Dr. David W. Manner is Director of Worship and Administration at the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. He blogs at http://kncsb.org/blogs/dmanner . You can follow him on Twitter: @dwmanner. Worship change is inevitable as congregations consider the fluidity of their surrounding cultures and contexts. It would stand to reason, then, that the leaders who facilitate worship in those ever changing congregations must also learn how to develop, cultivate, and lead change by listening to the voice of their community and congregation. How will those leaders be prepared to … [Read more...] about Are Baptist Colleges and Seminaries Preparing Worship Leaders for A Church That No Longer Exists? (by David Manner)
II Peter 3:18 Four Imperatives of a Forward Looking Faith Part IV (by Joe Blackmon)
Joe Blackmon attends an SBC church in Tennessee. He blogs at Hear God Speak. You can follow him on Twitter @joe_blackmon_72 Scripture tells us that we, who have trusted Christ to save us, are new creatures (II Corinthians 5:17). In fact, Ephesians 2:1 tells us prior to our conversion we were dead. So, not only are we new creatures, we’re new creatures who went from being stone cold dead to being alive. Now, living things have certain characteristics in common. One of those characteristics is growth. Living things grow. My children, a flower, a colony of bacteria, and a puppy dog will all … [Read more...] about II Peter 3:18 Four Imperatives of a Forward Looking Faith Part IV (by Joe Blackmon)
Is 60%+ of each CP dollar enough for state conventions? (by William Thornton)
William Thornton blogs at the SBC Plodder. Our wonderful Cooperative Program has done well in funding the panoply of state and SBC missions, seminaries, and entities over the last 87 years. It is not a perfect stewardship vehicle but is has been and is our main channel for cooperation. SBC life as we know it is unimaginable without it. As it stands now, the state conventions keep, on average, about 62% of each CP dollar for their own use, a figure well within the 60 to 65 percent range that is the historic average. Question: How much of each undesignated Cooperative Program … [Read more...] about Is 60%+ of each CP dollar enough for state conventions? (by William Thornton)
II Peter 3:17 Four Imperatives of a Forward Looking Faith Part III (by Joe Blackmon)
Editor: Joe Blackmon attends an SBC church in Tennessee. He blogs at Hear God Speak. You can follow him on Twitter @joe_blackmon_72 The Bible is a simple yet complicated book. It’s simple enough that there is truth that a child can understand yet complicated to the point that men and women have devoted their whole to the study of it and still feel they have barely scratched the surface of what’s there. Because of its simplicity and its profundity, the Bible touches all believers that study it. In fact, I would dare say that no one can truly study scripture, come face to face with the truth … [Read more...] about II Peter 3:17 Four Imperatives of a Forward Looking Faith Part III (by Joe Blackmon)
Do Not Forbid Speaking in Tongues (by Jerry Corbaley)
Jerry Corbaley blogs at Think the Thoughts. I tend to agree with Dave Miller’s post on the ‘extremes’ of the Continuationist/Cessationist discussion. I am not at either extreme. I am not a cessationist. I am a continuationist though I am skeptical at times. I would like to offer the following exposition of several key Biblical passages and offer an application. I would appreciate anyone who can help me see the issues in a clearer way. Thanks in advance. “…do not forbid speaking in tongues.” 1 Corinthians 14:39b ESV To me, that is a very clear statement. It totally prevents me from … [Read more...] about Do Not Forbid Speaking in Tongues (by Jerry Corbaley)
Drunk with the Fascination of Success (by Paul Thompson)
Paul Thompson blogs at The Bridge. (You should know on the front end that this post is heavily influenced by A.C. Dixion, and his "Ethics of the Theater"sermon (1905.) I highly recommend you read that sermon and let your mind consider all that is said. Let me further say that it would be critically important to hear all that he says and all that he doesn't say. It would be easy to conclude that he is saying that all theater is sinful, but he doesn't, he is arguing that the believer exercise caution, and in this post, I'm arguing that the church must seriously and soberly evaluate the use of a … [Read more...] about Drunk with the Fascination of Success (by Paul Thompson)
DWIGHT MCKISSIC DID NOT SAY, DON’T VOTE By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.
This article is an update and clarification of Dwight McKissic's earlier article. Under the caption, “Preachers telling Blacks not to vote is sinful,” Bob Ray Sanders published an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, September 18, 2012, that led persons who could identify me by description—not by name—to believe that I instructed my congregation not to vote. That is absolutely and unequivocally not true. I’ve never and will never tell my congregation, how to vote or not to vote. As a matter of fact, for the upcoming election, I have encouraged the congregation to study the issues and … [Read more...] about DWIGHT MCKISSIC DID NOT SAY, DON’T VOTE By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.
A RIGHT TO VOTE IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO VOTE (by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr).
“The Lord has established His throne in Heaven and His kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 103:19 The good news is, on November 7, 2012, God will still be God and His kingdom will still rule over all. The bad news is…come November 7, this country will have either reelected a man and in effect endorsed a platform that affirms same-sex marriage or will have elected a President who for the first time in American history ascribes to a “Bible” that teaches that “blackness of skin” is a curse. Consequently, I find both candidates totally unacceptable. Whoever wins on November 6, I will accept as the … [Read more...] about A RIGHT TO VOTE IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO VOTE (by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr).
Our Issues Are Not Largely Doctrinal (by Bill Gernenz)
Bill Gernenz is a pastor in East Texas and blogs at "Broken and Undone." The American church in general, and Southern Baptists in particular, have issues. And while all issues at their core are theological, the substance of these issues fall into many different categories. There are the “culture war” issues that most evangelicals come together around. Issues such as the sanctity of human life, and the definition of marriage motivate us to action – and rightly so. It is easy to preach to these issues because many of the people in our pews are ready to agree. Then there are doctrinal … [Read more...] about Our Issues Are Not Largely Doctrinal (by Bill Gernenz)
Please Sir, I Want Some More: Is Symbolism in the Ordinances Enough? (by David Manner)
Dr. David W. Manner is the Director of Worship and Administration at the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. He blogs at http://kncsb.org/blogs/dmanner. You can follow him on Twitter: @dwmanner. Charles Dickens told the story of an orphaned nine-year-old boy Oliver Twist. Oliver and scores of other orphans toiled in the miserable existence of a workhouse. The boys worked long hours subsisting on three paltry meals of gruel, a watery food substance of unknown character offering little nutritional value. On one occasion, the boys drew lots to determine who would represent them … [Read more...] about Please Sir, I Want Some More: Is Symbolism in the Ordinances Enough? (by David Manner)