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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Embrace your suffering

By Steve Horn I learned a long time of ago that I never lack for an audience when I preach on the subject of suffering. And yet, a question that every Christian must wrestle with is how to reconcile a loving God to the presence of suffering. Ravi Zacharias has said that it is the greatest obstacle to belief in God. Yesterday, I preached on the subject of suffering, and I did not lack for an audience. My sermon was based on selected texts in 1 Peter that deal with the subject. Now, in 1 Peter, the context is a suffering attached to persecution, but I think the principles apply to any kind of suffering. I encourage you to get your Bibles and read these texts. I think you will discover at least these eiight reasons that we can embrace our suffering. Suffering connects us to Jesus. (3:18) Suffering changes or sanctifies us. (4:1-2, 12) Suffering creates in us a yearning for Heaven. (4:13) Suffering causes us to see the blessing of the grace and glory of God resting on us. (4:14) Suffering creates the opportunity to glorify God in our suffering. (4:16) Suffering causes us to trust God. (4:19) Suffering causes us to be more sensitive to the suffering of others. (5:9) Suffering causes us to see that God is … [Read more...]

Sports betting in Louisiana

Dr. Will Hall, director of the LBC Office of Public Policy, represented Louisiana Baptists' opposition to the expansion of gambling in the state during a Louisiana Public Broadcasting panel discussion that included state Sen. Danny Martiny, who is bringing legislation in 2019 to allow sports betting. To watch the full episode, click here. … [Read more...]

Ronnie Floyd named as EC president nominee

By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - Arkansas pastor and former Southern Baptist Convention president Ronnie Floyd will be recommended for the presidency of the SBC Executive Committee, the EC's presidential search committee announced today (March 31). The full EC will consider Floyd's nomination Tuesday, April 2, at a special called meeting in Dallas to begin at 11 a.m. Central at the Grand Hyatt at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. A press conference and then a Facebook Live session at facebook.com/baptistpress will follow the EC meeting, which may end by approximately 3 p.m. "Ronnie Floyd is a trusted voice of experienced leadership," said Executive Committee chairman Mike Stone, an ex officio member of the search committee. "A lifetime of service in the local church and in virtually every layer of SBC life has uniquely prepared him for this critical hour. Dr. Floyd will be ready on day one to lead all Southern Baptists as president of the Executive Committee." Search committee chairman Steve Swofford’s letter via email to EC members this morning (March 31) relaying Floyd’s nomination follows this story. Senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, Floyd's SBC service has included two … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections: Day 13

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 13: Luke 23-24 (NKJV) ========================= (Luke 23) Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate 23 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” 3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” 5 But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.” Jesus Faces Herod 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections: Day 12

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 12: Luke 21-22 (NKJV) ========================= (Luke 21) The Widow’s Two Mites 1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple 5 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age 7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections: Day 11

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 11: Luke 19-20 (NKJV) ========================= (Luke 19) Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House 1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus,make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I … [Read more...]

DHS offers grants to churches for security upgrades

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will be accepting requests starting either April 12 or April 16 for grants to be used to upgrade the security of facilities of nonprofits such as churches and religious schools to deal with the continuing threat of violence against such institutions because of their “ideology, beliefs or mission.” There will be a limited time to apply, only two-three weeks according to state sources, so churches are urged to turn in their write-ups as close to April 16 as possible. If the deadline cannot be met, churches are urged to submit the package as soon as possible, anyway, to be considered for next year. The U.S. Congress provided $60 million for the FY19 program, which also covers synagogues and mosques, and Louisiana is expected to receive about $200,000 to $300,000 of that allocation. Last year, the state approved four grant requests, a state official told the Baptist Message. Examples of items that are allowable for the funding include costs related to: Planning – development of security risk management plans, continuity of operations plans, and response plans. Equipment – purchase and installation of access … [Read more...]