Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

‘I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS’

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…]

Facebooktwittermail

GETTING RID OF THE CLUTTER AT CHRISTMAS

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Clutter. We’ve all seen it. We know it when we see it.

In my case, I’m probably the king of clutter. People walk by my office, look at my desk and just shake their head and move on. I like to refer to my “mess” as “organized clutter.”

But no matter what “spin” I give it, I’m still guilty of cluttering my desk/office space with stuff. One dictionary definition defines clutter as a “disorderly heap of assemblage.” Another defines it as “to fill or litter with things in a disorderly matter” while yet another definition calls it “a state or condition of confusion.” [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

EVERY CHURCH NEEDS A GOOD PASTOR (SEE JOHN 10)

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, Baptist and Reflector

                                                        iStock photo

The word “pastor” appears only in Ephesians 4:11 in all the KJV New Testament. And It appears just eight times in the OT — all in Jeremiah (2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16; 22:22; 23:1, 2). Both in the OT and the NT, the word “pastor” translates the word for “shepherd.” Of course, the word “shepherd” appears numerous times throughout the Bible. Further, “elder” and “bishop” are used as synonyms in the NT for pastor. The role and function of pastor appear in writings of Paul and Peter and John.

You can find qualifications for a pastor in I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-4 and other related passages. But I’ve chosen to focus on the role of a good pastor as Jesus gave it in John 10. Every church needs a good pastor, as Jesus defined it. And every good pastor needs a good church too. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

HOPEFUL ABOUT NEXT GENERATION OF PREACHERS

By Todd E. Brady
Vice president for University Ministries, Union University, Jackson

                                                                      iStock

They say that it’s all too easy for one generation to speak ill of another generation. A tendency is to be disgruntled with the generation that preceded us or with the one that is following after us. However, followers of Jesus understand the essential nature of an intergenerational church, and they refuse to speak unkindly of others.

On a daily basis, I work with the younger generation. For nearly two decades, I have labored among college students at Union University. In addition to serving all our students, I find particular pleasure in working with those students who are called into vocational church ministry — those who are often called “preacher boys.” [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

SIMPLIFYING CHRISTMAS

By Matt Tullos
Stewardship Development Specialist, TBMB

Holidays can get complicated. If we don’t pay attention our debt grows, our peace shrinks and our stress expands. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are six ways you can make Christmas a simpler, more beautiful season:

(1) Heighten your gratitude. Paul reminds us that anxiety and gratitude don’t mix: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6). [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

GOD’S PUZZLE PIECES

Before it Hits the PressHave you ever worked a puzzle? Most people have. I am not a huge puzzle fan (large puzzles for preschoolers are my limit), but my grandfather (Pop) loved puzzles — and the more pieces the puzzle had, the better he liked it. He built a puzzle board (a large flat piece of plywood normally) and spend hours in the winter (he didn’t have time for puzzles in the summer) putting puzzles together.

I remember watching him. Pop would construct the boundaries of the puzzle first, then start piecing it together. It took a lot concentration and patience, but before long, the puzzle took shape and soon he would have it finished, ready to be framed in a homemade frame that he would make. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

AN ICON IN BAPTIST JOURNALISM STEPS DOWN

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Bob Terry, who retires Dec. 31 as editor of The Alabama Baptist, is joined by the state paper’s staff prior to a celebration of his 50 years with Baptist newspapers.
-Photo: The Alabama Baptist

Long before I joined the staff of the Baptist and Reflector in 1988 I worked on the staff of the former Education Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, an entity that was disbanded in the mid-1990s as part of the restructuring of the convention.

While serving as director of communications for the Education Commission I had the privilege and opportunity to write for Baptist Press on occasion and work in the newsroom during the annual meeting. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

HOW WILL YOU RESPOND TO LOTTIE’S CHALLENGE?

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

Time passes, transitions happen, and generations come and go, but I pray we as Southern Baptists never lose the missionary spirit of Charlotte Digges “Lottie” Moon.

Lottie Moon stood no taller than 4 feet 6 inches tall, but she cast a shadow that’s stretched for more than 100 years. Lottie left for China in the early 1880’s and gave 39 years and her life – literally – to the Chinese people as a teacher and evangelist. Among her monumental Kingdom contributions was the foundation she laid for support of international missions among Southern Baptists through a special offering. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

THANK YOU, TENNESSEE BAPTISTS! 

By James Dean
Pastor, New Day Church, Nashville

New Day Church launched Sept. 23 at Harpeth Valley Elementary School with 78 in attendance.  Truly what is taking place is a God thing!  My wife Sheryl and I felt called to leave Springfield Baptist Church in Springfield to start a new church in the Bellevue area of Nashville during the summer of 2017.

Roc Collins of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board was the first contact from Tennessee Baptists who offered to “help in any way we can.”  David Evans, TBMB evangelist specialist, had pastored in Springfield and also came alongside.  David helped with organizing Pray for Tennessee and offered prayers and words of encouragement on a regular basis.  Later, the evangelism team provided  more than a thousand John 3:16 tracts which was written by David Leavell (president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention) which have been used in numerous outreach events and placed on doors in the community with church information. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

WHAT THE INCREASE IN CP GIFTS REALLY MEANS

By Matt Tullos
Stewardship Development Specialist, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board

The ovation lasted longer than most at the October monthly staff meeting as Randy C. Davis shared the news that churches gave 2.2 percent more through the Cooperative Program than they did last year. Tennessee Baptists are the heroes in the narrative of Cooperative Program giving. While many state conventions struggle to fund ministries and missions, we’re experiencing growth. This increase appears to be nothing short of miraculous. We spent time together, thanking God for Tennessee Baptists and their pastors. Our churches said many things through their giving. Here are seven: [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

Address

4017 Rural Plains Circle
Franklin, TN 37064

Contact Information

Mail: Baptist & Reflector, P.O. Box 682789, Franklin, TN 37068
Physical Address: 4017 Rural Plains Circle, Franklin, TN 37064
Email: bandr@tnbaptist.org
Phone: 615-371-2003

2025 © The Baptist and Reflector. All Right Reserved.