Editor's Note: I feel some level of smug satisfaction that for the first time in a while, I remembered to change the author to Mark Terry and properly credit him for his post! In my preaching ministry, I’ve mainly preached series of sermons. Of course, I’m not alone in this. Many pastors do, I’m sure. I once asked Mark Dever if he preached sermon series, and he replied, “I only preach sermon series.” It’s clear that the big name preachers do this because their sermon series become published books. What are the advantages of sermon series? First, the preacher does not experience Saturday … [Read more...] about In Praise of Sermon Series
The Man We Need in New Orleans
Recently, our esteemed Grand Poobah and Chief Pontificator around here offered a thorough and sound argument for the type of person we need serving our convention of churches in Nashville as our Executive Committee CEO. I’d like to unashamedly steal his title and repurpose it for a similar musing about the type of person I believe we need here in my home of New Orleans to serve our convention as the next President of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS). Those of you who regularly read our posts at Voices might know that I am the number one fan of the work the SBC does here in … [Read more...] about The Man We Need in New Orleans
Growing Concern over Search Committees and Minorities
The Biblical Recorder has an article that was just published concerning a letter by pastors James Merritt, Vance Pitman, and Bryant Wright, written to the Search Committee for the EC, expressing concerns about the perceived lack of minority involvement in the hiring process. The article is entitled Diversity in focus as Baptists await EC announcement. The article says that many expect an announcement of the candidate for president of the EC at the February 18-19 EC meeting. The three pastors are asking whether any minorities have been interviewed. Perspectives 1. We do not have to … [Read more...] about Growing Concern over Search Committees and Minorities
Pursue Deep Friendships (What I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Pastoring, pt. 7)
In this series, I’m considering some things that I’ve learned while pastoring over the last 15 years. You can check out the previous posts and a series introduction here: Part 1: Not everybody will like you, and that’s okay. Part 2: Pray for people and let them know that you’re praying for them. Part 3: Discipleship is easy, yet hard. Part 4: Encourage your wife to serve where she feels led Part 5: Make your vision, purpose, and mission to lead people to love God and love others Part 6: Keep yourself saturated in the word of God In this post, we’ll consider Lesson #7, the final one in … [Read more...] about Pursue Deep Friendships (What I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Pastoring, pt. 7)
Do You Have a Life Verse?
When I started to college at John Brown University, it was a “thing” on campus to have a life verse (a Bible verse that guides your life). I had never heard the phrase, “life verse,” and I did not have one. The first time a student asked, “What’s your life verse?” I replied, “What’s a life verse?” I didn’t have one, and I wasn’t sure how to get one. Still, my fellow students continued to ask, so I decided to fight back. I did pick one—“O that you would kiss me with the kisses of your mouth! For your love is better than wine” (Song of Solomon 1:2, RSV). Then, when the next student inquired, I … [Read more...] about Do You Have a Life Verse?
Todd Lafferty to Become IMB Executive VP
The IMB is announcing that Todd Lafferty will be recommended to the IMB Board of Trustees at their February 6-7 meeting to become the Executive Vice President, working with Dr. Paul Chitwood. Here is a press release from IMB where you can read about him. This has been expected since before Dr Chitwood was announced. We were told by multiple knowledgeable sources that Lafferty would be appointed with Dr. Chitwood and our initial post announcing Dr. Chitwood's candidacy for the IMB presidency carried Todd Lafferty's name as well. We removed it quickly, and have no idea what the process … [Read more...] about Todd Lafferty to Become IMB Executive VP
Keep in mind, no church has to give to the Cooperative Program
I think we are past all the hagiographic language about the Cooperative Program, how our primary channel is the stuff of genius, God-breathed, and without which the church of Christ would be irreparably handicapped. Although few among us would say that it is no longer relevant or valuable to Southern Baptists, as we are approch the CP centennial in 2025 a heaviness has settled on the CP discussions. We will almost assuredly enter whatever centennial celebrations planned for that year with over forty years of steady church percentage decline, decades in which churches said with their giving … [Read more...] about Keep in mind, no church has to give to the Cooperative Program
Keep Yourself Saturated in God’s Word (What I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Pastoring, pt. 6)
In this series, I’m considering some things that I’ve learned while pastoring over the last 15 years. You can check out the previous posts and a series introduction here: Part 1: Not everybody will like you, and that’s okay. Part 2: Pray for people and let them know that you’re praying for them. Part 3: Discipleship is easy, yet hard. Part 4: Encourage your wife to serve where she feels led Part 5: Make your vision, purpose, and mission to lead people to love God and love others In this post, we’ll consider Lesson #6: Keep yourself saturated in the word of God. I have a love/hate … [Read more...] about Keep Yourself Saturated in God’s Word (What I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Pastoring, pt. 6)
A Good Step: SBC President Names Diverse Resolutions Committee
A few hours ago, Baptist Press reported that the Resolutions Committee for #SBC19 has been named by SBC President, J.D. Greear. Last week it was reported that the chair of that committee would be Curtis Woods of Kentucky. Now, the rest of the committee has been named. It will not go unnoticed that this resolutions committee is one of the most diverse committees we’ve seen and includes members from a wide spectrum of SBC life. It also should not go unnoticed that the people selected for this committee are of the highest caliber and are well qualified for the task. President Greear has chosen … [Read more...] about A Good Step: SBC President Names Diverse Resolutions Committee
The Man We Need in Nashville
We are shaped by our experiences and my year as president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference opened my eyes in many ways. I saw the very best of the SBC and I saw some things that disturbed me greatly. I was blown away at the support we received from our entities as they helped a group of smaller church pastors put on what our feedback indicated was a successful conference. We also saw resistance from those who felt the conference belonged to the celebrity pastors and that by running and winning that election we had done something wrong. But from the day we found out we had won to the day we … [Read more...] about The Man We Need in Nashville