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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Easter Reflections – Day 26

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 26: Matthew 27-28 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 27) Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate 27 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to [a]Pontius Pilate the governor. Judas Hangs Himself 3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections – Day 25

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 25: Matthew 25-26 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 25) The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections – Day 24

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 24: Matthew 23-24 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 23) Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections – Day 23

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 23: Matthew 21-22 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 21) The Triumphal Entry Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to [a]Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections – Day 22

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 22: Matthew 19-20 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 19) Marriage and Divorce 19 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. 3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who  made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said,‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 8 He said to … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections – Day 21

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 21: Matthew 16-18 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 16) The Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed. The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees 5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” 7 And they … [Read more...]

Steve Horn ‘a leader who loves Louisiana Baptists’

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Steve Horn is a leader among leaders in the Louisiana Baptist Convention and someone who loves Louisiana Baptists, Waylon Bailey shared with the Baptist Message in announcing Horn as the candidate the search committee will present May 7 to the LBC Executive Board for a vote. If elected, Horn will replace David Hankins who is retiring June 30 as LBC executive director. “He lived in the northern part of the state early in his life and has served in the southern part of the state, so he understands the great uniqueness among Louisianans and has a deep appreciation for the great variety among the congregations that make up the fellowship we call a ‘Convention,’” said Bailey, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington and chairman of the search committee. “Likewise, he has been an exceptional friend and leader to other pastors on a personal level and in how his congregation has participated in the cooperative missions and ministries of the LBC during his entire tenure.” Horn has served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Lafayette since 2005. The database of the Annual Church Profile shows his congregation has baptized 775 new believers since then and … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists respond to search committee’s announcement

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist pastors and leaders have offered their resounding support for Steve Horn as a candidate for the state’s next executive director. The search committee announced Sunday, April 7, that Horn, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Lafayette since 2005, was their recommendation to lead Louisiana Baptists. The LBC Executive Board will vote on Horn’s nomination during its spring meeting May 7 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. LBC President Eddie Wren told the Baptist Message he is excited about the possibility of working alongside Horn to help Louisiana Baptists reach their state for Christ. “I am thankful Dr. Horn has been recommended and has agreed to serve as executive director for Louisiana Baptists,” said Wren, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Rayville. “I can’t think of anyone I would rather serve as executive director or anyone that is better prepared for the task. Steve is a man who loves the Lord, loves his family, the church and the state of Louisiana. I look forward to all God will do through his leadership.” Gevan Spinney, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church, Haughton, followed Horn as LBC president. He believes the … [Read more...]

Local attorney to discuss how Jews resisted the Holocaust at LC

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE, (LCNews) -- A persistent but false contention about the Holocaust is that the Jews did not resist; rather, they relented like sheep to the slaughter. History records that the Jews fought in partisan bands, ghetto uprisings, and death camp revolts, all of which disprove the argument that the Jews were passive regarding genocide. This faulty reasoning intimates that the Jews were unable to organize a resistance to the Nazis and generally submitted while hoping they would be delivered from evil rather than actively resisting themselves. Louisiana College is pleased to sponsor “A Time to Fight: Jewish Resistance in the Holocaust.,” featuring keynoter and Alexandria attorney Steven Oxenhandler. Set for April 9 at 7 p.m. in Martin Performing Arts Center, the event is free and open to the public. “We are elated for Mr. Oxenhandler, who is an Israeli Jew, to share the historical record of the plight and the fight of the Jews,” said LC President Rick Brewer. “As an academic institution built upon a biblical worldview, Louisiana College wants to emphasize an accurate and appropriate history of the Jewish people. To do otherwise is an affront to the academy and the Jewish nation,” Brewer … [Read more...]