ and older. For a congregation of a hundred, that’s better than a 12% increase–and we’re running in the black financially even after building a new high-tech family center in renovated existing space. Strong preaching and teaching, friendly people, great music and family ministry and a pastor who genuinely cares about people are the not-so-secret secrets of how God is at work in our church. Our doctrine is solidly, biblically Baptist, but we have avoided the quarrelsome fights that some churches and pastors seem to absolutely delight in picking over such issues as the role of women, divorce and remarriage, how to exclude as many Christians as possible from taking the Lord’s Supper, and just how Presbyterian our Baptist churches ought to become. Many churches really are NOT friendly and many pastors do NOT genuinely care about people and many Southern Baptist churches DO have a mean spirit (deny it all you want but that’s reality). People who visit our churches may sometimes be lost, but they’re not totally dumb and they can tell in a hurry if it’s a place worth hanging out at or not. A lot of sports bars are friendlier than a lot of churches.

]]> By: Ted E http://sbcvoices.com/kbc-pictures-an-unsteady-future-for-the-convention-at-large/#comment-2879 Ted E Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:34:27 +0000 http://sbcvoices.com/?p=1416#comment-2879 Setting baptismal goals is most ridiculous. The people who do so intend good and are some of our finest people. But while some sow and some water, it is God who gives the increase. Why not set witnessing goals - how many to equip, how many with whom we will seek to authentically share the gospel, how many churches will embrace a year of teaching the gospel, how many lost friends and neighbors for whom we will pray daily for their salvation, how much of our budget we will designate to evangelism, etc. These kinds of goals are measurable and manageable. <abbr><em><abbr><em>Ted Es last blog post..<a href="http://walkingthebeat.typepad.com/walking_the_beat/2009/04/it-has-been-some-time-since-my-last-post-so-i-suppose-it-is-time-i-have-and-am-active-on-both-facebook-and-twitter-and-tho.html" rel="nofollow">DOES YOUR 'INSIDE CULTURE' COMMUNICATE LOVE?</a></em></abbr></abbr></em> Setting baptismal goals is most ridiculous. The people who do so intend good and are some of our finest people. But while some sow and some water, it is God who gives the increase. Why not set witnessing goals – how many to equip, how many with whom we will seek to authentically share the gospel, how many churches will embrace a year of teaching the gospel, how many lost friends and neighbors for whom we will pray daily for their salvation, how much of our budget we will designate to evangelism, etc. These kinds of goals are measurable and manageable.

Ted Es last blog post..DOES YOUR ‘INSIDE CULTURE’ COMMUNICATE LOVE?

]]> By: Les Puryear http://sbcvoices.com/kbc-pictures-an-unsteady-future-for-the-convention-at-large/#comment-2877 Les Puryear Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:50:40 +0000 http://sbcvoices.com/?p=1416#comment-2877 I agree with you that setting baptismal goals reeks of man-centeredness. The Bible says if we sow sparingly we will reap sparingly, but if we sow bountifully we will reap bountifully. Perhaps our convention has a harvest mentality with no conception of sowing. May we get busy sowing the gospel and when harvest time comes, rejoice together, whether it is 100,000 souls or 400,000. Les <abbr><em><abbr><em>Les Puryears last blog post..<a href="http://lesliepuryear.blogspot.com/2009/04/set-your-sights.html" rel="nofollow">Set Your Sights</a></em></abbr></abbr></em> I agree with you that setting baptismal goals reeks of man-centeredness. The Bible says if we sow sparingly we will reap sparingly, but if we sow bountifully we will reap bountifully.

Perhaps our convention has a harvest mentality with no conception of sowing. May we get busy sowing the gospel and when harvest time comes, rejoice together, whether it is 100,000 souls or 400,000.

Les

Les Puryears last blog post..Set Your Sights

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