Does Jesus give Christians the authority to handle criminal offenses and accusations in the church without going to the governing authorities?
Five Ways the Gospel Shapes Our Approach to Sexual Abuse
This is not just a problem “out there” in the culture. It has impacted people in our pews and people we are trying to reach with the gospel.
Is Saving For Retirement Biblical?
Is Saving For Retirement Biblical? Why Saving for Tomorrow Isn’t About a Lack of Faith Today by Greg Love Working alongside pastors and ministry partners over the years, I’ve noticed that the concept of retirement—especially in the most formal sense of the word —can at times carry a negative connotation. And I understand why. For most, ministry is a lifelong calling from …
AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO THE NATIONS: Becoming a Runway for Sent Ones
By Matt Rogers We want to be a church that is an aircraft carrier to the nations. That is, we want our church to be a runway for sent ones. I’ve cast this vision hundreds of times in the life of our ten-year-old church in Greenville, South Carolina. By virtue of our location, we have a steady stream of young …
A Word On Contentment
By Julie Simmons Picture the scene – you are driving your shiny, new car past well-manicured lawns on a bright, sunny day. You and your well-dressed friends are laughing at a clever joke. All of you are perfectly happy, without a care in the world. The commercials would make you think it is all because of your new automobile. Ok, maybe the car commercial …
An Interview with Jackie Hill Perry
By Jessica Burke Jackie Hill Perry has a story to tell. In high school, she had her first girlfriend. Two years later, she was living openly as the stud in a steady lesbian relationship. Her book, Gay Girl, Good God, tells about that part of her life and how God called her to Him. Over ten years later, she’s married to her …
Song Selection At Multiethnic Churches
By Jonathan Solomon Until January 2018, the only church cultures that I knew were the Church Of God In Christ and the United Holy Churches of America Inc. I believed that worship had everything to do with how you physically respond to the lyrics, the Bible, and the testimonies of your brothers and sisters. We danced, sang, shouted, and some …
SBC 2019: A Layperson’s Recap
By Adrian Stephens Heading to Birmingham, Alabama, for my first Southern Baptist Convention, I felt fear and anxiety because of the city’s racial and ethnic division and the historical events that occurred in the town. I didn’t know what to expect, but I honestly didn’t believe I would leave encouraged. On Monday, I was relieved to see a few other …
SBC 2019 – Another Pastor’s Recap
By Matt Diaz After planting a church “in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention” over a year ago, I had the opportunity to attend this year’s Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. While last week’s gathering marked the 162ndtime the SBC’s annual meeting has taken place, this was my first, both as an attendee and as a messenger. What …
SBC 2019: A Pastor’s Recap
By Dave Russell Last week I had the privilege of attending our SBC Annual Meeting in Birmingham. This was my fourth convention and I left my time there encouraged and thankful to be a part of the SBC. In reflecting on my time at our Annual Meeting, I offer four areas of strength and one area for improvement. FOUR AREAS …