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The Prayer and The Preaching by W.M. Lea as Published in The Baptist, Feb 20, 1875

2020 SBC Pastors' Conference President responds to questions raised on social media about some platform personalities

Only hours after questions were raised on social media as Baptist Press released the list of platform personalities invited to the 2020 SBC Pastors' Conference held June 7-8 at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center, did David Uth, the pastors' conference president, respond back on Baptist Press. "Uth's remarks followed social media comments both opposing and supporting the selection of Wong in particular, although many posts also mentioned the non-Southern Baptist pastors." Accordingly, Uth and the staff will continue "monitoring social media to determine whether sentiments are voiced that would endanger... Read more →

Are leaders of 2020 SBC Pastors' Conference making a statement with the platform speakers in Orlando?

The SBC Pastors' Conference is an inspirational event traditionally held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Usually, the speakers are well-known in Christian circles and have national platforms as either pastors in mega-churches, stadium speakers, best-selling authors, podcasts, sports' stars, or perhaps a combination of the above. One kind of speaker that is particularly controversial, at least since 2016, is political figures. The 2020 SBC Pastors' Conference is scheduled for June 7-8 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fl. Its officers are David... Read more →

Sexual Abuse, Darrell Gilyard and the Southern Baptist Convention Part 1

The story of Darrell Gilyard easily arises to the category of legend in Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) life. As originally told, Gilyard was abandoned by his parents at a young age and wound up living under a bridge in Florida. Jerry Vines, pastor of Jacksonville First Baptist Church,1 discovered Gilyard, led him to Christ, and began mentoring him in the mid-1980s. Vines had connections to which he recommended the young, exciting, and vibrant young preacher--most notably Paige Patterson, (then) President of Criswell Bible College and Jerry Falwell, pastor of Thomas... Read more →

Did Jesus tell Nicodemus he must be born again so he can believe the gospel?

I recently posted F.H. Kerfoot's editorial correction to James P. Boyce's teaching that regeneration precedes faith in the Ordo salutis published in Boyce's first edition of the Abstract of Systematic Theology (1887). Kerfoot was recommended to the trustees by Boyce himself to take over the theology chair at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. At first, Kerfoot became co-professor of theology alongside Boyce. However, that lasted only a short time due to Boyce's declining health. Thus, Kerfoot became the head of the theology department and served the chair of theology upon Boyce's... Read more →

Joel Gregory on the best in Baptist preaching

George Bullard on the Associated Baptist Press blog profiles the newly released volume entitled Baptist Preaching: A Global Anthology by Dr. Joel Gregory, Professor of Preaching at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. Dr. Gregory arguably remains one of the finest biblical expositors today albeit his banishment from mainstream Southern Baptist sub-culture (whether just or unjust as the case may be). Gregory's role in choosing for Baylor University Press just who qualifies as most representative of the best in Baptist pulpiteering is all the more impressive. According to... Read more →

Dr. CB Scott on Psalm 22

Dr. CB Scott, Pastor of Ailey Baptist Church, Ailey, Georgia and Vice-President at Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon, Georgia preached a moving message on Psalm 22, Easter Morning, 2014. Below is an extended exerpt of his message. CB Scott easter 2014 from Brewton-Parker College on Vimeo. Related articles Brewton-Parker College raises the bar appointing Dr. C.B. Scott Read more →

Ergun Caner on the bottom line for Brewton-Parker: 'pragmatically speaking, it's really all about the students'

For Ergun Caner, President of Brewton-Parker College, students come first. Below is a good reason why. BPC senior, Ross Jenkins, brings an exposition of Colossians 4:2-4 at the Ailey Baptist Church, Ailey, Georgia which is about a mile from the campus. Dr. CB Scott, Vice President of Alumni, Advancement and Church Relations is pastor at Ailey church. Students making Christ known in the church, in the community, and ultimately around the world strikes at the heart of Dr. Caner's vision for Brewton-Parker College. Below is an extended excerpt from Ross's... Read more →

Spurgeon on preachers becoming obstacles for sinners coming to Christ

Methinks I see several ministers standing in the way. They are of such high doctrine that they dare not invite a sinner, and they therefore clog the gospel with so many conditions. They will have it that the sinner must feel a certain quantity of experience before he is invited to come, and so they put their sermons up and say, "You are not invited, you are a dead sinner, you must not come; you are not invited; you are a hardened rebel." "Stand back," says Christ, "every one of... Read more →

Spurgeon On Faith...Again...

I recently posted some golden nugget quotes from Charles Haddon Spurgeon on faith. Here's another. Spurgeon, once answered the question, “What is faith?” this way: “Now what is faith? In one word, it is trust—the trusting of the soul in God’s promise made in Christ Jesus. My faith is that which enables me to believe that God is true, to believe that he sent his Son in the flesh to suffer for my sins; to believe that, through the merit of his blood and the virtue of his holy life,... Read more →

From Heaven He Came And Sought Her: A Review by David Allen

I recently made note of a new book release by Crossway entitled From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective. The 700+ page volume is purported to be the definitive volume on T.U.L.I.P. Calvinism's most vulnerable petal, Limited Atonement. Some of neo-Calvinism's brightest theological lights are among the contributors, theological lights including Henri A. G. Blocher, Michael A.G. Haykin, Paul Helm, Robert Letham, Thomas R. Schreiner, Sinclair Ferguson, and Carl Trueman. Dr. David Allen, Dean of the School of Theology, Professor of... Read more →

Spurgeon on faith’s necessity

Some golden nuggets on faith's necessity from Charles H. Spurgeon: "Faith is the foot of the soul by which it can march along the road of the commandments. Love can make the feet move more swiftly; but faith is the foot which carries the soul." "Faith is the oil enabling the wheels of holy devotion and of earnest piety to move well; but without faith the wheels are taken from the chariot and we drag along heavily." "With faith I can do all things; without faith I shall neither have... Read more →

James Denney on the proper motive to missions

Below is an excerpt from a sermon entitled “Propitiation” preached at the annual meeting of the Baptist Missionary Society, April, 1911 by 19th century Scottish theologian, James Denney (1856-1917). Denney taught at Glasgow's United Free Church College, first as Professor of Systematic Theology and then from 1900, as Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, a post he held until his death in 1917. According to Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership lecturer, Jason Goroncy, it was during those final decades that Denney’s theology reached its full maturity – drawing... Read more →

Is God's saving love for all people a disputable claim? Tom Hicks and Founders Ministries apparently think so

Founders Ministries' writer, Tom Hicks, posted a critique of a statement Eric Hankins recently made in a chapel sermon at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The claim Hicks questioned had to do with Hankins speaking of the all-inclusiveness of God's saving love for the entire world. The specific statement Hankins made which Hicks challenges is "All means all and that’s all all means." Why Hicks would question Hankins concerning this particular statement seems odd. Does Hicks and/or Founders type Calvinists not embrace the all-inclusiveness of God's saving love for... Read more →

"The Power of the Church": a sermon by Peter Lumpkins

Below is a sermon I preached some years ago entitled "The Power of the Church." Based upon Romans 1:16, it suggests four reasons why the church's power rests solely in Christ's gospel--the power of God unto salvation; namely, the gospel is the power of God because the gospel, bears the authority of God promises effectiveness from God designed for the entire world constitutes the singular hope we possess Even though I preached this message at a local congregation, I think it possesses broad merit for us today. Less branding strategies... Read more →

"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: "Moments before standing to preach a sermon in a Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary chapel service, well-known Southern Baptist preacher and former SBC president Jerry Vines was presented with a book written in his honor by prominent SBC pastors and theologians. The unexpected recognition left Vines in an unfamiliar state—speechless." Entitled Preach the Word! A Collection of Essays on Biblical Preaching in Honor of Jerry Vines (Free Church Press, 2013: David... Read more →

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. Read more →

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 >>> Past president of the Southern Baptist Convention and Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Jerry Vines, led the scheduled event at Woodstock. And, it did not disappoint. Subsequent to the conference, B&H Academic published the papers and sermons delivered in 2008 in a book entitled Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point... Read more →

Jerry Vines on "The Baptist Way"

In June 1987, a long, lanky southern preacher strolled across the platform to the clear lectern during the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference and preached a sermon for which he will ever remain known. "A Baptist and his Bible" has become as definitive of Dr. Jerry Vines' preaching as "Payday Someday" has been the defining preaching core of the legendary R.G. Lee. In fact, it's not too much to say, that Vines' sermon in many ways proleptically sealed the case for the Conservative Resurgence cause and effectively nailed the coffin... Read more →

What it means to grow spiritually by Peter Lumpkins

I intend to explore this subject a bit this Lord's Day morning. My chief texts will be 1 Peter 1:3, 2:2, and 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) which respectfully read: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby... "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior... Read more →

James White critiques Ronnie Rogers' book, “Reflections of a Disenchanted Calvinist” by Peter Lumpkins

UPDATE: As expected, James White responded to this piece on his follow-up "Radio Free Geneva" podcast. Well, let me be clear: it really wasn't a response to this piece so much as an acknowledgment of it. During the first few minutes, he talks about "almost forgetting" about old "Petey" (And, we want to assure James White we've not forgotten about him, either!) Then, he and Rich Pierce ridiculed the video I put up because of the number of views, etc. comparing my traffic to his. What a hoot! Like giddy,... Read more →

How to Stay Fresh Serving God by Peter Lumpkins

I'm preaching this morning from Matthew's Gospel. Below is a brief summary: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the... Read more →

The Beauty of Holiness by Peter Lumpkins

I'm preaching a sermon today from the Old Testament entitled "Hungering for Holiness." One particular corpus of Scripture which I find especially moving today includes the following (embolden added): >>> Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness (1 Chron 16:29) Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness… . O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all... Read more →

The Calvinists are here: a guest editorial by Gerald Harris

UPDATE: the word is LifeWay is preparing a detailed response to Gerald Harris' essay and is scheduled to post this evening on Baptist Press. I'm anticipating precisely what facts in the essay LifeWay intends to dispute. ======================= Below is the current editorial in The Christian Index, the Georiga Baptist Convention's state paper. Dr. Gerald Harris has served as editor of The Christian Index since May 2003. We happily publish by permission Dr. Harris' latest editoral, "The Calvinists are here" >>> SBC Tomorrow welcomes Gerald Harris as guest contributor* John Calvin... Read more →

New Blog at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary by Peter Lumpkins

Just to show you how 'out of it' I've been for the last several weeks so far as keeping up with SBC affairs, I missed the launch of Southwestern seminary's blog--Theological Matters--theological insights from Southwestern >>> We welcome Southwestern's insights and anticipate valuable contributions from the faculty who are the authors on the blog. How ideal if all six SBC seminaries logged helpful material for us. Perhaps Southern Baptist bloggers would have fared far better had we had their scholarly insights sooner. Even so, I want to profile a 5-part... Read more →

Just in case you missed it by Peter Lumpkins

Below are some links you may have missed from this past week: A. Chadwick Mauldin, author of Fullerism as Opposed to Calvinism: A Historical and Theological Comparison of the Missiology of Andrew Fuller and John Calvin, has a worthy piece entitled, "Senualism, Antinomianism, and Sacntification" Brad Whitt has done it again with a post offering a summary of what it means to be Southern Baptist. Entitled, "What makes us 'Southern Baptist'?" I'll be surprised if both Baptist Press and other state papers do not pick up and run this short... Read more →

Professor David Allen on Andrew Fuller's Shift from Hyper-Calvinism by Peter Lumpkins

My recent book review of A. Chadwick Mauldin's work entitled, Fullerism as Opposed to Calvinism inspired a follow-up piece citing Dr. David Allen's helpful analysis of Andrew Fuller's theological shift from Hyper-Calvinism to High Calvinism to Moderate Calvinism. In a chapter entitled "Preaching for a Great Commission Resurgence” found in The Great Commission Resurgence: Fulfilling God’s Mandate in our Time, edited by Chuck Lawless and Adam Greenway (B&H, 2010, pp.281-298), Dr. Allen expounds on Andrew Fuller and his move away from what had become the theological norm of English Particular... Read more →

Are Baptists Calvinists, Arminians, Calminians, or, well...Baptists? by Peter Lumpkins

Many times we stand reminded by our Calvinist family how, in so many ways, our Baptist ancestors in 19th Century America were overwhelming Calvinistic in their understanding of salvation. We repeatedly hear of James Boyce, Basil Manly, Jesse Mercer, P.H. Mell, John Gano and a host of others who embraced classic Calvinism. Indeed, for Calvinists, these men only represent the unified theology of that massive Baptist body who would eventually become the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845... >>> In addition, since so many Baptist churches, especially in the south, embraced... Read more →

"A Church in Debt" by Peter Lumpkins

I graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1990. In August of that same year, I preached at my home church in Madison, Tennessee from the text, Romans 1:13-17. During the course of the message, I rhetorically asked "Are Southern Baptists paying their bills?" I then answered my own question>>> I said: There exists an alarming shortage of those going to the mission fields. I'm told 95% of those called to ministry is preaching to 5% of the world's population. Some are suggesting that many are just not listening... Read more →

The SBC Pastors' Conference: Nominations Begin by Peter Lumpkins

Well, the nominations just started for president of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastor's Conference. Off the line first--Troy Gramling, lead pastor of Flamingo Road Church in Cooper City Florida (//link)... . According to the Florida Baptist Witness, John Cross, pastor of South Biscayne Church in North Port, and president of the Florida Baptist Convention, announced March 18 (yesterday) he intends to nominate Gramling to be president (//link). Unfortunately, from my perspective, Troy Gramling’s nomination, if successful, may represent the quintessential dissolution of the Southern Baptist Convention. I propose two reasons.... Read more →

Calvinistic But Not Calvinist: A Follow-up by Peter Lumpkins

I received (via email) much encouragement from a recent post I logged (//link) which partially demonstrates, at least to my satisfaction, that the historical theory constructed by Southern Baptist Calvinists concerning Baptist roots in the south, a theory promoted by Founders Ministries advocates, along with Dr. Tom Nettles (//link).... ... remains a truncated historiography, curiously ignoring the larger body of available historical material and can be highly misleading in its portrayal of our rich Baptist heritage. Furthermore, employing a possible eccentric interpretation of historical data as the Nettles' school does... Read more →

Let Love Be: A Brief Exposition on Romans 12:9-13 by Peter Lumpkins

I ran across pulpit notes on a sermon from Romans 12 I preached several years ago. The passage is incredibly inspiring. Below is a short impromptu from my handwritten notes. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Faith on its Feet: Expository Teasers from the Epistle of James: Part IV

Representing Missouri, Willard Vandiver served in the United States House of Representatives from 1897 to 1903. In 1899, Vandiver declared, "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me" (emboldened added). Found on the license plates of Missouri vehicles, show me came to be the caption by which Missouri is known. The Apostle James said similarly concerning faith in his little epistle sent to the scattered, persecuted... Read more →

The Deathbed of Christianity: A Sermon by E.Y. Mullins

After President Mullins quietly passed off the scene, moving on to see the Christ Whom he so long loved and about which he faithfully taught, Isla May Mullins, widow of Dr. Mullins, offered to the former President's institution, a series of handwritten sermons for their consideration. Consequently, the Sunday School Board, in cooperation with Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, published in 1930 a collection of those sermons as a book entitled "Faith In The Modern World". Mrs. Mullins writes in the dedication: "...the careful revision which he [Dr. Mullins] would have... Read more →

Knowing God's Will: A Sermon by Peter Lumpkins

A few years ago, I preached a sermon series entitled "Has Anybody Seen The Will Of God? I've Misplaced It." This message, entitled "Six Keys to Understand the Will of God" was one within the series. Perhaps it may be helpful in some way to you. Grace. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Does My Life Count For Something?

I preached this message a few years back. It is a practical exposition of a sacred phrase our Lord uttered in His prayer to His Father in John 17: "Father, I have finished the work You have given Me to do." (17:4). I entitled it then: "Making Life Count". It's amazing how, when I occasionally listen to a message I preached several years ago, how, if I had it to do over, I'd go in a different direction or focus on another nuance of the text. Also, I am amazed... Read more →

The Power of the Church

The following sermon I preached a couple of years ago. It reflects my deep conviction as I lament the frail, impotent, feel-good approaches employed by some today in their desperate attempt to 'make the Church relevant'. God's Church, as she employs her God-given power, will never cease to be relevant. *Update: Click here to subscribe to Podcast feed. It may be helpful. You may listen from your feed reader... "The Power of the Church" *Thanks to Jon, the file is now on my site. All should be able to listen...... Read more →

Attacks on Dr. Jerry Vines by Peter Lumpkins

I listened to Dr. Jerry Vines’ message entitled “The Baptist and His Election” preached at First Baptist Church,Woodstock,GA last Sunday evening. He stated that his Pastor, Dr. Johnny Hunt, had asked him to address the issue for their church. Dr. Vines was self-admittedly out of his norm—he read his sermon rather than extemporaneously delivered it >>> Dr. Vines is a key figure in Southern Baptist life. He remains an icon of the Conservative Resurgence within the SBC having been elected President of the convention, 1988-90. Before moving to First Baptist... Read more →