Hello, Missouri Baptist Convention Family! I am Scott Gordon, Pastor of Claycomo Baptist Church in Kansas City. I was also a messenger at our recent MBC Annual Meeting in Branson. Prior to our time there, I had the privilege of working with my friend and fellow MBC Pastor, Mike Leake, and other fellow MBC Pastors on a motion to have appointed an MBC task force regarding the issue of sexual abuse. For those who were not able to be in Branson, you can find the full text of the motion at this link [MBC Tuesday Afternoon Business Update]. Sadly, this motion was rejected by the majority of … [Read more...] about An Open Letter to the Messengers of the 2021 MBC Annual Meeting & All Missouri Baptists
BOOKS: What is a Girl Worth? & How Much is a Little Girl Worth?
Note: Scott was on the pre-release reading and review group for Rachael Denhollander's books. However, they just released this week to the public, and they are well worth us bumping his review back to the top. Both were available, at last check, from Lifeway as well as other booksellers. I have just finished two books which belong in everyone's personal libraries. The author of these books is Rachael Denhollander, a significant survivor voice in the midst of the Larry Nassar predatory abuse scandal in USAG (United States of America Gymnastics) and MSU (Michigan State University). … [Read more...] about BOOKS: What is a Girl Worth? & How Much is a Little Girl Worth?
Well, I Didn’t Expect This @ #SBC19
During the Tuesday afternoon session of #SBC19, my wife, Rhonda, shared with me a story of an incident which happened during the voting for Registration Secretary in the BJCC Arena—that section of the Convention Labyrinth in which the meeting is held. There were two candidates, Don Currence (the current RS) and Kathy Litton (to borrow from my friend, Brent Hobbs’ bio on her: “She currently works with NAMB as director of church planter spouse development. Litton is known across the convention for her leadership and teaching among SBC women.” She is also the wife of Pastor Ed Litton). During … [Read more...] about Well, I Didn’t Expect This @ #SBC19
Dr. B. Gray Allison 1924-2019
Today we report that last night, 12 February 2019, Dr. Gray Allison, founder of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary stepped out of this life into his eternal reward in the presence of our Lord. The MABTS family, Southern Baptists, and the greater Evangelical Christian community have been blessed by this faithful servant of our great God. He will be missed. As an alumnus of MABTS, I have benefited greatly from his influence--indirectly through my training at my alma mater, and directly through a couple of personal encounters with Dr. Allison. The first was after he had preached on a … [Read more...] about Dr. B. Gray Allison 1924-2019
“Slaving to Serve” (Ephesians 6:5-9) – From the Voice that Matters Most
Passage: 5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Ephesians 6:5-9 … [Read more...] about “Slaving to Serve” (Ephesians 6:5-9) – From the Voice that Matters Most
A Resolution for #SBC18: “On Repudiating Predatory Behavior”
I have submitted the following resolution, On Repudiating Predatory Behavior, to the SBC Committee on Resolutions for their consideration. I am hopeful that this will be reported out by the committee to the messengers gathered at this year's annual meeting in Dallas as it is, or in hybrid form combining any other similar resolutions on this subject. I believe the significance of this resolution lies in the full scope of its application. Predatory behavior includes domestic violence (sexual, physical, and psychological), child abuse (sexual, physical, and psychological), sexual predation, … [Read more...] about A Resolution for #SBC18: “On Repudiating Predatory Behavior”
From the Voice that Matters Most – Ephesians 4:17-24 – “Testify…Turned, Turned, Turned.”
Passage: 17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. 20 But that is not how you came to know Christ, 21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to take off your … [Read more...] about From the Voice that Matters Most – Ephesians 4:17-24 – “Testify…Turned, Turned, Turned.”
From the Voice that Matters Most – Ephesians 3:1-4 – “Distracted by Mystery”
Passage: For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—you have heard, haven’t you, about the administration of God’s grace that he gave to me for you? The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. (Ephesians 3:1-4 CSB) Expositional Devotion: In my preaching, friends at my church have noted that I tend on occasion to have 'squirrel moments,' like the dog from the movie "Up." I'd like to say that I'm not alone (I hope so), but to use this … [Read more...] about From the Voice that Matters Most – Ephesians 3:1-4 – “Distracted by Mystery”
From the Voice that Matters Most: Ephesians 1:11-12 – Inherited Assurance
We share our opinions and insights at SBC Voices, but we believe that the Voice that matters most is the one that comes from God's Word. We present these daily expositional devotions, beginning with a tour of Ephesians called, "Walk Worthy," in hopes of encouraging our readers to remember to Voice above every voice. Passage: In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. … [Read more...] about From the Voice that Matters Most: Ephesians 1:11-12 – Inherited Assurance
REVIEW: Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention
This compelling work, led by Jarvis Williams and Kevin Jones, including input from Al Mohler, Walter Strickland, Kevin Smith, Dwight McKissic, and others, is not a book merely to be glanced at like passing a curious situation alongside the highway as you speed by at 65 miles an hour. We must not give mere token acknowledgement to this issue simply because the media highlights a specific circumstance in the ever transitioning news cycle. Ethnic tensions, systemic racism, and latent prejudices remind us of the deep darkness of sin that is always around us. We cry out as Paul did in Scripture … [Read more...] about REVIEW: Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention