sbcIMPACT...

I am pleased to announce that I have accepted an invitation to join the team at sbcIMPACT! This is an awesome blog that has become one of my "must reads" each day. I have been sharing my "SBC Contract" series as a guest writer and I guess I've found a home. I will continue to write here at my own blog frequently as I now do and will occassionally publish a fresh post at sbcIMPACT! I hope that you will make the trip over with me as we make some new friends. You can link to the sbcIMPACT! site here. Go ahead and add it to your favorites and join me in sharing comments back and forth. Be sure and take a look at the "Contributors" page. I just might be the most handsome one there....lol.

A Contract with Southern Baptists - Part 5

Baptists Must Be . . .

Based in Humility - a necessary foundation - part one

Authorized by Scripture - a necessary standard - part two

Powered by the Holy Spirit - a necessary energy - part three

Transformed by Worship - a necessary voice - part four

Identified by Unity - a necessary obedience - Psalm 133:1-3; John 17:20-23; 1 Corinthians 1:10, 12:12-26; Ephesians 4:1-6; Colossians 3:12-14

Unity is not a suggestion--it is a command! Paul challenges the church at Corinth, "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you" (1 Cor. 1:10). Paul implores the church at Ephesus to be, "diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3). God will not bless a church, a family, or even a denomination that sacrifices gracious unity for any other virtue--no matter how good. Unity is essential. Psalm 133 promises, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" Jesus prays for us, "...that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me" (Jn. 17:20-21). Notice that Jesus sets the bar extremely high in terms of our unity--he defines it in terms of the unity of the Trinity, "...even as You, Father, are in Me and I in you". Also evangelism is critically tied to unity--"that the world may believe that You sent Me". Perhaps the decline in baptisms among Southern Baptist churches has more to do with our denominational infighting than anything else. Jesus prayerfully repeats the thought in verse 22-23, "the glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved me" (Jn. 17:22-23). How do we recapture a Spirit-led unity? "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity" (Col. 3:12-14).

Cowboys vs Broncos...

It's been a little while since I have taken the time to post. I am breaking my silence with some incredibly exciting news. I will be at the Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos preseason game tonight. How is this possible you ask? It's easy....I serve the greatest church filled with the greatest people in the world. One of my dearest deacons purchased tickets for me and my associate pastor for tonight's game. Everyone here knows of my great love for the soon-to-be superbowl champion Cowboys. My good friend and deacon was kind enough to bless me with the gift of tickets. I know....it's only preseason....the good players will not play....but I'll be there cheering them on anyway.