The Generation Gap in the SBC: Interactions with Nathan Finn and The Baptist Press Article on Mark Driscoll (Pt. 2)

The following continues the discussion on the reasons younger pastors are choosing to disengage from our convention. Please See Part 1 here II. Some are not creating a compelling vision for those they pastor Finn states: “Simply put, the current generation of engaged Southern Baptists have not replicated their denominational involvement in the rising generation. There are notable exceptions: I think …

The Generation Gap in the SBC: Interactions with Nathan Finn and The Baptist Press Article on Mark Driscoll (Pt. 1)

Nathan Finn’s recent post entitled “The Southern Baptist Generation Gap,” deals with the issue of the lack of younger Southern Baptist messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). It is very clear there is a lack of participation in pastors who are under the age 40. This is one of the reasons we started Baptist21. We love the Southern Baptist …

Addressing the Membership Decline in the SBC (part 1)

This article was ready nearly a month ago, closer to the time these articles were released in the Tennessean, but because of the site transition they were postponed. I now offer these thoughts, though a bit late. Recently, the Tennessean carried a series of articles about the declining membership of the Southern Baptist Convention. Three articles of note were written …

Interview with Dr.’s Rainer, Stetzer, and Waggoner Final Part: On Calvinism in the SBC, The Emerging Church, and Advice for Young Ministers

The final part of the interview with the LifeWay trio deals with issues of the Emerging Church, Calvinism, challenges for the SBC in the 21st Century, and parting advice for young ministers. The ideas shared by Dr.’s Rainer, Stetzer, and Waggoner are thought provoking and pertinent for young SBC ministers. [podcast]http://www.baptisttwentyone.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/baptist-21_stetzer-rainer-waggpt3a.mp3[/podcast] Some Quotes from their Interview, part 3: On the …

Interview with Dr.’s Rainer, Stetzer, and Waggoner Continued: Advice for Church Planters and Revitalization, Influences, and Future Books

The 2nd part of the interview with Dr.’s Rainer, Stetzer, and Waggoner is available. These men are helpful in speaking to issues of Church planting as well as church revitalization. They also speak of the influences in their lives and some books that will be out soon that will be helpful to the church.   Some of the Questions and …

An Examination of “The Cross and Christian Ministry” with Implications for Southern Baptist Life, Part 2

The first post in this series can be found here. Carson’s “Cross and Christian Ministry” should don the library of every gospel minister or aspiring minister. I commend this book especially to those of us (like the Baptist 21 writers) who are preparing for gospel ministry. In addition, it should don the bookshelves of pastors who have been along the …

What do SBC Churches in the 21st Century Need Most in Order to Fulfill the Great Commission? [Part Two] With Insights from E. M. Bounds’ Power Through Prayer

[This post is part two in a two-part series. Part one was posted on Wednesday, October 22nd at Baptist21. Please check it out before reading on as this post will probably not make much sense to those who haven’t read the first one!]. The great need of our time, as I suggested in part one of this series, is for …

What do SBC Churches in the 21st Century Need Most in Order to Fulfill the Great Commission? [Part One] With Insights from E. M. Bounds’ Classic, Power Through Prayer

Whoever you are in whatever station you might be as you sit down to read this post, let’s play a game of pretend together. Let’s pretend that you are a young man in your mid-twenties. You have just graduated from seminary and have been called to your first pastorate at a small rural church. The church to which you have …

Guest Blog: “Why I Am a Southern Baptist” by Alvin Reid

Dr. Alvin Reid is the Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism Professor at Southeastern. He is a student-favorite on the seminary campus as well as among many high school and college-aged students who have the privilege to hear him speak. He is an author, and we at Baptist21 wait eagerly for his co-authored book with Mark Liederbach entitled “The Convergent Church.” …