Charles Spurgeon, one of my favorite writers, spoke often about the minister’s responsibility to guard himself, to “take heed, therefore, to yourselves first, that you be that which you persuade others to be.”* He pushed leaders to be people of integrity and credibility.
There are great rewards in the pastoral call. And there are times that there is great pain. In this article, I have asked a pastor to share his experiences in a difficult church, one where he eventually left under pressure. I wrote the interview verbatim while allowing the pastor to remain anonymous.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Year after year, one common New Year’s resolution among Christians is to spend more time—or even any time at all—in God’s Word. However, for many, it’s hard to know where to start.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — A church without discipleship is just a gathering. And groups ministry is key for making disciples in the local church.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — A church without discipleship is just a gathering. And groups ministry is key for making disciples in the local church.
The connection between Christmas and the nations is deeper than the general drive for generosity that occurs every year around the holidays. Generosity and compassion are good. But our prayers and giving to international missions aren’t rooted in a general desire to practice these things. Rather, they find a deep root in the Christmas story itself.
Each year, Southern Baptists kick off December by observing a Week of Prayer for International Missions before the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering emphasis. This week, as believers learn about missionaries serving around the world, the call is to pray for those faithfully sharing the gospel through international missions.
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. – The annual Lifeway Women’s Leadership Forum provides a space for women to be trained for leadership, as women are equipped to live out their faith in their leadership in ministry, the workplace and their homes.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) – It was the last night of a week of FUGE Camps in Mobile, Alabama, and groups were gearing up for Mega Relay – a high-energy relay race that involves everyone at camp and serves as the iconic close to each FUGE Camps session of the summer. As teams gathered to prepare for the race, one group had a different routine than the rest.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — This summer, as thousands of kids and students attended Lifeway camps across the country, camp staff challenged them to think more broadly about their role in God’s mission to make disciples of all nations, and campers responded by giving generously to Southern Baptist missions endeavors.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) – Last summer, the student ministry at First Baptist Church in Jasper, Tenn., didn’t meet for the month of July. Students weren’t showing up.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) – Even as the front doors of churches swing wide to welcome new faces to the congregation, the back doors creak open as others make their way out to another church.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) — God is beyond our complete understanding, yet we can know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. He keeps the world turning yet is never too busy for us. He created massive galaxies, yet still gave even the tiniest creature incredible detail. How can all these things be true?
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) – The Lifeway camps team has been watching to see where God is working and is ready to join Him this summer through FUGE Camps and Student Life Camp by preparing a generation for revival.
