It Is Legal In 38 States...
Recently, a Dean of an Independent Fundamental Baptist College posted to his social media page an update regarding the fundraising attempts to hire a lawyer in attempts to lessen a sentence on his incarcerated son serving a long term for sexually molesting an underage girl from the Christian School where he was on staff. The son admitted guilt and the judge gave 48 years plus probation and a sex offender tag.
Discussion
Are There Open Pulpits?
It’s been about ten years since I last looked for a place to preach and pastor. I had friends looking for churches and availed myself of the placement program from my seminary. The majority of churches that I remember were like these:
— Small but with potential (their description) requiring a bi-vocational pastor
—Had a history of short-tenured pastors (1-3 years)
—Had individual essential distinctives (Bible versions, music, pro or anti Calvinist)
Discussion
A Pastoral Perspective on Illegal Immigration
Body
“Those who oppose illegal immigration run the risk of viewing illegal immigrants as enemies, rather than as a mission field…. On the flip side, those who advocate increased immigrant rights must be careful not to promote attitudes of insubordination or contempt toward the government.” Cripplegate
Discussion
What the Marines Can Teach the Church
Body
“While reading [Making the Corps], I noticed surprising applications to the church of Jesus on energetic discipling, identity thinking and cultivating appetites.” What the Marines Can Teach the Church
Discussion
How would you deal with someone who has had a sex-change operation
Bruce Jenner has made the whole “sex change” concept “socially acceptable.” Of course we who are faithful to the Kingdom of God would take a different view.
People are born with either XX chromosomes or XY. That is their objective gender. Although some people may be born with both genital sets (extremely rare), the XX or XY pattern is one or the other.
Discussion
Acceptable Worship - 1 Peter 2:4-10
This outline continues a series preached in 2002. For my own edification (and hopefully yours), I’ve restudied the passage and made some improvements to the outline.
Introduction
Worship has been a controversial topic in recent years. In some ways, the degree of controversy is a good thing: much of it arises from people genuinely striving to do what they believe to be God’s desire—that is, to properly honor God’s name and, at the same time, properly involve and engage God’s people in that activity.
Clearly, much of the controversy has also arisen from philosophies of ministry or outreach that, among other errors, improperly relate the interests and desires of the lost or immature to the worship life of the local church.
Peter’s teaching in this portion of 1 Peter is an excellent corrective. It helps us frame the question of acceptable worship correctly, understand the bigger picture, and ask the right questions to evaluate our present-day options.
Discussion