Update on Hurricane Katrina

Here are some links to stories about Hurricane Katrina that may be missed by the mainstream media:

Russell Moore describes the destruction of his hometown and longs for the day when Creation is restored by the Curse being reversed as the result of the work of Christ.
Don Elbourne reports on his families safety and the destruction [...]

Who was Martin Luther? (Part 2)

As thrilling as the story of Luther’s life is, the study of Luther’s theology is even more enriching. Hundreds of thousands of pages have been written examining his own voluminous writings. This post will only examine a few of the most prominent themes in Luther’s theology: justification by faith alone, the sufficiency of Scripture, and [...]

Who was Martin Luther? (Part 1)

In today’s and tomorrow’s posts I will investigate the life (today) and theology (tomorrow) of Martin Luther (1483-1546). Luther, more than anyone else, is credited with beginning the Protestant Reformation. The German reformer was prolific as an author, preacher and hymn writer. Luther’s discovery of the doctrine of justification by faith not only transformed his [...]

Book Recommendation: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines For The Christian Life. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1991. 266 pp. $14.00.

Introduction

Spiritual Disciplines For The Christian Life was written by Donald S. Whitney. Whitney is a graduate of Southwestern Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (D.Min.), and the University of South Africa (Th.D.). He served as a pastor [...]

Bibliography for Studying the Use of Confessions of Faith in Baptist History

Below is a list of both primary and secondary sources for the study of the use of Confessions of Faith in Baptist history. Included among the secondary sources are those which disagree, as well as agree with my conclusions. All the primary sources agree with my conclusions (Better stated: I agree with the primary sources!). [...]

The Use of Confessions of Faith in Baptist History, Part V

Conclusion

Baptist leaders in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries promoted the use of confessions of faith as summaries of essential Biblical beliefs, expressions of unity, and protection from error. Baptists used confessions of faith to summarize the essential teachings of Scripture in a topical manner. Baptists used confessions of faith to express unity [...]

The Use of Confessions of Faith in Baptist History, Part IV

A Protection from False Teaching

Baptists used confessions of faith in another practical way. Confessions were not only used as a means of expressing unity, they were also used to protect against error creeping into their churches or institutions. On July 31, 1856, James P. Boyce gave the Inaugural Address at Furman University in which [...]

The Use of Confessions of Faith in Baptist History, Part III

An Expression of Unity
Baptists not only viewed their confessions as summaries of Scripture’s teachings, they also used them in practical ways. One way confessions of faith were used by Baptists was to show where true unity existed. S. M. Noel, in his “Circular Letter,” asked a series of rhetorical questions to demonstrate the necessity of [...]

The Use of Confessions of Faith in Baptist History, Part II

A Summary of Essential Baptist Beliefs
Baptists have never exalted a confession of faith above Scripture. On the contrary, Confessions of Faith were used to summarize what Baptists believed the Scriptures taught. S. M. Noel, moderator of the Franklin Baptist Association in Kentucky, wrote a circular letter in 1826 that was sent to all the churches [...]

The Use of Confessions of Faith in Baptist History, Part I

In the church which I serve as pastor, I am teaching a series on our church’s Confession of Faith. When West Broadway Baptist Church of Lenoir City, TN was founded on December 6, 1908, the New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1833) was adopted along with a popular Church Covenant from the same era. This [...]