SBC President issues call to unity at Southeastern

by Lauren Crane

Frank Page has a vision for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention, and it does not include bickering, placidity or boredom.

Page, who is the pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., as well as president of the SBC, spoke about the divisiveness that Satan brings to the people of God during Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s chapel service on February 12. His address came out of John 10:10, which teaches that the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy.

Drawing from the example of General Edward Braddock, an officer of the British Army during the beginning of the French and Indian War, Page said Christians must never underestimate the enemy. Despite repeated warnings about the tactics and competency of the French and Indians, Braddock believed his British troops were safe from the threats, Page said. Despite his confidence, the British army was severely ambushed, mortally wounding Braddock in the battle.

“You know the moral of that story, don’t you?” Page asked. “Never underestimate the enemy. To underestimate the enemy is to invite dire consequences upon ourselves and upon those with whom we have influence.”

Greear challenges unbelief among Christians, advises people to take dare on God

by Lauren Crane

When the lost world remains in darkness, Christians need to question whether it is their own unbelief in the power of God which is keeping the Gospel from reaching all people.

The challenge to address unbelief in the lives of Christians came from J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, N.C., when he spoke to the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary family during chapel on February 7. Greear said his role as a pastor is to help people believe. In other words, he said, his role is to help with vision.

“When the vision is correct, you have the motivation,” Greear said. “When you don’t have vision, there is no motivation.” He said vision is seeing something, not as it is, but as it would be. In this respect, Greear said vision is the topic of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, in which he prays the believers “will grasp the breadth, depth and height of God’s love for them.”

Mahaney opens conference, contemplates Christ’s sin-bearing

by Lauren Crane

There is no comparison between how Christ felt as he bore humanity’s sin and any human situation, C.J. Mahaney said at Southeastern Smeinary’s annual “20/20 Collegaite Conference” February 1.

Mahaney, a longtime pastor and leader of Sovereign Grace Ministries, said he had sought divine assistance to understand what it meant for Christ to take away and bear the sins of humanity. The conference, which is an annual event geared toward college students and young adults, had the theme of Missio Dei this year, which means “the mission of God.” Mahaney opened the two-day conference as the first speaker on Friday evening.

Conference invites students to join in God’s mission by sharing Gospel with the world

 

Passion for people who don’t know Christ was the theme reverberating throughout Southeastern’s recent 20/20 Collegiate Conference: Missio Dei.

The fourth annual conference, which spanned two days on February 2-3, focused on God’s mission of spreading the Gospel – the message of the gift of salvation – to those who have not yet heard.

“God’s not interested in being a part of your life,” said J.D. Greear, plenary speaker at the conference and pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, N.C. “Until God is at the center of your life, until your story has been wrapped up in his story, until you see yourself wrapped up in him…Ultimately, no matter how Christian you seem, you haven’t gotten into the story God has been telling throughout the Bible, and that is the story of him.”

Akin says God’s work is done in weakness, not stardom

“Christian rock star syndrome” is a serious sickness infiltrating the church and gutting the body of Christ, Daniel Akin said.

Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered the school’s convocation address January 29 in Binkley Chapel. In his opening message, he noted the Apostle Paul’s example from 2 Corinthians 12 of not boasting in one’s own “superstardom” but rather learning from the weakness of “thorns in the flesh.”

Chapel highlights for Spring ‘08 include Page, Hunt

Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, will lead the list of prominent speakers to address the Southeastern family during chapel at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary this spring.

Chapel services at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary begin on January 29, with seminary president Daniel Akin speaking. The schedule continues with other notable leaders, including Page, pastors of First Baptist Church of Taylors, S.C., who is currently serving in his second term as SBC president.