What exactly does the Missouri Baptist Foundation do? I have heard that question lots of times over the last six months. My standard answer has become a lot more than any of us realize. On the one hand, we help manage endowment funds for churches and entities helping them grow ministry funds in order to accomplish ministry both today and tomorrow. We also provide church loans, cash savings accounts, short term fund management along with coaching, education and seminars for churches … [Read more...]
Jesus as the God-man
This is the second in a series of articles on the Incarnation. If Jesus is fully divine and fully human, how are we to understand the way in which these two natures work together? At times, Jesus exhibits the fullness of deity – demonstrating His sovereign control over nature, forgiving sins, receiving worship, and knowing the thoughts of human beings. But He also displays the full range of humanity – getting hungry, growing tired, and, occasionally, not knowing certain things such as … [Read more...]
‘The proven path to happiness’
Parnell, Jonathan. Never Settle for Normal: The Proven Path to Significance and Happiness. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah. 151 pp. $14.99. We were created to live with God and for God, to know him and make him known. Every one of us exists for that reason, no matter our personalities, vocations, birthplaces, ethnicities, or anything else. God made all of us on purpose to live with him wherever he might happen to put us and live for him in whatever he might call us to do. This is … [Read more...]
Swinging between pride, humility
I don’t think I’m all that vain but I do think this song is probably about me. I mean really, what if the song actually is about me? A lot of people think I’m completely self-absorbed, but I have to tell you, I’m pretty sure I can absorb even more of me. So, not completely absorbed. Not yet. Whenever I’m struggling with some sort of pride issue, though, I figure a good way to turn things around is to get into a hammock. Just try to hang on to any shred of smugness as you’re writhing … [Read more...]
The art of civility: 14 Practical Ways to Demonstrate Civility
ci·vil·i·ty səˈvilədē/ noun Formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech. "I hope we can treat each other with civility and respect." Synonyms: courtesy, courteousness, politeness, good manners, graciousness, gentleness, respect, kindness Growth in the social media sphere has created a challenge for Southern Baptists that we did not have prior to the launch of Facebook in 2004. Prior to the invention of social media there were not as many voices attempting to gain … [Read more...]
Overcoming prejudicial blind spots
I have one great-niece in our family of only 10. So, we’re tighter than a bug in a rug. Tightness aside, it is my three-year-old great-niece, Tynslee, that is “the star of the Hinkle show.” When I think about Tynslee, Psalm 127:3 comes to mind, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward.” The term “reward” is so appropriate for Tynslee. She is gorgeous, smart and vivacious like any energic three-year-old Miss America. She can sing like an … [Read more...]
Ken Hemphill: Racial Reconciliation
Paula, my wife and ministry partner, loves Psalm 145:4 “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” This verse is the preface for the times when Paula and I talk to our grandchildren about the many ways we have seen God at work in our extended family. Believe it or not the grandkids love these stories about our history and will often ask for us to “replay” certain stories. Among the issues that have been discussed in recent days is the matter … [Read more...]
The doctrine of the Incarnation
This is the first in a series of articles on the Incarnation. Lorenzo Snow, fifth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, once claimed the Spirit of God fell upon him and revealed a principle that has become an apt summary of Mormonism: “As man now is, God once was; As God now is, man may be.” In other words, the God of this world once was a mere human who attained deity, showing us the path to our own godhood. This principle of “eternal progression” is a stunningly … [Read more...]
The blessings of Christian worship
Worship is a blessing. The word blessing, if we take it back to its Hebrew form, is Berakhah. It was, at one time, the chief form of prayer in synagogue worship, which gave the blueprint for worship in the early church. Numbers 6:23-27, is often referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer of the Old Testament.” It says: “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you … [Read more...]
John Yeats: Missional isolation among international missionaries
I really like the way we do Southern Baptist missions. A recent return from the mission field with our MBC partnership nation of Italy was a fresh reminder of “why” we do cooperative missions. Every believer is commissioned to live on mission. Every local church is to be engaged in missions cooperatively and directly. Biblically and practically, working together is a no brainer. On more than one occasion, our team met and interviewed U.S. missionaries who are diligently working to make … [Read more...]
Satanist incantations, tax credits and Dred Scott
Incantations offered by a woman and a transvestite with the Order of Satanic Sisterhood at the state Capitol May 18 served as a reminder of the evil forces seeking control of our government. Not a single member of the Missouri General Assembly or statewide officeholder attended the, well, whatever it was. So the Satanists exercised their First Amendment rights in The Rotunda. A few people briefly observed before moving on and several Christians lingered among the statues in the Hall of … [Read more...]
How false religions undermine Scripture
Evangelicals may disagree about many things, but we stand together on the non-negotiables that define the Christian faith: The Trinity, justification by faith, and the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures, to name a few. Many false belief systems, from Mormonism to Islam, profess a high regard for the Word of God. But, in fact, they deny its inspiration, inerrancy, or preservation and thus reject the Bible as supremely authoritative. Specifically, false religions employ four … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- …
- 123
- Next Page »