SBC Issues

I put this on my blog on March 17. Yes, every bit of the history is oversimplified. I think, though, we would do well to consider whether we've chosen to neglect too much of the last 2000 years.--Doug For those of you that didn’t realize it, today is St. Patrick’s Day. What does that mean? Well, if you grew up in the Southern US, it means you wear green and maybe pretend you’re Irish. Other places, though, it means other things. For some, it’s a much more important day. Why? Because they know who St. Patrick is. Unfortunately for a lot of us Baptists, we’re not so aware. You see, … [Read more...] about Things we left behind

David Platt’s first book Radical has already changed the lives of many people, and this change has impacted several churches.  Many churches have used Radical as small group material, and many will be observing Platt’s six hour Secret Church simulcast.  (Our local church is one of them). On April 19 Platt will release his second book, Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God .  Radical was an urgent plea for individual Christians to take back their faith from the American Dream.  This offering is an urgent plea for churches to reshape their vision and … [Read more...] about Review of David Platt’s “Radical Together”

It is stunning. Here's the deal - watch the video for 6:22 seconds and as you do, pray for the people whose lives have been devastated.  Pray for Christians and their response.  Just pray.   … [Read more...] about If You Haven’t Seen This Tsunami Video Yet

Editor:  Dr. McKissic is well-known and respected among Southern Baptists.  This article was written in response to issues raised here at SBC Voices and on other blogs.  I offered this respected brother in Christ the chance to state his views related to this recent debate. The largest animal the Jews knew in biblical times was a camel, as the gnat was the smallest. Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! …Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24) “Straining out a gnat” describes the custom of the strictest sect of Pharisees who strained … [Read more...] about Lessons from the Animal Kingdom by Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr

Contrary to those doubters, the final day has come! Wednesday  is the last day to nominate your favorite blog to make the tournament  Blog Madness will begin later this week, with the 4 regionals and first round voting. Nominate up to 10 blogs.  Even if someone else has already nominated them, you tell us who you like. If a blog gets multiple votes it is more likely to find its way into the tournament. I will be home around 11:00 PM Central Time tomorrow night and will close the nomination process and we will get the tournament going. NOMINATE!  NOMINATE!  NOMINATE! … [Read more...] about Blog Madness 2011: The Last Day is Upon US!

Editor:  Ricky Kirk, a pastor from Ohio, blogs at Panta ta Ethne, where this post recently appeared. Thanks for sharing this with us. Our church as recently been studying/exploring evangelism as we prepare for an upcoming revival and Easter weekend. I am modifying material from several sources and approaching evangelism as something more than the Romans Road or the rote memorization and sharing of a few particular verses. I am also challenging our church to have a greater understanding of God's overarching story of the Bible, so we have covered God, creation, man, fall, Christ, and … [Read more...] about Evangelism. Storying. Gospel. Sex-Offenders. (by Ricky Kirk)

I had a playful argument with my daughter yesterday about whether is such a thing as Christian rap.  It is hard enough for me to go and hear my son's Christian rock band (earplugs help), but I'm an old fogey and rap just ain't my cup o' tea.  She reminded me that I was, in fact, a hopelessly old codger who just doesn't get it. Then, I saw this on Timmy Brister's blog today. I was left with one conclusion - I was wrong.  This is one of the best presentations of the gospel you are going to hear.   G.O.S.P.E.L. from Humble Beast Records on Vimeo. Powerful gospel … [Read more...] about “G.O.S.P.E.L.” An Old Fogey LIKES It!

Editor: William Thornton is the SBC Plodder and a keen observer of SBC life.  This is a repost from his site. What shall we say about SBC leadership and their support, or lack thereof, for our grand Cooperative Program? Here is a summary of the past SBC presidents and their Cooperative Program support over the past 32 years: Less than 4%: Rogers, Smith, Stanley, Vines, Young, Elliff, Merritt, Graham, Hunt, Wright. Above the contemporary average: Draper (7%), Chapman (11%), Henry (10%), Welch (15%), Page (12%). Between 1979 and 1992, the year the Conservative Resurgence was … [Read more...] about SBC presidents and the Cooperative Program (by William Thornton)

Why do people who pile into movie theaters on a Friday evening complain that the Bible is boring on a Sunday morning?  One reason, and I stress ONE reason, is that we have not rightly been convinced that the Bible is a compelling story. If our view of Scripture is akin to Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth then I doubt very seriously that we will be compelled to open its pages.  At least not until something goes wrong. I’m one of those guys that tries to put something together without reading the instruction manual.  I only read it when I end up with an extra part or the … [Read more...] about Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth?