The New Test of Faith in the SBC?

As Dr. James Galyon has rightly observed, "It seems “Christ died for you” has replaced “inerrancy” as the new Southern Baptist shibboleth."

"Southwestern will not build a school in the future around anybody who could not look anybody in the world in the eyes and say, ‘Christ died for your sins.’” Paige Patterson, SWBTS President, as tape recorded by SBC Today at their “Baptist Identity” blog on February 5, 2009

"A consistent five-point Calvinist cannot look a congregation in the eyes or even a single sinner in the eye and say: ‘Christ died for you.’" Dr. David Allen, Dean, SWBTS School of Theology at BaptistTheology.org / SWBTS Center for Theological Research, November 2008

"It would emaciate my evangelism if I couldn’t walk up to a total stranger and say, ‘Jesus died for you," Steve Gaines, Senior Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church

I guess I will never be SWBTS trustee material because I am a five-point Calvinist and I cannot look anybody in the world in the eye and say "Christ died for your sins." However, I can look anybody in the world in the eye and say "If you place your trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you will be saved." If that emaciates Steve Gaines' evangelism, then I feel sorry for him. If his evangelism approach is that rigid and inflexible, it's not going to be very effective. If that is detrimental to the seminary that Paige Patterson and David Allen are building, then I pity the churches that hire their graduates.

The "possiblity" of salvation is not the gospel. The gospel is that Jesus will save anyone, whosoever, whoever, everyone, who commits their heart and life to Him as Lord and Savior. Perhaps our evangelistic focus on possibilities instead of certainties are the reason for the SBC decline in evangelism and missions.

Missionaries Available

This is from the Biblical Recorder letter section. Our church is working in Ecuador and I highly recommend you invite the Kings to speak at your church. Thanks to Norman Jameson for permission to republish the letter here. Here's the letter.

We are Steve and Paula King, IMB missionaries leading the Inka/Amazon Cluster (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil). We are from Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro. We’ll be on stateside assignment and are available to share about our work on behalf of Baptists who support the work. We’ll be at the church’s missionary home through December. Between those dates we can be reached at cell phone (336) 880-9750. Our e-mail is sking@worldimail.com.

Steve King
Greensboro, N.C.

What Should Be Included in Lay Leader Training?

Well, it seems that my earlier post about church leader training did not generate much discussion. I wonder if it's because not many churches actually train their lay leaders? If this is true, perhaps we have stumbled upon on the crucial missing elements of a healthy church. Another factor to the lack of discussion may have been that it wasn;t clear that I was referring to lay leader training. Sorry.

Perhaps a different approach is required. What topics do you think should be covered by a lay leader training course? Here are a few topics that I think should be included:

• how to handle conflict (Matt. 18:15-17)
• recruiting volunteers (Jesus went to people directly)
• the importance of prayer (If Jesus needed to pray so do we)
• applying biblical principles (Be doers of the scriptures)
• how to handle money (It's God's money, not yours)
• how to share your faith (Leaders need to know how)
• how to stop gossip in its tracks (closely related to Matt. 18:15)
• communicating expectations & dealing with unmet expectations

So what else should be included in lay leader training? I would really like to hear from you.

Small Church Representation on Great Commission Task Forces

I talked to Johnny Hunt about small church representation and he pointed me to two task force members: Larry Grays and Mike Orr.

Larry Grays is the pastor of The Midtown Bridge Church in Atlanta, GA. According to the 2008 ACP, they have an average worship attendance of 85. They baptized one and had 28 other additions in 2008. This is probably a new church plant as they have only had ACP reports for 2007 & 2008. However, it does qualify as a small church.

Mike Orr is pastor of FBC, Chipley, FL but they average 574 in morning worship according to their 2008 ACP so the best description for them is probably "medium" not small.

So it does look like we have one person representing us on the GCRTF. I will pray for Larry and Mike as well as all members of the GCRTF.

Also, Ed Stetzer has brought to my attention that the NAGCTF has a small church pastor on board as well. He is James Cowley, Pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Galax, VA. They have an average morning worship attendance of 185. In 2008 they baptized 12 and added 3. Good numbers for Galax, VA. Please pray for Larry, Ed, and all of the members of the NAGCTF.

75% of all SBC churches have 99 or less in Sunday School attendance and we get one appointee on each task force. If we want to deal with outreach issues in the SBC, it seems to me that we need more people who represent the majority of the SBC involved in the process. But that's just me...

There Are Two "Great Commission" Task Forces

Just so you know, there are two task forces which have been announced to study how to better accomplish the Great Commission in the SBC. I didn't realize this until today and so I post this to inform anyone else who may have been confused as me.

There is a North American Great Commission Task Force (NAGCTF) which was commissioned by NAMB and is led by Steve Reid, NAMB and Ed Stetzer, Lifeway. There is also a Great Commission Resurgence Task Force (GCRTF) which was presented and approved by the messengers at the 2009 annual meeting of the SBC and is chaired by Ronnie Floyd.

Therefore, when speaking about a Task Force, its appointees, or its actions, make sure you identify which task force (NAGCTF or GCRTF) to which you are referring.

Fran's Frugal Finds

My daughter-in-law, Fran Puryear, is a master of finding bargains. Now Fran has a blog about her bargain discoveries. Check it out.

Attributes of God Material?

I am nearing the end of my latest sermon series on "Fear" and the next sermon series will be preaching through the book of Hebrews. Since I try to work about 3-4 weeks ahead on my sermons, I am getting close to begin my preparation for my next series. The Lord has laid on my heart to preach about the attributes of God. Our people need a more biblically robust view of God, not just seeing God as a God of love, or a God of grace, but the biblical God in all of His marvelous attributes.

In accordance with my plans, I have search through my personal library for books which may help me in the prepartion of the series of the attributes of God. The books I currently have are:

"A Great and Terrible Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Attributes of God," Mark Galli

"The Pursuit of Holiness," Jerry Bridges

"Holiness," Henry Blackaby

"The Names of God," Ken Hemphill

"The Ways of God," Henry Blackaby

"The Holiness of God," RC Sproul

"Our Great and Glorious God," Jonathan Edwards

And so now, dear reader, I ask that you give me your recommendations of books which you have read on the attributes of God which you think would be helpful to me in the construction of my sermon series on the same topic. Thanks for your help.