In this volume, representatives of several North American Baptist seminaries and a Baptist university make the exegetical and theological case for a Baptist polity. Right polity, they argue, is congregationalism, elder leadership, diaconal service, regenerate church membership, church discipline, and a Baptist approach to the ordinances.
The Worship Sourcebook is a collection of more than 2,500 prayers, litanies, and spoken texts for every element of traditional worship services held throughout the seasons of the church year. This indispensable resource for worship planners and pastors includes texts that can be read aloud as well as outlines that can be adapted for your situation. Teaching notes offer guidance for planning each element of the service. Thought-provoking perspectives on the meaning and purpose of worship help stimulate discussion and reflection. This second edition includes new and revised liturgies, additional prayers for challenging situations facing today's church, and new appendices.
Many pastors—just like the rest of the population--lack a basic understanding of financial and administrative matters. Most of us feel unprepared in matters of personal budgeting, health insurance, retirement savings and taxes. Finance and administration are often considered tedious, un-compelling, even ‘vile’ tasks. But pastors are required to offer leadership around these issues in a congregation. And so, since their pastors are poorly equipped in this area, many congregations struggle with budgeting, accounting, staff management, employee benefits, tax and basic legal matters. Author Nate Berneking, attorney and MDiv., manages the finance and administration of a large denominational organization, and offers his expert counsel and practical advice here. Vile Practices provides theological language to equip pastors and other leaders to translate these matters for themselves, so that they can effectively lead their congregations. The first part of the book explores several personal matters for pastors, from budgeting to taxes. The second part demonstrates how to lead congregations in their own financial and administrative matters.
Is gospel Christianity dead? Pundits are writing the obituary of historic, orthodox Christianity, but pastor and author J. D. Greear (Gospel, Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart) believes the postmortems are premature. Jesus promised to build his church. He said that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. The church is not going away. Along with this promise, Jesus gave clear instructions for how the church would prevail. He promised to build it on the rock of the gospel. The most pressing need for Christianity today is not a new strategy. It is not an updated message. It is a return to keeping the gospel above all.
Abraham Estes and his wife, Barbara were in King and Queen County, Virginia in 1704. They had nine children; of which this book will treat: Abraham, Robert, Elisha and Thomas. Descendants and relatives lived in Virginia, Kentucky, Iowa, and Alabama and else- where.