Looking out the window the first week of January, I watched as the snow and swirling wind around the house created an eerie scene. It was cold – so much so that even the young at heart exercised caution. Some of our churches suspended Sunday worship services. As a pastor, I always hated not having a scheduled service because of weather. But there are times that warrant prudent caution over proceeding with what one might consider as normative. I read a post by pastor/evangelist Bill … [Read more...]
Apologetics e-newsletter coming in January
Thank you, Missouri Baptists, for helping bring to life a statewide Christian apologetics ministry in 2013. Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) churches and associations hosted many apologetics weekends and one-day events that covered topics ranging from “How do I know the Bible is true?” to “What do false religions have in common?” Hosts included Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Jefferson City; Cross Keys Baptist Church, Florissant; Sweetwater Baptist Church, Neosho; First Baptist Church, … [Read more...]
2014 means more intently focusing on our churches
Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay, gives us some powerful insight into why it is healthy for churches to look outside themselves for solutions to particular challenges. I asked him if I could share this word with you in my column, and he graciously agreed. Here’s what he said: “The pattern is conspicuous. Churches that are insular are not as healthy as churches that are regularly seeking outside perspectives. Of course, there will be exceptions. But, as a rule, those churches whose … [Read more...]
The historical Jesus
Nearly a decade ago, an article in Popular Mechanics reported that forensic scientists had reconstructed the “real face of Jesus.” Their reconstruction differed sharply from the typical portraits of Jesus that portrayed Christ with graceful features, light skin and flowing, brown hair. Instead, these scientists gave Jesus large dark eyes, black hair and tawny skin; bushy eyebrows and a short, frizzed moustache, beard and hair; as well as strong cheek bones and a bulbous nose. However … [Read more...]
There is plenty you can do with 48 Bibles
Missouri Baptists are catching the vision for distributing one million Bibles in 2014. There are 48 Bibles in a case. The Find it Here New Testaments (NT) cost less than $40 a case. We are all challenged to distribute one million Bibles in print, audio, or Bible storying. Here are some ideas gleaned from reports that have been coming in from around our state. Get started by April 12 and celebrate this Easter. • Christmas carol through your community and give away a dozen cookies in a … [Read more...]
Do you believe that Mary is the mother of God?
Do you believe that the virgin Mary is the mother of God? Baptists have prudently avoided describing Mary in this way, since the biblical writers never call her the “mother of God” and since this description has too often led to an idolatrous adoration of Mary. Nevertheless, this question goes to the heart of what we celebrate during the Christmas season – namely, the birth of Jesus Christ, who was both fully God and fully man. Let me explain. In the first five centuries following … [Read more...]
10 truths about the return of Jesus
Few passages of Scripture cause more controversy among evangelical Christians than Rev. 20:1-10, in which John mentions a 1,000-year period six times. The main point of debate is whether the “millennium” should be understood literally or figuratively. Generally, those who believe the 1,000 years are literal and in the future are called premillennialists. They look for Christ to return and establish a “millennial kingdom,” or a reign of 1,000 years, after which He puts down Satan’s final … [Read more...]
A beggar editor enfolds himself in emperor colors
Rudyard Kipling, writing about a character in his 1893 collection of short stories titled Many Inventions, said “he wrapped himself in quotations – as a beggar would enfold himself in the purple of emperors.” Kipling could just as easily have been describing a Christian newspaper editor. We live for quotations, wrapping our publications in them as a beggar enfolding himself in the purple of emperors. In his preface to Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, Mark Twain biographer Justin Kaplan … [Read more...]
Actively erupting good thinking
A lot of my friends have adopted a more active lifestyle and started new workout routines of late. When they all do it at once like that I’m usually shamed into joining them. This time, I’ve decided to do resistance training. Because nobody resists training like I do. People are always talking about how important it is to have a strong core. And even though I’ve heard from all different directions that I should exercise my core, I’m having a hard time getting past the fact that it sounds … [Read more...]
Missouri churches must grow their own leaders
Imagine a church with 11,000 members, 100 ministers, and only two of them have been to Bible college. Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho, disciples their members so intentionally, that they have all the ministers that they need. Gene Jacobs is one such church member turned minister. He is a former Navy guy who built cell phone towers. After accepting Christ, he became a member of a small group, then a small group leader, then a community pastor, executive church staff, and is now … [Read more...]
Season’s meatings and selfish fleshiness
You know how I can tell we’re approaching the Christmas season? I find myself thumbing through a catalog. A catalog. Of. Meat. Potted meat. Pickled meat. Fried and dried and – maybe even poached meat. That just takes us to about page five. Then there’s meat by the log. Meat in a bar. Meat on a stick. Meat in a jar. And okay, that might sound a little Dr. Seuess-y-cutesy, but I get halfway through the catalog and I have to tell you, I’m pretty much meated out. So here we are, heading … [Read more...]
What have we done to the Christmas story?
Christians love to hear and tell the traditional Christmas story. The birth of Jesus includes Mary and Joseph seeking shelter on a winter night, no room in the inn, a baby born in a stable and angels visiting lowly shepherds nearby. But our modern telling of the account in Luke 2:1-20 embraces critical flaws, according to Kenneth E. Bailey, who spent 40 years teaching the New Testament in the Middle East and who authored Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the … [Read more...]
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