Guest Blogger

John Wylie is a pastor in Oklahoma and a frequent commenter here.  There is an ongoing debate in the SBC and in fact, many evangelical circles concerning the the superiority of expository sermons over topical messages.  There are a number of things to take into consideration, in my opinion, if one wants to have a productive discussion on this topic. 1.)  It's Important to have a cogent definition of the various classifications of sermons. The reason I say this is because you can look in various texts on homiletics and each one will vary slightly in its definition of the classes of … [Read more...] about EXPOSITORY VERSUS TOPICAL PREACHING? (by John Wylie)

William Thornton is the inimitable, insightful, sometimes curmudgeonly, rarely acerbic or irascible, always interesting, SBC Plodder.  I do think that we're going to see a winnowing. We're going to see a clarification of who we are and I do believe in twenty years we're going to be a smaller denomination, maybe less number of churches but I think that we're going to be more focused. I think we're going to be more serious about joining together and reaching the world for Christ. Frank Page, CEO, SBC Executive Committee, Fault Lines Within the SBC Panel, June, 2014 (go to the 24 minute mark at … [Read more...] about The SBC Will Be Smaller in 20 Years (by William Thornton)

Adam Blosser is the pastor of Drakes Branch Baptist Church, in Drakes Branch, Virginia, and blogs at One True Joy.  Over the last week on SBC Voices we have debated baptism as it relates to church membership, and whether or not we have the authority to use a different mode for baptism when immersion just isn't possible.  Let me see if I can stir the baptism pot a little more, but change the direction. Let me begin by telling you what a typical baptism service looks like in the church I pastor.  Near the beginning of the morning worship service, I bring the candidate(s) for baptism up on … [Read more...] about Practical Reflections on Baptism (by Adam Blosser)

Joel Rainey is the Director of Missions at Mid-Maryland Baptist Association, an adjunct professor at Capital Bible Seminary and blogs at Themelios (Twitter - @joelrainey).  As spring and summer approach, mission teams from churches all over America begin gearing up for a busy season. Anyone who frequents airports for either business or pleasure has no doubt seen oceans of identical T-shirts wandering the concourses between connections, and those wearing those T-shirts expect no less than a "great missions experience." Summer has barely begun, and our Association has already had teams on … [Read more...] about Missions Reflections: Why We Go (by Joel Rainey)

William Thornton is the SBC Plodder. Here are the two main choices SBC churches have in regard to the Cooperative Program: Give to it through the regular state convention channel or not give to it. Almost all churches give to the Cooperative Program. In fact, and despite the incessant lamentation over the declining percentages given to the CP, the average church gives 5.5% of its undesignated offerings to the CP. While this may be about half of the percentage of a generation ago, it still is a mammoth common funding plan that generates almost half a billion dollars to our ministries. If we … [Read more...] about Is there a realistic “Third Way” Cooperative Program alternative? (by William Thornton)

Joel Rainey is the Director of Missions at Mid-Maryland Baptist Association, an adjunct professor at Capital Bible Seminary and blogs at Themelios (Twitter - @joelrainey).  Nearly six years after a near economic collapse, our nation continues to limp toward what has proven to be, at best, an anemic economic recovery.  Its truly scary out there, and over the past three years, I've watched as the people in the churches I serve have lost their livelihoods, homes, and hope. I've also had a front row seat to the effect of these realities on the churches themselves. Over the past several months, … [Read more...] about Tightening Your Belt With a Purpose: How to Budget During Tough Financial Times (by Joel Rainey)

Joel Rainey is the Director of Missions at Mid-Maryland Baptist Association, an adjunct professor at Capital Bible Seminary and blogs at Themelios (Twitter - @joelrainey).  These are exciting days for Maryland Baptists for many reasons, but next week marks one of those reasons as we welcome our larger Southern Baptist family to our state’s largest and most influential city.  We hope you enjoy Baltimore! But several weeks ago, our excitement grew exponentially here in the “free state” when we learned that one of our own—Dr. Dennis Manpoong Kim—would be nominated for SBC President.  Many of … [Read more...] about What Maryland Baptists Would Say about Dr. Dennis Kim (by Joel Rainey)

Adam Blosser is the pastor of Drakes Branch Baptist Church, in Drakes Branch, Virginia, and blogs at One True Joy.  As you have probably heard by now, Glenn Beck preached a Mormon sermon  (on the campus of Liberty University during a recent convocation service.  I wasn't initially going to write about this as I have no desire to appoint myself as the leader of a new one of those dreaded "discernment ministries."  However, I feel it important that this situation receive the same level of attention that other recent "scandals" have received. It should be noted that I do not approach this … [Read more...] about Reflections on Glenn Beck’s “Sermon” at Liberty (by Adam Blosser)

Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift where this post originally appeared.  It has been 5 years since the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) Task Force was appointed by then-SBC President Johnny Hunt in 2009. The GCR Task Force, chaired by Ronnie Floyd, gave its Report/Recommendations at the SBC Annual Meeting the following year. The Task Force had 22 people on it, including one Asian, one Hispanic, and one African American. Almost all of the participants were from the Deep South. Did this overall lack of ethnic diversity on the Task Force lead to the GCR Report basically ignoring the issue … [Read more...] about Fred Luter, the GCR Task Force, and the Continued Need for Ethnic/Cultural Diversity In SBC Leadership (by Alan Cross)

Guest Post by: Job Dalomba Each week at Emmanuel Church, we observe the Lord’s Supper near the end of our corporate worship service and personally speaking, it is an emotional event. I am reminded of the forgiveness of my sins and reflect upon the specific sins in which I have been convicted of during this worship service. Coming to the table is an act of faith because we are acknowledging our helplessness to atone for our sins. The body and blood of Christ are set before us and there we face works based righteousness or righteousness found only in Christ. Is my righteousness enough for … [Read more...] about Family Faithfulness & The Lord’s Supper (by Job Dalomba)