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Where Circus and Church Meet: A Plea for the Sufficiency of Scripture

I struggled to keep a straight face when he asked me the question. I was a candidate for the pastorate of this Baptist church, one that was nearly 200 years old, one that had sprung up as a result... Continue Reading »

Supreme Court Decisions Support Parents and Religious Liberty

Our country continues to enjoy the legal and cultural benefits of the legacy President Trump created with three legitimate conservative-leaning additions to the Supreme Court during his first term. A flurry of 6-3 decisions and one 9-0 decision reached... Continue Reading »

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

“We lived our entire lives in New York and moved to South Carolina for a change. Five years later, it still isn’t quite what we hoped for. Our religious and social differences have made it hard to make friends,”... Continue Reading »

Call to Action: Two Bills in the Upcoming S.C. Legislative Session

As the rhythmic patterns of fall, family and church life return, I would like to ask you to act on two important legislative items coming in the 2026 session. The session officially begins the first week of January, but... Continue Reading »

Celebrating Ministry Partners

I keep a packed duffle bag on the top shelf of my closet so that I can be ready to go at a moment’s notice when a disaster occurs. In the past two decades, I have been a part... Continue Reading »

Is It Wise to Use Humor in the Pulpit?

In Charles Spurgeon’s day, ministry and merriment didn’t often mix. Evangelicals, particularly those of the Reformed variety, weren’t exactly known for their sense of humor. In his autobiography, Spurgeon quipped that the 12th commandment must have been, “Thou shalt... Continue Reading »

Cultural Engagement Calls for Christlike Qualities

Words mean things. This simple phrase didn’t originate with Rush Limbaugh, but he made it popular. Our current cultural moment is filled with what the Apostle Paul might call “a noisy gong or clanging symbol” (1 Cor. 13:1). Words... Continue Reading »

Celebrating a Free Church in a Free State

I would imagine that I am not the only SCBaptist who has unfinished projects around my home. This past Memorial Day, I checked one of those projects off when I installed a flagpole at our house that I purchased... Continue Reading »

The Wrath of God (Part 1)

Understandably, when Christians are asked to complete the sentence “God is ____,” virtually all will respond with “love” (1 John 4:8) rather than “a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). Yet, both are profoundly biblical — even essential to the Christian... Continue Reading »

The 2025 Legislative Session Comes to a Close

How will we remember the 2025 legislative session? On one hand, two significant, hard-fought and much-negotiated pieces of legislation made it to the governor’s desk. On the other hand, just 45 bills were enacted. That is a low number... Continue Reading »

‘What’s Your Name?’

“I like your dog,” I said to the gentleman walking his dog along the streets of Athens. “His name is Hercules. He walks slowly and teaches me patience,” he said. “What’s your name?” I asked. “Christos.” I told Christos... Continue Reading »

Four Ways to Be Involved in the SBC 2025 from Home

(Editor’s note: This was published in our June magazine prior to the SBC 2025 in Dallas.) On June 9–11, 2025, cooperating Southern Baptists from across the states will gather in Dallas, Texas, in our 180th year of Convention organization,... Continue Reading »