SBC Voices

You are here: Home / Archives for 2014

Archives for 2014

The Gift of Vocational Ministry

by

I have served in Vocational Ministry for a little more than a decade when I was transitioned out. I have been an interim,Youth Pastor, Education Pastor, Associate Pastor, Campus Missionary and Teacher. Currently I am working in a manufacturing plant. It's a good job, good pay but it's not where my heart is. I want to share with you today a view from someone who feels a calling and a burden, but for some purpose, God has moved me away from the vocation that I cherished for a time. The Pastorate can be burdensome, it comes with expectations that are sometimes unfair and requirements that … [Read more...] about The Gift of Vocational Ministry

Whew! The Housing Allowance Survives! (For Now)

by

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has evidently ruled in favor of the housing allowance that we in ministry have come to depend on. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal has this article. I also understand that Guidestone is going to put out some info on this pretty soon. However, all is not good news here. The appeals court did not rule in favor of the housing allowance, but simply ruled that the plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the suit. Since none of them had been denied the housing allowance, they could not show harm. The 7th Circuit, however, found that the plantiffs lacked the … [Read more...] about Whew! The Housing Allowance Survives! (For Now)

Train Up a Child: What Does Proverbs 22:6 Actually Mean?

by

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 She was not happy with me, not at all. I was teaching Proverbs 22:6, which says essentially the same thing in every modern English translation, some variation of the ESV translation above. I made an observation about the nature of proverbs. They are statements about the general course of life, but are not meant to be ironclad promises or absolute guarantees. That bothered her. Still single, she anticipated getting married and having children, but if she did not have a guarantee that her … [Read more...] about Train Up a Child: What Does Proverbs 22:6 Actually Mean?

The Walmartization of the SBC

by

If the Cooperative Program should go away, would we find ourselves with a societal missions approach? That's been the standard presumption. I've said it myself. Now I'm not entirely sure. The great debate of the 1800s, besides whether slaveholders could be missionaries, regarded funding and organizational approaches to Baptist causes. On the one hand, Northerners favored the societal approach. According to that approach, Baptist churches do not organize per se. Rather, what we might today call a "missional entrepreneur" would launch a "society" organized to address a particular highly … [Read more...] about The Walmartization of the SBC

Is NAMB planting vast numbers of Calvinistic churches…. (by William Thornton)

by

William is the SBC Plodder. ...and, if this is true, should Southern Baptists be concerned? There has been and is this narrative afoot in our Convention: Calvinists are too numerous, have become too powerful, occupy too many leadership positions, occupy too many pulpits, exercise too much influence, and steps should be taken to slow or stop this Calvinist train. This is a Gospel Narrative to some in our convention and it colors how this group sees our entities and decisions by our trustees. For example, our North American Mission Board has this nascent church planting program called … [Read more...] about Is NAMB planting vast numbers of Calvinistic churches…. (by William Thornton)

Iowa Baptists Enter a 50-50 Cooperative Program Split

by

Today, at our annual meeting in Des Moines, the Baptist Convention of Iowa voted to adopt a budget that includes a true 50-50 split of Cooperative Program funds. Starting in the new budget, 50% of our CP money will go to the Executive Committee to fund the IMB, NAMB, the seminaries, the EC, the ERLC and whatever else we do as a denomination. I am pleased to be an Iowa Baptist today. Currently, our division is 80-20, and of course, Iowa keeps the 80%. At the encouragement of our new Executive Director, Tim Lubinus, we decided not to move incrementally over a matter of years, but to dive … [Read more...] about Iowa Baptists Enter a 50-50 Cooperative Program Split

The Gospel Isn’t Meant To Be Strawberry Pie

by

Lord I want more of You Living water rain down on me Lord I need more of You Living breath of life come fill me upWe are hungry We are hungry We are hungry for more of You We are thirsty, oh Jesus We are thirsty for more of you This was one of my favorite songs in college. It summarized the cry of my heart. I wanted to know God more. I wanted to have a deeper relationship with Jesus (whatever that means). I wanted more passion. But I think what I really wanted was some strawberry pie. Strawberry pie is the perfect cap to an awesome meal. It’s sugary sweet goodness on top of … [Read more...] about The Gospel Isn’t Meant To Be Strawberry Pie

Can you be a witness for Christ in the midst of your trial?

by

In 2 Timothy 4, Paul tells Timothy to preach the word “in season and out of season” and to “do the work of an evangelist.” He instructs his young mentee to preach the gospel at all times, no matter the situation or circumstance. As I post this from a hospital  room where my wife is being treated for cancer, I think one of the times that often feels “out of season” is in the midst of adversity. When we are facing uncertainty, pain, grief, and all the things associated with trials, the last thing I’m thinking about is preaching the word. And yet, I find that God gives me tremendous … [Read more...] about Can you be a witness for Christ in the midst of your trial?

No One Prepared Me for the Loneliness (by Tony Jones)

by

This post is authored by Tony Jones. Tony is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Rich Hill, MO. He blogs at http://thespiritualwoodshed.com/. When I was a music minister, it seemed I was always surrounded by people.  There was always someone there, in part, because music ministers are always part of a staff of ministers and there really is always someone else there.  I enjoy the presence of others, and I always enjoyed spending my days amongst other people.  When my office was located in the back of the church, I would hear the front door open and I would walk to the front office to see … [Read more...] about No One Prepared Me for the Loneliness (by Tony Jones)