• Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • About
  • Home

Pathway

Baptist & Christian News

  • Missouri
    • MBC
    • Churches
    • Institutions & Agencies
    • Policy
    • Disaster Relief
  • National
    • SBC Annual Meeting
    • NAMB
    • SBC
    • Churches
    • Policy
    • Society & Culture
  • Global
    • Missions
    • Multicultural
  • Columnists
    • John Yeats
    • Don Hinkle
    • Pat Lamb
    • Rhonda Rhea
    • Rob Phillips
  • Ethics
    • Life
    • Liberty
    • Family
  • Faith
    • Apologetics
    • Religions
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Bible Study & Devotion

More results...

Marshall: It is time for Missouri Baptists to ‘Go’

November 18, 2005 By The Pathway

Marshall: It is time for Missouri Baptists to ‘Go’

By Susan Mires
Pathway Correspondent

November 9, 2004

RAYTOWN — The antique bucket kept falling off the stand and rolling onto the floor. John Marshall picked it up and showed why: The bucket, one actually used by fire brigades to pour water on burning buildings, had a rounded bottom.

“When there’s a fire going on, you don’t put your water bucket down and there is a fire going on out there!” Marshall proclaimed as he delivered the convention sermon at the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. He used the bucket to illustrate the urgency Missouri Baptists should display by going throughout the world to carry the Gospel to people headed for the flames of hell.

Marshall, pastor, Second Baptist Church, Springfield, said he preached for 30 years before he understood the Great Commission. But after his church sent him on a mission trip to China, he developed a passion for spreading the Gospel around the world.

“The Holy Spirit is calling us to get past the superficial and take up the gallant challenge to go,” Marshall said.

Southern Baptists, however, have incorrectly interpreted Jesus’ instruction to “go” as meaning “go and stay,” he said. Few are called to be full-time missionaries, Marshall believes, but all Christians need to participate in short-term mission trips.

“‘Go’ means we must step outside our daily routine to find pre-Christians,” he said. “Hunters do not sit in their kitchen and wait for a duck to fly in.”

In the last seven years, Second Baptist has experienced a missions revival, guided by the principle that the life you’ve always dreamed of lies hidden in a mission you’ve always dreaded. In straightforward language, Marshall urged pastors to set the example for their congregation by traveling overseas.

“Pastor, if you’re worth your salt, you’ll get off your duff and go,” he said.

Churches also need to be urgent about sharing the living water with a world that is going up in flames.

“I remember when Southern Baptists were sad over lost people, not mad. I remember when people used to wail over lost people in prayer meeting,” Marshall said. “What’s happened to us? It’s time we returned to caring about lostness.”

In his fervent sermon, Marshall said Christians should keep a map next to their Bible and pray regularly for their communities and their world.

“Missouri Baptists, I issue a challenge for you to go home and take responsibility for every hurt in your town. Go on a mission trip in your town, your state and somewhere around the world because our Master said ‘Go.’”

Comments

Trending

  • Contrary to Rick Warren’s claims, Baptist confessions provide doctrinal accountability
  • Third season of ‘The Chosen’ series: entertaining, but controversy grows
  • Four examples of where the New World Translation gets it wrong
  • A look into Tartarus
  • Barber, Stone to be SBC presidential nominees at annual meeting, June 13-14

Ethics

First U.S. law banning public drag shows ruled unconstitutional

Diana Chandler

A federal district judge has ruled unconstitutional a Tennessee law prohibiting gender-bending drag performances in front of minors, which had been the only such law in the nation.

UK’s foremost expert: Gender ideology is ‘made up’

Will Hall

More Ethics Stories

Missouri

Preaching ministry ‘an honor and privilege,’ Whitney says

Aiden Trimble

Brother Frank Whitney stood up, took a deep breath, and walked toward the pulpit. Bible in hand, he double-checked his notes for the Sunday evening sermon. Tonight’s topic: faith the size of a mustard seed. The crowd wasn’t any larger than usual; about 30 people. It was just another Sunday evening service, except for one detail: The preacher, Brother Whitney, was 12 years old.

Copyright © 2023 · The Pathway