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During college, I served in several churches. I preached, taught, led discipleship groups, evangelized, and organized events — the kind of responsibilities one has when pastoring a church. After graduation, my wife and I headed to seminary so I... Continue Reading »
I was sitting in church on Easter morning, my second Easter since my beloved wife of 35 years, Kay, passed away from pancreatic cancer almost two years ago. I was thinking of the hope I continue to find in... Continue Reading »
We do not wait well. At least, I know I don’t. Far too often, my prayer, when it comes to patience, sounds like, “Lord, please make me patient … now!” Once when I was 13 years old, my curiosity... Continue Reading »
For many years now, I’ve asked students about their quiet time with the Lord. Frankly, many struggle with consistency, especially with prayer. Anecdotally, though, here’s what I’ve learned: The students who struggle least tend to have had parents who... Continue Reading »
How should a Christian wait when he or she prays fervently for specific things, but it seems like God — at least for now — is silent? I’ve struggled with writing this article — because I sense the pain... Continue Reading »
Editor’s Note: Today is the National Day of Prayer observance: “Pour Out to the God of Hope and Be Filled.” Most Americans pray, and many pray every day; but what do we pray about? Not surprisingly, according to Lifeway... Continue Reading »
I don’t like to wait. No, let’s be completely frank: I despise waiting. There is a certain highway in the city where I lived until recently that is notorious for traffic snarled for hours on both sides of rush... Continue Reading »
The National Day of Prayer will be Thursday, May 1. Christians all over the country will gather in or near courthouses, city squares and other central locations to cry to God for His blessing, forgiveness and leadership in their... Continue Reading »
Energy infused the worship center of West Edgecomb Baptist Church in Rocky Mount as the digital timer on the screen at front counted down the minutes. The congregation had reason to celebrate on Sunday, April 27. Five were baptized.... Continue Reading »
Barry Wilmore attended his first elders meeting in nearly a year at Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas, on April 10. His absence was understandable. Wilmore, known by many as “Butch,” had an unexpected extended stay at the International... Continue Reading »
An estimated 10 million more adults qualified as Bible users in January 2025 than in 2019, the American Bible Society said in its new State of the Bible release, but usage still lags behind pre-COVID-19 readership by 14 million... Continue Reading »
The first part of this piece argued that we should want the resurrection to be true because it means freedom from sin and new life in Christ. (Read Part One here.) What’s the second reason? Reason Two: If it’s... Continue Reading »
Is the Easter story true? Since the time of the gospels, every week and especially once a year, Christians gather to sing and worship the death-defeating Jesus of Nazareth. As then, through today, right now, all over the world... Continue Reading »
Sports gambling feeds on greed and thrives on the exploitation of the vulnerable, Baptist pastor and former college football coach RaShan Frost said. “The problem with sports gambling is that it intensifies covetous and idolatrous desires within our hearts,”... Continue Reading »
Editor’s note: This piece is the first in a five-part series in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Baptist Faith and Message. Nearly a century has passed since the Southern Baptist Convention adopted the Baptist Faith and Message... Continue Reading »
Impact Player: Leaving a Lasting Legacy On and Off the Field (Tyndale, 2012) by Bobby Richardson with David Thomas Former Yankee Bobby Richardson played alongside Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Whitey Ford, Joe Pepitone, and Yogi Berra during one of... Continue Reading »
Creation is empty in and of itself. It can’t heal a wounded heart. But in another sense, there’s a fullness that creation points to. Creation is a beautiful gift that can supplement our faith. Here are three ways that... Continue Reading »
Reaching & Teaching is based on a foundational conviction: that the Church is both the means and the end of the Great Commission. In other words, it is only as churches around the world are strengthened that true disciples... Continue Reading »
“There was just something in my brain that kept me going.” Those are the chilling words of Kavita Fisher, a 41-year-old mental health professional who struck it big in online gambling, winning close to $500,000. According to the Wall... Continue Reading »
It was a mildly chilly day in April when we got the call, “I’m taking myself to the hospital.” My grandmother had been in pain for a while, but she finally reached a breaking point. We held our breath... Continue Reading »
Chuck Kelley, president emeritus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College, spoke about his journey of grief after losing his beloved wife, Rhonda, in his first chapel message since his retirement. Kelley’s chapel address on Thursday (March... Continue Reading »
Many Christians have encountered seasons — perhaps even extended seasons — of doubt regarding assurance of salvation. These seasons can range from “annoying background distraction” to “all-consuming joy-robber.” Below are considerations regarding gospel-centered truth and beauty that may help... Continue Reading »
Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Fourth Edition (Crossway, 2021) by Mark Dever This is a revised and updated version of the classic work that God has used to revitalize so many unhealthy churches over the past 34 years.... Continue Reading »
Lent may be on the calendar, but it’s not on the radar of most Americans. A traditional 40-day window of fasting before Easter, Lent is observed by around a quarter of U.S. adults, according to a Lifeway Research study.... Continue Reading »
I am grateful for the upsurge in interest in church planting that began in the 1990s. In my own personal journey toward planting a church in 2017, Tim Keller’s article “Why Plant Churches?” had massive impact in whether we... Continue Reading »
We, the undersigned, are Southern Baptist pastors and leaders who love our family of churches and who are grateful for the hard-won complementarian commitments expressed in the Baptist Faith & Message (BF&M). A recent decision by the SBC Credentials... Continue Reading »
I walked into the sanctuary and beside the pulpit sat a Lazy Boy recliner. I thought, “That’s interesting … I wonder what the preacher will do with that today?” About halfway through his message, to make his point, he... Continue Reading »
Across the street from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Bowman stand five tiny houses filled with stories of heartache and tragedy. Pleasant Grove hopes to use the buildings to turn them into stories of hope and recovery. Eleven years... Continue Reading »
I’ve found that many Christians, post-conversion, tend toward legalism or antinomianism in their pursuit of sanctification. I’ve seen this trend both in churches I’ve pastored and in Christian friends. One woman grew up in a strict Reformed Baptist home.... Continue Reading »
For many years I wondered why Paul called preaching “foolishness” in 1 Corinthians 1:21. Preaching is the glorious means by which the Spirit saves and sanctifies sinners, the method by which the Lord builds His church. So how could... Continue Reading »
(This is part 2 of a 2-part series) Not every sin requires public discipline. As I’ve said elsewhere, my wife might privately rebuke me for selfishly eating all the ice cream. I might even continue in this pattern unrepentantly.... Continue Reading »
“You understand that the Bible is very clear on this, right? It’s wrong to leave your wife for another woman.” “I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t think you get how hard our marriage has been. I’m sure... Continue Reading »
Members of the 1936 U.S. Olympic Rowing team depicted in the movie “The Boys in the Boat” were able to accomplish far more than anyone expected because they discovered what can happen when you work together in perfect unity.... Continue Reading »
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has released a practical guide designed to help pastors and church leaders navigate difficult ministry scenarios regarding the growing problem of gambling. The guide, titled “Pay to Play: A Practical Guide to Addressing... Continue Reading »
South Carolina Baptist pastors and leaders converged at Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C., for a time of equipping and encouragement at IMPACT. Breaking records with 1,284 in attendance, IMPACT is the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s largest gathering of... Continue Reading »
This year, March 16 falls on a Sunday, and the North American Mission Board’s evangelism team is urging Southern Baptist churches to plan a special outreach on that day with a campaign: “3:16 on 3/16.” “John 3:16 has been... Continue Reading »
During Hurricane Helene last September, a giant pecan tree fell across our driveway, pinning our cars underneath, and like so many, we lost power for days. My wife’s health issues necessitate use of an oxygenator, which may well have... Continue Reading »
Love, both God’s love and human love for one another, is, hands down, the most popular teaching of the Bible in 2025. Yet, if we would read Scripture carefully, it is one of the most misunderstood doctrines of Scripture.... Continue Reading »
Spurgeon: A Life (Reformation Heritage, 2024) by Alex DiPrima Asking, “Do we really need another Spurgeon biography?” is like asking if we need another Bible commentary. As long as the biography is excellent, the answer is yes, and Alex... Continue Reading »
Several years ago, Dr. Pepper ran a commercial featuring a young man demonstrating the extent of his love for a young lady through several undesirable actions. In the first scene, he feels the embarrassment of picking up “unmentionables” from... Continue Reading »
“God Moves in a Mysterious Way” by William Cowper God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform; he plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines, of never-failing skill; he... Continue Reading »
Year after year, one common New Year’s resolution among Christians is to spend more time — or even any time at all — in God’s Word. However, for many, it’s hard to know where to start. Pastors want to... Continue Reading »
As a pastor of 17 years and now Lifeway’s president and CEO, Ben Mandrell has seen increasing loneliness and a decreased sense of belonging among Christians. This growing trend is one of the main reasons why Mandrell wrote his... Continue Reading »
Churchgoers may hear the Bible preached every Sunday, but their pastors also want them to engage with Scripture during the week. Almost all U.S. Protestant pastors (99 percent) say they encourage those in their church to read the Bible... Continue Reading »
Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View (Multnomah, 2004) by Garry Friesen Does God have a perfect will for each Christian? Can you be absolutely certain of God’s specific will for your... Continue Reading »
(Note on Read Through the Bible plan: Our plan, courtesy of our friends at Crossway, will take you through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. We are publishing the January to June reading schedule in this... Continue Reading »
In college, it seems every decision is a catastrophe — at least it is for those trying to decipher God’s will as if we’re Nicolas Cage in “National Treasure,” always looking for another clue. Two decisions that seemed catastrophic... Continue Reading »
I remember when I was a senior in high school and was gearing up to go to college to begin my pathway to becoming a heart surgeon. This had been a lifelong dream. No. Really. I had planned on... Continue Reading »
A few years ago, we were moving some things from my mother’s house, and I found a letter addressed to myself to be opened after 2016. Evidently, I wrote the letter in the summer of 1991 for a career... Continue Reading »
I vividly recall two pivotal conversations with pastors shortly after I surrendered to gospel ministry in the late-1990s. The conversations were pivotal because in them I was exposed to two divergent approaches to ministry and the Lord used them... Continue Reading »
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