How long does it take to create a culture of prayer in a church? No matter how much your church needs a culture of prayer, it won’t happen after a single sermon on prayer, or an announcement of your vision or one dynamic prayer meeting. Have you ever visited Mount Rushmore in South Dakota? The enormous memorial to four presidents – Washington, Jefferson, T. Roosevelt and Lincoln – whose realistic likenesses are all carved into a mountain side, took about eight years longer to complete … [Read more...]
Protestant pastors bring attention to global Christian persecution
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Research) – As pastors speak and pray with their congregations, they say they’re also keeping persecuted Christians around the world in mind. More than 9 in 10 U.S. Protestant pastors (93%) say their church has engaged in at least one of six ways to bring attention to Christians suffering persecution within the past year, according to a Lifeway Research study. Around 1 in 14 (7%) say they haven’t done any of those six, and less than 1% aren’t sure. “The United … [Read more...]
Everyone’s day of reckoning
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. One day, every person is resurrected and summoned before Christ in final judgment. While salvation is a gift of God, received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, our lifestyles reflect our beliefs. That is, our words and deeds reveal our citizenship, either in the kingdom of God or in the domain of the evil … [Read more...]
Lifeway Research study: Few pastors bank on prosperity gospel
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Many churchgoers say their church connects financial blessings with personal generosity, but most pastors see those ideas as bankrupt. A Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors finds few hold or teach beliefs connected to the prosperity gospel, the theological movement that teaches God wants to make followers materially wealthy and will do so if individuals hold certain beliefs or perform specific actions. A previous Lifeway Research study, however, found … [Read more...]
The unbeliever’s resurrection
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’s less in Scripture about the resurrection of the wicked than there is about the glorification of the just. Nevertheless, the Bible gives us enough information to know that those who reject Christ are physically resurrected one day and separated forever from God. Daniel gives us the clearest Old Testament glimpse of the … [Read more...]
Four prayer goals to pursue in the New Year
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article first appeared on Baptist Press. Do you have any goals for your prayer life? C. S. Lewis once said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” About 60% of young adults will make New Year resolutions this year, hoping new goals will lead to self-improvement. Since we never grow spiritually by accident, here are 4 prayer goals to pursue in the new year. Think why not just how There are innumerable resources on “how” to pray – a … [Read more...]
MBC apologist confronts counterfeit faiths
MACKS CREEK – To stand for truth and share Christ with people who embrace counterfeit forms of Christianity is a challenge. Colten Wright, pastor of Linn Creek Baptist Church and a member of the Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network, relishes this challenge as he shares the gospel with people in his Lake of the Ozarks community. Wright often asks questions to clarify other people’s beliefs and gently point them to the truth of Jesus Christ. In particular, he specializes in witnessing to … [Read more...]
Trusting God’s plan
Recently, my friends and family in Mayfield, Ky., commemorated the third anniversary of the tornado that devastated our little town. As I looked back through my notes, I found the message I shared on Christmas Eve, just two weeks after everything was destroyed. It was a difficult time – things seemed very bad – and many were asking, “God, how can this be part of your plan?” In a context of difficulty, I was studying the well-known Christmas story, and I was reminded that God provided … [Read more...]
Does archeology shed light on the Nativity story?
Earlier this month, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Museum of the Bible and Archaeology. NOBTS President Jamie Dew rightly told Baptist Press that the museum and its resources “strengthen the Christian witness in the world that we live in.” I’m thankful that NOBTS is striving to strengthen Christian witness through archaeology. As mentioned in a previous editorial, I’ve had a longtime fascination with biblical archaeology, handed down … [Read more...]
Incarnation ‘essential to saving work of God,’ Allen declares during MBTS commencement
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MBTS) – More than 300 graduates of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) and Spurgeon College received their degrees on December 6 during the seventy-sixth commencement exercises. In addition to awarding diplomas, President Jason Allen presented several special recognitions and delivered the commencement address, celebrating the incarnation of Christ for salvation. Opening the ceremony with a word of welcome and a reading of Matthew 1:18–25, Allen said, “To … [Read more...]
A plea for prioritizing the singing of familiar Christmas carols
by Justin Wainscott Over the last several years during the Advent and Christmas seasons, I have noticed that churches seem to be singing traditional Christmas carols less and less. I’m not sure what all the reasons may be, and I’m certainly not attempting to impugn the motives of those who choose the songs. But I do believe it’s unfortunate for us if we hear familiar carols more in the shopping mall than we do in the local church. Therefore, I want to issue a plea for us to prioritize … [Read more...]
Praying to get things done
Do you pray to get things done? Do you believe some things will only occur if you pray, or that God can refuse to act until someone prays? How Jesus sees prayer An event in the life of Jesus clarified the relationship between prayer and God’s activity. Mark’s gospel tells the story of Jesus and three of His disciples who, along with Moses and Elijah, gathered on the Mt. of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8). In His absence, the other disciples at the base of the mountain were overwhelmed by a … [Read more...]
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