SBC Voices

Brent Hobbs is the pastor of Severn Baptist Church in Severn, NC. He blogs at "Deeper into Grace." The first aspect of association ministry I would like to think about is the role of the Director of Missions (DoM). The typical structure of a local Baptist association includes an "association missionary" who leads the organization. In many cases this DoM position is a full-time, paid position. Our local association is currently without a DoM, with a search committee currently looking for the next DoM to serve our association. (Just for clarity sake, I am not on the search committee of our … [Read more...] about A DoM Is Not “a Pastor to Pastors”

Bill Gernenz blogs at Broken and Undone.  Hey guys… I need your help.  And I hope we can be mutually edified by this discussion. The short of it is this: I have been working on a doctoral project and am in need of some conversations – you know, mutual and humble exchanges of opinions formed by personal study and experience. The topic?  Preaching.  More specifically: application in preaching.  As part of my project, I have identified four principles of faithful biblical application.  I would like to get feedback on each of these principles.  Three specific questions I would like to explore … [Read more...] about Making Biblical Application – Principle 1 (by Bill Gernenz)

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.  Most of us don’t begin a new ministry position believing that we will only stay for a few years. Although our intentions are noble for the long haul, it seems that we can often get blindsided by unforeseen circumstances that repeatedly derail that goal. The author of the book of Hebrews offers guidelines that serve as a great application for long-tenured ministry. “Therefore, since we have … [Read more...] about Guardrails for Long-Tenured Ministry (by Dr. David Manner)

A few months ago for our anniversary my wife and I enjoyed a couples retreat. During this retreat we also enjoyed a couples massage. It was weird. Incredibly weird. But that is a story for a different time. I think our massage lasted for an hour. Though as awkward as the spelling of awkward, it was quite glorious. When our hour was up I  wanted to plead for another fifteen minutes. Compare this with my trip to the doctor awhile back whenever he had to “work me over” a little. Something was out of whack and he had to contort me like a pretzel, punch me in the kidney, and make me cry like I … [Read more...] about When Your Preaching Leads to Pain

Jerry Corbaley blogs at Think the Thoughts? Manifesto of the Ministry of Condemnation With additional witticisms  An unofficial union of American cultural “X”ians  Our Creed. All things are governed by our Creed, our supreme authority. All ministries are designed and evaluated with the furtherance of our Creed as the goal and guiding light. All expenditures and evaluations of ministry success are compared by the measure of harmony with our Creed. All leadership is selected and evaluated according to our Creed. It is the purpose that drives us.  Because we have evolved such short … [Read more...] about Manifesto of the Ministry of Condemnation (by Jerry Corbaley)

Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift. I was warned about this. Calvinism has been causing problems in the SBC for the past decade or so and has become a flashpoint of division and controversy. Currently, Frank Page of the Executive Committee has convened a task force to try and find a way forward through the difficulty. Louisiana Baptists are attempting to purge themselves of Calvinists. Many say that Calvinist and Non-Calvinist Baptists cannot co-exist in the same church or even in the same Convention. I was told that a big blow up would eventually come. So, it kind of did for a minute - … [Read more...] about Calvinism Controversy Blew Up At My Church Last Night (by Alan Cross)

Have you ever been around someone that has a tendency to go from A to Z faster than a bobcat on an energy drink? You know what I mean. Said person gets stuck in traffic. They then play out the entire litany of consequences that will come from their impending tardiness. In their mind they are about to get fired. Then they will not be able to pay their bills so they will lose their house. The next thing you know the guy is talking about how he will be homeless and eating raw onions out of someone’s garbage can. A similar thing happened to Ahaz in Isaiah 7. He was told, “Syria is in league … [Read more...] about Where Instability Comes From

I have been working my way through the Bible on Wednesday nights for about 7 years and have made my way to the book of Nehemiah. The first 7 chapters of the book describe Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem and his leadership in rebuilding the walls around the city. He was a remarkably effective leader for God's people. Tonight, I identified twelve principles of effective leadership from his life and work. I thought some of you might find them interesting. I'm going to try to resist my temptation to make this a 3000 word post. I will list the principles with a few brief comments. 1) Operate on … [Read more...] about Nehemiah: Twelve Principles of Leadership

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.  If I sing like my favorite worship artist, but do not have love, I am just a loud kick drum or cheap crash cymbal. If I have the gift of creative verbal transitions and understand the mystery and knowledge of chord charts and choir scores, and if I have the faith that can move the emotions of an entire congregation, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give the old sound system to a … [Read more...] about Worship Leader…Show ‘em Some Love (by Dr. David Manner)