It may seem obvious, but I’m going to say it anyway: the primacy and necessity of the Bible must never be assumed—especially in the Great Commission. The importance of keeping this truth ever before us cannot be overstated. As I write this from a plane in East Asia, I can’t help but reminisce over recent days engaging others in …
Mrs. Spencer sits in her pew, the same one she sits in every week, and takes out her Bible. She knows the time will come when the pastor will announce today’s text. Until then, she waits. The “Welcome” does not really apply to her, because the young pastor seems to want to make the guests feel welcomed. She’s been …
“I left Preview Day knowing that if I attended Southeastern, I would be changed and equipped to even more effectively make disciples.” – Yana, M.Div. in Christian Ministry People often say that a visit to Southeastern was the reason they chose to pursue their education with us. Our Preview Days allow prospective students the opportunity to see firsthand …
In honor of World Down Syndrome Day we wanted to run this helpful and timely piece by Joseph Stegall, Lead Pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Nolensville, TN. On March 29 2012, my life was changed forever. That was the day that my wife gave birth to our fourth daughter, Eden, who was unexpectedly born with Down syndrome. Through …
I was blessed to be able to work with brothers that I love to create Baptist21. Our purpose from the beginning was to engage younger Baptists in convention life, and I think in many ways, we have been able to do that. When we started almost a decade ago there were very little venues at the annual meeting that …
The Book of Daniel, among many other things, gives us a clear picture of the upside-down (from our perspective) reality of the Kingdom of God–Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matt. 23:12). For in Daniel we see the most powerful ruler humbled, made to be like a beast, and the kingdom and glory given to …
Last week Southern Baptists learned that one of their largest churches, Prestonwood Baptist Church, is going to push pause on Cooperative Program (CP) giving. For those who know the role CP giving plays in SBC life, this announcement is a big deal. CP giving is often a key standard by which leaders and churches are judged. The CP is significant …
I recently completed my first six months of my first pastorate in a position that would probably be characterized by the experts as a “revitalization effort.” I had done my research. I had read up on church revitalization, what to do in your first six months, how to shape gospel-centered ministries, etc. But of all the thoughts, plans, etc. …
It wasn’t the first time I’d heard it. “I feel dead on the inside.” This sentence, or some variation of it, has come up more often than I thought it would in my time as a pastor. It’s voiced by new Christians and seasoned Christians alike. I’ve said it. Somewhere along the way a person’s emotional energy, intellectual energy, spiritual …
Daniel had a prophetic vision of four beasts coming out of the sea (Daniel 7). The beasts stand symbolically for pagan kings or kingdoms. But who were they? Since the visions and dreams of Daniel 2, 7 and 8 are parallel, three of the four beasts were actually named in Daniel. The first beast was Babylon as named by Daniel …
