SBC Voices

Camp: Three Reasons It Helps Your Student Ministry

by

I have a confession to make: I love youth camp.  God began calling me to surrender my life to Christ at youth camp.  As a camp counselor and program director, I began to sense God calling me into the ministry.  As a youth pastor, I saw my students’ lives transformed while they attended camp.  I also began to sense God calling me into Christian higher education while taking my students to a camp hosted by a Christian university.  Camps have played a pivotal role in my walk with Christ.  I also believe that camps can have a major impact on the spiritual lives of your students. There are three … [Read more...] about Camp: Three Reasons It Helps Your Student Ministry

A History of the Formation and Function of the Executive Committee

by

The SBC Annual Meeting in 2021 is one that will be remembered in history as an important one for some time.  While it’s easy to get lost in the respective highs and lows of the meeting, it’s also important to remember that the actions of the SBC when it gathers can have lasting actions. One such meeting happened in 1916 when the actions of one messenger still affect us today.  The Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives records it this way.    In 1916, M. H. Wolfe of Texas proposed to amend the SBC Constitution “to create one strong executive board which … [Read more...] about A History of the Formation and Function of the Executive Committee

Elders: Are They Baptistic?

by

Elders are the subject of arguments raised by some Southern Baptists on social media who are opposed to a plurality of elders. Here are some of their points of contention: Churches with a plurality of elders are more Presbyterian than Southern Baptist. Pastors who believe in a plurality of elders are playing semantic games with the current Baptist Faith and Message 2000, which mentions “pastors and deacons” as the offices of the church. A plurality of elders is not a Baptistic approach to church government and is not supported by the history of the Southern Baptist … [Read more...] about Elders: Are They Baptistic?

How should the Ed Litton borrowing sermons situation be handled?

by

I believe there are significant concerns that have been raised regarding Ed Litton’s use of JD Greear’s sermons. I don’t like the way the concerns first came to light. None of us should be prowling the internet seeking someone to devour. I’ve been guilty of doing that before. It wasn’t right then. And it isn’t right now. We already have an adversary who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. When Christians seek to devour one another, they image the devil, not Jesus. But legitimate concerns shouldn’t be ignored just because they came to light by illegitimate means. That’s the same argument I … [Read more...] about How should the Ed Litton borrowing sermons situation be handled?

The Southern Baptist Convention: What’s in a Name?

by

I remember during the 2012 Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting being somewhat perplexed.  A motion came forward to change the name of the SBC.  As my memory serves me, the thought process behind the motion was to help Southern Baptists who plant churches in the northern states and in other parts of the country not located in the South to avoid geographical baggage that might accompany the current name of the SBC. Rather than change the Convention’s name, the motion proposed that the Convention allow these church planters and any Southern Baptist congregation to use the name Great … [Read more...] about The Southern Baptist Convention: What’s in a Name?

Peacemaking: 4 Lessons Southern Baptists Can Learn From Whitefield and Wesley

by

Peacemaking. It’s a word that probably won’t get this post many views or likes. It seems that we currently are like the drivers who frustrate the stew out of me on the interstate. They slow down traffic while passing an accident scene to rubberneck and see the carnage from the collision. Or perhaps we are like sharks who participate in a feeding frenzy after they sense blood in the water. We have a frustrating tendency in the SBC to distract ourselves with fights over tertiary issues rather than focusing on the Great Commission. As I read recent posts and comments on social media arguing … [Read more...] about Peacemaking: 4 Lessons Southern Baptists Can Learn From Whitefield and Wesley

Certainly, I fully support our SBC president Ed Litton

by

Among the SBC Voices writers and editors, I believe I am the only one who does not know Ed Litton personally. I've never met him. I did not attend any of his pre-convention meet-and-greets. Until about a year ago, he was someone that I had never heard of. After reflection, he got my vote for SBC president because I thought he was the right guy for the task and because I thought he had the right message for our times. I still believe those two thing are true. All SBCers who eat and drink SBC politics are fully informed, some fully and sinfully engaged, about the news that Litton preached … [Read more...] about Certainly, I fully support our SBC president Ed Litton

3 Commitments for Leading Your Church to Address Sexual Abuse

by

Last week at #SBC21, messengers sent a clear message that we want our denomination to address the issue of sexual abuse and stand with survivors. As many survivors have pointed out, our decisions made at the annual meeting must be followed up by meaningful action or what we said is just words. Coming home, most messengers have little impact in what will happen at the denominational level with our committees, trustee boards, and entities. But you DO have the opportunity to take meaningful action at YOUR church. This post is meant to give you a starting point for you to address the issue of … [Read more...] about 3 Commitments for Leading Your Church to Address Sexual Abuse

Leadership: Learning the Army’s 3 M’s

by

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned in leadership involves standing in a chow line with other officers waiting for our enlisted soldiers to get their food.  The reason we stood in line rather than going ahead of our soldiers directly related to the 3 M’s of leadership taught to us in our officer basic courses.  Our cadre taught us to lead with these three priorities:  my mission, my men, myself. If you think about it, these 3 M’s apply to leading as a Christ follower as well.  Whatever your role in the Kingdom, applying the 3 M’s to your leadership will help you develop more … [Read more...] about Leadership: Learning the Army’s 3 M’s