For churches that have adopted the Baptist Faith and Message as their confessional document or statement of faith, there is a simple defense of close communion — the practice of restricting access to the Lord’s Table to those who have been baptized in accordance with Scripture. Article VII reads as follows: Christian baptism is the … Continue reading A (Very) Short Defense of Close Communion for Baptist Churches
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Ministry in the Dark Winter
It’s common knowledge that the holidays are an especially-sensitive time. As we approach late-November, families wrestle with increased stress and anxiety. Money gets tight. The schedule gets full. The days grow darker and the nights grow longer. For many, the holidays aren’t the most wonderful time of year. Instead, they’re a time of increased stress, … Continue reading Ministry in the Dark Winter
GUEST POST: Preparing for Ministry in a Post-Truth World, Part Two
Having clarified what a post-truth society looks like and addressed some of the particular challenges inherent therein, we must turn our eyes to practical engagement with it. Prepare for a long-haul Stamina, energy, and strength are required for ministry in any environment; this doesn’t change when serving in a post-truth culture. At times, the challenges … Continue reading GUEST POST: Preparing for Ministry in a Post-Truth World, Part Two
When Things Don’t Go According to Plan: Attendance
I can remember my first six months as a student pastor so clearly. It was my first full-time staff position at a church. I was ready to do the hard work of ministry and see God move in powerful ways, or so I thought. One month in, we had thirty students in Sunday school. To … Continue reading When Things Don’t Go According to Plan: Attendance
When Events Don’t Go According to Plan
We've all been there. Your ministry team worked hard to put an event together. You prayed it through and knew that God would bless it. You dreamed about how many would come to know Jesus and join the church through the event. But when the time came, the event flopped. No one from the event … Continue reading When Events Don’t Go According to Plan
Genesis: A Common Baptist Battleground, Part 1. The Elliott Controversy
This post is intended to serve as the first in a series that looks at prevailing points of contention among Southern Baptists. If there is a particular point of controversy that you would like to see addressed, scroll down to the bottom and leave a comment. In 1961, a popular, young professor at Midwestern Baptist … Continue reading Genesis: A Common Baptist Battleground, Part 1. The Elliott Controversy
BOOK REVIEW and Giveaway: Philippians for Pastors by John Kitchen
Philippians for Pastors. By John Kitchen. The Woodlands, TX: Kress Biblical Resources, 2018. 530 pp. $32.99. In 2019, I had the opportunity to teach a seminary course in conjunction with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Text-Driven Preaching Workshop. When developing the textbook list for the course, I included a commentary that I had found particularly helpful … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW and Giveaway: Philippians for Pastors by John Kitchen
Let’s Get Back To Church!
After the initial freak out over the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be scary for a pastor to lead his people back to church. Because there are many opinions and so much information out there, the process of how to get back to church is not clear. While every church is different, I believe we have … Continue reading Let’s Get Back To Church!
Do You Believe in Ghosts, Poem
From March of 2019 through October, I officiated nearly twenty funerals for family, friends, and church members. Some of these dear brothers and sisters were expected passing, most were not. On top of these funerals, a mentor of mine (a spiritual giant to me) died as well. This period of mourning in my life and … Continue reading Do You Believe in Ghosts, Poem
SBC Unity and the Unforced Error that was Resolution 9
On the heels of the controversial cinedoc, By What Standard?, which was itself a response to Resolution 9, voted upon and affirmed by the Southern Baptist Convention messengers at the SBC Annual Meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, Baptist Press released a “Q&A with the 2019 Resolutions Committee about Resolution 9,” last week. For clarification, that’s just … Continue reading SBC Unity and the Unforced Error that was Resolution 9