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New and Noteworthy Books — July 2026

God and Country: Upholding Faith, History, and National Identity (B&H Academic, 2026) by John D. Wilsey Is nationalism always a threat to Christian faith? In this timely work, Wilsey argues that nationalism is a complex phenomenon with varied expressions,... Continue Reading »

Your Online Pastor Is Not Really Your Pastor

As a church, we preached through 2 Corinthians during the 2025-2026 school year. Throughout the book, Paul defends his apostolicity and ministry in Corinth against false teachers whom he facetiously calls “super-apostles” (2 Cor. 11:5; 12:11). These super-apostles undermine... Continue Reading »

What the Bible Says About … Good Works

Martin Luther famously said, “Every week I preach justification by faith to my people because every week they forget it.” Even today, Christians easily drift into relying on their good works to make themselves acceptable before God. A clear... Continue Reading »

Should Christians Practice Their Faith in Public Office?

Recently, a man approached me with a three-fold statement regarding Christians who work for the government. The first argument was that those in public office were bound by the Constitution in a different way, primarily regarding the First Amendment.... Continue Reading »

Baptists and the Struggle for Religious Freedom (Part 4): After the Revolution

(Editors’ note: The following is the final installment of a four-part series devoted to the role of Baptists in the development of religious liberty in America in recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary.) The passage of the First Amendment,... Continue Reading »

Baptists and the Struggle for Religious Liberty (Part 3): Virginia Baptists Lead the Way

(Editors’ note: The following is Part 3 of a four-part series devoted to the role of Baptists in the development of religious liberty in America.) “This battle for religious liberty was fought and won largely by Virginia Baptists, but... Continue Reading »

Re-Consecrating Humans Through Worship in a Desecrated World

What does it mean to “do” church in a way that’s human? This is the question I found myself asking after reading Carl Trueman’s most recent book, The Desecration of Man. The Desecration of Man Trueman argues that we... Continue Reading »

Baptists and the Struggle for Religious Liberty (Part 2): Powder, Pen, Pulpit and Prayer

(Editors’ note: The following is Part 2 of a four-part series devoted to the role of Baptists, particularly South Carolinians, in the development of religious liberty in America. Additional pieces will run in recognition to the nation’s 250th anniversary.)... Continue Reading »

I’m a Christian Teenager. What Do I Say to My LGBT-Identifying Friends?

(Editors’ note: this article was originally published at Southern Equip) Whether at public school or in a workplace, we must equip teenagers to love their LGBT-identifying friends without sacrificing the truth. I’m a professor who is almost 40 years... Continue Reading »

Baptists and the Fiction of Christian Nationalism

So what is a Christian? In short, a Christian is a believer in the person and work of Christ. This means that a Christian has concluded in mind and conscience that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God... Continue Reading »

Spreading God’s Love Through Thousands of Handwritten Letters

It’s the simple gestures and acts of kindness that sometimes mean the most and can brighten someone’s day — like receiving a handwritten note in the mail. That’s what Allison Bond realized. But little did she know the impact... Continue Reading »

Better Together: The Unending Impact of a Typical Southern Baptist Church

If you want to get Mark Clifton talking, ask him about a church’s impact on its community and beyond. Want to see him find another gear? Call those churches “small.” “About 13,000 [Southern Baptist] churches last Sunday morning had... Continue Reading »

The Unreached People Group in Your Backyard: SCBaptists on Disability Ministry

Pastor Mike Thompson has a picture in mind for what the body of Christ should look like. It comes from the Parable of the Banquet Table, where a master sends his servant out to invite more and more people... Continue Reading »

Why Counseling Belongs in the Church

The Departure from Church-Based Soul Care For centuries, the church was regarded as the epicenter of personal care. Pastors and priests, using God’s Word, served as primary sources of wisdom, counsel, and confession for church members. In the early... Continue Reading »

Daily Bible Reading Plan July-December 2026

This daily Bible reading plan is provided courtesy of Crossway. (Note: Bible reading plan goes through the New Testament twice.) July-Dec 2026 Bible Reading

... Continue Reading »

America Will Be Great Again When It’s Good Again

1976 was one of my favorite childhood years. I was nine years old, and late that year the Lord began opening my spiritual eyes to my heart’s true condition — sin and self sat atop its throne, and I... Continue Reading »

What is the Confessional Responsibility of Baptists Regarding Female Pastors?

Baptists have a confessional responsibility. In line with this confessional responsibility is an agreement about cooperation in the calling of training ministers of the gospel and planting of churches at home and abroad. The specific issue about confessional identity... Continue Reading »

Grief Is Not an Enemy of Faith

(Editors’ note: This article originally appeared at The Gospel Coalition.) Just a few days after my grandfather died, I found a video cassette of our oldest son’s birth. I transferred the video to a digital file, and Corina and... Continue Reading »

Finding Faith That Leads to Hope from Habakkuk

Can you remember what your life was like before the iPhone? It was only 20 years ago, yet in the past two decades, culture change has shifted into overdrive. This constant change often makes the future seem dark, and... Continue Reading »

A Summer of Welcome: Ideas for Practicing Hospitality

One of my favorite things is when our house is full of people. I love hospitality because, over the years, the Lord has taught me it’s not about my house, cooking skills, or picture-perfect decor. Instead, biblical hospitality is... Continue Reading »

‘He Gets All the Glory’: Canes’ Slavin Reflects on Stanley Cup Win

When Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin finally wrapped his hands around the Stanley Cup and hoisted it over his head, he felt what every hockey player dreams about. “Pure excitement,” Slavin said nearly a week after the Hurricanes beat... Continue Reading »

Community: The Difference Between Addiction Relapse and Lifelong Change

It was a sunny Tuesday afternoon, November 2024. I was only three months into my new job when I had just finished our weekly Ladies Hangout, where homeless women would come for a shower and snacks. I put away... Continue Reading »

Hope for the Melancholy Preacher

(Editor’s note: This article was originally published at 9marks.org.) Joe thought he’d be a better preacher. Did you? I don’t mean he had pretensions to glory, necessarily. Just that, of the range of things he knew he’d have to... Continue Reading »

Half of U.S. Churches to Honor America’s 250th Anniversary, Lifeway Research Finds

As Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, half of pastors say their churches will join in the festivities. According to a Lifeway Research study, 50 percent of U.S. Protestant pastors believe their church should do something... Continue Reading »

Pressley Urges Southern Baptists to Walk Worthy of Gospel Calling

Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley urged messengers to live with doctrinal clarity, gospel conviction, humility, patience and unity, saying Southern Baptists must “walk worthy” of the calling they have received if they are to remain faithful to the... Continue Reading »

Hope for the Proud: How God Welcomes All Types of Repentant Sinners

Have you ever counted yourself out of the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 because you can’t relate to being the lost sheep? You admire God’s welcoming, loving heart toward the prodigal son, but you wonder if... Continue Reading »

The Tender Zeal of a Persevering Pastor

(Editors’ note: this article was originally published at The Pillar Network) If you’d asked me 20 years ago, I would have told you that you would be wasting your breath speaking to me on the subject of zeal. An... Continue Reading »

Graduates, Remember the Rich Young Man

(Editors’ note: This article was adapted from the commencement address at Bethlehem College and Seminary, originally published at Desiring God.) Fifty-five years ago this month, I was sitting in a seminary commencement service like this one, ready to receive... Continue Reading »

New and Noteworthy Books — June 2026

Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure (Crossway, 2026) by John Piper No one sins out of duty. We sin because it offers some promise of happiness. That promise enslaves us until we believe that God is more desirable... Continue Reading »

An Unlikely Case of Alcoholism Becomes a Case of Grace

Geraldo Ortiz grew up in a loving home. He went to work. He paid his bills. He seemed to be an unlikely candidate for alcoholism. But emotions are either dealt with or numbed. Ortiz lived in Puerto Rico until... Continue Reading »

What the Bible Says About … the Christian’s Hope

Christians often hear statements like, “I hope the car doesn’t run out of gas,” or “I hope he shows up for the appointment.” In everyday speech, “hope” carries no guarantee — it expresses a desire, not a certainty. So... Continue Reading »

Does the Church Keep Us Saved?

You could hear a pin drop if weren’t for the subtle sound of weeping from the pulpit. The room was on edge, waiting to hear a single word from the preacher. It was hard to breathe. The weight of... Continue Reading »

Discipled Every Sunday: The Priority of Corporate Worship in Christian Discipleship

(Editors’ note: this article was originally published at 9Marks)   For many Christians, corporate worship and discipleship appear to have little connection. Though it’s called corporate worship, many churchgoers think of it in individualistic terms—“Sure, there are other people... Continue Reading »

Clarifying a Contemporary Debate

(Editor’s note: This is Chapter 14 of an excerpt from What Is a Pastor?, recently released by Courier Publishing. To order, visit CourierPublishing.com.)   By Nate Akin To answer the question, “What is a pastor?” it’s helpful to set... Continue Reading »

Dear Graduate: Know Why God Made You

(Editors’ note: My son, Jake Robinson, graduates high school on May 22. He is the youngest of our four children and is the final Robinson child to bid farewell to high school and begin the tricky launch into adulthood.... Continue Reading »

What Do Catholics Believe About the Pope

Peter or Peter’s Confession? Imagine the scene—a group of rough-and-tumble guys living in first-century Palestine following another guy claiming to be the central figure of human history. Oh, to be a fly on some of those walls! One day,... Continue Reading »

Louisiana Pastor, Retired NASA Rocket Scientist Reflects on Moon Mission

As Artemis II completed its recent 10-day mission that included traveling to the far side of the moon, retired NASA rocket scientist Clifton Arnold reflected about his part in helping make the journey a success. “Seeing the takeoff, landing... Continue Reading »

New and Noteworthy Books — May 2026

The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving — Revised and Updated (Multnomah, 2012) by Randy Alcorn Alcorn introduced readers to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity with the release of the original The Treasure Principle... Continue Reading »

Sensory Engagement, Biblical Counseling, and God’s Design

Let’s start with a statement I think every Christian will agree with: God intends for us to use our five senses (sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing) to engage with him. I hope this is not controversial. Yet there are... Continue Reading »

‘Experiencing God’ Sequel Addresses Godly Habits

Richard Blackaby suggests pairing what he calls “godly habits” with daily routines. The firstborn son of Southern Baptist Convention elder statesman Henry Blackaby spoke May 18–20 at the Billy Graham Conference Center, two miles northeast of Asheville, about the... Continue Reading »

What the Bible Says About … Wealth

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 »

Cooperation Catechism: Why Be a Southern Baptist? 7 Questions & Answers That Succinctly State the Fundamentals of Our Cooperative Identity

(Editors’ note: This article was originally published at Christ Over All)   Like many parents throughout the centuries, we used catechisms to instruct our children in basic Christian doctrine. As a result of catechesis, our children were well-prepared to... Continue Reading »

Waiting Not Wasted Time

I assume I’m not alone when I say that I don’t like to wait. At the store, I’m the guy scanning for the shortest checkout line, only to somehow end up in the longest one. At a fast-food restaurant... Continue Reading »

What About a Pastor and His Pay? Take Care of Your Spiritual Leaders

In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes, “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). A few verses prior, Paul rhetorically asks, “Do... Continue Reading »

Does Scripture Require Tithing? Counter Point: No — Tithing Is Tied to the Old Covenant

Many think believers in Christ should tithe (defined as giving 10 percent of one’s income), and many use the language of “tithes and offerings” in worship services. Others are equally convinced tithing is not required for believers. Which view... Continue Reading »

Does Scripture Require Tithing? Point: Yes — the Bible Commands Us to Tithe

Does the Bible command Christians to tithe and, if so, is the baseline 10 percent as expressed in the Old Testament? I believe the answer is yes. The tithe is essential for holiness, vital for the ongoing work of... Continue Reading »

Spiritual Matters Missing From Many Churchgoers’ Conversations, According to Lifeway Research

While some Americans show up to church on Sunday morning, those in their lives Monday through Saturday may never hear about it. Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship revealed many U.S. Protestant churchgoers don’t see their faith as pervasive throughout... Continue Reading »

Kingdom Economics 101: Sell It All and Buy Christ

Nothing provides as clear and painful an X-ray of our hearts quite like money. The 2008 stock market crash and resulting recession demonstrated this notion shockingly: According to researchers in the UK, more than 10,000 people committed suicide after... Continue Reading »

Why It Might Be Good That Your Church Isn’t Growing

(Editors’ note: This article was originally published at 9Marks)   I hadn’t seen him in years. After small talk, he asked the question many pastors dread: “So, how big is your church?” If you pastor a small church, you... Continue Reading »

Recovering Titus 2: Keepers of the Home

What comes to mind when you think of a homemaker? Maybe it’s a 1950s housewife with bouffant hair and an apron, happily washing windows. Maybe it’s the modern social media “trad wife” baking sourdough in her prairie dress. While... Continue Reading »