Well, December 25 is almost here. I pray that you have a Merry Xmas!!! Oh wait, did I just unintentionally take Christ out of Christmas? Every year we as Christians endure what feels like a jab from people replacing the word “Christmas” with the word “Xmas.” Given the increasing secularization of our great winter festival celebrating the incarnation of Jesus, it would seem that their intention is to kick the Baby Jesus out and keep all the rest of the cultural fluff. That certainly might be the intention of some who use “Xmas,” but it might surprise you that that’s not necessarily the … [Read more...] about Merry Xmas!!!???
Why Did Jesus Take on Flesh?
At the center of this and every Christian season is the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. This mysterious bundle of joy is none other than the eternal Son of God who took on flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). That’s the very thing we celebrate here at Christmas—the enfleshing of the Son of God, the incarnation. He was sent on a mission from the Father to save sinners, and one of the absolutely necessary things Jesus had to do to complete His mission was take on a flesh and blood body just like we have. But, why was that so crucial? Why did Jesus take on … [Read more...] about Why Did Jesus Take on Flesh?
A Christmas Poem: “The Promised One of Old Is Finally Here”
"The Promised One of Old Is Finally Here" by Ben Simpson Welcome one and welcome all! Gather round, sit down, and hear Of the baby born in a manger stall, Who conquered death, sin, and fear. It's a story ancient old, But some still fail to know it. So I bring it bold This morning afresh as a preacher poet. The beginning of that babe was not the beginning. The story actually began long, long before When our first father Adam in the Garden introduced sinning And God in mercy pushed them out and closed the door. But in grace before that, He promised a child, meek in mind Yet determined … [Read more...] about A Christmas Poem: “The Promised One of Old Is Finally Here”
7 Reflections on the United Methodist Church’s Discipline Against Rev. Frank Schaefer
It may have been lost on us who hang out in only Baptist circles that our brothers and sisters in the United Methodist Church (UMC) had a fairly serious dust up last month. For me, I have many friends in the UMC, some of whom are ordained by the church. In fact, it was one of my ordained friends that passively brought my attention to the situation when she posted on her Facebook page a request for people to pray for the situation. Furthermore, my wife and I have United Methodist ties in our past. So, I am always interested about what's going on with that denomination. Indeed, all of us … [Read more...] about 7 Reflections on the United Methodist Church’s Discipline Against Rev. Frank Schaefer
But SBC Calvinists Believe That Too
The Southern Baptist Convention has certainly seen a mellowing out of what came to be quite a heated debate once again over Calvinism after the publishing of "A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation" in May 2012. Of course, Dr. Frank Page's appointment of the Calvinism Advisory Committee the next month in June 2012 and the unifying document they crafted and published in June 2013 called "Truth, Trust, and Testimony in a Time of Tension" (aka, T5) has had a great deal to do with the mellowing out we are now enjoying, or at least I … [Read more...] about But SBC Calvinists Believe That Too
Revisiting the Role of the Evangelist
One of the great pleasures of being a human is the ability to change your mind. That’s a tremendous blessing, especially when a wrong needs to be righted. I have striven to be a man of the Word. I want to live my life and do church as closely to the revelation that God has given us in the Bible. However, the Holy Spirit recently began to convict me that I was ignoring one important aspect of Scripture—the role of the evangelist. The Holy Spirit through Paul clearly says that God has given some men to be evangelists for the good of the church. It’s right there in Ephesians 4:11-12, And He … [Read more...] about Revisiting the Role of the Evangelist
5 Evangelism Principles on the Way to the Seller of Purple
We Southern Baptists are a Great Commission people. It's in our denominational blood! As we come into the state convention season of SBC life, we will undoubtedly be challenged again and again to share the gospel, sHaRe tHe gOsPeL, SHARE THE GOSPEL! Indeed, I welcome that clarion call from Scripture because it captures the heart of God and needs to be sounded again and again, but the Bible doesn't simply tell us to share the gospel. It also gives us principles for how to share the gospel. One of the richest places to gain some vital principles for sharing the gospel comes from Acts 16. … [Read more...] about 5 Evangelism Principles on the Way to the Seller of Purple
Can I Be a Preacher?
“Can I be a preacher someday, Pastor Ben?” said the smiling little 9-year-old boy across the desk from me. One of my joys every Sunday morning is having some of the young ones come say good morning to me there in my office. They usually want to show me their outfit, new toy, or doll, but on this day, I had one wanting to preach! The question certainly brought a smile to my face, but inside, my wheels were turning as to how I should answer. I quickly decided on my answer. “Well, there are four things it takes to be a preacher.” I know: leave it to a preacher to enumerate an answer to a … [Read more...] about Can I Be a Preacher?
What’s the Difference Between Great Faith and Little Faith?
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen," (Heb 11:1). Everybody has faith in something, even the most diehard skeptic. The question is whether or not that faith is in the right place and of the right amount. The Scripture tells us that the right place for our faith to be in is in God, particularly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus himself calls people to have faith in God. Sometimes their faith in God is great, and other times their faith is little. What is the difference between the two? This question is … [Read more...] about What’s the Difference Between Great Faith and Little Faith?
Yes, Indeed, God Loves “Gays”
"Why doesn't God love gays?" That was the question a teenager asked on a recent Wednesday during our youth ministry time. To be honest, the question was sort of out of the blue since the discussion was on the return of Jesus, but clearly it was on the heart of at least one, if not many, of the teens there that night. I appreciate this teenager's boldness to ask! This question is one this generation has had to wrestle with that previous generations did not. In fact, the speed with which the topic of homosexuality has come to dominate the social and political conversation is staggering, … [Read more...] about Yes, Indeed, God Loves “Gays”