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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Ephesians 4: united by obedience

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Ephesians 4 offers a transition in Paul’s letter, pivoting from an emphasis on instruction about doctrine to focus, instead, on the application of the principles defined by doctrine. In that regard, Paul emphasized unity through obedience, meaning that if we are “in Christ” (and He is in us) that it should be evident in the way we “walk.” Within this mindset, he called the Christian community in Ephesus to experience this peace which is manifested from “one body and one Spirit … one hope … one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (vv. 3-6). Subsequently, he identified how Christians differ in gifts – “apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” – yet are unified in purpose “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (vv. 11-12). Paul repeats this point, by explaining that “the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (v. 16). Then Paul … [Read more...]

Ephesians 3: the mystery is revealed

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In the first chapter of the Book of Ephesians, Paul set the tone for his explanation about redemption by emphasizing that “the means” for salvation is “in Christ.” In Chapter 2 Paul described this “blessing” as the “grace” of God -- again “in Christ” -- and he contrasted “grace” with “works” to help readers understand the enormity of the gift. In Chapter 3, Paul expanded his message, adding depth to the concept of the “mystery” mentioned earlier -- “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven and which are on earth—in Him” (Ephesians 1:1). Importantly, his instruction throughout this letter was framed, in large part, in the context of addressing the Judaizers who had plagued his ministry and the expansion of the church by demanding that new Christians be circumcised and held to the standards of Mosaic Law. Within this perspective, Paul explained that “the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ” (Ephesians 3:6), a direct reference to Isaiah 49:6, which prophesied that Jesus would come not just for the benefit … [Read more...]

Fellowship Church: Students embrace discipleship, service

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PRAIRIEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Service and discipleship have become a way of life for more than 250 students at Fellowship Church, leaders said, and these young people are committed to serving the Prairieville congregation now and for many years to come. “We are trying to give ownership of this ministry to the students,” Fellowship Church Spiritual Life Pastor Joe Ashley told the Baptist Message. “They step into positions where they are trained and serve. We like our kids to get their hands dirty and get off the sidelines. That’s a big part of being a Christian. “Our focus also has been on discipleship, where we preach hard messages and talk about topics like fasting, spiritual disciplines and biblical sexuality,” he said. “And kids are here for it.” Since June 2021, students have gathered every Wednesday evening for both large and small-group discipleship, including 32 who were baptized last year, Ashley said. The discipleship efforts have equipped the students to serve in various areas of the church, including special needs, children’s ministry, community service days and youth worship band. “The Lord continues draw the lost and unchurched to our ministry,” Ashley shared. … [Read more...]

ECON to urge LBC to engage in SBC soul-winning efforts

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – At the upcoming state Evangelism Conference, Jan. 23-24 in the facilities of the First Baptist Church, West Monroe, speakers will urge Louisiana Baptists to play an active role in two evangelistic efforts tied to the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in New Orleans. SBC EVANGELISTIC PREVIEW Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel will encourage ECON participants to participate in Crossover, a large-scale evangelistic effort held before the SBC Annual Meeting, and the North American Mission Board SERVE Tour, an effort that seeks to involve participants in service projects as the foundation for evangelism the weekend before the SBC Annual Meeting. LBC staff will help coordinate enrollment for both initiatives. Manuel hopes to have a team from each association to participate in Crossover and SERVE. Previously, LBC Executive Director Steve Horn said he was praying for 2,023 people to be saved through these evangelistic efforts. “We’re attempting to encourage our congregations to participate in the SERVE/Crossover tour,” Manuel said. “We want to enlist and equip Louisiana Baptists for the … [Read more...]

Trinity Baptist education building damaged by early morning fire

HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – A lightning strike which caused a malfunction and a fire in an electrical panel in the education building at Trinity Baptist Church, Hammond, and caused a fire, Jan. 4. According to Pastor Avery Dixon, the damage was minimal and contained to two rooms. He added, no one was inside at the time of the fire which took place shortly after 2 a.m. Dixon said some of the children’s Sunday school classrooms will be relocated while the area is repaired. He thanked the Hammond Fire Department for their quick response and asked for continued prayers as they determine how to proceed. “Pray that our children and their parents don’t get too frustrated,” Dixon told the Baptist Message. “We have to move some children’s rooms to some other places until we get if fixed. We are hoping it just takes a couple of weeks.” … [Read more...]