In the summer of 2008, B&H Academic published an excellent book by David Dockery titled Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Proposal. There is much to commend about this book, but one thing I especially appreciate is how Dockery demonstrates that conservative Southern Baptists are not monolithic. This is an idea that Dockery has advanced for years in a variety of forums, and one I’ve emphasized in my own teaching, conference … [Read More]
Taking God to the Movies (3): Nine Elements of a Hollywood Storyline
Taking God to the Movies (3): Nine Elements of a Hollywood Storyline
Bruce Riley Ashford
This third installment of the “Taking God to the Movies” will include a brief look at the nine elements in nearly every Hollywood movie: theme, hero, hero’s goal, adversary, character flaw, apparent defeat, final confrontation, self-revelation, and resolution. Once the viewer can identify these nine elements, he or she is ready to begin analyzing the movie and responding to its storyline … [Read More]
Our Best Is Yet To Be
As President of the Southern Baptist Convention, I must confess I have never been more excited about our future as a family. The needs that we see arising is a constant reminder that none of us can do alone what we are called to do as a community. I believe as each individual state and local association begin to share their personal needs, it will help all of us to realize that we must once … [Read More]
Taking God to the Movies
Taking God to the Movies (1): Introduction
Bruce Riley Ashford
No offense intended toward seminary professors, publishers, and pastors, but the most influential theologians in the United States of America are screenwriters, producers, lyricists, and musicians. These Hollywood theologians’ convey their messages through movies, televisions shows, and popular music, which become the lingua franca of the various cultures and sub-cultures of the USA: John Mayer, Jay-Z, and Black Eyed Peas have more access to American homes … [Read More]
How Can We Serve You through Between the Times?
Between the Times is the officially faculty blog of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Southeatern exists first and foremost to serve the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention. Our professors are not freelance academics, but rather are denominational servants who have a heart for local churches. Most of our faculty members have at one time or other served as pastors, missionaries, or other ministry leaders. Virtually all of us currently serve our local churches as pastors … [Read More]
Great Commission Resurgence Taskforce Report: Charting A Future Path For Southern Baptists for the Glory of God
The interim report of the GCRTF has already generated much excitement and many conversations. This is good and healthy. The Taskforce hoped its report would excite Southern Baptists, and it seems clear it has. It is also the case that the Taskforce wanted to hear from our people and receive their feedback. That also is taking place and we rejoice in this. Our prayer all along has been that the work of the Taskforce would … [Read More]
What is the Missional Gospel? Part 5: The Evangelical Missional Church
What is the Missional Gospel? Part 5: The Evangelical Missional Church
By Keith Whitfield
At a recent conference, Tim Keller addressed the challenges of evangelism in a post-modern context and gave six principles on how to pursue evangelism in this context. The first principle was “Gospel Theologizing,” and what he meant by this is phrase that all theology should articulate the gospel message. He says our theology should be an exposition of the gospel, and our presentation … [Read More]
Jerry Rankin: Leaders in Denial
We at BtT would like to make you aware of Jerry Rankin’s recent post, “Leaders in Denial, at his blogsite Ranking Connecting. In the post, Rankin argues that some SBC leaders are in denial, thinking that the SBC is in good shape, that it actually has 16 million members, that the “Covenant for a New Century” actually poised us for the 21st century, and so forth. But the reality, he argues, is that the SBC is … [Read More]
What is the Missional Gospel? Part 4: The Emerging Missional Church
What is the Missional Gospel? Part 4: The Emerging Missional Church
By Keith Whitfield
Brian McLaren announced in 2004 at “The Billy Graham Center Evangelism Roundtable” that “we are in need of radical strategic rethinking of our current strategy as gospel-oriented Christians seeking to follow the Great Commission” (“The Strategy We Pursue,”). He argues that this need is urgent and apparent given the low church attendance by people in our culture, the number of Christian kids dropping … [Read More]
Al Mohler: Cooperative Missions & The GCR
Editor’s Note: The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force is now releasing a series of blogs unpacking various points of their recommendation with greater depth and clarity. Below is one installment in the series.
Cooperative Missions and the Great Commission Resurgence
R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President
Reaching the people of North America with the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been a primary purpose of the Southern Baptist Convention since its beginning in 1845. Over the last 150 years and more, Southern Baptists … [Read More]
