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An angel accented the top of our family’s Christmas tree each year when I was growing up. This regal figure featured a golden gown, wings and a halo. Angels have become a common part of Christmas décor, but they... Continue Reading »
I was on campus one afternoon last spring when I ran into Elizabeth. She grew up in church, but sadly no longer considers herself a Christian. When I asked her why the change of mind, she was quite open... Continue Reading »
The biblical counseling ministry at Church at The Mill in Moore has officially been recognized by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors as an ACBC Certified Training Center. The certification affirms that the church has completed the six-phase certification... Continue Reading »
The Sing! Hymnal (Crossway, 2025) edited by Keith and Kristyn Getty Blending music and poetry, hymns beautifully bring Christian theology to life. With each verse, rich lyrics echo the timeless truths of Scripture and proclaim the unchanging message of... Continue Reading »
In AD 112, a governor named Pliny wrote to the Roman emperor about pesky Christians worshipping without permit and refusing to cooperate with the imperial cult. Writing to request guidance on overseeing a Christian trial, Pliny described these Christians’... Continue Reading »
The Sing! Hymnal, created by Keith and Kristyn Getty, was published by Crossway this September. Several other editors, including Douglas O’Donnell, were involved in creating the hymnal. Courier staff writer Mary Margaret Flook interviewed O’Donnell about the background of... Continue Reading »
Erik Routley, a renowned British hymnologist in the 1950s, routinely said a good hymn should be “well-written, well-chosen, and well-sung.” For over 50 years, these words have been instructive filters for me. They’ve guided me as I’ve selected hymns... Continue Reading »
My family and I went to serve with the International Mission Board in Portugal in 2017. Like many of my friends on the mission field, I felt the IMB knew me better than I did following a slew of... Continue Reading »
I fell in love with the song, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” upon hearing my sister, Miriam, sing it during my teenage years. Indeed, in my opinion, no one can sing like Miriam, and even as I write this,... Continue Reading »
As a pastor of almost six years and a Christian of 15 years, one of the hardest things for me to get my head around is why I choose to ever sin. And yet, I choose it every day.... Continue Reading »
“Go to Dark Gethsemane” was written by James Montgomery (1771–1854) in Yorkshire, England, who was the son of Moravian parents. Montgomery wrote it in 1820 and revised it in 1825. Stanzas 1 and 2: Your Redeemer’s Conflict See Go... Continue Reading »
Next to “Away in a Manger,” “Joy to the World” is one of the most popular and beloved hymns we sing at Christmastime. When Isaac Watts penned the lyrics though, he didn’t actually have the nativity in mind. There’s... Continue Reading »
“There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood” was written by William Cowper in the late 18th century, born out of his deep personal suffering and his conversion to Christ. Cowper (pronounced “Cooper”) was born in 1731 in Berkhamsted, England.... Continue Reading »
“He who sings prays twice.” You may have heard that old proverb before. It’s often attributed to St. Augustine, though many scholars today actually dispute whether he said it or not. Still, it’s a lovely sentiment. And yet, it’s... Continue Reading »
My grandfather pastored a church for 31 years before he retired. He pastored this congregation through a building campaign — where the church meets today — and grew the congregation to more than 500 additional members. There were many... Continue Reading »
“He who does not find the great and perfect wisdom of God in His wonderful work of music is truly a clod and is not worthy to be considered a man!” — Martin Luther Want to know a simple... Continue Reading »
Southern Baptist entities and ministries offer numerous philanthropic opportunities this Giving Tuesday, from goats to helping Send Relief strengthen drought-impaired communities, to funds to archive Southern Baptist history. Send Relief tells of its sustaining work in Kenya, where the... Continue Reading »
Six South Carolina Baptist churches and one from North Carolina joined together for an evangelistic “Teach, Reach, Beach” retreat in Charleston in late September that saw seven baptisms. “The whole purpose is not just to retreat and get away,... Continue Reading »
She stood on Folly Beach, listening to the waves and watching the dark clouds roll in. “A storm is coming,” she thought. She reached for her phone and texted a friend who was going through a hard time. “…... Continue Reading »
To understand the nature of the unpardonable sin, one must consider both the passage’s broader biblical context and the immediate situation in which Jesus spoke. Jesus set the passage in its broader theological context when he affirmed a truth... Continue Reading »
My great grandpa’s name was Goebel — and he was a stud. As we were looking through old family pictures a few years ago, I showed a picture of 50-year-old Goebel to my wife and kids. My wife said,... Continue Reading »
The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict (Baker, 2004) by Ken Sande Serious, divisive conflict is everywhere — within families, in the church, and out in the world. And it can seem impossible to overcome its negative... Continue Reading »
Many pastors, early in their ministry, will encounter a troubled, tenderhearted soul who will say, “Pastor, I think I’ve committed the unpardonable sin.” Often, when the pastor asks what specifically that sin is, the person replies, “I’m not sure... Continue Reading »
An astute reader of The Baptist Courier’s monthly magazine recently asked me: “It seems like The Courier has really emphasized that second ‘I’ in your slogan on the front, ‘Instruct.’ Why?’” Amazing question, and a vital one. I’m glad... Continue Reading »
Each semester, I am privileged to speak with hundreds of college students. Many, however, are skeptics of the Christian faith and hold grievous misunderstandings about Christianity. They’ve been convinced of the common attacks on God’s character that have been... Continue Reading »
Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults think the Bible is “just another book of teachings written by people,” the American Bible Society (ABS) said in its latest release from the 2025 State of the Bible. More people are skeptical... Continue Reading »
Convictional, Confessional, Cheerful Baptists (Courier Publishing, 2024) by Nate Akin In an age where we are tempted to either be angry, weak, or arrogant, Convictional, Confessional, Cheerful Baptists argues about the importance of holding to Baptist Confessions and distinctives... Continue Reading »
The Bible is not simply a guide to reaching heaven; it also reveals how God intends life to be lived along the way. Naturally, it speaks extensively about wealth and the accumulation of material riches. Foundational to understanding a... Continue Reading »
Where did Baptists come from? Is John the Baptist our founding forefather because he was the first clearly committed to baptism by immersion? After all, isn’t “Baptist” his nickname? Or did we arise from the Anabaptists of 16th century... Continue Reading »
Most pastors are confident their churches are helping people grow as Christians. Just don’t ask them how they know that. In the second part of the State of Discipleship study from Lifeway Research, U.S. Protestant pastors describe their congregations’... Continue Reading »
Some people feel the pull of history, and some do not. I have plenty of personal experience with this. My dad, for instance, loves museums. He will read every plaque on every display and will close out a museum... Continue Reading »
When Dallas and Martha Harvey packed up their life in New Jersey to move to Fort Worth so that Dallas could begin pursuing his Master of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, their goal was to be prepared for... Continue Reading »
A growing number of teenagers are turning to artificial intelligence for friendship, according to a new national survey and an Associated Press article that has stirred conversations among parents, educators, and faith leaders. A Common Sense Media survey released... Continue Reading »
We are shaped and formed by our loves and affections. They inform what we think is important and what we value. As Augustine reminds us, our loves drive us toward a trajectory of worship.1 We worship what we love,... Continue Reading »
It all began with a book. The author wasn’t a Baptist. And he didn’t live to see how God would use the book. That’s how God works sometimes. Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) was America’s first, and arguably our greatest, homegrown... Continue Reading »
I knew that my faithful pastor believed the Bible. He had never indicated any hesitation about any of it — its propositions, historical accounts, poetry, worldview, miracles, or its statements of the mighty acts of God from creation to... Continue Reading »
I’m happy to be a Christian. In Luke 10:20, when Jesus’s disciples were excited about their power over demons, He told them to rejoice about something else instead. He said, “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are... Continue Reading »
I recently returned from visiting family in New England. I absolutely love my family, both immediate and extended. We’ve been very blessed generationally to have stayed closely connected over the years. But one thing that is always a guaranteed... Continue Reading »
October is Pastor Appreciation Month, but why October, and why appreciate your pastor? Well, to start with, the concept of appreciating your pastor is biblical, and God directed the New Testament church to do so. In 1 Timothy, Paul... Continue Reading »
Scribes & Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible (Crossway, 2022) by John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry There are many common questions and misconceptions surrounding the formation and history of the Bible: Why is... Continue Reading »
It was one of those once-in-a-generation events, a day we would remember for the rest of our lives and could describe in precise detail where we were when it happened. Country music star Alan Jackson phrased it in a... Continue Reading »
Throughout the centuries, the existence of evil — particularly the vast amount of seemingly gratuitous evil in the universe — has posed one of the most significant philosophical challenges to the Christian faith. This challenge, commonly referred to as... Continue Reading »
The Bible describes itself as a special book. Even before the canonization of the sacred texts, importance was attached to the prophetic and apostolic writings. Moses wrote “all the words of the Lord” in the “covenant scroll.” Joshua’s farewell... Continue Reading »
I often feel guilty because I rarely feel like I am doing enough to impact my town for Jesus. I need to evangelize more. I need to disciple more. I need to serve more. I need to pray more.... Continue Reading »
When it comes to books, none is more famous than the Bible. It’s the most sold, most translated, and arguably the most influential book in history. As a result, it occupies a vaulted place in our shared cultural conscience.... Continue Reading »
Science has brought undeniable blessings to the world. But its achievements over the past 400 years have enticed many in Western culture to enshrine science as the answer to everything and the only reliable source of truth. Although this... Continue Reading »
I’ve probably said it a thousand times in my sermons over the years: When Jesus differs from the culture, go with Jesus every single time. What Jesus said about Himself: He is the Son of God and Son of... Continue Reading »
We’ve all seen the commercials or reels on our social media feeds. Someone has a product that is sure to unlock your body’s hidden potential and unleash its full strength. Their proof? The product has changed their life. It’s... Continue Reading »
Children across the generations used to play a familiar game: Truth or Dare. In this pre-adolescent rite of passage, the group challenged one another to answer a potentially embarrassing question with the truth. The only alternative to telling the... Continue Reading »
Every serious reflection on the Bible’s inspiration and authority must engage with its self-attesting nature as the Word of God. To say that Scripture is self-attesting is to affirm that it testifies to its own divine authority; it does... Continue Reading »
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