One of the reasons churches are not doing more  to reach a lost world is that missions is just another program. Without passion for the mission of God, there will be little motivation to do what it takes to take the gospel to unreached people groups or even to the unsaved in our own community.

I have always been amazed at the marketing and promotion needed to convince church members to attend an event or enroll in basic programs needed for their spiritual growth and the health of the church. Why do people have to be influenced and persuaded to do what should be normative for a follower of Jesus Christ? Such passivity probably reflects the low level of commitment …

I continue to be amazed at the passive indifference of so many churches to the mission of God. We pour budgets, time and energy into all kinds of programs and ministries for our own born-again fellowships and virtually ignore a lost world. All we have to do is turn on our television to see a world that needs Jesus. The inane, godless programming we call entertainment and newscasts filled with crime, perversion, suffering and war should compel us to confront a lost world with the life-transforming hope of the gospel.

We know that society can’t legislate morality. We know government handouts and programs aren’t the answer. But how can we expect the world to be any different until it knows …

It is the season of the year when Southern Baptist churches collect the Annie Armstrong Offering for support of the North American Mission Board. Some include their designated gift to the work of NAMB as a part of a Global Missions campaign at other times of the year or from a proportion of year-round missions giving, but most appeal to members for special gifts as an “Easter Offering” in March and April.

Reaching into unchurched areas of the U.S. and Canada, beyond what individual local churches could do, NAMB is seeking to penetrate the increasing lostness of our own country by planting a witness where Christ is not known. With a special emphasis on major urban areas and cross-cultural church …

It has been encouraging to see more and more churches become involved in missions. The trend of short-term volunteer teams going overseas has escalated in the last 30 years with tens of thousands from our churches taking vacation time, raising funds and cashing in savings to go on a mission trip. Obviously, this mobilized resource is supplementing the witness of over-extended missionaries, encouraging national churches and making a difference in the lives of those who go.

However, what is left behind when the project is over? What difference does a mission partnership make to the kingdom? Do we feel good and come home with personal gratification because we have sacrificed to make the trip and done something good? Or is …

The meaning of “missions,” as with many other topics is contingent on how one chooses to define it. Most Christians would acknowledge being an advocate and supporter of missions. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 is as well known as any verse of Scripture next to John 3:16. But it is interesting how this activity of the church is perceived and practiced.

The issue has been confused even further by the recent emergence of the popular term “missional.” What does it mean to be missional? Obviously it means different things to different people. To most it seems to categorize those things a church may do outside its own programs which serve and minister to its own members. We would readily …

I was not surprised when the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, upon recommendation of a special task force, decided not to change the name of the denomination. This is an issue that emerges from time to time in the interest of re-branding and removing a provincial connotation to our identity. What was intriguing about the decision was permission for churches and entities to use an alternate “descriptor” of Great Commission Baptists.

That innovative twist was no surprise after three years of advocacy for a Great Commission resurgence to give higher priority to missions and evangelism in our denomination. While recognizing that “Southern Baptists” no longer defines a regional convention, it does represent churches who hold to sound biblical …

After speaking at three events last week on leadership, I find the topic has somewhat saturated my thinking. Although far from being an expert on the subject, I have read, studied the topic and learned a lot about leadership from personal experiences. I can attest to the fact that, ironically, one often learns more from failures and negative experiences than from success. There are task-oriented leaders, people-oriented leaders and others lead from the power of a charismatic personality.

But there are some essential elements of leadership that come from God’s Spirit; this is true whether one is in a spiritual church-related or mission role or secular and community leadership. They are outlined in Isaiah 11:1-4. Although this is a Messianic …

We don’t live in Mayberry any longer! My quiet, little suburban home town deep in the Bible belt has slowly and subtly been invaded by people from all over the world. They don’t speak with a slow Southern drawl and sometimes their broken English is hard to understand. The most popular eating establishments don’t serve grits and catfish; sushi and tamales have become the fast food cuisine of choice.

We now have six Mexican restaurants, three Japanese eateries and two Chinese mega-buffets in town. South Asians from India manage our motels and operate the food marts at gasoline stations. Almost 300 students from China are on our local college campus. All of them need to know Jesus. The world has …

A missed field goal can be a jubilant occasion for one team and a heartbreak for another. The New York Giants made it into the Superbowl with a successful 3-pointer in overtime, while the New England Patriots made it when the Baltimore kicker missed a relatively short field goal in the final minute. The winners of an unusual number of college bowl games this year were determined by a field goal made or missed.

A missed field goal is agonizing to watch no matter which team you are for. The elation of the opposing team is understandable and justified, but even if I am for the winning team, the joy of that victory is diminished by sensitivity to the failed …

Everyone else is speculating on this question so why not jump in before the roller-coaster football season of Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos fades from our memory.

Have the miraculous comeback and overtime wins been orchestrated by God because Tebow is faithful to give Him praise and credit for everything in life? If so, where is God on occasions his quarterback performance has tanked? Is this equivocating Sovereign playing games with His loyal servant, or is He seeking to defy the shallow religionists who would suggest that He has any interest in NFL football?

It is obviously a theological distortion to attribute wealth, affluence, blessing and good fortune to God–a mistake common to Jewish philosophers frequently corrected by Jesus. …