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The Flavor of the Church

The holidays are a time of flavor. We walk into Grandma’s house on Thanksgiving or Christmas, and all the spices combine for amazing smells and delicious food — cinnamon, nutmeg, cranberry, butter, garlic, and much more. These are the... Continue Reading »

New and Noteworthy Books — December 2024

Ecclesiastes: Finding Meaning When Life Feels Meaningless (Crossway) (Bible study for women) by Lydia Brownback Ecclesiastes is a weird book. When I preached through it verse-by-verse a few years ago at my church in Louisville, I told my congregation... Continue Reading »

How Great a Gift Was (and Is) the Incarnation?

A story is told about William Randolph Hearst, the late newspaper publisher, who had invested a fortune in collecting great works of art. One day, he read about some valuable pieces of art and decided that he must add... Continue Reading »

Lifeway Students announces new series of games designed to fuel ministry, foster deeper friendships

Lifeway Christian Resources is launching its first-ever series of games by Lifeway Students, designed to deepen student ministry connections and conversations. “In this highly digital age that we live in, building authentic, meaningful friendships can be challenging, especially for... Continue Reading »

South Carolina Has Failing Grade on Parental Rights

If the title of this column surprises or shocks you, you are not alone. When I read the data provided by Alliance Defending Freedom, it amazed me how South Carolina law does not clearly define parental rights and offers... Continue Reading »

Acts 16:1-18:22 — On Mission

The gospel of Jesus Christ is for all nations and ethnic groups. God makes this truth clear throughout the book of Acts. Each chapter reveals the Holy Spirit ensuring that the apostles would be witnesses “to the end of... Continue Reading »

A Healthy Fear of Sin Vs. Living in Fear of Sinful Failure

I was recently posed a counseling-related scenario that forced me to think (which is always a good thing). If I’m putting the scenario into question form, it sounds something like this: “I have hurt my family through my selfish... Continue Reading »

Legal marijuana, psychedelic drugs, gambling unpopular with voters

All state ballot initiatives to legalize illicit drug use in the U.S. failed Nov. 5, and most gambling measures were also unpopular. But Nebraska approved the use of medical marijuana, and Missouri – the only state with a ballot... Continue Reading »

Florida joins South Dakota, Nebraska in defeating pro-abortion amendments

Florida became the first state to defeat a pro-abortion ballot initiative when voters on Tuesday (Nov. 5) rejected Amendment 4, which would have made abortion a constitutional right. Florida was one of 10 states with abortion initiatives on state... Continue Reading »

New and Noteworthy Books — November 2024

How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil (Baker) by D.A. Carson Personal tragedy and heartache. Accident, illness and infirmity. Drought, earthquake, tsunami. Terrorist atrocities. War, genocide, poverty, famine. All we have to do is live long enough,... Continue Reading »

Fastest-growing Southern Baptist congregation seeks to be ‘church of disciple-makers’

First Baptist Church was far from needing extensive revitalization when Wayne Bray arrived as pastor in 2015. But there had been a drip-drip of decline in the preceding years. The small-town church that had grown to 2,300 people in... Continue Reading »

Happy Reformation Day: 7 Reasons Pastors and Churches Still Need It

While most of the world will celebrate October 31 as Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve, some evangelicals will honor this day as Reformation Day. Why? On October 31, 1517, the soon-to-be great reformer Martin Luther nailed 95 theses—or debate... Continue Reading »

Pro-life medical professionals release ‘Women’s Healthcare Declaration’

A coalition of doctors, medical professionals and healthcare policy leaders are urging dignified care for women and calling for accurate information surrounding pregnancy, pregnancy complications and state laws. The Women’s Healthcare Declaration urges professional medical organizations, state health agencies,... Continue Reading »

New and Noteworthy Books — November 2024

Two Cities, Two Loves: Christian Responsibility in a Crumbling Culture (P&R) by James Montgomery Boice In A.D. 410, barbarian hordes attacked Rome, besieging it for months, ruthlessly sacking it and ultimately ending the Roman Empire. Losing the empire to... Continue Reading »

Americans Grow More Liberal on Moral Issues, More Concerned About Moral Values

Americans are growing increasingly progressive in several areas of morality while also growing increasingly concerned about the current state of moral values and pessimistic about the future. According to the latest Gallup survey on moral issues, U.S. adults are... Continue Reading »

How Should Christians Think About Voting?

We are living in an age when politics seems to occupy more and more of our minds and hearts. There is a simple reason for that. The government was once a much simpler kind of affair with a relatively... Continue Reading »

God and Politics: How Do You Shepherd the Flock During the Never-Ending Political Season?

I remember when astronauts landed on the moon. I listened to music on records, eight tracks, cassettes, CDs, and MP3 players. I put $5 worth of gas in the car and drove all weekend on it. I saw “Star... Continue Reading »

Acts 14-15: Through Many Tribulations

In his book Meditations, the ancient emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote that any hindrance to action could itself be the way forward. The modern Stoic Ryan Holiday, inspired by this idea, even entitled a book The Obstacle Is the Way.... Continue Reading »

Romans 13: Government is God’s Agent for an Orderly Society

The man standing in my office doorway assured me that Christians would, one day soon, go to war with the United States government and that it is grossly unbiblical for followers of Christ to submit to any government outside... Continue Reading »

Augustine’s City of God Brings Sound Wisdom to Our Civic Duties

In 410 A.D., barbarian king Alaric led an army of Visigoths into Rome, besieging the city and starving it into submission. His troops then sacked the city for three days. After eight centuries of world dominance, the Roman Empire... Continue Reading »

Searching for the Truth

“I’m not sure if I believe in a God. I just don’t believe a God would send someone to hell if they were raised another religion, live morally, and die. How could God allow an innocent baby to die... Continue Reading »

Special needs ministry resources available at sbc.net

A centralized list of resources to help churches minister to individuals with special needs is available at sbc.net and will be updated and printed in the 2025 Book of Reports as a service of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive... Continue Reading »

Small groups remain key aspect of churches’ discipleship ministry

Visiting a friend outside his hometown of Gloucester, England, in the late 1700s, Robert Raikes encountered children cursing, gambling and fighting in the streets. He was horrified, but a local woman told him it was even worse on Sundays,... Continue Reading »

How Do We View Prayer?

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turns his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. (Psalm 116:1–2) How we view prayer enormously... Continue Reading »

Where Was God on Sept. 11, 2001?

GOD WAS ON THE THRONE OF THE UNIVERSE, CONTROLLING ALL THINGS BY HIS METICULOUS PROVIDENCE DURING THE HOLOCAUST, 9/11 AND EVERY OTHER EVENT IN HUMAN HISTORY. In the days following the tragedy now simply labeled 9/11, the inevitable question... Continue Reading »

New and Noteworthy Books — September 2024

Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway) by Michael J. Kruger For many young adults, the college years are an exciting period of self discovery full of new relationships, new independence,... Continue Reading »

Saving Faith: ‘The One Thing I Could Not Do’

Hearing and seeing the word “faith” used to cause me much anxiety. Sometimes it still does. I spent countless hours trying to muster up faith. It didn’t work. I prayed for faith. I asked others to pray for me... Continue Reading »

Dear College Student: Doubting Doesn’t Make You a Bad Christian 

(This article is one installment in a six-part series helping Christian students think through how to prepare for life at a big university. This is the fifth thing that rising Christian college students need to know: “Doubting your faith... Continue Reading »

Doubting Our Faith: ‘Trust and Never Doubt’

“Trust and never doubt, Jesus will surely bring you out,” a catchy gospel chorus by Robert Ray, “He Never Failed Me Yet,” reassures. Yet, if we’re truly honest, when troubles and disappointments encroach our path, doubt in the goodness... Continue Reading »

If Christians Can Lose Their Salvation, We All Lose the Gospel

by JEFF ROBINSON, Editor I grew skeptical when he called it “an offer you can’t refuse.” Either this man was hiding something about the house he was trying to sell me, or his sales technique was deeply influenced... Continue Reading »

Thank You, Lord, for Tomorrow

When our children were young, it was fairly common for the youngest child to delight in saying the blessing before meals. When our youngest, Timothy, was 4 years old he often eagerly asked to say the blessing. His prayers... Continue Reading »

IMB directors publish Unreadable: Another Book You Probably Won’t Read

His body sways slightly with the stopping and starting of the metro. One hand grips the rail, and the other holds his phone. He’s watching a video on YouTube about the relevance of faith in today’s world and common... Continue Reading »

‘The Forge’ makes top 5 in box office debut, garners $6.6 million in ticket sales

The Kendrick brothers’ latest movie “The Forge” had a strong opening weekend at box offices nationwide, bringing in $6.6 million, according to reports. The film came in fifth overall in box office ticket sales between Aug. 23-25. The Forge... Continue Reading »

What 15 More Minutes of Prayer Will Do

I don’t typically talk about a minimum time of prayer we should pray each day. I’m more concerned that we pray than I am about how long we pray. At the same time, though, I suspect most of us... Continue Reading »

Q&A with Tony Wolfe, Author of A Deacon On Purpose

(Editor’s Note: Evan Knies, publisher at Courier Publishing, recently interviewed Tony Wolfe, executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, about his new book, A Deacon on Purpose, published by Courier Publishing.) Evan: What led you to work on... Continue Reading »

New and Noteworthy Books — August 2024

Criswell: His Life and Times (B&H) by O.S. Hawkins When the name W.A. Criswell is read or heard, certain thoughts come to mind. Many likely remember him as a president of the Southern Baptist Convention, or the founder of... Continue Reading »

Churchgoers may be overconfident in Old Testament knowledge

If you ask someone at church to name their favorite story from the Old Testament, they may mention Moses or Noah, but they might also talk about Jesus or Paul. Some may even begin describing a story from outside... Continue Reading »

Clayton’s Justified by Faith Offers Study on Book of Romans

In his third book with Courier Publishing, longtime pastor Ken Clayton offers a diligent study of the Book of Romans in Justified by Faith, similar to his early works on the Gospel of John and the Book of Daniel.... Continue Reading »

Grace and Truth: Life’s a Game of Inches, but God Controls the Inches

Less than one inch. That was the distance that separated former President Donald Trump from being struck in the temple by an assassin’s bullet on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pa. Had the gunman hit his intended... Continue Reading »

Q&A with Phil Newton, Author of Mending the Nets

(Editor’s Note: Evan Knies, publisher at Courier Publishing, recently interviewed Phil Newton about his new book, Mending the Nets, published by Courier Publishing. Newton co-authored the book with Rich Shadden.) Evan Knies: What led you to work on this... Continue Reading »

Prayer, fasting and the power of God

John Wesley took a dim view of pre-revival America, but he had a plan to change it. Wesley spent time in the colonies and reported, “I desired as many as could to join together in fasting and prayer, that... Continue Reading »

Grace and Truth: What’s Tone Got to do With It? Much Indeed (Part 2)

Five further insights on tone — continued from the May edition of The Baptist Courier. 6. SOFTEN YOUR LANGUAGE. Avoid harsh, judgmental language or attitudes. Avoid emotive language. Intentionally use gracious, non-combative words. Remember Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer... Continue Reading »

Law Amendment: Stand Where the World Stands Against Us

Over the last year the two of us have benefited from many conversations with friends on the upcoming vote for the Law Amendment at the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis. The constitutional amendment will require churches who seat messengers... Continue Reading »

New and Noteworthy Books — May 2024

The Life of an Associate Pastor: How God Used My Vocational Training to Prepare Me for Ministering to His Church (Founders Press, 2024) by Rick Davidson This new book on local church ministry is a unique resource; there simply... Continue Reading »

Finding Philemon: A Lesson of Forgiveness and Reconciliation 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God,” Jesus tells His followers in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:9). Like lambs among wolves, we’re enjoined by the “Prince of Peace” to be peacemakers, too,... Continue Reading »

Pastors, Teach and Model Civility

As William Wilberforce, the 18th and 19th century member of Parliament, fought for the abolition of slavery, he also led a “manners” crusade in England. He saw a direct correlation in the public arena between the way citizens treated... Continue Reading »

New and Noteworthy Books — April 2024

The Prayer That Turns the World Upside Down: The Lord’s Prayer as a Manifesto for Revolution (Thomas Nelson) by R. Albert Mohler Jr. “Our Father, who art in heaven … .” The opening words of the Lord’s Prayer have... Continue Reading »

Books Every Prayer Leader Should Read

Frederick Douglass was born a slave to an enslaved Black mother almost 50 years before slavery ended in America. School for slaves on the plantation was out of the question, so he learned to read when others helped him... Continue Reading »

Why Don’t We Pray? Look in the Mirror

Prayerlessness is a lack of faith in Christ “I will lift my eyes to the hills — from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:1-2, NKJV). Any time you... Continue Reading »

If God is Sovereign, Why Pray?

God commands that we pray John Calvin wrote some profound words about prayer: “It is very important for us to call upon him: First, that our hearts may be fired with a zealous and burning desire ever to seek,... Continue Reading »