Columnists

Filter by:

Learning to be Content

Have you ever been drawn into an infomercial or found yourself awed by the sales pitch of a social media influencer? Basically, someone you have never met before is telling you how miserable your life is without their product.... Continue Reading »

What the Bible Says About … Judging Others?

America’s favorite Bible verse seems to be Matthew 7:1, where our Lord says, “Judge not that you be not judged.” Yet Jesus also said in John 7:24, “Judge with a righteous judgment.” Are Christians called to judge? It may... Continue Reading »

The Reason God Gave Us Two Ears and Only One Mouth

Words are vital because God has spoken to us through words. When we are reading and meditating on His Word, what are we doing? We’re hearing from Him. When we listen to sermons, we are hearers of the Word... Continue Reading »

Unpacking What the Bible Says About Gambling

“Thou shalt not gamble.” Okay, now that I have your attention, there is no 11th commandment prohibiting gambling. Gambling — whether it involves wagering on your favorite sports team, dropping coins in a slot machine, or scratching off lottery... Continue Reading »

“Generation Timothy”

“Clear your schedule. You’re going with me on hospital visitation today.” When I had only been a student pastor for a week, my senior pastor, Steve, took me to do a visit in the hospital for one of our... Continue Reading »

“To Timothy”

If I had a dollar for every time Vanessa said, “Tony, you’re overthinking this,” I could personally fund a couple of IMB missionaries for several years. It’s just in my nature to think about things — everything — way... Continue Reading »

Praying for One Another

Wouldn’t it be encouraging if someone came to you today and said, “I just wanted to tell you that I haven’t stopped praying for you”? We could all use this type of support. This is exactly what Paul did... Continue Reading »

Where Did Church Discipline Go, and How Do You Figure It’s an Act of Love?

There was a time among Deep South Baptist churches when church discipline was no big deal — it was simply assumed to be a biblically appointed means of church purity and church health. There was no need to call... Continue Reading »

3… 2… 1… Happy New Year!

On New Year’s Eve, 1 million visitors flooded into Time Square hotels, neighboring blocks, and the immediate area awaiting the iconic ball drop. When the gates opened at 10 a.m., they flooded into the square to wait for 14... Continue Reading »

Devotion and Discipline: Are You Resolved?

We can learn the largest and loudest of life’s lessons from the smallest and quietest of God’s creatures. As a wide-eyed kid, I wanted to roar like a lion, stomp like an elephant, and tower like a giraffe. But... Continue Reading »

More Than a ‘Program,’ It’s Personal

Thank you, South Carolina Baptists, for allowing me the privilege to serve as your president this year. The cooperative work we do together as Southern Baptists has been a part of my life from my earliest childhood memories. I... Continue Reading »

Now Is the Time to Choose

Christmas is my favorite time of year … hands down. It’s the one season where we are encouraged to engage what Abraham Lincoln called our “better angels.” It is a season of love where we enter with awe into... Continue Reading »