Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Top ten SBC stories of the year

It's been a busy and encouraging year in our state and national Southern Baptist Convention. Reprinted below is an article by Baptist TwentyOne, recounting their "top ten" events of the year...

1. Missionary Work Overseas – It’s hard to imagine what it’d be like to grow up amongst a people and die without ever hearing the gospel. Yet, there are large numbers of peoples who still find themselves in this situation. That’s one of the key reasons that Southern Baptists continue to pool their monies and people together in order to reach these peoples and cultures. What’s it like to lead the first person from a completely unreached people group to Christ? Many have never done this. But, by God’s grace and great sacrifice by men and women, many more will have this experience. The nations need Jesus. In order to hear of Jesus, they need missionaries. That’s why their work is so significant to the SBC and the kingdom of Christ.
2. Changing Presidential Leadership – The significance of Southern Baptist entity heads is often under-appreciated. The decisions that these men make impact massive amounts of people for good or for ill. Southern Baptists are at a critical point in time with three key presidencies opening up. The Executive Committee, NAMB, and IMB presidencies are all open or opening soon. B21 is praying and asking you to pray for the men who will fill these positions. Placing the right men at the head of these entities will do much to advance the Great Commission.
3. Dr. Danny Akin’s GCR Sermon – Whether you’re talking about Dr. Danny Akin’s passion, his preaching, or, simply, his love for the Great Commission, it would be misguided not to mention his work in 2009 as one of the most significant stories. Standing behind the pulpit in SEBTS’s chapel, Akin delivered what would become a great rallying point (and point of controversy) in his GCR Axiom sermon. Clearly coming from a heart for nations, Akin set in motion a movement (or gave it a BIG push) that would change 2009 and, by God’s grace, the way SBC approaches the Great Commission.
4. Increased SBC Unity – By almost all accounts, there seems to be a growing unity in the SBC. That is, we are more unified today than we have been in past years. What this means or implies is up for some debate. Yet, B21 thinks that there is a growing unity around the Great Commission. For instance, at the B21 event at the SBC, the panelists came from all kinds of theological and methodological stripes. Yet, these men were unified around the Great Commission and the BF&M. Still more, the lunch for the 600 attendees was provided personally by SBC President, Johnny Hunt (a man that has embodied unity around the Great Commission as much, if not more, than anyone).  Hunt, as many know, would disagree in many ways with the panelists. Yet, because of its Great Commission purposes, he supported the B21 panel. In fact, B21 believes that the unity that Southern Baptists presently enjoy, in large part, is due to the excellent leadership of Johnny Hunt. With men like Hunt leading the way, Southern Baptists have a lot to hope for in the coming days.
5. Union University’s “Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism” – Dr. David Dockery has, amongst other things, turned Union University into one of the leading think tanks for Baptist life. Like in his past conferences, Dockery put together a line up that included the most significant and helpful voices in Baptist life. And they didn’t disappoint. Southern Baptists owe a debt of gratitude to David Dockery for putting this conference together, the effects of which we are still enjoying.
6. Higher Attendance at SBC Louisville – Okay, so it didn’t hurt that the SBC was in a town filled with young people and in the heart of the church-saturated part of the country. But, we’d argue, it is still quite an achievement to get that many people in this kind of economy to attend the SBC. Even if the economy wasn’t in the shape that it was (and is), it’s still hard to get people to spend their time at a convention. Come on, there are Southern Baptist associational meetings that know how difficult it is to get people to participate. The numbers at the 2009 SBC pointed to great life and health. It pointed, perhaps, to a resurgence in Great Commission engagement in the SBC. It will be interesting to see how many show up in Orlando.
7. Cancer Classroom – Several prominent Southern Baptists found out that they had cancer this year. This, of course, is terrible news. But, by God’s grace, these men who have taught the church so excellently in their preaching ministries are now teaching the church in a different way. They’re showing the church how godly men suffer. Johnny Hunt and Matt Chandler, to name a couple, continue to battle cancer. They continue to teach us of Christ. Pray for these men and that their cancer will provide great opportunity to advance the kingdom of Christ.
8. Christmas in August – After the heart wrenching news of the IMB financial shortfall, causing them to stop sending “M’s”, Southern Baptists responded to calls from Hunt, Akin, and others to take a special Lottie Moon Christmas offering in August. Thus, the “Christmas in August” movement was born. It’s this kind of responsiveness in which B21 finds great encouragement.
9. SBTS’s Sesquiencentennial – Southern Baptist Theological Seminary celebrated its 150th Anniversary. This is even more significant in light of an economic situation that’s included the closing of several schools’ doors. SBTS survived the Great Depression, Liberalism, and is currently thriving under the excellent leadership of Dr. Albert Mohler. Their story is amazing and a testimony to God’s grace. SBTS professor, Greg Wills, masterfully tells the story in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 1859-2009. We’re praying for at least 150 more!!
10. GCR Task Force – There aren’t many things that you can get 95% of Southern Baptists to agree on. Clothing style? No. Worship style? No. GCR? Yes! When Southern Baptists were given the opportunity to affirm or deny the formulation of a Great Commission Task Force, they overwhelmingly voted for it. Thus, President Hunt put together a 23 member, GCR task force. The task? They are to examine the Southern Baptist entities and structure in order to bring an assessment to the 2010 SBC in Orlando. Everybody is looking forward to this report. They need our prayers. Sign up to pray here.

Friday, December 25, 2009

A very strange nativity scene




Are we the only ones who find this nativity scene strange? That looks a lot like a mosque behind the stable. But the Muslims didn't exist for another 600 years. This came from a picture story book in the Playmobil Nativity Set. It's a really cool set, but this is a very strange picture.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Tears of the saints

We showed this video during last Saturday's Christmas Mission Banquet. The need for the gospel in our world is absolutely staggering. May God use us to rescue the lost and declare His glory among the nations.




Monday, December 21, 2009

Redeeming the time in ministry


The end of the year is always a great time to pause, reflect, and consider how you are using the time, talents, and treasure God has given you.

For us pastors, there are endless demands, and if we're not careful, we can become driven by the tyranny of the urgent. The "best" can be sacrificed on the altar of the "good." Here's a list of questions I'm asking as I take time to audit my schedule and ministry duties:
  • What does the Bible dictate as my main priorities?
  • What does the Bible say about stewardship of time?
  • What tools can help me to be more productive?
  • What are my strengths?
  • How can I sharpen and develop these for maximum use?
  • What are my weaknesses?
  • Are these things I need to delegate to others, or take time to improve?
  • What are the necessities in life? The absolute non-negotiables?
  • What activities are moderately beneficial?
  • Which activities have the lowest cost-benefit ratio?
  • What are the greatest time-wasters in my life – the time and energy ‘vampires’ in my life?
  • What buffers do I need to put in place to avoid the tyranny of the urgent?
  • Which activities have the highest cost-benefit ratio?
  • If God gave me 50 more years on this earth, what would be my life goals and dreams?
  • What are practical steps to achieve these goals?
  • What do I want to learn about?
  • What do I want to read?
  • What is a realistic schedule to keep to attain these goals – daily, weekly, monthly, annually?
  • Where can I cut corners, better multitask, and become more efficient?
  • Where do I need to slow down, use greater attention and precision?
  • What is my plan?
  • What people serve as an example of effective use of time?
  • What kind of accountability do I need to put in place to do these things?

All of these need to be answered with humility, in the spirit of James 4:13-17.

Last week I read through an old paperback called How to Save Time in the Ministry, by Leslie B. Flynn. Quoting one Christian executive, Flynn writes, "Pruning away unnecessary and unprofitable activities, like canceling subscriptions to some popular magazines and resigning positions in some organizations, seems advisable action to take once a year, and should be ruthless" (p. 44). That is exactly what I'm in the process of doing right now.

How to Save Time is a helpful book on time management, particularly for pastors like myself. His chapters address issues like the value of time, the importance of delegation, planning ahead, short and long-term scheduling, developing efficiency, starting earlier, punctuality and the need for rest. If I could suggest one improvement, it would be for the author to expand his biblical theology of time. It's obvious Flynn has done his homework on the subject. The book is brimming with rich anecdotes on time management, but he devotes very little attention to explain what the Bible actually has to say about time (pp. 10-14).

Most amusing was Flynn's description of the "cutting edge" technology available during the 1960s: "[The preacher] should investigate new methods in office equipment, including dictating machines, intercom devices, and copying machines...addressograph, folding machine, electric typewriters, Thermo-Fax copy machine, paper cutter, automatic sealing and stamping meter, tape recorder, adding machine, Kardex files, and for the larger church an electric bookkeeping machine" (pp. 52-54).

My, how computers, cell phones, and the internet have changed our lives! I feel rather spoiled and convicted, that to whom more has been given, more is going to be required! Entering 2010, we have unprecedented technology at our fingertips. Are we maximizing these tools for God's glory, or are we frittering away the precious time we supposedly save through new gadgets?

This has been a very helpful and thought-provoking little book. I picked up 5-10 tips that may really improve my use of time. Next, I'm going to tackle David Allen's book Getting Things Done.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

A very unique commentary on sale today

Today's Logos Christmas Special is the Commentary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Co-edited by G.K. Beale and D.A. Carson, the authors have painstakingly exegeted every Old Testament quote mentioned in the New Testament, giving a brief summary of its original Hebrew context, Jewish interpretation, and New Testament meaning. There is simply nothing else quite like it in evangelical scholarship.

I bought this volume in regular book format a year ago, so I'm not going to spend another $25 for the Logos version, but if you don't own it yet, get it!
Posted: 19 Dec 2009 12:01 AM PST

Retail $59.99
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Readers of the New Testament often encounter quotes or allusions to the Old Testament that may be unfamiliar or obscure. In this volume, G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson have brought together a distinguished team of scholars to isolate, catalog, and comment on both the obvious Old Testament quotations and the more subtle allusions found in the New Testament. The result is a comprehensive commentary on the Old Testament references that appear from Matthew through Revelation. It is a vital resource for the reference library of every student of the New Testament.
Learn more about Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament or buy it now.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Witch doctors and miracles

The International Missions Board has an amazing story today out of North Africa. Here's an excerpt.
Hospital doctors discovered that Ali had a perforated colon — an extremely rare condition in younger men without trauma or previous infection, and Ali had neither. Castle couldn’t explain how it happened, but Ali had a theory: He believed his illness was the product of a curse placed on him by an Islamic witch doctor. Things got worse after the surgery...
You can read the exciting conclusion of this story here.

I am not a charismatic. I believe the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit (i.e. tongues, prophecy, miracles, healing) ceased by the end of the first century AD for several reasons: (1) the purpose of these gifts was revelatory and to authenticate the apostle's ministry (2 Cor. 12:12). (2) Paul said these gifts would go away (1 Cor. 13:10). (3) the later years of the New Testament already seem to indicate the sign gifts were fading out (e.g. Phil. 2:27; 1 Tim. 5:23).

But that does not mean cessationists like myself deny the reality of miracles. I have never heard a cessationist say miracles do not happen. Our Almighty God can and does still perform miracles according to His Sovereign will and even sometimes in direct answer to our prayers. But note, the story above and other joyous incidents around the world are something quite different from the apostolic gift of healing, where for example Paul was performing extraordinary miracles in Acts 19:11-12.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

IVP collection on sale in Logos

Logos Bible Software has been running Christmas specials over the past week, and this is the best one I've seen so far. I own version 2.0, so I won't be paying the money for the upgrade, but for those who don't have it, it's a great set.

I find myself using several of these books regularly, such as Hard Sayings, New Bible Atlas, New Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, Bible Background Commentary, and the four Pocket Dictionaries. These are great tools and do not overlap much with the base packages
Day 9 - The Essential IVP Reference Collection Version 3

Posted: 17 Dec 2009 12:01 AM PST

Retail $190.00
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“I cannot imagine that there is another CD-ROM in the world offering as much accredited help to the serious Bible student as you find in The Essential IVP Reference Collection. Up-to-the-minute academically, lucid, lively and sometimes provocative, it is a truly magnificent resource. And think of the money it saves– shelf space too!”
— J. I. Packer
The Essential IVP Reference Collection 3.0 includes works from the best of today’s biblical and theological scholars—including dictionaries covering biblical studies, the study of New Testament Greek, theological terms, and apologetics and the philosophy of religion.
Titles included:

  • Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels
  • Dictionary of Paul and His Letters
  • Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments
  • Dictionary of New Testament Background
  • IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
  • IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament
  • New Bible Dictionary
  • New Bible Commentary
  • Hard Sayings of the Bible
  • The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
  • New Bible Atlas
  • New Dictionary of Biblical Theology
  • New Dictionary of Theology
  • Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek
  • Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics and Philosophy of Religion
  • Pocket Dictionary of Biblical Studies
  • Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms
  • King James Bible
Learn more about The Essential IVP Reference Collection Version 3 or buy it now.


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Update from Ronnie Floyd

Here's an update from Pastor Ronnie Floyd, chairman of the GCR Task Force:

The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force of the Southern Baptist Convention is very committed to communicating our report in the February 22-23 Executive Committee Meeting. It is our goal to communicate as much of our report as possible. We want each Southern Baptist to have time to understand, pray about, and hopefully embrace our recommendations. This is why we are delivering as much of our report as possible by this February meeting.

Our GCR Team has worked very hard. Our meetings have been tedious and long. Our emails and correspondence have been ever consuming. We have listened and listened to Southern Baptists. We have learned so much. Due diligence has been practiced in every way. While all of this is true, it has been an incredible joy to serve in this capacity.

There is an ever-increasing excitement about what we are going to share with our convention. We are very committed to seeing and experiencing this Great Commission Resurgence. Please remember to join us in prayer daily, and encourage others to commit to pray with us at www.pray4gcr.com.

The urgency is upon us. Lostness in the world abounds. The gospel is the answer. The time is now.

Pray for us as we prepare for this February.

Dr. Ronnie Floyd
Chairman, Great Commission Resurgence Task Force

Friday, December 11, 2009

A positive report from Afghanistan

Here's a refreshing article from one of our Navy Physicians that shows how average people in Afghanistan are being helped by the presence of American troops. The mainstream media really needs to pick up some of these positive reports and give a more balanced perspective on this war.
Yesterday was an altogether wholesome and satisfying day. It always feels good to give or provide services to those with so little. At the end of a day it is a very good feeling when I can say that Afghanistan is better off because of what we did today...

...With the help of the prison mentor staff, we started immunizing the women incarcerated there. After a short orientation time of observation and teaching, our Afghan medic friend gave immunizations with us.We also immunized their children, since they stay with the mother during her time in prison. Based on previous experiences we decided this was the best population to start with so that they did not get "forgotten".

The women were all pleasant and for the most part very cooperative. Their area was new and clean, although it did lack heat. The children were cute and captivating. Thankfully I remembered to bring some Shiryni (sweets or candy) to give them for after they braved their vaccines. We left the medic enough supplies of all types to immunize the rest of the population and staff. I think this was a good call, since rather than doing the whole thing ourselves, we taught, coached and provided the means for the staff to complete the task themselves.
HT: OPFOR

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Photos of Bible manners and customs

This looks like an outstanding resource, announced in Todd Bolen's latest BiblePlaces newsletter...

The Traditional Life and Customs photos...have long defined the entire [American Colony photo] collection for me. When someone would ask what I was working on, I'd smile and tell them about the photos in this set. If nothing else, the American Colony collection had to see the light of day because these were photos that I could never take myself, in any shape or form. With Jerusalem, you can still get a photo of the Kidron Valley, even if it is covered with buildings. But the only fishermen I see today on the Sea of Galilee are in motorboats and they are wearing plastic green coveralls. I have trouble imagining Jesus and the disciples with this picture.

Shepherds still roam the Judean hills with their flocks, but I hesitate to include them in any photo because they're wearing a windbreaker and Levis. The grain harvest usually includes a combine, and cooking is over an electric stove. When a locust plague threatens, the authorities are quick to react to prevent the insects from devouring the crops. That's good for the farmers, but bad for the photographers. This new volume has all of this and much more...

Just what does Traditional Life and Customs include?

Agricultural Life: Plowing, Sowing, Water, Vineyards, Locust Plague, Grain Harvest and Olive Harvest (185 photos total)

Biblical Stories: Christmas, Ruth, and Psalm 23 (75 photos total)

Psalm 23:2

Home Life: Food Preparation, Women at Work, and Weddings (100 photos total)

Religious Life: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Samaritan (110 photos total)

Work Life: Clothes Making, Fishing, Pottery Making, Shepherds, Trades, and Travel (150 photos total)

Quotations: We have scoured the reports of travelers in the 19th century for the most interesting and helpful descriptions of these scenes. Even if you didn't have the photos, your understanding and appreciation for traditional ways would be greatly increased by these quotations!

We dare you not to love this collection. (Note: We are not easily excited.)

You can purchase it online for $20, with free shipping in the US.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Boxer puppies for sale

My in-laws breed boxers and just had two litters of beautiful new puppies. Our kids got to play with them over Thanksgiving.

These 7-week-old puppies are AKC, have had their first shots, and are now for sale. The flashy reverse brindle male is already sold. There are 6 female and 4 male still available. If you know of anyone interested, please call (559) 903-2569. My in-laws live in central California, near Fresno.

Here are some pictures of the little pups:



The SBC in 5 years

As a follow-up to yesterday's post, here are some thoughts by J.D. Greear on what the SBC may look like 5 years from now...

I serve on the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Our responsibility is to offer guidance as to how the cooperative efforts of like-minded churches can thrive in the next generation. People often note (correctly) that "denominations" are not in the Bible. That is true, but cooperation is biblical, and "conventions" are a way like-minded Christians can cooperate together. As Jesus taught, we can do much more when all the parts of the body is working together than we can do alone.

I was recently asked, in a discussion panel, what I hope the SBC looks like in 5 years. It was a good question, and here is what my answer is:

  • I want to see a Convention where initiative is restored to the local churches. Good parachurch ministries FACILITATE the ministry of the church. BAD parachurch takes ministry from a local church and does it for her. Bad parachurch says, "Give us money and people and we'll do ministry for you."

    In my opinion, the SBC has, in many places, descended into a “bad parachurch” model. The perception is that local churches should give, send people, and allow the institutions to do the work.

    Many pastors, particularly younger ones, are no longer content with that model. They believe that the Great Commission was given to them, not to the denomination. They want to use cooperative networks to plant churches, but they don’t want the networks to do the work for them.

  • I see a convention that is defined by, and known for, cooperation in international and domestic church planting, not boycotts or politics.

    I also want to see us give our time and energies mostly to things inside our 'core competencies.' Our church does not believe that everything we do has to have its genesis in a Southern Baptist church or institution. A lot of the "non-Baptist" body of Christ has produced helpful literature and ministry resource we should use and not attempt to re-invent.

    The one thing that we do best with other "Baptist" churches is plant churches.

    Whenever a "corporation" gets away from its core competencies, it turns into a hairball of inefficiency. Things that don't propel the mission of the SBC, things that just don't work, or things that are done just as well by other parts of the body of Christ ought to be carefully examined, and be open to re-engineering or elimination.

    It's not that any of these things are bad things, it's just that they keep us from doing efficiently the 'one' thing that we come together for.

Obviously, that is not a full and exhaustive description, but these are at the core of what I hope to see in the SBC of the future.

I'm encouraged when I see that members of the GCR Task Force are thinking in these kinds of terms.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Charting a course for the SBC

In his recent President's Address, Walter Price called for Californian Southern Baptists to seek a radical "new way of doing cooperation" that will streamline our resources and narrow our focus on missions, education, and mercy. These are the three areas where Southern Baptists can accomplish more together than we can individually.

Recently, Bruce Ashford and Danny Akin wrote a series of posts called "The 21st Century SBC." It's the best summary I've seen so far of where the SBC probably needs to head if it is to regain effectiveness and attract a younger generation of leaders. Here's an excerpt which gives specific examples of what the "new normal" may look like...

Through four centuries of history, Baptists have displayed a remarkable continuity in doctrine and practice. With historic Christianity, we have confessed that God is Triune, that his Son is fully God and fully man, that salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone, and that the Scriptures are the very words of God. In addition, we have held that the church is regenerate in its membership, autonomous under the headship of Christ, and free from state control. These last three distinctives relate to the doctrine of the church. Baptists have always been serious about church and specifically about the local church. It is through his churches that Christ disciples his children, directs his mission to the lost, demonstrates his glory to a watching world, and extends his kingdom.

What does this mean for the Southern Baptist Convention? The SBC was formed as a network of local churches who partnered together for the sake of mission. In the last 50 years, however, she has become more and more of a denominational bureaucracy. We must help our denomination return to her roots. The SBC of the twenty-first century must be a missional network, just as the churches of Acts were a missional network. Our focus must be the gospel, and our means of cooperation must be primarily “churches partnering for the sake of mission.” Thom Rainer has urged our churches to simplify and streamline so as to maximize their effectiveness, and we think that this applies to our convention as well. The roadmap for revisioning the SBC, as well as any institution or entity within the SBC, will always involve two ideas: local church and missional cooperation.

What then will the Southern Baptist Convention look like if we re-vision it for the 21st century? That is, of course, a very difficult question to answer, a question that exceeds our abilities of and the scope of this post. However, we can point out the broad contours of what it might look like, and raise some pertinent questions along the way. One issue that we might examine is our name. We are the Southern Baptist Convention, but “Southern” neither describes who we are or who we want to be. Perhaps we should modify our nomenclature to better describe our nature as a transregional network of churches. A second issue that our churches might agree upon is that the Cooperative Program needs to be continually re-examined to make sure that it is serving the churches in the best way possible. One of the great motivators during the Conservative Resurgence was the fact that 60 cents of every dollar went to a moderate/liberal bureaucracy. One of the great motivators for a Great Commission Resurgence is the fact that often 60 cents or more of every dollar never leaves the state and often goes to bureaucracies that spend not nearly enough of it on missions and church planting (regardless of whether it is North American or international missions).

What are some challenges ahead for the seminaries? One challenge the seminaries face is how to locate as much of our education as possible in the local church. Is there a reason not to return certain courses of study, such as pastoral ministries, to their native environment in the local church? Another challenge we might face is how to provide the most affordable seminary education. Are there ways we can streamline our institutions? A third challenge is for the seminaries to reject the temptation to be divisively competitive and instead commit to being a network of truly cooperative campuses. Such a network could, for example, provide a combination of on-campus and distance education to international missionaries in a way more beneficial that what is offered presently. A final challenge is for the seminaries to remain vigilant to ensure that our professors are doing theology primarily for the church and secondarily for the academy.

What are some challenges ahead for the International Mission Board? The International Mission Board has taken major steps to re-organize for its 21st century mission. One challenge for the IMB is how to continue to restore mission initiative to the local church, just as our churches must repent for ceding all mission responsibility to the IMB. Local churches must become Great Commission churches who recruit, disciple, and support their members as they go on mission. They must stop recommending candidates who are unfit (morally, spiritually, or otherwise) for the field, and must stop sending candidates to the field while never really intending to support them. Further, our churches must realize that the IMB is not the true “sender” of missionaries. The local church is. Churches send missionaries. Some churches will be able to call from their midst a team of church planters and handle all of the discipleship and team dynamics as they go to the field. The IMB provides oversight, further training, and strategy. Other churches may send only one member to the field, in which case they may partner with other churches in putting together a team to reach a particular people group, and to hold that team accountable. Regardless, we must work hard to help our churches blossom into Great Commission churches.

What are some challenges ahead for the North American Mission Board and the State Conventions? It is the charge of both the NAMB and the state conventions to reach the United States of America with the gospel. How might they partner together in order to serve the church and further the church’s mission in a 21st century context? A detailed answer to this eludes our grasp, but some things are certain. The state conventions must have a renewed focus on church planting and renewal, and NAMB must be a handmaiden who provides resources for that task. Unless there are major changes in the state conventions and at the NAMB, it is doubtful that younger pastors will give their money to the CP or seek the resources of the NAMB. They will bypass the CP and give straight to Lottie Moon, if they give at all, and they will seek church planting advice and training from sources other than the NAMB and the state conventions. This type of bypassing has already begun to take place, and at a rapid rate.

Our state conventions must streamline and focus themselves. They must get rid of whatever unnecessary bureaucracy exists and focus their energies on church planting and church renewal. If they refuse, they will be forced to reduce their budgets drastically because a younger generation of churches will not give to the state conventions merely out of a sense of loyalty. Likewise, the NAMB has its work cut out as it adjusts to the 21st century context. Many of our younger church planters are bypassing the NAMB for other church planting networks and resource centers. In terms of resource-access, these networks have become functional substitutes for the state conventions and for the NAMB. Perhaps a revisioning of the NAMB-state convention relationship would look something like this: The state conventions reorganize, streamlining their operations so that at least 50% of it goes to the national convention, while at least 30% of the in-state remainder goes to in-state church planting and renewal. At the same time the NAMB reorganizes, ceasing to become a mission-funding organization and instead becoming a small, sleek, and efficient group of church planting and renewal consultants who provide resources for the state conventions (as the state conventions focus primarily church planting and renewal themselves). This is a radical suggestion, for sure, but radical ideas are needed for our future effectiveness. All options need to be put on the table for careful and deliberate consideration.

What will be the role of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in a 21st century context? Southern Baptist churches have long been involved in public square issues, and the ERLC was formed to serve our local churches in that facet. Three challenges in particular lie ahead for the ERLC as it serves our churches in the 21st century. First, the ERLC, alongside of our churches, must stand strong in the midst of an increasingly relativistic culture. Nowhere is such relativism more evident than the controversies surrounding life, death, and sexuality. Second, it must seek to bear witness to the gospel, and to the implications of the gospel for our society and culture, in a way that is gracious, prophetic, and compelling. It must be prophetic in its willingness to point out evil and its consequences. It must be gracious, or else it will contradict the very message of grace. And it must be compelling, seeking to win and persuade our society to what is true and good. Finally, we must not tie ourselves to any one political party, because to do so would distort and domesticate the gospel: “Inappropriate is the only adequate term,” writes Paige Patterson, “to describe purely partisan politics or the use of the pulpit to endorse personalities running for political office.” Likewise, I (Danny Akin) have argued: “Our hope is not in Republicans or Democrats, Congress or Capitol Hill. Our hope, the world’s hope, is in Calvary’s hill and a crucified and risen Savior…." The gospel cannot be domesticated to fit the agenda of any one worldly political party.

What are some of the challenges facing local associations in upcoming years? In the years of horse-drawn buggies, local associations provided resources for pastors who could not travel to the state convention offices for assistance. In the ensuing years, local associations have also become facilitators of fellowship for pastors in the local associations. For some churches, their closest ties are to their local association. In the 21st century, however, many pastors and churches are able easily to find resources outside of the local association and look for fellowship based on affinity as much as geography. In light of the present situation, perhaps we will see local churches choosing their associations rather than having their associations chosen for them. In addition to county seat-based associations, will we see the creation of voluntary, affinity-based associations, formed for the sake of mission? This would give local churches the freedom to align with an association that best fits their needs, or to align with multiple associations. One could easily see a larger church that is part of a national megachurch network (that ministered to the unique needs of larger churches) as well as a local association with churches of all sizes (that is focusing on planting churches in a tri-county area, for example). The upshot of this discussion is that local associations, like state conventions and national entities, exist to serve the local church and further her mission.

The original article with footnotes can be read here and here.

I'm sure the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force will deal with some of these very issues in their report next June, but it's good to start thinking about them even now.

Related posts:

Monday, December 7, 2009

A technology revolution

Travin Wax has an interesting article today on technology and how it has changed our world. His examples show how the internet and social media have affected pop culture, politics, business, and religion.

His closing remarks:
We are living in the midst of a communications revolution. The only comparison that can be made is the invention of the printing press. Last time there was a communications revolution, a Reformation of the church took place. Will we see the new technology harnessed for the glory of God this time around?
I believe pastors and churches must strike a balance between embracing new technology while not putting our faith in it. We would be foolish to bury our heads in the sand and miss out on the opportunities technology provides, but we shouldn't become mesmerized by it.

Technology has connected our world in unimaginable ways, but on a spiritual level there's really nothing new under the sun. The deepest aspects of this world have remained constant: the nature of God, the depravity of man, the power of the Gospel, the role of the Spirit in conversion, the value of preaching, the need for prayer, the glory of the church, and the ruthless opposition of our Enemy. Our technology revolution has not changed these things in the slightest.

Related post:

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Pastoring a small church

Urban, suburban, and rural. These are the three basic categories of communities in America.

Mega-churches tend to focus on and thrive in the middle category. Tim Keller has often emphasized the strategic importance of the first category. But earlier this week, he lit up the blogosphere with a post endorsing the last category - the rural community.

Keller says one of the best experiences for young pastors to seek is to pastor a small church:
Young pastors or seminarians often ask me for advice on what kind of early ministry experience to seek in order to best grow in skill and wisdom as a pastor. They often are surprised when I tell them to consider being a 'country parson' -- namely, the solo pastor of a small church, many or most of which are in non-urban settings...

...Young pastors should not turn up their noses at such places, where they may learn the full spectrum of ministry tasks and skills as they will not in a large church.
Then he adds this very important clarification:
Nor should they go to small communities looking at them merely as stepping stones in a career.
Our town of Yucca Valley has a population of around 25,000. If you add all those in a 30-mile radius, which is about the extent of our reach, we have about 100,000 people. I don't know if this qualifies as a rural community or not, but we are definitely on the smaller scale of things when compared to the Coachella Valley, the Inland Empire, and greater Los Angeles.

That being said, I strongly agree with Keller's advice. In my opinion, pastoring a church of our size, in a community of our size, has been the ideal "first pastorate." We are currently averaging about 60 on Sunday mornings and have close to 140 on our active rolls (which includes members, attenders, homebound, children, etc.). There's plenty to keep me and our deacon team busy, and we certainly get to experience the whole gamet of ministry.

Yet, during college and seminary, I did serve in a mid-size church (500-750) for ten years. During that time, my wife and I had the opportunity to sit under and work alongside wise, godly men and women. We got wide exposure and helped in a variety of ministries including Sunday School teacher, janitor, outreach, deacon, planning social events, AWANA leader, and a pastoral intern. Serving at Placerita Baptist gave us a valuable snapshot of a healthy ministry and helped us avoid many of the common mistakes of first-time pastors (not to say I haven't made my fair share!).

So maybe my advice would be this: invest yourself heavily in the local church during high school, college, and seminary. Then consider the adventure of pastoring a small church in a more rural setting.

We are very thankful for the church and community where the Lord has brought us. And I'm not making any plans to move on. As I think Spurgeon once said, preaching to 100 people is plenty to be accountable to God for. And with today's technology, it's not hard to get involved and have a broader level of influence.

Heed Keller's advice. Consider the urban setting. But don't rule out the rural churches.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Funny names

Natalie's maiden name was Smith. My last name is Jones. So, of course, Natalie Smith became Natalie Jones.

I remember when we were doing our wedding registry at Bed Bath & Beyond (ten years ago now!). The clerk at the counter tried to pull up our profile on the computer.

"What's the Bride's last name?" she asked.

"Smith."

"Hmm. There's a lot of pages of Smith here to scroll through. What's the Groom's last name?"

"Jones," We replied with a smile. Great. Like that would be a lot of help.

Sometimes at our last church (Placerita Baptist), the people would get confused and call me Stephen Smith. They knew a Smith married a Jones, but they just couldn't remember which was which.

My father-in-law likes to tease me that God created Adam with the last name Smith, and that the Smiths are thus superior. But I'm quite content just being a Jones.

We've had a lot of fun and gotten many chuckles over the years about how a Smith married a Jones. But our names don't hold a candle to some of these. Natalie and I got a real kick out of this article...

What's in a Name? Unique Names Raise Eyebrows, Spur Conversation

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Want to learn Greek?

I’ve had a few people at church ask recently about learning Biblical Greek together, and I would like to find out who is genuinely interested in this.

It doesn't matter where you live. Whether you live right down the street or across the world, anyone could potentially join us.

Greek is a vivid and precise language that gives great insight into the grammar and meaning of the New Testament. It’s a challenging language, but well worth the effort.

I have taken five semesters of Greek and use it regularly in my sermon prep, so while I’m no expert, I would love to share what the Lord has taught me up to now, and am confident that teaching it to others would stretch and sharpen my own skills.

I’m considering starting a class in January 2010 with a “blended” format of lecture, homework, and online discussion:
  • Our main textbook would be Bill Mounce’s Basics of Biblical Greek and the accompanying workbook
  • We could meet twice a month on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:30 pm. Each student would have the option of attending class at church, or staying at home and video-conferencing with us via the free online service Skype.
  • Students would also participate in weekly discussion topics using Google Groups. It is a very easy-to-use website, and I have already created a tentative group for our class.
Please leave a comment below if you’re interested.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Summer jobs with Lifeway

I came across this announcement earlier this week...

**Summer Employment Opportunities for 2010**


LifeWay Christian Resources offers several opportunities for employment during the summer months for co
llege students. Apply now for 2010 summer employment, these summer jobs are in great demand and go quickly.

Internship Program

The internship program provides an opportunity for interns to understand the mission, strategy, specific functional work and positions within LifeWay. The experience includes an understanding of our business/ministry environment, job roles, and our work. Our internships provide a means to bridge the gap between the academic and the corporate world.

This summer we will have the following internships:

Women’s Events – work with the event coordinators and specialists on planning for late 2010 and 2011 events. The intern will also provide administrative assistance with all 2010 summer enrichment and training events.

Multimedia Production – exciting work is currently being done in this field. Participate in the production of video/audio projects. Assist the producer to schedule production, equipment, crew, etc. Participate in post production - editing, audio mixing, and DVD/CD programming.

Editorial – this is a great opportunity to experience all aspects of publishing work. The intern is exposed to magazine publishing, copy editing, layout, video pre-production tasks and other publishing related tasks.

Graphic Design – assist with basic graphic design tasks, including production work in the Children’s Ministry Publishing area.

Architectural Drafter – work alongside LifeWay Architects with various types of drawings and presentations for Master Planning, Architectural Design, or Interior Design projects.

Music Intern – this intern will help with various music publishing tasks.

The 2010 Summer Internship Program is open to college juniors, seniors and graduate students. If you, or someone you know, are interested in an internship this summer click here.

Summer Camp Workers

We have exciting summer camp opportunities located at various sites across the United States and at LifeWay Ridgecrest and LifeWay Glorieta Conference Centers.

• Centrifuge, M-Fuge, X-Fuge, Fuge Combo, Centrikid and Crosspoint. To learn more about and to apply for one of these camps click here.

• We have two beautiful conference centers. One located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico located in Glorieta, New Mexico and the other in the Blue Ridge Mountain near Asheville, North Carolina located in Ridgecrest, North Carolina. Our summer staff and camp opportunities are an awesome way for you to spend your summer working with children and youth. To learn more about either of these camps and their summer staff opportunities click here.

Don’t miss this opportunity! Summer job availability is limited, so get your application in early.

Recruiting & Staffing Team
LifeWay Christian Resources
Human Resources

Click here for more information.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Titanic sermon

At the close of the California Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting a couple weeks ago, Dr. Walter Price gave a wake-up call to our convention which I've dubbed "The Titanic Sermon." He was gracious in tone, but gave a very strong and necessary warning to our state convention.

I am including the full transcript below, which has already appeared on the Baptist TwentyOne blog here and here.

These issues are not unique to California, but other state conventions will no doubt be watching to see how we respond. The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force is already hard at work researching and developing proposals for our national convention. I pray California will lead the way in initiating state and associational reform.

Dr. Price has courageously laid the issue out on the table and pleaded for a conversation to rethink cooperation in the 21st century. Will we seize this opportunity and circumvent the approaching disaster?

=======================

2009 President's Address
by Walter Price
November 11, 2009

I love the Southern Baptist Convention…. Sometime around the middle of January, 1947, I attended Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo, Mississippi, for the first time. I was born nine months later. Yes, I was a Sunbeam. Now, your age, will determine your reaction to that statement. Some will rejoice. Others will stifle a yawn. But in the words of Ulysses Everett McGill: I am bona fide (as a Southern Baptist).

I love the California Southern Baptist Convention….Through the ministry of a CSBC church this life-long Baptist boy was truly converted by the grace of our glorious God. The majority of my adult life has been as a part of the CSBC. I am a California Southern Baptist.

I love my Association….I’ve had some world class DOM’s in the Inland Empire Southern Baptist Association, brothers whom I love and deeply respect.

I love the California Baptist Foundation….Through the ministry of the CBF helping our folks with their wills and trusts over $3.5 million has been committed to Kingdom work through the FITP Church in Beaumont.

I love California Baptist University….Cut me I bleed blue and gold; I consider myself a walk-on alumnus. Three of my five children have degrees from this school. God willing the fourth will this year and Omega will next year.

I’ve said all that because it’s important that you know from whence I come. I am fully aware that some, perhaps many, will not like what I have to say today. I can’t help that. But I do not say it as an outsider. I have simply prayed for God to help me say what needs to be said and to say it with a humble and gracious spirit.

TEXT: 1 Cor 3:1-9

[He then asked people to sit down as he called out their age group. By the time he reached age 40, only about a dozen were still standing.]

Danger Ahead

In his challenging new book on spiritual disciplines entitled Soul Shaping, Jim Wilson tells the story of how the loss of one little key to a lock was a major contributor to the sinking of the Titanic. “Historical accounts say his superiors reassigned second officer David Blair, the owner of the key, to another ship at the last moment. In his haste to leave the ship, Blair forgot to give the key to Charles Lightoller, his replacement. Because Lightoller didn’t have the key, he couldn’t open the locker that held the ship’s binoculars. Without the binoculars, lookouts in the crow’s nest had to rely on their unaided eyesight to scan the horizon for dangers. Because they didn’t see the iceberg in time, they couldn’t warn the captain of the impending danger.” (Jim Wilson, Soul Shaping, p. 24)

So far in this convention you have heard some wonderful heart-warming reports of great ministry taking place. I am deeply grateful. In every way I affirm all that God is currently doing through us. But that is not my purpose today. Today I want to try to be somewhat prophetic. Our situation as a state convention is critical and we are partying on the Lido Deck. This is one man’s meager attempt to get out the binoculars.

Please hear my heart. I am not here today to claim the demise of the CSBC. It hasn’t happened…yet. What I am here to say is, ‘There’s an iceberg off the starboard bow and we better wake up.’

What is the iceberg? You already know. You saw it yourselves when I asked you to stand by age groups. The time has come for someone to sound the alarm. I do not purport to speak for the younger generation. They are eloquent in speaking for themselves. But the signs that I see are not encouraging. For all intents and purposes, except for a very few exceptions, we have lost those in their 20’s and 30’s.

If that statement causes you to react against them from under your gray hair, you are way off the mark. These young Baptists are passionate for the Kingdom of God. They are passionate to see people from every tribe and tongue and nation gather round the throne and worship our Holy God. Theirs is not a youthful rebellion. For them it is a matter of (and this is my word not theirs) stewardship. Is this convention the way that God wants me to invest my life, my time, my energy, my resources? I’m afraid many of them are finding little reason to answer in the affirmative.

That doesn’t mean they don’t want to cooperate. They love the way we do missions, real missions, not the labeling of anything that moves as missions. They love our cooperative approach to education. They long to stand alongside others in compassion and social justice ministries. But they don’t want to be a part of what to them appears to be a bloated, wasteful bureaucracy.

We have bemoaned the absence of the young crowd for years now. The discussion in the hallways, bookstore and exhibit area has often centered on this concern. We have said we need to get them involved. But what we have most often meant by that is we need to get them involved to do things the way we’ve always done them. I think I can safely say to you today, they are not interested.

Another very subtle nuance to what I hear from the next generation is the object of their focus. When they do discuss the future of what we are doing in a positive light; when they do offer insight and hope into how the ship might continue to sail, their primary interest is focused on the long term of the national SBC, not the State Convention. We should pay attention.

Prediction

Here is my prediction: First, without radical transformation soon, within 15-20 years (optimistically) the CSBC will be either extinct or impotent. We will be, at best, a loosely knit convention of various ethnic associations. I am in no way being critical of ethnic associations. They are already here and are doing wonderful things for the Kingdom. If anything, we should learn a lesson from them regarding our Baptist polity, and that is that it’s okay to have an Association based on something other than geography.

Secondly, without radical transformation, the Cooperative Program, as we know it, will no longer be a viable tool for cooperative Kingdom work. Some will accuse me of criticizing the Cooperative Program. They will be incorrect. I am deeply indebted to the Cooperative Program for many things in my own life. I love the genius of the Cooperative Program. But my indebtedness to and love for the method is not the issue. The issue is whether those who are coming behind us believe that this is the best way to use their time and resources. If they do not, it will die a natural death and it probably won’t be slow in the greater scheme of things.

What’s At Stake?

Let’s remind ourselves what is at stake? Evangelism/Missions: We live in a state with almost forty million people who are more un-evangelized than many other countries even in the 10/40 Window. With only twenty-one hundred churches we desperately need to work together to increase our witness.

Education: Also, we own one of the greatest Christian universities in the world. We must be ever diligent to maintain CBU as a distinctly Christian university, confessional in its nature, with a biblical worldview. I love the fact that our university identifies itself as a Great Commission University. But, lest we ever forget, the Great Commission is about the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I for one, to my last breath, will strive to keep it true to its calling.

Compassion: Disaster relief; concern for the poor and hurting; these are the kinds of areas where so much more can be accomplished as a community of churches rather than individually. In each of these areas I would suggest that our focus needs to be less on what the state convention can do for our churches and more on what our churches, together, can accomplish through cooperation.

Response?

How should we respond? First, some wrong ways. In Isaiah 39:1-8 we have the unbelievably selfish story of Hezekiah. When the representatives of the King of Babylon came to offer gifts to him he took them into his treasure house and throughout the land and showed them all that he possessed. Isaiah came and asked him what on earth he had done. Then he prophesied that everything Hezekiah had, everything he had shown them, would be taken to Babylon along with his own sons who would become eunuchs there. Listen to Hezekiah’s response: “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my days.”

Some in my generation seem to have the myopic attitude of Hezekiah. Just don’t inconvenience me. Let someone worry about it when I’m gone. The CSBC has worked great for a long time. Don’t worry, it’s fine. Legend has it that’s what was said about the Titanic, even after striking the iceberg.

Another wrong response: Sadly, there are those in our national SBC who are already publicly positioning themselves to oppose the report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, without even knowing what the report will say. Indeed, it hasn’t even been agreed upon or written yet.

Often our polity is at one and the same time our greatest strength and our greatest weakness. It is strength when the various autonomous entities work hand-in-hand for the good of the Kingdom of God. But it becomes a deep weakness when cooperation devolves into competition, togetherness into turf protection and synergy into selfishness.

I’d like to paraphrase my text from 1 Corinthians 3:

1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,

3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

4 For when one says, “I am of the National Convention,” and another, “I am of the State Convention,” and another, “I am of the Association,” and another, “I am of the Executive Board,” and another, “I am of the Foundation,” and another, “I am of the University,” are you not being merely human?

5 What then are all these, Servants through which the churches do kingdom work as the Lord has assigned to each.

We are all Southern Baptists. And please don’t respond with another tired joke about Baptist bickering. The time has long since passed for us to be ashamed of that reputation. That’s one of the main reasons the younger group has no interest in showing up at these conventions.

We do not need a new program or new slogan. Slogans can be effective rallying cries. Programs can be useful tools. Slogans and programs might have their day once again. But now is the time for transformation. We desperately need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom. My prayer is that God will do that. I do not presume to know the mind of the Lord. I can only hope and pray that He is not finished with us yet.

A New Way of Cooperation

On October 2, 2006, the unthinkable happened. “Charles Carl Roberts IV carried his guns and his rage into an Amish schoolhouse near Nickel Mines, PA. Five schoolgirls died that day, and five others were seriously wounded.” (Amish Grace, Kraybill et al, p. xi)

In the aftermath of that horrendous event there was talk of the school children and, indeed, the entire Amish community finding what psychologists call a “new normal.” When there is a catastrophic crisis nothing will ever be the same. The situation demands a new normal.

That’s what I’m proposing today–a new way to do cooperation. We must find a new normal. If we do not become pro-active in this endeavor, the crisis is coming, the iceberg is dead ahead. It’s not a question of if it comes but rather when.

In the aftermath of the sinking of the Titanic some very disturbing facts came to light. Perhaps the most significant was that the ship was not designed to withstand the rupture of the watertight compartments below deck. From the moment the problem became known, the designers of the ship knew it was doomed. It will not be enough for us to simply change course to avoid the iceberg. We need nothing less than a redesigning of the ship

What is that new normal? What is the new way of cooperation? I wish I knew. I wish someone else knew. But I have yet to talk to anyone who seems to have the answer. What I am crying for is the conversation. I’ve tried to begin it this year. Every time I’ve had the opportunity to address one of our entities I’ve said the same things I’m saying today in abbreviated form.

We need the right people in place to lead the discussion and we need to bring the right participants to the table for the most profitable input. All of us need to be willing to see radical change. On a larger scale than just us California Southern Baptists we need to find a way to transform the entire fleet, that means national, state and associational, not just our ship. But again, our autonomous polity will probably prevent that from ever happening.

Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with two different groups of young pastors in their 20’s and 30’s. To say that I was deeply impressed by their hearts and their insight is to make a gross understatement. But there was one particular moment in one of those meetings that stands out to me. I want to leave you with this thought.

I asked the question: “If everyone in a position of any kind of leadership in our state convention age 50 and older dropped dead today, what would happen?”

For a few moments there was an intense silence. Then one of the young men said very quietly, “Well, I guess we’d have to start over.” To which another responded, in an almost anguished tone, “If we wanted to.” And they all nodded their heads.

I beg you. Let’s give them a reason to want to.

New Blog

Today I'm closing up shop and launching a new blog called Pinch of Clay. You can visit it by clicking here . Please stop by and...