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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Christmas: it changes everything

By Michael Duduit ANDERSON, S.C. (BP) - It's that time of year again, when we put trees inside our houses, make strange egg-flavored drinks we'd never consume any other time of the year, and spend hours we don't have buying gifts we can't afford for people who will exchange them for something they really wanted. Welcome to Christmas! A Pew Research survey in 2013 found that 96 percent of Americans still celebrate Christmas. What may be more surprising is that only about half of all Americans still considered Christmas to be primarily a religious holiday; about one out of every three considered it essentially a cultural celebration with no religious meaning. So when you hear about the war on Christmas, that's only half right. The war isn't on Christmas; it's a war on identifying Christmas with Jesus. But even among people of faith, there's a lot of confusion about Christmas. We tend to fit Christmas into our own romantic pictures of the season, with chestnuts roasting on an open fire, home for the holidays and a picturesque nativity scene. No wonder the culture tries to draw us into this consumer-driven celebration, because the real picture is far more dangerous, far more revolutionary. If we understand what God has … [Read more...]

First days of Jesus’ life explored

By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) - Everyone knows the biblical Christmas story, with Mary riding on a donkey, an innkeeper turning away Mary and Joseph, animals surrounding the Christ child and three wise men visiting Jesus on the night of His birth. Or do they? It may come as a surprise to some that none of these elements are included in the two scriptural accounts of Jesus' birth in Matthew and Luke -- though they commonly are featured in Christmas pageants. In "The First Days of Jesus," published this year by Crossway, two authors with Southern Baptist ties urge believers to separate fact from fiction through "a careful reading of the New Testament infancy narratives in their historical context." Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Andreas Köstenberger and Southeastern Ph.D. graduate Alexander Stewart argue such a reading will help Christians "clear away the brush so [they] can truly encounter and be changed by the Christ of Christmas." The authors analyze the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke as well as the theological presentation of Jesus' incarnation in John. They also propose a harmonization of the narratives in Matthew and Luke to refute critics who erroneously claim the … [Read more...]

Why was Jesus’ birth so important?

By Billy Graham All Christians look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth during this season of the year. Why was Jesus’ birth so important? The reason is because slightly over 2,000 years ago, God stooped down from Heaven and became a human being: Jesus Christ. As the Bible says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” — John 1:14, NIV Think of it: God became a man! He did it because He loves us—and that’s what we should celebrate as Christmas approaches. Week One: November 29—December 5 Read Isaiah 9:6 — In this Scripture we find the message and meaning of Christmas. Isaiah the prophet gave five awe-inspiring names of our Lord that encourage us, thrill us, and fill us with hope at this Christmas season. Wonderful. When He did His many miracles, the Scripture says, “The people wondered” (Luke 11:14, KJV). Counselor. The people said, “No one ever spoke the way this man does” (John 7:46, NIV). The Mighty God. He is the God-Man. He said that He and the Father are one (John 10:30). The Everlasting Father. It was by Him, the living Word, that all things were created. He is the designer of the whole universe (John 1:3; Hebrews 11:3). The Prince of Peace. There will never be lasting peace on … [Read more...]

What Christmas really means

By Waylon Bailey, Pastor, First Baptist Covington I like to call it the hoopla of Christmas. You know what I mean by that. It’s all the things we do that really don’t have much to do with Christmas. Actually, I like the hoopla of Christmas. I like parties, presents, excitement, and the joy of having some special family time. But that’s not what Christmas really means. In fact, if you talk about the real meaning of Christmas, it’s even deeper than you think. What is the real meaning of Christmas? First, Christmas means that God has involved Himself in our world. That’s the meaning of “The word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The God of the universe “pitched his tent” in the neighborhood of the Jews – – the Word became flesh. Today, it would be like saying that God moved into our subdivision. There is nothing better than knowing that we are not alone but that God is with us and that He involved Himself in our world. Second, Christmas really means that our lives can be different. God’s coming into the world made it possible for us to be new creatures, living with God’s character in our lives. Paul stated that “If anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). I am comforted … [Read more...]

Pastor uses presentations to show how Christian life is like making a door

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Leo Lytle believes in some ways living the Christian life is akin to making a door and he shared why he thinks this during visits to two Louisiana Baptist churches recently. “Most of us are like this wood,” said Lytle, a woodworker and former Louisiana Baptist pastor, during one of his presentations. “And He takes us as we are. He begins to mold us out in this place He wants us to be in the body of Christ.” Starting with just pieces of wood, Lytle slowly assembled a door. Throughout the presentations at both Lakeside Baptist Church and Esler Baptist Church in Pineville, Lytle called on members of the audience to assist at various points and presented the Gospel in between his creation of a door. Lytle began making these presentations a year ago. Speaking to a woodworking club in Nacogdoches, Texas, near where he now lives, Lytle gave a different talk than what these men were accustomed to hearing. Instead of run-of-the-mill tips on woodworking, Lytle used the opportunity to share the Gospel and teach about the church. The presentation went so well that Lytle decided to build as ministry around it. Though he has presented his message as far away as Kentucky, most … [Read more...]

Signs of hope in the Christmas story

By Lane Corley, Church Planting Strategist, Louisiana Baptists It was Kate McAllister who called Christmas “the season of perpetual hope.” But as we look around at our world, it seems to be getting worse & worse. The Christmas story as told in the Gospels offers us many signs of hope that we can rest in. 1) Prophecy Fulfilled. Some estimate that over 300 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled by the coming of Jesus Christ. These prophecies gave hope to generations of followers of YHWH. And today they testify to us of how trustworthy God’s word is. The preciseness & detail arranged by God could not possibly be just happenstance. From being born in Bethlehem to a virgin (who was not from Bethlehem) to fleeing to Egypt to escape King Herod’s wrath. We can look at prophecy fulfilled & say GOD’S WORD IS TRUE. Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7:14, Genesis 22:18, Numbers: 24:17, Hosea 11:1, Jeremiah 31:15, Mathew 2:16. 2) He used ordinary people who dared to believe. As you read through the Christmas story, & really all of the New Testament, & get to know its characters, you’ll be struck by their ordinariness. Elizabeth & Zachariah – aging priest & barren wife. Mary & Joseph – young & poor village … [Read more...]

What Christmas really means

By: Waylon Bailey, Pastor, First Baptist Covington I like to call it the hoopla of Christmas. You know what I mean by that. It’s all the things we do that really don’t have much to do with Christmas. Actually, I like the hoopla of Christmas. I like parties, presents, excitement, and the joy of having some special family time. But that’s not what Christmas really means. In fact, if you talk about the real meaning of Christmas, it’s even deeper than you think. What is the real meaning of Christmas? First, Christmas means that God has involved Himself in our world. That’s the meaning of “The word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The God of the universe “pitched his tent” in the neighborhood of the Jews – – the Word became flesh. Today, it would be like saying that God moved into our subdivision. There is nothing better than knowing that we are not alone but that God is with us and that He involved Himself in our world. Second, Christmas really means that our lives can be different. God’s coming into the world made it possible for us to be new creatures, living with God’s character in our lives. Paul stated that “If anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). I am comforted … [Read more...]

His Kingdom will have no end

By Steve Horn, Pastor, First Baptist Lafayette What if God sent Christmas cards? He did send Christmas messages. By that I mean the messages of the angels are God’s messages. For example, in Luke 1:33 we read, “His Kingdom will have no end!” What a message! What a message for our time! It is easy to forget how revolutionary these words were when the angel spoke them. Remember this—These words, in addition to being spoken by an angel, were spoken to an unwed teenage girl, completely without warning, in an obscure village in a remote part of the world about an unborn baby. God’s message to Mary through the angels is a reminder to me of at least two truths. First, God keeps His promises. From Malachi to Jesus, four hundred years had passed. Many a generation had come and gone without seeing the prophecy realized. Maybe some had come to believe that Messiah would not come. But He did. As Paul said in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman.” At the right time, Jesus came. Sometimes it might not look like God is a keeper of His Word, but when I look at the manger, I am reminded that God always keeps His promises. Second, God’s message is a reminder to me … [Read more...]

MLB Star visits Ruston First Baptist Church to share testimony

By Jamie Stephens, Regional Reporter RUSTON – Power-hitting outfielder Darryl Strawberry, who played for four major league teams, was considered one of baseball's biggest stars in the 1980s--before his career was derailed by substance-abuse problems. During 17 seasons he helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship (1986) and the New York Yankees to three World Series championships (1996, 1998 and 1999). A popular player of that era, Strawberry, a right fielder, was voted to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game eight straight times (1984–1991). Despite being one of the most feared sluggers in the game, he also was suspended three times by Major League Baseball for substance abuse.  He was in and out of drug-treatment centers for much of the late '90s and early 2000s. He went AWOL from one program multiple times, was kicked out of another, and, then he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for probation violations in April 2002. He had two marriages fail during this time, too. "I was once very lost and tormented, but now I have been found and I am free in Christ Jesus. I want everyone to experience the saving and transforming power of Jesus Christ,” Strawberry said. He came to First Baptist … [Read more...]

The home of a child refugee

By David Crosby, Pastor, First Baptist Church New Orleans The birth of Jesus was truly an international event. The Wise Men came from the East. They were not Jews, but they knew about the birth of the king. Herod realized that this child could rise up to compete for his throne one day, so he initiated a search. And the Holy Family fled to Egypt, finding refuge there until the death of Herod. The Coptic Christians in Egypt claim to be the oldest Christian group on earth. They trace their faith back to the visit of the Christ child and his family in this flight from Herod. They can take you to the house where tradition says Jesus lived. They have their own legends about the child Jesus. The only reference in the Bible to the flight to Egypt by the Holy Family is the one that we have read in Matthew. But there are a lot of "false writings" or apocryphal accounts of this journey and stay. Palm trees bow down to the child Jesus. Beasts of the field pay him homage. Two men enter his life who will later be the thieves on the cross. Many such notions are contained in these writings. There is a field of toppled and broken statues and idols in Egypt, I have read. At least some Coptic Christians believe that the child Jesus came … [Read more...]