LONDON (BP) – The Church of England has abandoned a three-year effort to establish church blessings for same-sex couples after voting in early 2023 to pursue such ceremonies, the church reported. The Anglican denomination continues to reject gay marriage, a decision it affirmed in 2023 while instead voting to pursue blessings. The vote to end the pursuit closed three years of work in the broader Living in Love and Faith (LLF) initiative regarding identity, sexuality, relationships and … [Read more...]
Most churchgoers regularly confess sin, according to Lifeway Research
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Religion) — Most churchgoers try to avoid sin before it happens and seek to confess it afterward. For many, confession is a regular part of their faith. The joint action of obeying God and denying self is one of eight signposts that seek to measure characteristics evident in believers progressing in spiritual maturity in Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship study. On a scale of 0 to 100, the average U.S. Protestant churchgoer scores 75.1 on this signpost, … [Read more...]
Key truths about heaven
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. The New Testament reveals many truths about the so-called intermediate state – the time between physical death and future resurrection. Followers of Jesus enjoy face-to-face fellowship with him in heaven while we eagerly anticipate the day we accompany him in his triumphant and glorious return to earth. Let’s consider several … [Read more...]
Lifeway Research finds fewer than 1 in 3 churchgoers read the Bible daily
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Research) — Most churchgoers place a high value on the Bible, but only about a third commit to reading it every day. The Lifeway Research State of Discipleship study found Bible engagement to be one among eight signposts measuring distinct characteristics for believers progressing in their spiritual maturity. On a scale of 0 to 100, the average churchgoer scores 69.8 on Bible engagement, placing it fifth among the signposts. Among U.S. Protestant churchgoers, … [Read more...]
New MBC Apologetics Network member helps reconcile science with theology
SPARTA – Are the fields of science and theology compatible or are they diametrically in opposition to each other? That’s a question with which many wrestle. Jeffrey Maskrod is immersed in science with his training and occupation. And he believes much of the two disciplines can be reconciled and complement each other. Maskrod is a scientist, working for the 3-M Corporation in Springfield. His role as a quality engineer is to lead a group to analyze materials used in the aerospace and … [Read more...]
The renewal of all things
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. Works of art suffer the ravages of time. Museum curators and patrons go to great lengths to preserve masterpieces left in their care. When we see Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, or Michelangelo’s David, we appreciate the care with which these timeless treasures have been handled. At the same time, some classic paintings … [Read more...]
‘We’re going to save lives’: Sen. Schnelting, MBC’s Fowler discuss 2026 pro-life ballot measure
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sanctity of Life Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 18. JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Director Wes Fowler sat down with state Senator Adam Schnelting (R-St. Charles) on Jan. 7 for a public dialogue about a Missouri ballot initiative that will aim this fall to restore pro-life protections to the state’s Constitution. The dialogue took place at Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City. In 2019, Schnelting amended a pro-life bill, adding a … [Read more...]
Christmas carol recounts tragedy, encourages us to protect the innocents
EDITOR’S NOTE: John Francis is the minister of worship at Parkway Baptist Church, St. Louis, and an adjunct professor of music and worship at Missouri Baptist University. He also produces a weekly podcast, titled “The Monday Morning Worship Leader.” “Coventry Carol” is an odd little carol. Written by Robert Croo in the sixteenth century, it is found in less than twenty hymnals published within the last 100 years. In fact, to use a pun, it is almost as it were “sent to Coventry” as it … [Read more...]
Could Satan be saved?
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. There doesn’t appear to be any scriptural support for a reversal of fortune in hell. Once there, Satan, demons, and the unrepentant wicked spend eternity without a chance for redemption. Nevertheless, some in the early church took a different view. Clement of Alexandria, for example, thought there was hope for the devil based … [Read more...]
Underestimating Ordinary
Luke 2:8-14 reminds us of a well-known and incredibly interesting story used throughout the Christmas season. Take a moment and re-read the verses below: “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the … [Read more...]
This Christmas, remember hell’s horror, heaven’s glory
Actor Kirk Cameron stirred up debate earlier this month, arguing on his podcast that he no longer believes in hell as a place of “eternal conscious torment.” “Jesus died so that we could have eternal life,” said Cameron, who is known for his role in Christian films like Left Behind and Fireproof. “But do the wicked have eternal life in hell?” He answered “No,” apparently affirming some form of “annihilationism”—according to which unbelievers ultimately cease to exist, rather than spending … [Read more...]
Godly grief: ‘Blue Christmas’ not inevitable after a loved one’s death
NASHVILLE (BP) – In planning her deceased husband’s funeral, one mother argued with her daughter about who should serve as pallbearers. “They weren’t kind to him when he was sick and dying, and I don’t want them serving as pallbearers,” the mother said. The daughter countered that the people in question were family and ought to be included. Then she stormed out of the room. As the mother sat crying, Stewart said to her, “The greatest example ever set was the one Jesus set when He had … [Read more...]
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