EDITOR’S NOTE: A panel of musicians, church historians and theologians will discuss the impact and legacy of the hymn, “Amazing Grace” and its author, Feb. 15, at 10am at the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) in Kansas City. Read more here. KANSAS CITY – Most preachers wouldn’t dare to tackle writing a sermon and a hymn for their congregation, but that was par for the course for Pastor John and his peers. On New Year’s 1773, he was preaching through 1 Chronicles 17, … [Read more...]
‘Amazing Grace’ panel to be held at MBTS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Read more about John Newton and his classic, “Amazing Grace,” here. KANSAS CITY – A panel of musicians, church historians and theologians will discuss the impact and legacy of the hymn, “Amazing Grace” and its author, Feb. 15, at 10 at the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) here. 2023 marks the 250th anniversary of the song, penned by small-town preacher John Newton in 1773. It would go on to become one the most well-known songs in history. “Our hope is that … [Read more...]
BFM article VII: Baptism, Lord’s Supper
Following is another in a series of columns on the Baptist Faith & Message 2000. Article VII of The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 reads: “Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a … [Read more...]
Scribner pens book on following Jesus
BRANSON – Jay Scribner is a name that is well-recognized among Missouri Baptists. A long time pastor at First Baptist Church, Branson, he retired from there in 2005 after serving 28 years. He also served as the president of the Missouri Baptist Convention and on the boards of several Baptist entities. He and Mrs. Scribner have lived in Branson for 45 years. He is used frequently as a guest preacher and interim pastor. He said, “I’ve been threatening to write a book for 20 years or so. … [Read more...]
Nation’s biblical illiteracy at root a matter of the heart
Bible knowledge among Americans, in recent years, has plummeted. And, unless God’s people immerse themselves day and night in God’s Word – reading it, praying it, sharing it, obeying it – America will face a devastating spiritual famine. The dire warning in Amos 8:11 should capture our attention: “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD God, ‘when I will send ... a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.” Already, only 6 percent of American adults hold to a Christian worldview, … [Read more...]
‘Best of times, worst of times’
“It was the best of times…it was the worst of times.” You have probably heard these words before, but before you expend too much brain power trying to come up with the source, let me go ahead and tell you that author Charles Dickens wrote them. You may know him from his work, A Christmas Carol. However, this quote is actually from another of his writings, A Tale of Two Cities. While at first, it may seem odd I am not using a quote from A Christmas Carol, the more one considers those … [Read more...]
What does the Bible say about marijuana?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Read more about this issue here and here and here. On Nov. 8, Missouri voters chose to legalize recreational marijuana possession and use. Christian proponents argue that marijuana should be decriminalized because it is naturally created by God and allows for freedom of conscience. As Christians, how should we view the legalization of marijuana? Does the Bible speak to cannabis use? Though the literal words for marijuana aren’t in Scripture, the applicable principles are. … [Read more...]
You snooze, you … rest
When people say you should dress for the life you want, my inner self tells me to put on jammies. I think my inner self is a little tired. I’ve also considered the possibility that my inner self is at least a little bit cat. Naps. Glorious, naps. But while that midday nap is famously fabulous, could I complain a minute about the wakeup? I’m gunna just rest my eyes. That’s how it starts. Next thing I know, only one of those eyes will reopen and I don’t know if it’s morning or…Thursday. I … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist apologists debate ‘end times’ views
ST. CHARLES – Few topics bring as much passion and differing positions as eschatology – the theological field that deals with the end times. Thus four of the most common views of the end times made a perfect topic for a pre-annual meeting debate hosted by the Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network, Oct. 23. Moderated by David Van Bebber, pastor of Linn Valley Baptist Church in Linn Valley, Kan., four Missouri Baptist apologists took positions (that were not necessarily their own personal … [Read more...]
Defrosting a prayer life
I wonder how many times I’ve given up on trying to decide what to have for lunch and resignedly pulled out the peanut butter. Or before I can even pull out the peanut butter, I find that last, half-eaten donut. Goodbye, dignity. Hello, lunch. Pray for me because it happens at dinner too. It’s rather sad that I sometimes can’t even be bothered to thaw out a lasagna. Maybe someone should invent a lasagna popsicle. Lasagnasicle? Not sure why that sounds gross, but ew. What if it was more of … [Read more...]
The gospel and student loan forgiveness
The federal government recently moved to forgive some portion of collegiate student loans for qualified borrowers. Though this policy ought to be analyzed from an economic and political viewpoint, Christians would be wise to consider it from a biblical standpoint. Should Christians support this policy because of the gospel, as some have suggested? Is student loan forgiveness an accurate application of biblical grace, forgiveness, and justice? More important than getting a federal policy … [Read more...]
MBC’s High Street Press releases book on Baptist Faith & Message
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Baptist Convention, through its High Street Press imprint, has released a new resource for personal or group study titled Understanding The Baptist Faith & Message. The 300-page softcover book supports a resolution Missouri Baptists adopted at their 2021 Annual Meeting in Branson, encouraging all Missouri Baptist pastors “to consistently provide instruction to their congregations on the content of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.” The resolution cited … [Read more...]
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