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"Vines left speechless by book in his honor" says a Southwestern seminary news release

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary posted a news release entitled "Vines left speechless by book in his honor." The article states:

New Release by Free Church Press! The Secrets of a Great Church by Jerry Vines

Just in time for The John 3:16 Conference, The Secrets of a Great Church by Jerry Vines will be given free of charge to all registered participants. In addition, through the generosity of friends of Free Church Press and Jerry Vines Ministries, a complimentary copy will be available to messengers who drop by the booth at the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention in Houston, TX.

Craig Daliessio on good old-fashioned altar calls

Craig Daliessio, my friend and graduate of Liberty University, popular speaker, and author of  A Ragamuffin Christmas, has a unique take on "altar calls."¹ While conceding abuse of the altar call has been the unfortunate practice of some in evangelical and fundamentalist circles, Craig nonetheless laments the demise of genuine invitations and altar calls, especially among some of the contemporary churches where he often speaks. In "Gimme That Old Time Religion: Part 3: The Altar," he writes:

The 2013 John 3:16 Conference is almost here

  In November, 2008, the First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia hosted an insightful conference called The John 3:16 Conference, an event promising a scholarly evaluation of the recent Calvinist Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention   >>>

Augustine and Southern Baptists Part 4: The Upshot of Augustine's Assumptions: Divine Determinism by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford

 The third assumption in Augustine's thinking is his experience, based on personal observation, that some humans are not saved. In his own life, Augustine observed that some babies die before being baptized. For Augustine, reconciliation to God in Christ is impossible without baptism.¹ Not everyone who was baptized was ultimately saved, but baptism for him was a "condition sine qua non" for salvation.² Therefore anyone who died without baptism likewise died without hope of salvation. Combined with his views of God's unlimited power and humanity's helplessness, Augustine reasoned that those who died without baptism were never elected to salvation in the first place.

The "Sinner's Prayer" Revisited

Dr. Eric Hankins, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Oxford, Mississippi, proposed a "Sinner's Prayer" resolution at the 2012 Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans back in June   >>>

What about those who haven't heard the gospel?

The Inspired Apostle concluded, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17). One of the perplexing questions Christians often discuss revolves around those who never have and/or never will hear the life transforming gospel message   >>>

Must we define Mormonism as a cult? A Brief Response to Bart Barber

Dr. Bart Barber’s latest piece states the following proposition in its title: “Why Mormonism Is a Cult and Should be Called One.” Bart begins his piece by stating his principled disagreement with three Southern Baptists over the issue of whether “cult” is a proper and useful category in which to place Mormonism. He states    >>>

Dr. Ed Stetzer on Mormonism: "Pay everyone...honor to whom honor is due" by Peter Lumpkins

More times than not, this blog site has been what we could call a counter-point site, a site which offers an alternate narrative on a particular issue from one being offered elsewhere. Sometimes the counter-point we post may represent the majority opinion. At other times, it represents more the minority view. And, there are times it may very well represent a rogue view   >>>

An Open Letter to Franklin Graham: “Mr. Graham: Put that page back up!” by Peter Lumpkins

I've never been one for writing open letters. In fact, I don't recall ever writing one. But I can no longer say that. Albeit my full support and unshakable appreciation for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) since the late seventies of the last century, I continue to be stunned by their recent action in taking down a webpage on which a partial list of religious "cults" containing several sectarian groups were named.   >>>

David Allen sets the record straight: Limited Atonement is biblically bankrupt, theologically insipient, and ethically unpreachable by Peter Lumpkins

Founders Ministries put together several theological worthies to write its latest apology for strict Calvinism, Whomever He Wills   >>>

Eric Hankins' influence visible among Mississippi Baptists

The young Mississippi Southern Baptist, Dr. Eric Hankins, pastor of the Oxford First Baptist Church made history only two short weeks ago by releasing what has come to be called in shorthand "TS" (standing for "Traditional Statement" or more fully, "A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation"). Since its release on the SBC Today blogsite, I'm told the site has garnered pageviews well over 100K with no waning predicted anytime soon  >>>

Al Mohler and Hyper-Calvinism vs.The Traditional Statement and Semi-Pelagianism by Peter Lumpkins

I’m told one of the high-lights of the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina was the formal exchange between Drs. Al Mohler and Paige Patterson on the biblical doctrine of election.  Entitled “Reaching Today's World Through Differing Views of Election” each speaker took a different perspective on biblical election, Calvinistic and non-Calvinistic respectively. Especially enlightening are Al Mohler’s words defending Five Point Calvinism against the charge of Hyper-Calvinism  >>>

Dr. Jerry Vines discusses his signing the recent statement of faith: "It's time to discuss the elephant in the room"

Dr. Jerry Vines, Pastor Emeritus of Jacksonville First Baptist Church and former two-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention, speaks out on his signing "A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation"  >>>

J.D. Greear on the sinner's prayer, praying to receive Christ, and accepting Jesus into your heart by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, David Platt made some controversial statements pertaining to asking Jesus into one's heart. At a talk during Verge 2012, Platt said  >>>