The When Heaven and Earth Collide podcast, Episode 06 with Dr. Bruce Ashford, Provost and Professor of Theology & Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Every Square Inch: An Introduction to Cultural Engagement for Christians and One Nation Under God: A Christian Hope for American Politics. Bruce also has a fantastic blog called Christianity for the Common Good at bruceashford.net. If you aren’t reading his stuff, you really should. Bruce Ashford is becoming one of the most significant voices on theology and culture in the SBC today – and beyond. In … [Read more...] about Bruce Ashford Interview, St. Louis Baptists and Refugees, and Reaching the Nations in North America Conference
SBC Institutions & Entities
Our New Missions Partnership in Lithuania: Co-laboring with the IMB
We recently took our first trip in a new missions partnership with our IMB missionaries in Lithuania. In early October, we flew out of Norfolk International to JFK, then to Helsinki, Finland, and on to Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania. We spent an incredible week in Lithuania that I’ll be reflecting on in this series of posts. Why Lithuania? This was my first trip to Europe. I’ve always wanted to visit the continent, but never envisioned Finland as my entry point nor one of the Baltic states as the place I’d spend my time there. Earlier this year, the SBC of Virginia hosted Milton … [Read more...] about Our New Missions Partnership in Lithuania: Co-laboring with the IMB
Do we need State Conventions? Yes!
One of the questions on the table in this new era of SBC life and the rethinking of our institutions is whether the State Convention is still useful going forward or if they should be dismantled in favor of Associations and the National Convention. I would argue that there is indeed an important ongoing role for State Conventions. Here are a few reasons I believe we still need State Conventions as we partner together in Kingdom work. State Conventions cast vision for cooperative ministry within a state. Southern Baptist are a partnering people. We are also a people of vision for … [Read more...] about Do we need State Conventions? Yes!
A Baptist’s Bookshelf: Song of Solomon
A Baptist minister’s bookshelf is sacred. It bears the weight of centuries of thought from people of all different backgrounds and faith traditions. A Baptist minister often relies on the recommendations of others when deciding what books to add to his library. That’s why I do periodic book reviews of new titles I’ve added to my library. My reviews are written from the standpoint of being a Baptist in the SBC. Focus on the Bible I am a big fan of the Focus on the Bible commentary series. They’re relatively short—the ones I’ve read were under 200 pages. This makes them accessible to … [Read more...] about A Baptist’s Bookshelf: Song of Solomon
SBC 2015 Recap
I really enjoyed my time in Columbus this year at the SBC Annual Meeting. Here are six factors that made this the best convention I’ve attended. Ronnie Floyd’s Leadership Last year (2014), I voted for Dennis Kim for SBC president. That wasn’t necessarily anything against Ronnie Floyd—I wanted to see us continue to celebrate our non-white Southern Baptists after electing Fred Luter the two conventions previous. All that to say I didn’t have much of an opinion of Ronnie Floyd one way or the other, positive or negative, before this year’s convention. Alan Cross’ article a few weeks ago … [Read more...] about SBC 2015 Recap
A Baptist’s Bookshelf: Thomas Schreiner’s Hebrews Commentary
A Baptist minister’s bookshelf is sacred. It bears the weight of centuries of thought from people of all different backgrounds and faith traditions. A Baptist minister often relies on the recommendations of others when deciding what books to add to his library. That’s why I’ve decided to do periodic book reviews of new titles I’ve added to my library from the standpoint of being a Baptist in the SBC. Broadman and Holman, the publishing house of the SBC, recently released the first volume in a planned 40-volume commentary series called Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation. I was able … [Read more...] about A Baptist’s Bookshelf: Thomas Schreiner’s Hebrews Commentary
What online classes are really like
At the end of January I start my fifteenth class towards my M.Div at Southern Seminary. I’ve done everything from Systematic Theology, Introductions to the Old and New Testaments, Church History, Greek, and Hebrew. A few classes were considered “on campus” because, apart from the online portion, I had to travel to Louisville for a week of lectures. Pay the SBC rate, which is half tuition. I also pay a $250 internet course fee per class. I don’t have to pay the fee for on campus classes, and depending on where I sleep and what I eat, the cost isn’t must different either way. It’s just a … [Read more...] about What online classes are really like
You can go to seminary—online!
Because I work in an office, I usually don’t have much trouble writing the correct date after New Year’s Day. Yesterday, January 6, marked the first time I wrote 2014 and then quickly changed the 4 into a 5. Even still, it’s strange to refer to December as “last year.” But last year on December 19 I got an unexpected Christmas present from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where I am a part-time, distance student. Since this Christmas present isn’t for me only, but for all current and future SBTS students, I figured I should share it with the readership of SBC Voices. The gift … [Read more...] about You can go to seminary—online!
Weekly Round-up: SBC Finance News and Notes
Second-Coming Group Announces Rapturous Donation Plan Members of the fringe evangelical group Day That Never Comes announced a binding vote this week that earmarked "a sizable donation" to the International Mission Board. Buck Skettleswroth - Pastor, Prophet and bighorn hunter - said that when the Savior returns after this weekend's Boise State game, church members would no longer need their material possessions. Instead, the group has unanimously agreed to bequeath their net worth to “those left-behind, gravy-bathing, badger-hugging heretics” of the SBC. Donations are expected to top … [Read more...] about Weekly Round-up: SBC Finance News and Notes
Do we believe that God is in this?
Today (8.27.2014) the IMB trustees announced that they had selected David Platt to be the next president of our International Mission Board. Concerns were raised before hand, and upon the announcement came both expressions of praise and concern: praise for his passion for missions and the glory of God in the salvation of the lost; concern over potential polarization, theological nuances, and cooperative program giving. No doubt, like we often do, we will continue to debate the pros and cons of such a hire for months (if not years) to come. But I want to ask a question transcending our … [Read more...] about Do we believe that God is in this?