The SBC Pastors’ Conference begins tomorrow evening. I’m on the ground in Phoenix, and we’re busy making final preparations for this historic event. I hope you are planning to join us Sunday evening and all day Monday. We have 12 preachers from 12 average-sized Southern Baptist Churches who will be lifting up the name of Jesus as they preach expositionally through the book of Philippians. I’ve been posting a call to pray for one speaker each day until the day of the conference. I hope you will take a moment to pray for these men as they finish up their sermon preparations.
Shane Hall will be the final preacher for the conference. He will be preaching Philippians 4:10-23. Shane is the Pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK. He is a gifted preacher of the Word of God, and we are excited to hear from him as he preaches at the 2017 SBC Pastors’ Conference.
Perhaps reading through the text of Philippians 4:10-23 will help you as you pray. The text below is from the new Christian Standard Bible published by Holman Bible Publishers. The preachers at the conference will be preaching from the CSB.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship. 15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
You should also know that Shane is battling cancer. We expect him to be able to preach at the conference, but his health has been a challenge for him this year. Please pray specifically that the Lord would give him the health and strength he needs for this assignment and that the Lord would do a miracle of healing in Shane’s body.
For any who are as old as I am, Shane pastors what has historically been known as First Southern Baptist Church Del City in Oklahoma City. Former pastors include Bailey Smith and Tom Elliff.
If your bladder won’t hold or any other need intervenes, step out during my sermon and make sure you are back in your seat before Shane starts.
I am excited to hear Shane preach. That Barber fellow is no slouch in the pulpit either.
FYI, also John Bisagno and Jimmy Draper. Quite a legacy at FSBC Del City
Dr. Barber:
I am here in Oklahoma City. I don’t anticipate any bladder problems. My wife has MS. She takes a medicine which supposedly controls frequent bathroom breaks. [People with MS have to go to the bathroom all the time]. So in an extreme emergency I guess I could sneak a pill from my wife.
Hopefully I won’t be popping any pills here. In any case, I’ll be glued to my tube as both Dr. Barber and my own pastor, Pastor Shane, are up there in the pulpit in Phoenix.
I’m also going to stick around for the talk by Dr. Gaines. I think Dr. Gaines is on to something when he calls for people to get out of suffocating debt so that, among other things, they can actually support their church financially. What a concept: giving the Lord more than just pocket change!
Roger OKC
Amen!
For those of us who cannot make it in person, will this be televised?
It will be live streamed over the internet at sbcpc.net.