My Lead Pastor shared something with me in his sermon prep, and he spoke about it during his message, and I want to share it with you. I think it's great, and I want to share what he shared with me. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers. Ephesians 4:11 In each of these terms, there is an office. The office of Apostle is no longer in function, one of the requirements to have the office of Apostle was to see Jesus. Now I suppose that Jesus could appear to someone as He did to the Apostle Paul, who calls himself one "abnormally born", but … [Read more...] about Office and Gifts, are you an Apostle?
IMB’s Lottie Moon Videos: A GREAT Promotional Resource
I love Lottie. One of the greatest privileges of being a part of a Southern Baptist church is the joy in asking people to celebrate Christmas by giving sacrificially and generously to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Where can you get more bang for your missions buck - when you give to Lottie, people hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not believe that is hyperbole. I simply don't understand churches that don't go all-in for Lottie. Did I just violate some kind of Baptist law by using a poker reference concerning the Lottie Moon offering? I don't care. … [Read more...] about IMB’s Lottie Moon Videos: A GREAT Promotional Resource
Pastor to Pastor: A Reader Asks for Advice about Pastoral Counseling
I received this question from one of our readers and I thought I would just put it out there for discussion. It has to do with the counseling ministry. I've been approached by a couple needing marriage counseling, they are not a member of my church and they live about an hour away, I was wondering how some of the commentors including yourself handle counseling of people outside your church? Do you offer counseling to anyone who asks for help or only to members? What issues do you tackle yourself and what issues do you refer to professionals? What kind of counseling do you … [Read more...] about Pastor to Pastor: A Reader Asks for Advice about Pastoral Counseling
Unrestrained Mercy from an Infinitely Merciful God
“For evils have encompassed me beyond number…” (Psalm 40:12a) This is life in a broken world. Bitterness. Wrath. Anger. Slander. Malice. Lies. Murder. Deceit. Grief. Pain. Tears. Sorrow. Regret. Hate. Cold. Brokenness. Yes, evil is all around. I have no problem in a broken world crying out—“Lord, have mercy. Lord, deliver. Lord, rescue. Lord, heal. Lord, bring redemption”. I know He is greater than the brokenness. I know that He is able to heal. I know that He will bring justice. Sometimes, it is hard to wait on the Lord in the midst of brokenness—but I keep a steady hope … [Read more...] about Unrestrained Mercy from an Infinitely Merciful God
Adrian Rogers on Solving the Problems of the World and the Mission of the Church
I just came across this quote, and thought it was pretty relevant to the current discussion on the mission of the church. Now the problem with the world today is we've never really seen where the problem is. And the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart, which is desperately wicked. But I wouldn't expect anyone to stand up in Congress and say, "Gentlemen, the problem is sin." Would you expect that? Or would you expect someone to stand up in one of our great universities—a PhD—and say, "Sirs, I have finally found the problem with mankind. It's sin"? Of course not! Would … [Read more...] about Adrian Rogers on Solving the Problems of the World and the Mission of the Church
David Worley’s Other Job
We need to call evil EVIL!
Evil must be confronted and opposed. Even when evil wins a battle, know that eventually, it will be destroyed! Take heart and do not be discouraged. … [Read more...] about We need to call evil EVIL!
See you Monday. Happy Thanksgiving from SBC Voices!
We have some good posts in the bullpen awaiting me to hit the magic publish button. But it is my belief that there are much better things to do this next few days than to blog. Chew on turkey, not on SBC news, opinion and perspective. We'll be back up and publishing on Monday. I have a long to-do list for the next couple of days. 1) I broke my turkey deep-frier thermometer and have to get one. No turkey should be prepared in any way other than by deep frying. It is a moral obligation. I've also got to make sure I've got a fresh bottle of propane (and propane accessories). 2) … [Read more...] about See you Monday. Happy Thanksgiving from SBC Voices!
Sharing the Gospel is as Easy as KtGMSCSPSCSEP4D (*)
(*) Thankfully, it is much easier than that! Not long ago I was explaining the Christian faith to someone and they said that nobody ever explained it so clearly before. While that is a very gracious compliment to me, I couldn't help think of it as a charge against every other Christian this person has met. I know for a fact that at other times I, too, have not been clear. Yes, ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who opens the ears of the hearer, but from the opening pages of the book of Acts onward, we see that those who proclaim Christ do so in the power of the Holy Spirit and with human … [Read more...] about Sharing the Gospel is as Easy as KtGMSCSPSCSEP4D (*)
I Am Satisfied (from Micah Fries)
(Micah was gracious to share this great piece with us originally published at MicahFries.com, his blog. Enjoy! Jesus says that being a disciple requires denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Him. If this is true, why is it possible to look across the landscape of Evangelicalism in American and see so little self-denial, cross bearing, following of Jesus? Why is prosperity theology so dominant in the American landscape? Why do Christians seem to struggle so intensely with the presence of pain in their lives? Could it be that we have misrepresented Jesus and His … [Read more...] about I Am Satisfied (from Micah Fries)