By Aaron Meraz “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 2020 has had what feels to be more than its share of trouble. Through Christ, though, we are able to view suffering and affliction as opportunities for increased gospel advancement and grace giving. Here at GuideStone’s Mission:Dignity® ministry, we have the opportunity …
By Jonathan Woodyard The departure of well-known Christians and churches from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) tends to make the headlines. Recently a prominent pastor, one from whom I have benefited personally, led his church to leave voluntary cooperation with the SBC. There are legitimate concerns with the state of our convention. The SBC is declining numerically, and baptisms are down. The reasons for the …
By Dave Russell B21 Podcast on Congregationalism with Dave Russell – Part I “Do Baptist churches have any accountability?” This is a question I have been asked on a number of occasions by pastors who serve in other denominations. The Baptist distinctive of congregationalism answers this question. God has provided accountability for every local church through the congregation itself. While …
By Josh Wester The advent of social media has changed our lives in innumerable ways. For Southern Baptists, the rise of platforms like Facebook and Twitter has fundamentally changed how we relate to one another, and to a large extent, meaningfully altered our experience as members of America’s largest Protestant denomination. The ability to communicate instantly online has widened our …
By Clint Darst Do you ever feel weary from the battle of Christian ministry in this broken world? Think of the last few weeks: a global pandemic, extreme isolation, escalating counseling concerns, #AhmaudArbery, another beloved pastor’s death, and on top of all that the daily pressures of the church. Seasons like this remind me of why the Apostle Paul exhorted …
By Clint Darst Listen to the B21 Podcast on Believer’s Baptism, featuring Pastor Clint Darst. Also, be sure to read the article below on this same topic. “Clint, you need to decide who you believe the church is. Do you think God has designed the church to be a mixed group of believers and non-believers, or do you think he …
BY NATHAN ROSE When I became the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in March of 2012, our average Sunday morning worship attendance hovered around 120. However, our membership rolls recorded a total of 654 members! This meant over 80% of our congregation had not participated in the life of the church for at least a year. One of my first …
I love Sundays. I love the anticipation that starts on Saturday night when all my children bathe and lay out their clothes before they go to sleep. I love seeing friends we haven’t seen all week and how much my church family enjoys each other. I love the liturgy of worship and hearing God’s word proclaimed. I love taking the …
By Seth Brown, Biblical Recorder Journalism plays a key role in Southern Baptist life. Yet, like most secular press outlets today, our news agencies appear to be caught in a struggle for relevance. Do Southern Baptists believe reliable information and inspiring stories add any value to our partnerships and missions efforts? That’s the question we must answer. Many people in …
3 financial principles to have and to hold for as long as you both shall live. BY GREG LOVE You’ve heard them, likely performed them (and maybe even said them) before — the refrain of traditional wedding vows from one beloved to another as a promise to uphold their commitment “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health …
