By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – David Goza charged pastors to be unified and preach the grace of God in a godless culture in his presidential address during the 2024 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 12, hosted by Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport.
“We are the light of Christ for this world,” he said. “We have to be united; we have to be thinking alike; and we have to be going in the same direction.
“Obviously, we’re going to have some times of disagreement. But we have to be able to come together for the sake of the lost,” he continued. “Our mission is the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to the Church, and we’re a Convention of Bible believing churches.”
Drawing from Titus 2:11-14, Goza said God’s grace teaches churches to deny self, live a godly life and look for the return of Jesus.
“These are dark days. We are the Church of this age. God has saw to it that we are the keepers of His Word for this generation, and I believe, for one, that we are the end time Church. It falls on us in this dark hour to preach the Gospel.”
BIBLE STUDY
Hance Dilbeck, president and CEO with GuideStone Financial Resources of the SBC, reminded messengers that a Kingdom leader is a servant, steward and shepherd.
“This model for Kingdom leadership is to shepherd them according to the integrity of His heart and to guide them with the skillfulness of His hands,” said Dilbeck, basing his Bible study on Psalm 78:70-72.
“It’s a very important biblical balance about leadership in the text and every one of us in the room has to get ahold of here. It has to deal with the ‘heart’, every aspect of where you are. ‘Integrity’ is that Hebrew word that speaks to wholeness. You are not divided up. There is no separation between your private life and your public life — that there is a consistency to your character. ‘Skillfulness of your hands’ has to do with mastering your craft, bringing your best to the Lord and the Lord’s people. Be diligent and disciplined to develop your capacity to perform in the role God has given you to do.”
Dilbeck said the model of Kingdom leadership is a marvel, mystery and the Messiah.
While Israel was many times fickle and faithless, God was graceful enough to give them a leader such as David. Dilbeck said he chose and developed David to become a mighty King.
“When God wants to judge a people, He gives them leaders they deserve,” he said. “When He wants to bless a people, He raises up leaders they need.”
He said every subsequent son of David disappointed, except for “the” Son of David.
“Jesus is the King that we could never deserve but we so desperately need,” he said. “Our world is hungry for leadership. There is only one who will ever truly fully satisfy that hunger. And his name is Jesus.”
CONVENTION SERMON
Matthew James, associate vice president of enrollment with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, in his convention message told messengers that Christ followers: are called to proclaim the Gospel in hard places; need accountability; need fellowship; need biblical instruction; must care about the needs of others and be known by Gospel unity; and serve as missionaries to the nations.
“What hard place is God calling us to take the Gospel into,” he said, basing his message on Acts 11. “Trust His guidance. Trust His leadership. Call your people to be faithful to this task to take the Gospel to the hard places.”
Additionally, James said more godly men are needed to preach the Word.
“Biblical teaching is critical for our sanctification, for our formation in Christ,” he said. “We need brothers and sisters to be men and women of the Bible.”
James said Louisiana Baptists should follow the church at Antioch, which reached the lost in a pagan culture. He explained that when we worship and pray, “we will go and the mission will cost us something.”
“It is more than worth it when one day we are gathered around the throne with thousands upon thousands who have professed faith in Christ and believe because we gave that which was temporal so that they could have the thing that is eternal,” he said. “On that day we will shed tears of joy because it will be worth it.”
