Why Not Participate in a World Day of Prayer? James A.E. MacLellan

Does John 17:21 Exemplify An On-Going Need for the Church to be One?

It is usually about this time of year that I sense of preponderance of raised eyebrows.  There is a sense, in the community that I live, that I have committed the unforgivable sin.  What is that sin?  Lack of participation.  Indeed, this is the annual gathering of various women to pray for the world.   My reluctance to participate in ecumenical activities brandishes me as something akin to an arrogant, self-righteous sus.  Of course the main armament is John 17:21 (ESV), "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

To read more click HERE.

DOES ISLAM INEVITABLY LEAD TO VIOLENCE? - Caleb Greggsen

Not that long ago, most Americans didn’t know much or care to know much about Islam. It was just one more exotic but irrelevant religion that missionaries andNational Geographic occassionally talked about. One scholar noted, “Less than a year before September 11, 2001, the consensus of expert opinion was . . . that [Islam’s] impact had ended long before the Renaissance.” It took a massive terrorist attack on U.S. soil to abruptly bring Islam squarely into the center of the American consciousness.

Since that day, questions about violence and Islam have lingered in the American mind: do these violent terrorists truly represent Islam? Is violence intrinsic to the Muslim faith? Having once been a student at a boarding school for missionary kids that was attacked by Islamic terrorists in an effort to frighten Christian missionaries out of the country, these questions are not hackneyed abstractions for me.

As I observe Christians trying to come to grips with the Islamic world, violence in Islam remains a deeply important problem. As Christians, the issue is important to us not simply because we believe that Christianity is true and all other religions are false, but because we have the duty and privilege of proclaiming the gospel to all peoples, including Muslims. While others may have the option of keeping “those Muslims” out of sight and mind as much as possible, Christians must draw near them. 

Better Question to Ask

To read more click HERE.

___________________________________________________________________

Caleb Greggsen grew up in Central Asia and Western Europe. He and his wife live and work in Louisville, Kentucky, where they are members of Third Avenue Baptist Church.

Assistant Pastor, Youth and Children's Ministry

Assistant Pastor, Youth and Children's Ministry

Job Description

  

Elk Point Baptist Church invites applications for the permanent, full­time position of Assistant Pastor, responsible for youth and children's ministry.

The primary objectives of this position is to shepherd children and youth in our congregation; to provide outreach into our community and to provide leadership to the youth and children's ministries. The successful candidate will provide hands­ on leadership of these ministries with a view to develop, train and supervise upcoming leaders.  It would be expected that the Assistant Pastor also use his time to regularly meet with parents, counsel when necessary and develop  the student and children’s ministry with the respective parents.

The successful candidate will be mature spiritually and experientially, with a confident call to youth and children's ministries. The successful candidate will be able to qualify as an elder according to 1 Timothy 3:1­7 ; be in total agreement with our Statement of Faith; and support the Elder's Perspective of Shepherding Children and Youth. Both Statements are available for viewing on our website.

This pastor would work closely with and report  to the Senior Pastor and with the consent of the Elders will be given freedom  to work out the vision God has given them for this ministry. The Youth Pastor will be responsible to carry out other suitable duties as assigned by the Senior Pastor; and will be expected to participate in the appropriate ministries of the church to further his influence and understanding of how to serve the youth and their families. The salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience, in accordance with recognizable standards for this region.

Elk Point Baptist Church serves the community of Elk Point and the surrounding Lakeland area. We exist that the people of God might enjoy Him in worship and Bible saturated preaching. We believe we are here so that the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ might be lived and proclaimed truthfully and lovingly. Our vision is to strive to be a church that is vibrant, caring and real, led by godly people, teaming together and fired with a passion to reach the Lakeland for God's Kingdom.

Start date: As soon as possible. We will be accepting resumes until May 30, 2015. For more information about the church check out: http://elkpointbaptistchurch.org.  If you believe that God may be calling you to this position please submit your resume to elders@elkpointbaptistchurch.com.

5 Signs of Spiritual Maturity - Clint Archer

Let me start by saying that it’s not wrong for a new believer to be immature any more than it’s wrong for a child to be childish.

Puerility is only annoying in an adult. When a four year old dons a cape and wears his underwear over his pants, claiming x-ray vision, it’s cute. When his dad does that, it’s concerning (or certifiable).

When you’ve been a believer for many years though, lack of these indicators should be concerning.

Mature believers possess these 5 indicators…

1. An Appetite for Meat

It’s good to enjoy the milk of the gospel with every meal. But some Christians pride themselves on focusing only on the gospel, snubbing the offer of deeper doctrines. The love of doctrine may need to be acquired over time, but it will always be there in a mature believer.

The writer to the Hebrews chides his readers for their reluctance to chew.

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

____________________________________________

Clint Archer is the senior pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Durban, South Africa. He has written his first book, The Preacher’s Payday. You can follow him on twitter @ClintArcher or his blog for aspiring theologians and writers at Café Seminoid.

Is the Abrahamic Covenant a Lot of Mumbo-Jumbo? James A.E. MacLellan

I never imagined that the Abrahamic Covenant was so complex and so challenging as I just recently experienced.  The richness of study is worth it.  But as a pastor of an equally complex and challenging congregation, I thought yesterday, someone might still be asking, "What relevance is that for me?  Isn't this just a lot of theological 'mumbo-jumbo'?" 

So here is one paragraph that I wrote hoping to show everyone the important relevance this promise, covenant,  has for every Christian.   Here's the paragraph (it comes from the last5 sermons):

Modern debates such as predestination,  eternal security, racial prejudice, holiness, grace, God's sovereignty and human responsibility, Israel, Gentiles, law vs. grace, etc., etc. are all resolved in the Abrahamic Covenant.  Just as US citizens tend to find their national identity and direction in the American Constitution, Christians find their hope, their rest and their comfort in the Covenant God made with Abraham.  It is one of the most important studies a Christian can spend their time on in reflection and worship.

To be a Christian, is to “… Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:29, ESV).

5 Reasons We Eat Together as a Family - Tim Challies

It is one of my clearest memories from twelfth grade (apart from the one I mention at the end of this article). It was my final year of high school but my first year at Ancaster Public High School. I was in sociology class when the teacher asked this: How many people here eat dinner as a family at least twice a week? Two of us put up hands—me and the only other Christian in the class. Everyone else told about how their family scattered all over the house, clustering around the various televisions. It shocked me, as I had only ever known family dinners. It hadn’t occurred that there could be another way.

Eating dinner together was a tradition Aileen and I adopted and, with only occasional exceptions, is one we maintain today. Here are some reasons we prioritize eating together.

To read more click HERE.

Why should a pastor preach through whole books of the Bible…even the hard ones? - Brian Croft

This Sunday I begin a new adventure.  I am starting a new sermon series preaching through the book of Ezekiel.  You read that right!  Ezekiel.  Crazy, I know.  I am committed to preaching through whole books of the Bible and that includes the really hard and intimidating ones.  This makes me think back a couple of years ago when I preached through 2 Samuel.  I particularly remember preaching through 2 Samuel 11-13 because I  was reminded of the challenge it is to systematically preach through whole books of the Bible in light of the painful content found there.  And yet, in the midst of being reminded of these challenges, the reasons to continue to do so have been affirmed to me all over again as I prepare Ezekiel.  These reasons apply just as much to the more difficult books of the Bible to understand, not just sections of difficult texts.  

Here are 3 reasons I remain committed to preaching through whole books of the Bible, even the really hard ones:

1) You cannot avoid the hard passages

I remember clearly when I preached on David’s adultery and murder.  I remember because it didn’t end there.  Then, it moved to an interesting progression of rape, incest, and murder among David’s children.  Let’s just say not what I would choose to preach if I was just picking a passage for the week.  But our people need to hear these passages and we as pastors need to wrestle with them to figure out what God desires for us to learn from them.  Preach the hard passages and even the hard books.  If your congregation sees you are not afraid to wrestle with them, then they are certain to grow less afraid also.

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE.

________________________________________________________

Brian Croft is Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky and is the Founder of Practical Shepherding, Inc. He is the husband of Cara and father of four children, son, Samuel and daughters, Abby, Isabelle, and Claire. He has served in pastoral ministry for almost twenty years, while serving the last eleven of those years as Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church. He was educated at both Belmont University and Indiana University receiving his B.A. in Sociology. He also undertook some graduate work at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Brian has written or contributed to over a dozen books to help serve pastors and church leaders on the practicalities of pastoral ministry.  Topics which include caring for the sick, training and identifying leaders, conducting funerals, dealing with issues of sin, caring for widows, and prioritizing the pastor’s family, as well as his own soul.  He also writes a blog with links and re-posts on other blogs such as Tim Challies, David Murray, the Gospel Coalition, and 9 Marks.  Brian co-wrote a book, The Pastor’s Family, with his wife Cara, which was published by Zondervan and has had a unique impact on the families of pastors around the world.  In addition to his writing, Brian travels all over the world preaching at local churches, speaking at conferences, and training pastors.