By JASON HILES, Chair of Christian Studies Louisiana College According to John’s Gospel, as Jesus was preparing the apostles for his imminent death, resurrection, and return to the Father, He drew their attention to the vital relationship between love and obedience. He articulates this relationship concisely in John 14:15 by declaring, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” In fact, Jesus’ words are so concise and this statement so simple that one may be tempted to pass over it quickly, failing to appreciate the depth of insight captured in so few words. The more familiar one is with the verse, the stronger the temptation tends to be, especially because we are used to hearing this passage preached as if it is yet another command to obey Christ. Of course the New Testament contains many directives relating to obedience, some of them directly issued by Christ himself. Certainly the present passage can be understood as suggesting that one should obey the Lord’s commands, but the careful reader will note that Jesus’ words do not actually constitute a command. Rather, he is making known to the apostles the condition necessary for obedience. This would mean that obedience is a consequence of a particular … [Read more...]

BY Bill Warren, PH.D., NOBTS Professor of New Testament and Greek Question: I’m planning to buy a new Bible, so I’m wondering which English translation is best? Could you give me some advice as far as the New Testament part goes? Bill Warren responds: We are in a luxury market for English Bible translations, as you’ve likely noticed.  For several decades we have had English translations made for specific purposes and groups, such as the Good News Bible from the 1960’s (NT = 1966) and 1970’s (OT = 1976), a translation designed for outreach to those not used to “church” language. Others have been made to reach children (the International Children’s Bible, 1985), and others for those who desire a lower reading level (the Contemporary English Version, 1995) or a more fluid reading style (the New Living Bible, 1996, and the paraphrase by Eugene Peterson entitled The Message, 2002).  With so many options in English Bibles, the primary use to be made of the Bible has to be considered. Some translations function best for continuous reading through the Bible while others are designed with more intense study in mind. The differences are often expressed as points along a sliding scale ranging from formal to functional … [Read more...]

By PHILIP TIMOTHY, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – In a show of solidarity, the Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention on Sept. 28 overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting the Cooperative Program as the convention’s primary funding method, and encouraging LBC Executive Director-Treasurer David E. Hankins for his unwavering and passionate defense of the cooperative giving process that is now in its 85th year. Along with a report from Hankins, the LBC Executive Board heard positive reports about mission advance from each of its various committee chairmen. The Executive Board also heard reports from each of its entities – the Louisiana Baptist Message, Louisiana College, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. Each entity leader affirmed the value of the Cooperative Program as essential to their ministries. [img_assist|nid=6700|title=David Hankins, Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=80|height=100]The resolution, On Cooperative Giving, Our Common Method For Reaching the Peoples of the World with the Gospel, was presented following Hankins’ report to the Board. Board President Steve Horn called on Bob Heutess, pastor of … [Read more...]

By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor BALL – When first-grader Emma Miller heard that her friend from the concession stand at Upward Soccer had cancer and was going to be treated for it at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., she remembered that at her school the previous spring, someone had been collecting the tabs from aluminum cans for St. Jude. Emma decided to do the same. She got an emptied and cleaned gallon milk jug, and put a sign on it: “Tabs for Jacob.” But her family – parents Chuck and Kristetta Miller, 11-year-old sister Kailyn and 6-year-old Emma – didn’t drink enough soda pop for the container to fill very fast. [img_assist|nid=6798|title=Emma Miller shows a bucket filled with aluminum can tabs she has collected to help a friend undergoing cancer treatment|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=75|height=100]Something more needed to be done. But what? Emma took the jug to her 7th birthday party a couple of weeks later, and provided soda pop for all her guests. Still not much of a dent. The youngster not yet in the second grade – this took place in the summer of 2009 – decided she would have to enlist help. She wrote a speech, and gave it to her Sunday school class. She gave the same speech … [Read more...]

By ERIN ROACH, Baptist Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – During a brief greeting to Executive Committee members in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 21, Frank Page, president-elect of the Executive Committee, emphasized the importance of partnerships in the Gospel ministry. “The Bible tells us in Philippians chapter 1 that there is a partnership in the Gospel. The New King James Version calls it a fellowship, but most versions call it a partnership in the Gospel,” said Page, who became president Oct. 1. “I want to pledge to you my partnership with you. I pledge that to you, and when I say I am a partner with you, that means a great deal to me because partners work alongside one another. They take care of one another.” Page said the Greek term paraclete, though often translated “comforter” or “encourager,” comes from classic Greek literature in which two Greek soldiers were paired together. “When the fighting got intense and even became hand-to-hand combat, one’s paraclete backed up to your back and you fought to the front and to the side, knowing that someone was behind you protecting that which you could not protect yourself,” Page, who was elected in June, told EC members. “To me, that’s a partnership. That’s where I want us to … [Read more...]

SAO PAULO (BP) – Scriptures, prayers and random thoughts – scrawled in white ink – cover the prayer room’s black walls. “For nothing is impossible with God.” “Whatever it takes.” “Intentional.” “Spontaneous.” “Show us your glory.” “Give us the nations.”[img_assist|nid=6804|title=IMB Journeyman Christ Black baptizes a Brazilian university student through the outreach of Zoe Marajoara.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=66] “Use me.” The words reflect something big God is doing in Sao Paulo, Brazil – population 23 million. The Christian students who wrote them share a vision for reaching Sao Paulo’s 1 million university students for Christ. Nearly three years ago, in the Sao Paulo neighborhood of Marajoara, IMB missionaries Chris and Melody Julian started “Igrega Zoe Marajoara” (Zoe Marajoara Church). Its members simply call it “Zoe,” Greek for “abundant life.” “I never saw myself as a church planter, but God did,” says Chris, whose background is in student and youth ministry. “We just took a leap of faith and said, ‘Let’s start this thing.’” The Julians, from Memphis, Tenn., had tried to reach students through Bible studies on several Sao Paulo campuses. “But we never really saw any fruit,” Melody … [Read more...]

BY KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – When asked “How do you maintain your vision for the lost?” Wayne Jenkins responds, “by seeking them out in the normal traffic patterns of life.” Also, “I plan involvement in activities that are intentionally evangelistic, like prison revivals, Crossovers, and mission trips. [img_assist|nid=6806|title=Wayne Jenkins, Evangelism/Church Growth Team Leader|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=79|height=100]For the last 20 years, Jenkins has been the Louisiana Baptist Convention Evangelism Director. During a re-organization five years ago, the Church Growth Division was added. Jenkins has been sharing his faith since he was a teenager. “I went to my pastor, shortly after I became a Christian, and asked him how I could share my faith,” Jenkins said. “I was 16, and that desire to share with people never left. It became a part of who I am. God opens the door to talk with someone and when we are obedient to walk through the open door He empowers us.” A Louisiana native, Jenkins loves evangelism – sharing Christ with people – and he loves pastors across the state. “Our job [LBC’s evangelism/church growth team] is to assist local churches in becoming strong, evangelistic … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Many churches begin the new Sunday School year with a Promotion Day or Advancement Day. On that Sunday, children move “up” to a new class and meet new teachers. Many adult classes soon forget about those who would be class members were they not serving as teachers. Here are a few ideas your class can use to make sure you honor these important “associate” members of your class. Visually celebrate your classes’ “Missionaries to Kids.” Devote a wall or poster as a visual reminder of your associate members. Put “Our Missionaries to Kids” across the top. Take a digital photograph of them teaching for the display. Pray for one of your associate members each week. Here is how that might sound: “We’re glad to have some guests join us today for Bible study. You can see that we have a nice group of people in our class, but this isn’t all of us. Some of our class members serve as ‘missionaries to kids’ during Sunday School. Their names, photos and places of service are on the display. This morning, we are going to pray for Jim and Linda Schultz who serve in the two-year-old class. Jim and Linda have been married for 10 years and have twin girls, Sam and Kaley ....” Be sure that your “missionaries to kids” … [Read more...]

Bluff Creek Baptist Church in Clinton helped interim pastor Ed Jenkins celebrate his 85th birthday. Members surprised him with cake, brought in by local volunteer firemen, 85 red roses and dinner on the grounds. Jenkins has been preaching in southeast Louisiana for over 57 years and is "still going strong", said church member Linda Furr. [img_assist|nid=6809|title=Bluff Creek Baptist Interim Pastor Ed Jenkins celebrates his 85th birthday.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=67] … [Read more...]

Compiled by Joanne Brechtel DEATHS RUSTON – Dick Paige, 79, died Sept. 26; he served as pastor of Fair Park Baptist, West Monroe, for eight years. WEST MONROE – Don Roberts, 75, died Aug. 16; he retired from Plain Dealing Baptist as pastor in 1999 and pastored several other Louisiana and Texas churches between 1954 and 1999. ANNIVERSARIES AND HOMECOMINGS BLANCHARD – First Baptist: 125th Anniversary Celebration 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7; James Hill, speaker; Stan Wallace, Bubba Talbert, music; lunch following service; Doug Allen, pastor. CLINTON – Bluff Creek Baptist: Homecoming 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 31; Kimberly Welker, soloist; Terry Ellis, speaker; dinner on the grounds; Bluff Creek Boys concert; Ed Jenkins, interim pastor. RAYVILLE – Eastside Baptist: Homecoming 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 14; Johnny Smith, speaker; Blessed Assurance, music; Bill Gueringer, pastor. JONESBORO – First Baptist: 150th Anniversary 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 reception; 6 p.m. banquet; Southern Grace in concert; 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7 worship; John Alley, guest speaker; Benjamin Harlan, music; Charles Wesley, pastor. LAFAYETTE – Northside Baptist: 70th Anniversairy Celebration 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 31; dinner on the grounds; 2 p.m. … [Read more...]