Guest Blogger

Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. Dear Missions Participant, If you are a pastor, leader, or a participant in missions here are some words of encouragement.  I have had to filter these through my heart as well.  This post rose out of a quick vision trip I took to Guatemala to work with a reputable organization.  1. Why are you going?  This is the first question to ask oneself.  Is the trip for my agenda and me, or for Christ?  The answer to the question may not be easy to ascertain, but true contemplation may … [Read more...] about What’s Your Agenda? (by Andy Hynes)

Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift! Throughout my lifetime, Democrats have ideologically defended civil liberties and have raised opposition to the power of the state interfering in the lives of Americans. Groups like the ACLU have consistently defended Constitutional rights of Americans to protest and engage in free assembly and to be free of government intrusion. Of course, their concern for religious freedom has often been muted because of their own biases, but overall, they have supported liberty. This has also applied to American military involvement and the Constitutional rights of … [Read more...] about Rand Paul Exposes The Ideological Collapse of the Democratic Party (by Alan Cross)

Bill Gernenz blogs at Broken and Undone.  Hey guys… I need your help.  And I hope we can be mutually edified by this discussion. The short of it is this: I have been working on a doctoral project and am in need of some conversations – you know, mutual and humble exchanges of opinions formed by personal study and experience. The topic?  Preaching.  More specifically: application in preaching.  As part of my project, I have identified four principles of faithful biblical application.  I would like to get feedback on each of these principles.  Three specific questions I would like to explore … [Read more...] about Making Biblical Application – Principle 1 (by Bill Gernenz)

Dr. David W. Manner is the Associate Executive Director for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. He blogs at  http://kncsb.org/blogs/dmanner . You can follow him on Twitter:  @dwmanner.  Most of us don’t begin a new ministry position believing that we will only stay for a few years. Although our intentions are noble for the long haul, it seems that we can often get blindsided by unforeseen circumstances that repeatedly derail that goal. The author of the book of Hebrews offers guidelines that serve as a great application for long-tenured ministry. “Therefore, since we have … [Read more...] about Guardrails for Long-Tenured Ministry (by Dr. David Manner)

Jerry Corbaley blogs at Think the Thoughts? Manifesto of the Ministry of Condemnation With additional witticisms  An unofficial union of American cultural “X”ians  Our Creed. All things are governed by our Creed, our supreme authority. All ministries are designed and evaluated with the furtherance of our Creed as the goal and guiding light. All expenditures and evaluations of ministry success are compared by the measure of harmony with our Creed. All leadership is selected and evaluated according to our Creed. It is the purpose that drives us.  Because we have evolved such short … [Read more...] about Manifesto of the Ministry of Condemnation (by Jerry Corbaley)

Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift. I was warned about this. Calvinism has been causing problems in the SBC for the past decade or so and has become a flashpoint of division and controversy. Currently, Frank Page of the Executive Committee has convened a task force to try and find a way forward through the difficulty. Louisiana Baptists are attempting to purge themselves of Calvinists. Many say that Calvinist and Non-Calvinist Baptists cannot co-exist in the same church or even in the same Convention. I was told that a big blow up would eventually come. So, it kind of did for a minute - … [Read more...] about Calvinism Controversy Blew Up At My Church Last Night (by Alan Cross)

Dr. David W. Manner is the Associate Executive Director for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. He blogs at  http://kncsb.org/blogs/dmanner . You can follow him on Twitter:  @dwmanner.  If I sing like my favorite worship artist, but do not have love, I am just a loud kick drum or cheap crash cymbal. If I have the gift of creative verbal transitions and understand the mystery and knowledge of chord charts and choir scores, and if I have the faith that can move the emotions of an entire congregation, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give the old sound system to a … [Read more...] about Worship Leader…Show ‘em Some Love (by Dr. David Manner)

Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. When you hear my title, I am sure there are many different things that come to mind.  What comes to my mind these days is preaching.  As I listen to sermons, I continue to hear pastors majoring on the minors.  Please understand that I realize that “all” Scripture is God-breathed and inspired.  However, I also know that there are major themes and less major themes.  When you come to a particular passage there is one main truth that the biblical writer was seeking to accomplish.  Our job … [Read more...] about Majoring on the Minors (by Andy Hynes)

Alan blogs at Downshore Drift, where this article was originally published. After opposition arose against First Baptist, Dallas, TX and pastor Robert Jeffress for what were called "controversial" stands against homosexuals, Muslims, Mormons, and other groups, Tim Tebow, who was scheduled to speak there, has just cancelled his appearance in a series of tweets. @TimTebow: "While I was looking forward to sharing a message of hope and Christ's unconditional love with the faithful members of the historic...First Baptist Church of Dallas in April, due to new information that has been brought … [Read more...] about Under Pressure, Tim Tebow Cancels First Baptist, Dallas, TX Appearance (by Alan Cross)

Andy Hynes is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow him @ABHYNES on Twitter. Have you ever thought about the difference between “knowing about God,” and “being known by God?”  There is a vast difference between the two.  When the information about God is transformed into a relationship with God, a life change occurs.  Is it possible to know a great deal about God and not be known by Him?  Could our churches or even our pulpits be filled with individuals who have never had a genuine encounter with the true God of the Scripture?  Maybe they have conjured an idea of … [Read more...] about Encountered by God (by Andy Hynes)