SBC Voices

You clicked here because of the title. If you are a blogger hopefully you know by now that one of the most important things you do as an author is craft a catchy title. To create an effective title you need one that predicts the content, promises reward for reading it, perks interest,paces the article, and promotes it to search engines and social media. Here is what I mean: Don’t put ‘Super Bowl’ in your title just because the game is on. Especially if your article is about the French Revolution. The title needs to predict the content. Put words like How, Quick, Why, What, etc. in … [Read more...] about Quick Tips for Writing Effective Blog Titles

"You never met a fence you didn't straddle."  Those were the words of a "frenemy" - someone I enjoy interacting with in the real world, but usually cross swords with online. We were discussing the Gospel Project breakfast in Houston and the interesting discussion between Ed Stetzer, Eric Hankins, Trevin Wax and Jonathan Akin. Akin articulated a hardcore "Christ-centered" hermeneutic. Eric Hankins advocated a hermeneutic that was more grammatical-historical and emphasized authorial intent more strongly. Trevin seemed, to me at least, to fall in between the two in his approach. I told this … [Read more...] about When Harsh Words Are God’s Will

For those who are familiar with my writing, this will come as no surprise: personal stories that examine the point of encounter between life and theology fascinate me.  However, I do not "out" people, spewing their private struggles across the internet for all to see.  Personal stories inspire my thoughts and drive my writing, yet I am not writing about any one person.  If you see yourself or someone you know in my  reflections, it is only because I'm referencing experiences that are far more common than any of us realize. Jeffrey is a Christian. He reads his Bible.  He lives as a … [Read more...] about Daily Wrongs and Consistent Forgiveness

“His mouth is most sweet….” Who may measure the sweetness which flows from the mouth of our dear Savior?! What a boundless metaphor of the beauty and distinguishing character of Him who is Altogether Lovely! He opens His mouth and endless rivers of salvation, comfort, and assurance pour forth in resplendent beauty. He but speaks and the winds and waves of this life’s trials obey His omnipotent voice. He whispers sweet words of peace and our troubled souls are afforded refuge in the midst of storms. Indeed, the words of his mouth are most sweet! Consider the posit of ancient Job, who … [Read more...] about “HIS MOUTH IS MOST SWEET” Song of Solomon 5:16 (by Randall Cofield)

I watched this clip earlier today: I’ve played Xbox with people like this before. Their joy is contagious. Their giddiness transcends the game itself and makes you want to enter into their happiness. I want to be this guy when I’m 84 (actually when I’m 34--which isn’t far away). And I want my son to be this guy too. That has me wondering what I can do not only in my own life but also in the life of my son to teach him not to take himself so seriously. Here’s what I’ve come up with. To the veteran dads that have cultivated the grace of a good time in the life of their children I could … [Read more...] about Teaching a Little Boy Not to Take Himself So Seriously

Dr. David W. Manner is the Associate Executive Director for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. He blogs at  http://kncsb.org/blogs/dmanner . You can follow him on Twitter:  @dwmanner.  Now that I have your undivided attention, I do believe that full-time worship ministry is indeed a worthy calling and vocation that requires preparation, education and skills. And yes, it is a real job. But what if opportunities were no longer available for you to lead worship vocationally? What if you needed to voluntarily or were asked involuntarily to step aside from full-time worship … [Read more...] about Worship Leaders – Get a Real Job! (by Dr. David Manner)

I have a BA in English, and most of my undergrad time I heard people say "stop reading about life and experience it".  Fast forward a few years later, I have found myself as a blogger, and I have heard "go out and do ministry instead of just blogging about it".  I also write and speak, so I also get the "stop writing and talking about it and go do it'.  This leads me to the question of the day, is blogging ministry? I think the key is defining ministry. What constitutes ministry? Is blogging, writing, speaking or even preaching or teaching? Is it ministry if you do it volunteer, or if you get … [Read more...] about Is Blogging Ministry?

You work every day of your life with families as a minister. Ministry is your calling. Your entire livelihood or an important portion of your livelihood comes to you from a local church. You love God, your spouse, your children, and the flock to which God has assigned you as a shepherd. You take your ministry seriously. You have made a private and public commitment to be a minister in accord with the biblical exhortations of 1Peter 5:1-4. You hunger and thirst after righteousness and seek to lead the membership of the local church you serve to do the same. Thus far, God has blessed your … [Read more...] about What Would You Do? (by CB Scott)

"Encouraging" is the best word I can find to describe the aftermath of the SBC Calvinism Study Committee. So encouraging, in fact, that I am emboldened to try something risky. One way to pursue a sort of "unity-lite" is to put aside soteriological discussions as off-limits. I regret that this approach has, for too much of our recent history, been the most reliable one and has probably corresponded pretty closely to the best outcome we could achieve. A more robust unity, however, occurs when we are able to discuss even our differences and to emerge from that completed conversation as friends … [Read more...] about Trying to Live Out the Calvinism Committee Statement

If anything marked the Houston SBC of 2013, it was a desire for unity and the hope that we can out some of the tension and division if recent years behind us. The Calvinism Advisory Committee report set the tone, Written by Dr. Mohler, Dr Dockery and Dr. Eric Hankins, and unanimously approved by the committee, the document calls on us to put our differences in gospel perspective, treat one another with honor and partner for the sake if the Great Commission. Our president, Fred Luter, also set a peaceful tone, by convention theme, by his words, and by his demeanor. It helped that there … [Read more...] about Will the Houston Spirit Last?