I’m one of those young evangelicals who talks about the gospel all the time. Though the word gospel is a noun, I frequently use it as an adjective. I’d probably use the word as a verb if I could justify the move linguistically. I’m immensely thankful for the renewed emphasis so many Christians are placing on the centrality of the gospel, not only for our conversion, but for the totality of our Christian life. I think … [Read More]
Christopher Wright on The Christian Mission
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary had the privilege this week of hosting Christopher Wright for the annual Page Lectures. Dr. Wright is International Director for Langham Partnership International and the author several books including The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (IVP), Old Testament Ethics and the People of God (IVP), and The Mission of God’s People (Zondervan). Dr. Wright is a noteworthy theologian who has written extensively about God’s mission, the church’s mission, … [Read More]
Book Notice: JD Greear’s “Gospel”
I write this blog to serve notice to our readership that J. D. Greear’s new book Gospel (B&H, 2011) is an explosively powerful little book that expounds the gospel and its implications, and does so with a rare combination of depth, clarity, and eloquence. Gospel is one of the few unique books that will be sold by the truckload to pastors and churches, colleges and seminaries, young and old, Arminian and Calvinist.
Now, to put my … [Read More]
Is the Gospel Worth $6,090,032?
Is it possible to determine the economic benefit a church brings to its local community? A recent First Things article reports that researchers led by a University of Pennsylvania professor attempted to make just such an assessment (First Things: April 2011, p. 67). They estimated the economic impact of 12 congregations in the greater Philadelphia area. Some financial benefits could be calculated in a straight-forward fashion: salaries for staff and workers, monies paid for facilities construction and repair, and … [Read More]
Why I Will Remain Passionate for a Great Commission Resurgence among Southern Baptists
In late April/early May my wife and I joined a number of other believers on a mission trip to the Southern Sudan. We would be in an area of extreme poverty with no running water or electricity. It was hot and the conditions were, to say the least, Spartan. However, it was one of the most rewarding mission endeavors we have ever taken. More than 1650 persons from the Congo, Uganda and Sudan converged on … [Read More]
Pursuing Hagar
Administrator’s Note: The following post was originally published at the personal website of Steve McKinion, who serves as Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Patristic Studies at Southeastern Seminary. Dr. McKinion has graciously given us permission to republish his excellent article at Between the Times.
Genesis 16 contains the narrative of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar. It is rife with conflict, intrigue, and drama. It is also a clear picture of God on mission.
From the beginning, Genesis has … [Read More]
Gospel, Church, and City (3): The Gospel Invades and Transforms the City
In the second and third sessions of the Greenhouse Church Planter’s CoOp, we (1) set forth the gospel by tracing the four major plot movements in Christian Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation; and (2) talked about the gospel’s implications for humanity, the church, and the city. The CoOp had assigned those attending to read portions of Tim Keller’s Church Planting Manual, so we used some of Keller’s material, modifying it a bit and … [Read More]
What is the Missional Gospel? Part 3: The Ecumenical Missional Church
What is the Missional Gospel? Part 3: The Ecumenical Missional Church
By Keith Whitfield
The ecumenical missional church arises from a growing dis-ease with an approach to church that they claim was inherited from Christendom. Their concern with this approach to the church is that it views the church as a place and a “vender of religion.” Breaking from this, they attempt to return to the gospel to set forth a new vision for the church and … [Read More]
Myth #6: Many members of the GCRTF are fundamentally opposed to the work of local associations and state conventions.
The GCR has always been about energizing and mobilizing Southern Baptists to get the gospel to the unreached peoples of the world and the underserved regions of North America, and to do so as effectively and efficiently as possible. Nothing more and nothing less is the goal and agenda of this movement. If something stands in the way or hinders this then it needs to change or be set aside as unhelpful and unnecessary to … [Read More]
What Hath Jerusalem to Do with Mecca? Evangelicals Respond to “A Common Word”
This year the Evangelical Theological Society holds its annual meeting in New Orleans on Nov. 18-20, and one session warrants special attention. On Wednesday, Nov.18, 8 - 11 am, J P Moreland will chair a panel discussion of A Common Word, with John Piper and Al Mohler among the participants (a schedule of the program can be found here).
What is A Common Word? In October 11, 2007, 138 Islamic clerics and scholars from 43 nations issued a joint statement called A … [Read More]
