Over the past two years, I have learned more about SBC/Baptist life than I ever have in the churches I’ve worked with. I’ve seen the good and the bad, said the good and the bad, and have grown a ton through my interactions here. Thank you all, especially Dave and the regulars for your support, […]
On the SBC: An Interview with Ed Stetzer (Part 2)
Connect with Brandon on Facebook and Twitter — Ed Stetzer, Vice President of the Insights Division at LifeWay and phenomenal researcher/writer, was kind enough to take the time to answer some of my questions regarding SBC life. I hope this will encourage us all! BRANDON: There has been a semi-resurgence of debate surrounding Calvinism […]
On the SBC: An Interview with Ed Stetzer (Part 1)
Connect with Brandon on Facebook and Twitter — Ed Stetzer, Vice President of the Insights Division at LifeWay and phenomenal researcher/writer, was kind enough to take the time to answer some of my questions regarding SBC life. I hope this will encourage us all! BRANDON: Electing Fred Luter as SBC President was a monumental step […]
Will Voting in Fred Luter, Jr. Matter?
By the team you read this, Fred Luter, Jr. may have already been elected as President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Most Southern Baptists have prayed for years that we as a convention would atone for our regrettable past in the slave debate and both privately and publicly initiate racial reconciliation on a grand scale. Our prayers […]
The Gospel According to The Avengers
Here is the cast: Nick Fury is Jesus – The consummate leader, always leading with perfect intentions and precise calculations. Captain America is Christians – The one with upright character and unmatched integrity. (Let’s pretend that Christians exemplify this regularly.) Hammer of Thor is Scripture – An other-worldly power, unstoppable when in the right hands. […]
Missional Church Leadership: A Conversation with Steve Timmis
As someone feeling called by the Lord to pursue church planting, there are not many better resources than the work of Steve Timmis. He and I recently Skyped (though my Internet connection and webcam had a mind of their own!) and I picked his brain about missional living and leading a missional church in particular. […]
Interview with “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” star Jeff Bethke
Unless you live under a rock and completely avoid social media, you’ve at least heard of my man Jeff Bethke’s viral YouTube video “Why I Love Jesus, But Hate Religion.” If you haven’t, watch it here. At the time of this post, just six weeks after its release, the video is sitting at 19.3 million […]
Open Letter to T.D. Jakes
This was originally posted at Modern March Bishop Jakes, Let me first commend you on your acceptance to join the furnace that is the Elephant Room. You have taken a lot of heat over the years from pastors and theologians of all ilks, and you have handled it rather gracefully just as you did today. […]
What is Primary? (Round Two)
I have done this post before, but always enjoy the conversation it brings. Here would be my (current) primary, secondary, and tertiary issues: PRIMARY: Trinity Hypostatic Union Christ’s Resurrection Christ’s Second-Coming Authority and Inerrancy of Scripture The Virgin Birth Subsitutionary Atonement Justification by Faith Alone SECONDARY Calvinism/Arminianism Cessationsim/Continuationism/Charismaticism Believer’s/Infant Baptism Women in Ministry Denomination (usually […]
Rick Warren on Rob Bell
Rick Warren tweeted this in response to Rob Bell leaving his church: Speaking tours feed the ego=All applause&no responsibility.It’s an unreal world. A church gives accountability& validity Someone then asked him, “Do u think well-known pastors who leave their churches have more or less impact?” His response: Always less.No base 4credibility I think there is some […]
Did Homosexuality Exist in Biblical Times?
I read this article by a former SBC pastor and was greatly disturbed by his exegesis and thought process. I like his spirit of grace and humility toward the LGBT community, but this is just insulting to Scripture: [T]he concept of homosexuality was unknown for centuries after the Bible writers lived. It was not until […]
Discussing Preaching with Jared Wilson and Tony Merida
I was blessed to have SEBTS professor/pastor/author Tony Merida and pastor/author Jared Wilson on my blog for a discussion on preaching. Here is an excerpt: TONY: My main focus is that that I want to take the listeners for a swim in the text. I want us to immerse ourselves in Scripture, and my desire […]