Articles

A simple online search for “congregational singing” will undoubtedly produce numerous links to blogs and articles stating reasons for the demise of congregational participation in church worship. Several common responses

One of the pressing questions among women in the local church today is “What is my role?” And yet, the answer in the twenty-first century is the same as the

My daughter and I love a good HGTV show. We’re fascinated by what’s accomplished in a thirty-minute episode, with builders and designers completely transforming run-down homes and gardens into something

In May of 1845, 327 delegates gathered at the First Baptist Church in Augusta, Ga., for what would be the first meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. From May 8

The development of communication technology such as the Internet has resulted in a world where we are exposed to so much information from all over the globe. There are certainly

In my 28 years as a pastor, one of my most harrowing and challenging, yet exhilarating, assignments was that of preaching the message of Christmas. How does one even remotely

From time to time, I like to ask my fellow worship ministers: Why do people come to church? Why do your church members gather for worship each week? I get

Originally published January 10, 2020. Are the categories of transcendence and immanence important considerations for worship planning and design?  The answer is a resounding yes.  Not only are they important,

What are we really doing when we gather for corporate worship each week? For some today, the main purpose for which we gather is evangelism; every service is designed to

Luke beautifully weaves four hope-filled canticles (songs) into his first two chapters: Mary’s praise (Magnificat 1:46-55), Zechariah’s Prophecy (Benedictus 1:67-79), the Angels’ song (Gloria in Excelsis Deo 2:14), and Simeon’s

Why do we sing hymns in Christian worship? Is the singing of hymns optional? Is it something churches do simply because it is an enjoyable to affirm biblical truth that

Automatic doors, elevators, ramps, and even hearing loops have become common in public buildings in the United States. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has created and is still creating

Baptist Political Theology. Edited by Thomas S. Kidd, Paul D. Miller, and Andrew T. Walker. Brentwood, TN: B&H Academic, 2023. ix + 774 pp. $59.99.  “Befuddlement” and “intrigue” are the

By Jeannine Brown. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2024, 145 pp., $24.99.  Jeannine Brown in her work, Embedded Genres in the New Testament, analyzes genres within their literary framework yielding relevant,

Vol. 1, Theology for Every Person. By Malcolm B. Yarnell III. Brentwood, TN: B&H, 2024, 272 pp., $24.99. Why is it necessary to have another systematic theology? Yarnell, research professor

By Stephen O. Presley. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2024, 220 pp., $24.99. Christians today are faced with an opportunity to discern how to respond to an increasingly hostile pagan culture

By Dennis P. Hollinger. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2023, 304 pp., $29.99. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Old Testament theology began to pay more attention to creation accounts.

By O. S. Hawkins. Brentwood, TN: B&H Publishing, 2024. 241 pp., $27.99. There arose a generation who did not know W. A. Criswell. Most of my current students have never

Much has been written about Jonathan Edwards’s Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, probably the most famous sermon in North American history. A large book could be written on

Robert Greene Lee (R. G. Lee) served as pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN from 1927–1960. While Lee saw great success in his ministry, he is best remembered

Matthew 5:48 – You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. “There is nothing more discouraging than the Sermon on the Mount; it seems to throw us

Hebrews 6:1–12 is one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament. There are competing interpretations with no consensus view in sight. None of the interpretive views seems to

Luke 14:25-33 is at first glance a shocking passage due to the radical requirements of following Jesus. Jesus seems to say that his disciples must hate their families and give

Every veteran preacher has developed tricks to the trade and best practices over the years. I recently had a young aspiring preacher in my church ask for some advice, and