EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second in a series of articles on the various denominations in North America, written by Robert W. Caldwell III, who serves as professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Sometimes if you want to understand something you have to dig deep to get at the roots. In order to understand the complexity of today’s American denominations, we must dig deep into the roots history in search of a sound starting point. Long before the American … [Read more...]

This is another in a series of excerpts from “What Every Christian Should Know About the Trinity,” available through Amazon and other booksellers. In previous columns, we sought to establish that the Incarnation means the eternal Son of God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. As such, Jesus is one person in two distinct but undivided natures: human and divine. In addition, we explored how these two natures work together as the eternal Son of God adds sinless humanity to … [Read more...]

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Gabriel Zelaya is happy to discuss classical, presuppositional and evidential defenses of the faith, but he’s also ready to go when it comes to an oft overlooked branch of apologetics: worship. Helping others learn to defend the faith and leading them in making a joyful noise unto the Lord are both in Zelaya’s wheelhouse. He is pursuing a goal of becoming a professor of apologetics and also leads worship at Pisgah Baptist Church, here. His interest in the convergence of … [Read more...]

This is another in a series of excerpts from “What Every Christian Should Know About the Trinity,” available through Amazon and other booksellers. 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 LDS god of this world once was a mere human who attained deity, showing … [Read more...]

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this article incorrectly reported Hanna Sims' name. The article was corrected at 12:20 p.m., April 16. KANSAS CITY – The idea of apologetics can conjure up academic study, formal debates and deep intellectual arguments aimed at convincing adult minds of the truth behind the gospel. For Hanna Sims, a member of Red Bridge Baptist Church, here, that doesn’t have to be the case. Apologetics can – and should be – translated for younger minds; into … [Read more...]

JEFFERSON CITY – With a growing membership, the Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network (MBAN) is extending its efforts to help churches around the state defend the faith and proclaim the reason for their hope in the gospel. For MBAN president Wil Hoffmann, this means helping churches defend biblical truth and share the gospel with Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientologists and Catholics. Hoffmann serves as pastor of Rising Sun Baptist Church in Auxvasse and as a member of the Missouri … [Read more...]

This is another in a series of excerpts from “What Every Christian Should Know About the Trinity,” available through Amazon and other booksellers. Christians often find it necessary to defend the deity of Christ, especially in conversations with those who vigorously deny this biblical truth. For example, Muslims hold Jesus in high regard as a virgin-born, miracle-working, sinless prophet, but they draw the line at His divinity. Jehovah’s Witnesses grant Jesus the status of “mighty … [Read more...]