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). This post was originally published at his site. Greetings from 30,000 feet! I'm writing while on my way back from the Global Faith Forum at Northwood Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where I just enjoyed an amazing weekend with many, many world-class leaders. I'm grateful to Bob Roberts, who has been a friend of several years, but also a great coach to me over the past two years as I have tried to lead our network … [Read more...] about Talk With the World, Not Just About It: Reflections on the Global Faith Forum (by Joel Rainey)
Of Networks and Associations (by Bill Gernenz)
Bill Gernenz is a pastor in East Texas and blogs at “Broken and Undone.” This is the first in a three part series on Associations that appeared at his blog. Tuesday morning brings about a dozen pastors/ministers/church leaders together for breakfast. It is a wonderful time of fellowship that ends in a brief time of prayer. I value my relationships with each of these men, BUT… …though most of us are members of the same local Baptist association, there is not much else we do together. I suspect most other local Baptist associations – and state conventions – have the same story. Through … [Read more...] about Of Networks and Associations (by Bill Gernenz)
Tozer and ‘The Speaking Voice’ (by Ken Hamrick)
"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)
Gospel Parenting, Part 1 (by Jeremy Vanatta)
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)
Remove the Persistent Agitator (by Jeremy Vanatta)
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)
Paul, Clanging Cymbal, and Listening to Others (by Joshua Breland)
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)
Answers to the Simple Cooperative Program Quiz (by William Thornton)
The SBC Plodder, William Thornton, provides the answers to his previous quiz. 1, The CP funding program was adopted at the SBC annual meeting in Memphis in 1925. Todd Starnes has a pretty good summary article on the event here. One notes that the matter was heartily adopted. Guess they didn't have the mics stacked with people who were after a few moments of notoriety. 2. CP promotion is done mostly by state conventions. I'm a gracious grader, so give yourself a correct answer if you said either "a" or "c". The CP is promoted pretty much everywhere in the SBC at every level, by … [Read more...] about Answers to the Simple Cooperative Program Quiz (by William Thornton)
The Legacy of Truth: Lessons from the Protestant Reformation (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). This post was originally published at his site. Tonight, I will gather my kids--who will be dressed as Dr. Who, Captain America, and a Disney Princess respectively--and visit a downtown area near our central Maryland home on the only night of the year in which it is culturally appropriate to allow your kids to beg strangers for unhealthy food. For most in our culture, October 31 is merely that: a fun holiday that … [Read more...] about The Legacy of Truth: Lessons from the Protestant Reformation (by Joel Rainey)
A simple Cooperative Program quiz (from William Thornton)
William Thornton is the intrepid SBC Plodder. See how you do on this very simple, embarrassingly easy quiz on the Cooperative Program. I'll make it multiple choice with a few true-false questions so that my SBC colleagues have a good chance of getting answers right by guessing. 1. The Cooperative Program is how many years old? a. 168, it was started when the SBC was founded in 1845. b. 88, it was started during the evolution controversies in 1925. c. 58, it was started during the grand, boom years of SBC growth, 1955. d. 34, it was started when the Conservative Resurgence began in … [Read more...] about A simple Cooperative Program quiz (from William Thornton)
Why Evangelicals Should Support Immigration Reform (by Alan Cross)
Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift, where this article was originally published. When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:33-34) I have written about the need for Immigration Reform in the past. Here are the relevant articles: Should We Declare Amnesty? - Asks how America plans to deal with its illegal immigration problem and puts forward some solutions. … [Read more...] about Why Evangelicals Should Support Immigration Reform (by Alan Cross)