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The young paratrooper stood in the open door of the C-47 transport plane. Angry wind currents battered his army fatigues with the ferocity of a Category 5 hurricane. He paused momentarily, double-checked his static line, and leaped into the... Continue Reading »
In America, we love individual accomplishment. When discussing a team sport like basketball, the chat is more likely to be about the greatest player of all time (Kareem, Michael, or LeBron?) or the best individual statistics. We pride ourselves... Continue Reading »
Books: • Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism (Revised edition) (Crossway, 2021), edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem. This book has long been the gold standard in unpacking complementarianism from all perspectives — biblical,... Continue Reading »
We asked Hunter Baker, author of Postliberal Protestants: Baptists Between Obergefell and Christian Nationalism, a few questions about his recently published book. The Baptist Courier: Why did you write this book? Baker: I wrote my first book, The End... Continue Reading »
Church members fumble through the gospel trying to find the right words to explain what they know to be true, but they can’t express it clearly. Unbelievers have heard about Christians but don’t know how to define them. Sincere... Continue Reading »
We live in an age where steadfast faithfulness to biblical conviction increasingly exacts a social cost. Churches and entire denominations, feeling the mounting pressure of an increasingly secular culture, capitulate on fundamental doctrines and core teachings of the Christian... Continue Reading »
I’ve often liked guys better than girls. I’ve thought guys were cooler, and I felt like I could relate better to them. Growing up, I almost viewed being a girl as a negative thing. I never wanted to be... Continue Reading »
Psalm 121:1–2: “I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (CSB). I watched my mom, lovingly called “Bola,” take her last breath... Continue Reading »
Editors’ note: The following article is an adapted excerpt from Andrew T. Walker’s 2022 book, God and the Transgender Debate: What Does the Bible Actually Say about Gender Identity? (Good Book Company). Imagine yourself on a tour of an... Continue Reading »
After years of limiting gambling to the elusive dream of instant wealth by finding that lucky lottery ticket, the South Carolina Legislature is considering three bills that would transform our state into a gambler’s paradise. The Equine Advancement Act... Continue Reading »
I came across a viral clip a few years back where a faithful Baptist pastor was rebuking his congregation for minimal investment. They arrived late, left early, sat in the back, attended half the time, and treated church like... Continue Reading »
So, what do you think about the new Pope? That might be a common question these days, especially since the new Pope is an American. Last Thursday, May 8, 2025, thousands of people gathered to celebrate the appointment of... Continue Reading »
At the end of their Annual General Conference in April, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) announced the construction of 15 new temples, one of which will be built in Greenville. That announcement “was shocking” to... Continue Reading »
Recently I stumbled onto the work of artist Katerina Kamprani. She has a series of pieces titled “The Uncomfortable,” where she makes inconvenient versions of everyday objects. My favorites are the different chairs. I got a chuckle picturing someone... Continue Reading »
(Editor’s note: This piece is the second in a five-part series leading up to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Baptist Faith and Message at the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas.) Baptists seldom go through the... Continue Reading »
Waiting Isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life (Crossway, 2024) by Mark Vroegop Throughout our lives, we experience countless periods of waiting. Some moments are mere nuisances — others are daunting seasons... Continue Reading »
The Bible specifically states in both Testaments that human beings are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26, 27; 5:1, and 9:6; 1 Cor. 11:7; Col. 3:10; and James 3:9). Even though explicit statements concerning God’s image in... Continue Reading »
I was born and raised a true Floridian. I grew up around mangroves and seafood. Outwardly, I was known as the football player and the “guy who could break dance” in high school. But inwardly I experienced intense, debilitating... Continue Reading »
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 »
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