Recently, our pastor stated, “Antioch was a great church. I wish our church could be like the church in Antioch.” Of course, he meant the church in Antioch of Syria. (The other one was in Antioch of Pisidia.) His statement caused me to ask myself: What made Antioch such a good church? Clearly, Luke considered […]
We Are Getting OFF the Bus (Dwight McKissic)
In 2006, Dr. Jim Richards, the recently retired (2020) executive director of the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention (SBTC), made a startling statement regarding pastors in the SBT—which included me—who believed in the continuation of all the gifts of the Spirit listed in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and I Peter 4, and […]
In Praise of Plow Horses
As a young boy I read a book about the race horse “Man of War.” As a small child growing up in the big city, I didn’t know anything about horses, and as a baptist I especially didn’t know about horse racing. But the book told me all I needed to know about the infamous […]
What would happen if the SBC elected a single staff pastor as president?
The chances aren’t at absolute zero for this but are pretty close. But, let’s dream and speculate anyhow. ____________ Those who want to take over the SBC will privately gripe and grumble over the delay in their well-laid plans. Those who see themselves as The Lord’s SBC Kingmakers will privately fume, since they believe they […]
The unsung heroes of the SBC: Single staff pastors
It’s a Southern Baptist cliche: “We are a convention of small churches.” We are indeed. The median SBC church will have 70 souls in average weekly worship attendance this coming Sunday which means that around 25,000 SBC churches have a pastor who looks out when he preaches at no more than a few dozen hearers. […]
Three times my state convention helped me greatly
I suppose I’m known as a state convention critic, with good reason. All that is for another time. I can recall three times my state convention helped me and my church. Here they are. Volunteer mission trip. Way back when state conventions had formal partnerships with various countries around the world, through IMB and their […]
A week of edification, encouragement, and affirmation.
This is the winter of our discontent, our division, our depression, our discouragement. It need not be. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a […]
When your best members leave the church
Although I am retired and not serving as senior pastor of any church now, I was saddened to hear of a family leaving one of my former pastorates for another church nearby. Both the family and the current pastor (my successor in the position in my former church) are my friends. I have had casual […]
Reading some Spurgeon in 2021
After going on a nearly two-and-a-half-year hiatus and transitioning to a new editor and research team, The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon are back with Volume IV. Courtesy of Broadman and Holman Publishers, I’m glad to bring you up to speed on the latest addition to this series. First, a little background on Charles […]
Is Biblical Illiteracy the Church’s Biggest Problem?
Last month I read an article in The Christian Post (Dec 3, 2020), entitled “Biblical Illiteracy Utmost Problem Facing Global Evangelicalism.” Leah Klett’s article summarized an interview with Thomas Schirrmacher, the new secretary-general of the World Evangelical Alliance. Schirrmacher stated, “Our biggest problem is that Bible knowledge is fading away. This is the utmost problem […]
Five current church practices that have me scratching my head…
…and concluding that my day may indeed be past. Clergy temp staffing agencies. The idea that the person who fills the pulpit or who leads worship of Almighty God, or who teaches students or other church staff can be interchangeable, that is, it doesn’t really matter who the person is, is foreign to me. Filling […]
Trump, the GOP, and a Primer in Self-Destruction
I will admit, last night’s vote in Georgia stunned me. I wanted the GOP to win those. It is not that I passionately pro-GOP these days, but I am unenthused about the idea of the Democrats having unfettered control of government for the next couple of years. They can implement some policies that will be […]