Archives for 2013

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). The Bible is foundational to our faith. But it is more than the written word of God that brings us to that faith. Apart from the Holy Spirit's witness heard in our spiritual heart, the Bible is just words written about God. By the Holy Spirit speaking to our heart, the words of the Bible become God's word personally spoken to us. It is one thing to read about God; it is quite another to hear Him spiritually speaking to us. Though the former is factual, the latter is piercing, life-giving and life-changing. A. W. … [Read more...] about Tozer and ‘The Speaking Voice’ (by Ken Hamrick)

I don't mean to sound cold or unfeeling, but I'd like to make a point today. It hasn't happened much lately, because at my advanced and doddering age, no one really wants me as a pastoral candidate anymore (that's a rant for another post!), but through the years I have been asked a question many times. "Hey, Dave, are you happy in your ministry?"  When someone asks you that question, they are implying something. If you are not happy where you are, you must be willing to move to a new ministry. It is another way of asking, "Are you willing to put your resume in at such-and-such church?" … [Read more...] about Are You Happy in Your Ministry? Does It Matter?

Jeremy Vanatta is the pastor and an elder of Southside Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN.  He holds a PhD in New Testament from Mid-America BTS.  He blogs at The Threshing Floor, where this article originally appeared.   Foundations of Gospel Parenting Parenting is among the most challenging tasks in the world, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility. In hopes of encouraging parents or parents-to-be, I want to write a series of articles on Gospel Parenting beginning with the Foundations for Gospel Parenting. Mission Impossible 1.  Keeping eternity in mind: … [Read more...] about Gospel Parenting, Part 1 (by Jeremy Vanatta)

The scrawny lad heaved his pile of video games onto the counter. With a hint of sadness in his voice, he asks the clerk, “How much can I get for these”? The poor lad looks as if his best-friend just informed him that he’s moving across the state. As I’m wondering why this kid had to get rid of all of his games, I over hear nerd talk. The guys at the video game store are talking about backwards compatibility. Apparently, once this little dude opens up his new PS4 or XBox One for Christmas all of his previous games are obsolete. His old games won’t work on the new system. As I observed … [Read more...] about Backwards Compatible Church

Jeremy Vanatta is the pastor and an elder of Southside Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN.  He holds a PhD in New Testament from Mid-America BTS.  He blogs at The Threshing Floor, where this article originally appeared. As Paul brings his letter to Titus to a close, he wants to give some instructions on what to do with divisive church members who persistently disrupt the unity in the church with their wild theologies and controversies. Titus 3:10-11—As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is … [Read more...] about Remove the Persistent Agitator (by Jeremy Vanatta)

Joshua Breland is a seminary student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and blogs at JoshuaBreland.com  The Apostle Paul's teaching about love and a clanging cymbal is on the tip of the tongues of many Christians today. That can be good or not so good. Let's look at the chapter and verse. If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. - 1 Corinthians 13:1 Paul is beginning a section on how love is a necessity for godly and helpful behavior. Even though Paul might have powerful truth and knowledge, even … [Read more...] about Paul, Clanging Cymbal, and Listening to Others (by Joshua Breland)

My ongoing dialogue with Dwight McKissic regarding the nature of the gift of tongues has now occupied a number of posts across a six-month timespan: I wrote The Nature of the Biblical Gift of Tongues: Consideration of Relevant Non-Narrative New Testament Passages on July 5. Dwight wrote A Biblical Basis for Speaking in Tongues in Private on July 9. This post did not explicitly respond to my post, but it coming just four days after my initial post and containing significant overlap in content, it belongs in this list, I think. I then authored The Nature of the Biblical Gift of Tongues: … [Read more...] about Clarifications with Dwight McKissic

Rick Reilly manages, by accident every once in a while, to dig deep and strike sportswriter gold! He wrote a thought-provoking article, published at ESPN recently, that expressed his growing angst at being a football fan. As stories of the long terms effects of the violence of the game pile one on top of the other, civilized human beings, and especially Christians, are going to have to ask this question: Does the brutality of football make it immoral?  You can follow the link above to read the entire article, but let me cull some clips that make his point most clearly. After talking about … [Read more...] about Is It Time to End Our Love-Affair with Football?

Wiping away tears from his eyes, the once confident man expresses his dismay, “How did this happen, I had such strong faith?” And he did. He’s not the only one shocked. If you asked his pastor to give a list of the top 10 people that would never fall like this, he’d have been on that list. If you needed someone to counsel young couples going through marital strife, this was the guy. He seemed to have a way of helping young men to become better husbands. This guy had a faith in the Lord that was secretly envied by many in the congregation. Now he’s an adulterer. You’re probably … [Read more...] about How You Fell