SBC Issues

Bernie Diaz is pastor of Christ Community Church in Pembroke Pines, FL. Our church launched a new congregation-wide Bible reading plan this month that has begun to stir up quite a bit of buzz, enthusiasm and anticipation of what God may choose to do with the intake of His Word in our community of faith this year. That’s a good New Year’s resolution I think, and am grateful for the momentum which seems to have begun among us, but am also wary of the fact that New Year’s resolutions- even the best of them, often fizzle out in many before even spring arrives. Do not merely listen to the … [Read more...] about Teens and the Bible—Hearers or Doers? (by Bernie Diaz)

Barrett Case pastors in Rich Hill, MO. I just preached a bad sermon. Well, let me clarify: during this particular sermon, about 70% of the congregation seemed to fall asleep or check-out mentally; others opted to go see if the nursery needed help (true story). It was a deflating experience for a pastor whose main task each week is preaching. And it was a humbling experience for a pastor whose previous sermon was well-received and highly-praised. So I just preached a bad sermon. It happens. In fact, I’d say it happens every fourth or fifth time I stand behind that old, wooden pulpit. From … [Read more...] about I Just Preached a Bad Sermon (by Barrett Case)

Dave Miller is out of the country for a couple of more days, and then if he's anything like me on these trips he will like a few days to recover when he gets back. He asked me to kinda keep an eye on this place in his absence--and it's yet to burn down, so that's good. I thought I would be a little more active in getting stuff up and posted, but I ran into a church situation--one of those things that you don't expect to have to deal with as a pastor, but sometimes it just happens. :-| So... I've been a little busy and our pending post queue is nearing empty. Therefore I'm putting out the … [Read more...] about Do you have something you would like to share at Voices?

Cooperative Program receipts at the SBC level (after state conventions take their cut and not counting money sent directly that by-passes the states) was UP in the last fiscal year about eight million dollars. One legacy state convention, Florida, has voted to keep less than 50% of CP receipts. This is quite a change from the practice of most legacy state conventions which are accustomed to keeping somewhere in the neighborhood of 60-65 percent of a CP dollar. These state conventions added more members by transfer (or other means) than baptism: Alabama, Alaska, Dakota, Mississippi, BGC … [Read more...] about Some SBC numbers (and one NCAA number)

Repentance is one of those words that we throw around in churches without much thought to its meaning. Much of what we call repentance is likely more akin to how the Lord, through the prophet Jeremiah, described treacherous Judah: “[she] did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense”. Thankfully the Lord outlines for us in Jeremiah 3:22-25 what true repentance looks like. I see four major marks of biblical repentance. Repentance is coming to the LORD. “Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our God.” This means that true repentance is not simply a promise of moral … [Read more...] about Four Truths About Repentance

Back in October a group of us committed together to memorize the book of Titus. In my younger days I had done plenty of scripture memorization, but it was mostly scattershot—a verse here, a verse there. This challenge of memorizing a book presented something I had never done before. With a few slowdowns over the holidays, I have made it as far as 3:2, and it’s been a great experience. Memorizing helps me to meditate which helps me to get God’s word firmly planted on my heart. Yet I’ve discovered something else in the process. I have no idea how many times I have read through the book of … [Read more...] about Yeah… it’s that important