By: Danny Akin and Steve McKinion
The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force has proposed the adoption of eight Core Values. We wrote about why we believe the first two of those are important in an earlier post. In this article we want to demonstrate why the next two Core Values are key to ensuring that the agencies and institutions of the Southern Baptist Convention will be more effective in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Value 3: Unity. We … [Read More]
Why We Believe the GCRTF Report is Good for the Future of the SBC (2b): Making Our Values Transparent (Unity, Relationships)
Why We Believe the GCRTF Report is Good for the Future of the SBC (2a): Making Our Values Transparent
By Daniel Akin and Steven A. McKinion
Building on the recommendation to adopt a clear mission statement for the Convention and its work, the GCR Task Force has recommended that Southern Baptists adopt eight Core Values. The result, we pray, will be a culture in which Southern Baptists grow together in the shared work of the Great Commission. This article addresses our agreement with the first two of these Core Values. Anyone reading blogs, or for … [Read More]
The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century
Thou shalt not ignore this book. Or so say Walter Kaiser, Daniel Heimbach and scores of other reviewers who say that Mark Rooker’s recently published The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century is a must-read for theologians, pastors, Old Testament scholars, ethicists, and cultural commentators.
In the book, Rooker devotes a chapter to each commandment, discussing each one in its ancient context, showing how each commandment connects with other Old Testament and New Testament passages. … [Read More]
GCR or CPR? Jon Akin’s Recent Blogpost at B21
We at BtT would like to make you aware of Jon Akin’s recent blogpost, “GCR or CPR? What Are We Voting for in Orlando?” In the post, Akin refers to two paths in the SBC. Here is a sample of his thoughts:
One path is the “Great Commission Resurgence” (GCR) vision set forth by the GCRTF and their recommendations. The other path has been coined as the “Cooperative Program Resurgence” (CPR). These two … [Read More]
Why Attend the Southern Baptist Convention?
1985.
Dallas, Texas.
45,000 Messengers.
Focus: A resurgence of conviction regarding the Word of God.
I picked an interesting year to attend my first SBC annual meeting. I was a 26-year-old pastor with little practical knowledge of the inner workings of the convention. As a student in seminary at the time I loved class, but I had a disdain for meetings.
It took a lot to get me there. “Just let me be and let me lead a church” was … [Read More]
Why We Believe the GCRTF Report is Good for the Future of the SBC (1): Getting the Mission Right
By: Danny Akin & Bruce Riley Ashford
[Editor’s Note: Southern Baptists will vote on the GCRTF report on June 15, 2010 at the annual Convention in Orlando, Florida. This promises to be a critically important and historically significant moment in our Convention. This series of posts attempts to (1) expound the merits of the Task Force report; (2) address the legitimate concerns raised by our brothers and sisters; and ... [Read More]
Jerry Rankin Responds to the Challenges of the GCR Task Force
Dr. Jerry Rankin, outgoing president of the International Mission Board, has responded to the challenges of the GCR Task Force on his blog. His conclusion?
So, whether or not we have a Great Commission Resurgence is not dependent on actions taken by the Southern Baptist Convention in June in Orlando, but whether or not every individual, family, pastor, church, and entity are moved to meet these challenges. No one has the authority to dictate to any … [Read More]
Baptist Messenger Interview with Ronnie Floyd
Doug Baker of the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger has released a vidcast interview with Ronnie Floyd, chairman of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. We are grateful that Dr. Floyd is offered the opportunity to respond to some hard questions and contribute to the discussion in our Convention about the GCRTF’s proposals. Thanks to Doug Baker and the folks at the Baptist Messenger for making this substantive interview available. We hope it garners wide attention among Southern Baptists … [Read More]
A Little Book on Francis Schaeffer
Now here is an interesting and worthwhile Little book. Francis Schaeffer: A Mind and Heart for God (P&R, 2010), edited by Bruce Little, is a collection of five essays on Schaeffer’s work and its continuing relevance in our world, written by arguably the four premiere Schaeffer scholars alive (all of whom knew Schaeffer well and two of whom are his sons-in-law): Udo Middlemann, Jerram Barrs, Ranald Macaulay, and Dick Keyes. It is 108 pages of … [Read More]
Baptism and the Great Commission
Southern Baptists have been discussing a Great Commission Resurgence for a couple of years now. One related discussion concerns the relationship of baptism to the Great Commission. Some Baptists at least tacitly downplay the role of baptism and instead cast the Great Commission as simply the advancement of the gospel to all nations. Other Baptists argue that baptism is a crucial component of the Great Commission, and without it, the gospel may indeed be advancing but the … [Read More]
