Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Editor’s Note: Part one of this two-part series was published in the March 6 issue of the B&R.
By Jay Barbier,
Evangelism Event Specialist, TBMB
Four simple factors that set a person or a church apart as one engaged in gospel driven evangelism are accountability, hospitality, missional living and praying for the lost. These four simple tasks are a given. It’s nothing we do not know already as believers. [Read more…]
By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Christian Resources
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Americans are expected to wager more than $8 billion on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but don’t bet on many pastors joining in.
A new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found most pastors believe it is morally wrong to bet on sports, while few agree it should be legalized nationwide. [Read more…]
By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — When addressing church leaders on the keys to making their facilities safe and secure, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board risk management specialist Mark LeMay often uses an old TV advertisement as a reference point.
“You remember the Fram oil filters commercials where the mechanic says ‘you can pay me now or you can pay me later,’ ” said LeMay during a recent safety seminar. “Well, that applies to church safety. It’s amazing how spending some money up front can save you from spending thousands of dollars down the road.” [Read more…]
Jay Barbier
Evangelism Event Specialist, TBMB
Creating a culture of sharing faith, actually sharing the name and fame of Jesus, is the driving factor for Christianity.
How can we become a people and a church that live out the Great Commission? How can we get over the fears of what others will say or think? The questions can go on and on about purpose or evangelism. The heart of the issue is found in everyone asking themselves, “If I know Jesus and have a relationship with Jesus what do I do with that?” [Read more…]
By Matt Tullos
Stewardship Development Specialist, TBMB
What is normal? It’s pretty easy to answer that question. Our nation’s debt is over 21 trillion dollars. Average credit card debt is well over $6,000. So, if you want to be normal, just follow these seven easy steps and you’ll be totally normal! Seriously, I hope you don’t do any of these!
(1) When you reach your credit card limit move all the debt to a new credit card with lower interest rates. Set it and forget it. This works perfectly! You’ll be just like every other American. Before you know it you’ll have seven credit cards, with 15K on three, but you’ll have enough points you can stay at a two-star hotel at half price! [Read more…]
Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., urges support Feb. 25 for his Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, asking his colleagues in the speech “whether or not we’re okay with infanticide.”
-Screen capture from YouTube
Baptist Press
WASHINGTON — The Senate again has rejected legislation to require health care for a child born alive during an abortion, leaving most Democratic members vulnerable to charges of supporting infanticide.
In a roll call Monday (Feb. 25), senators voted 53-44 to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the floor for a vote on final passage. But the effort failed to reach the 60 votes needed to succeed in the procedural move known as invoking cloture. All but three of the chamber’s 47 Democrats voted in opposition. [Read more…]
By Tom Strode
Baptist Press
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs Reproductive Health Act (RHA) into law Jan. 22, legalizing abortion until birth for the mother’s “health,” which is not defined.
Flickr photo from Gov. Cuomo’s press office
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York may have re-established itself as America’s leading abortion state by enacting a law that critics say goes beyond even the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) into law Jan. 22 shortly after the state legislature completed passage of the controversial proposal. Enactment of the legislation came on the 46th anniversary of the high court’s decision striking down all state bans and legalizing abortion throughout the country. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
-Image: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
This morning I was reading over yesterday’s Baptist Press stories and this one caught my attention: “Third gender option takes place in NYC, California.”
I immediately began recalling Scripture from my somewhat limited memory. I just could not remember where it says, “And on the third day God created man, both male and female and Gender X.” [Read more…]
By David Green
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed (and this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria). And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David” (Luke 2:1-4, NKJV).
What does it mean for you to be home for Christmas? I believe we all know what it meant to Mary and Joseph. They returned to Bethlehem to be home that first Christmas to be counted in a census. [Read more…]
By Aaron Earls
Lifeway Research
NASHVILLE — Most Americans want more religious meaning to the Christmas season, and for some that includes the seasonal greetings we say to each other.
A new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found two-thirds of Americans (65 percent) say, “Christmas should be more about Jesus.” [Read more…]
