Rod, you definitely have a point. I recall when I was growing up in an SBC church that most of the salvations and baptisms were a result of the week-long revival services that we had every summer. However, I think the greater cause for the decline of the SBC is that the pastors in the pulpits no longer preach the Gospel in a straightforward and unapologetic manner. I left the SBC after 40 years for a Bible church and now am a part of a Calvary Chapel church. While we are not perfect, the Gospel is preached unapologetically every Sunday and Wednesday and we have well over a thousand conversations and baptisms in our church every year.
"The thing is, the Great Commission teaches us one particular lesson of universal applicability: that for us, God commands persuasion rather than force. This applies to economics, to politics, and certainly to discipling the nations."
"The Great Commission" Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
The Mission statement. THIS IS OUR JOB. We do other things for money, to make a family, a society, BUT This is our job.
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"
Great statement and I agree totally. Before Christ went back to heaven he spent 40 days with the apostles explaining to them the prophecies and told them to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. Well we know what happened, the wind caught everyone’s attention and suddenly these guys spoke languages that everyone from all parts of the world understood and what did Peter tell these people to do that were under the same covenant that you and I are under? Acts 2:38 says it all. Tells us and our generations to come exactly what we must do to be saved then after they believed and were BAPTIZED they didn’t join the church but they were ADDED to the church. First we must get the message correct and teach it correctly.
I have never been a member of a Baptist church, but I have seen the same thing happening in the churches I have attended. I grew up in a small denomination, the Unity of the Brethren, founded by Czech followers of Jan Hus who emigrated to Texas in the 1850s and 1870s. There weren't revivals every month, but at least two or three times a year. This was in the mid-1950s through mid-1960s.
In 1963 I went to a 6 week long summer camp for 16 year olds. (Imagine 16 year olds these days having the discipline to take 6 weeks out of their summer.) During the course of those weeks, one of the local churches held a revival and all of the campers went. That service is where I gave my life to Jesus, and I have been following him since. (Not perfectly which is not possible for us on earth, but trying to walk daily in step with the Spirit.)
Revivals in general are sorely missed, and I think a big part of the reason this country is in the shape it's in. Since about this time in 2023, I have been praying for a massive revival to sweep this nation from coast to coast and from north to south. I firmly believe that's the only thing that's going to save our nation.
Rod, you definitely have a point. I recall when I was growing up in an SBC church that most of the salvations and baptisms were a result of the week-long revival services that we had every summer. However, I think the greater cause for the decline of the SBC is that the pastors in the pulpits no longer preach the Gospel in a straightforward and unapologetic manner. I left the SBC after 40 years for a Bible church and now am a part of a Calvary Chapel church. While we are not perfect, the Gospel is preached unapologetically every Sunday and Wednesday and we have well over a thousand conversations and baptisms in our church every year.
"The thing is, the Great Commission teaches us one particular lesson of universal applicability: that for us, God commands persuasion rather than force. This applies to economics, to politics, and certainly to discipling the nations."
Memo To Stephen Wolfe, Doug Wilson. READ A BOOK!
"The Great Commission" Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
The Mission statement. THIS IS OUR JOB. We do other things for money, to make a family, a society, BUT This is our job.
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"
Simon Peter.
Great statement and I agree totally. Before Christ went back to heaven he spent 40 days with the apostles explaining to them the prophecies and told them to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. Well we know what happened, the wind caught everyone’s attention and suddenly these guys spoke languages that everyone from all parts of the world understood and what did Peter tell these people to do that were under the same covenant that you and I are under? Acts 2:38 says it all. Tells us and our generations to come exactly what we must do to be saved then after they believed and were BAPTIZED they didn’t join the church but they were ADDED to the church. First we must get the message correct and teach it correctly.
they didn’t join the church but they were ADDED to the church
I Like That!!!
I have never been a member of a Baptist church, but I have seen the same thing happening in the churches I have attended. I grew up in a small denomination, the Unity of the Brethren, founded by Czech followers of Jan Hus who emigrated to Texas in the 1850s and 1870s. There weren't revivals every month, but at least two or three times a year. This was in the mid-1950s through mid-1960s.
In 1963 I went to a 6 week long summer camp for 16 year olds. (Imagine 16 year olds these days having the discipline to take 6 weeks out of their summer.) During the course of those weeks, one of the local churches held a revival and all of the campers went. That service is where I gave my life to Jesus, and I have been following him since. (Not perfectly which is not possible for us on earth, but trying to walk daily in step with the Spirit.)
Revivals in general are sorely missed, and I think a big part of the reason this country is in the shape it's in. Since about this time in 2023, I have been praying for a massive revival to sweep this nation from coast to coast and from north to south. I firmly believe that's the only thing that's going to save our nation.