Longtime Denver Seminary church historian Bruce Shelley passed away earlier this week at the age of 82. Christian History has published a great online tribute to Shelley written by Scott Wenig, who teaches applied theology at Denver Seminary. Shelley is probably best known for his bestselling church history textbook, Church History in Plain Language. I first read Church History in Plain Language when I was in college, shortly after I first began considering a career as a … [Read More]
What Does It Mean To Be Missional?
English-speaking Christians, including many Southern Baptists, have increasingly used the word missional in recent years. This adjective has been used to describe individual believers, local churches, the church universal, and even God himself. The term has also elicted much controversy, in part because there is such a wide variety of churches and thinkers who embrace the missional label. Some Southern Baptists have been very hesitant to use the term, while others have unashamedly owned it, … [Read More]
For the 1st time in US history, the church in the South is shrinking
Guest Blogger: Mike McDaniel, Director of SendRDU
“Contextualizing the Gospel in the New South.” That’s the title for this year’s Advance Conference, April 26-27 in RDU. Last year we called for a resurgence of the local church. This year we’re focusing on the major issues that are standing in the way of that happening here in the South.
The South is changing. Urbanization and the vibrant growth of our cities have transformed the cultural landscape. Cities like … [Read More]
The Spiritual and the Structural Coincide: Some Thoughts on the GCR
“Our problems aren’t structural, they are spiritual.”
I can’t tell you how many times I have read or heard some variation of the above sentiment in the past eight or nine months. Sometimes it is voiced by stakeholders who are in the “structure,” people like state paper editors, seminary professors, and other denominational employees. It is perhaps understandable that these folks would want to divert attention away from whatever issues may or may not be present … [Read More]
Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Progress Report
The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force gave a progress report to the Executive Committee this evening. The EC did not allow the report to be live-streamed, but a video of the report is now available at the Pray4GCR website. The final report will be available May 3. Please join us in praying for a Great Commission Resurgence in the SBC.
Abraham Booth on Holiness and Perseverance
Abraham Booth was a Particular Baptist pastor in London from 1769-1806 and a key evangelical leader in England. He was a respected pastor-theologian, a staunch advocate for foreign missions, a strong proponent of theological education, a firm defender of Baptist distinctives, and a fierce and vocal opponent of the slave trade. In Booth’s most famous book, The Reign of Grace, he offers a broadside against those who claim some conversion experience but do not value personal … [Read More]
Prayer Request for the GCR Interim Report on February 22
Monday evening February 22 will be an important moment in SBC life as Dr. Ronnie Floyd will make an interim report from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. We had hoped to live stream the presentation but we were denied that request. However, Dr. Floyd will post a video that contains the substance of his report immediately following his presentation at the Executive Committee. We are excited and hopeful about what will be shared. Again, … [Read More]
Kenneth Starr, Church Membership, and the Baylor Presidency
As many readers know, it was announced this week that Kenneth Starr has been selected as the next president of Baylor University. Not surprisingly, the announcement generated quite a bit of buzz in the blogosphere, Twitterverse, and on message boards. Baylor has of course been embroiled in significant controversy during the past decade over leadership, vision, and academic matters, which followed on the heels of two decades of controversy over governance, theology, and denominational matters. … [Read More]
Book Brief: The Forever War
The Forever War by Dexter Filkins (Vintage Books, 2008): A Book Brief
by David Nelson
Returning from a trip overseas recently, I had one of those long layovers that was accompanied by the disappointment that I’d read every book I’d carried with me. That led me to the Borders bookstore in the Detroit airport where I picked up Dexter Filkins’ The Forever War.
The book has collected plenty of awards, so no one needs my review of the … [Read More]
Conventional Congrats
As a Southern Baptist I join many in anticipating the upcoming report from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force (GCRTF). I love our convention. I love the network we have created to get the gospel to the ends of the earth, our uncompromising stand on the truth of the Word and the greatness of the gospel, and our ability to bring together millions of believers to serve, help in times of disaster, train a … [Read More]
