July 20th, 2010
I noticed this week a magazine article critical of Southern Baptists. The article accurately reported that while our SBC baptisms for last year were up and new churches were planted, the overall SBC membership is down some. Like the scribes and Pharisees, this critic jumped on the membership decline and blamed it on the increased trend among Southern Baptist churches toward contemporary church music.
Only one problem. The contemporary churches are growing by leaps and bounds. It is the older, more traditional churches which have tended to decline.
At Delaney Street, we embrace the older, traditional music, and we enthusiastically add the newer, more contemporary music — to worship God together. All music was contemporary at one time. And all music will one day be traditional. The key is that the music we use uplifts the name of the Lord Jesus and brings us all closer to God in a spirit of worship.
Tags: Church Music, Criticism, Worship
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July 14th, 2010
A pastor friend of mine has had as the theme for his church for many years, “Keep the main thing the main thing.” I could not agree more. That is our goal here at Delaney Street.
This Sunday we observe the Lord’s Supper, with a focus on the Blood of Jesus Christ. Through the years ministry changes. We have new avenues and new models of ministry not available in years past. Certainly style and flavor of ministry change, as life, culture and society change. But our focus on the truth of God’s Word does not change. Our biblical doctrine does not change. Our salvation is only through the Blood of Jesus Christ. We need to “keep the main thing the main thing!”
Tags: Blood of Christ, Church, Communion, Faith
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July 1st, 2010
My favorite patriot in American history is probably Patrick Henry. Elected governor of Virginia no less than four times, he was offered higher office by President George Washington, but he declined because he did not trust federalism.
Patrick Henry is famous for his words in the Virginia assembly prior to the Revolutionary War, “Give me liberty or give me death!” But he also took a strong stand in other areas. When the state of Virginia tried to require state approval for preaching, it resulted in the arrest of a Baptist preacher named Rev. Jeremiah Moore. Patrick Henry, a lawyer, defended the Baptist preacher. Said Henry, “Great God, gentlemen, a man in prison for preaching the gospel of the Son of God!” Jeremiah Moore was acquitted.
In his final will and testament, Patrick Henry wrote, “I have now given everything I own to my children. There is one more thing I wish I could give them, and that is Christ. Because if they have everything I gave them and don’t have Christ, they have nothing.”
Patrick Henry, a dedicated Christian, was a great patriot!
Tags: Faith, Independence Day, July 4, Patrick Henry
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June 30th, 2010
What a great week we have had here at Delaney Street!
The evangelistic response at Vacation Bible School surprised even me, as we saw 48 children come forward publicly to accept Christ as Savior. The evangelistic service peaked on Friday with a response of 21 kids. We thank the Lord for what He is doing in the hearts of the children.
Then on Sunday we celebrated the one-year anniversary of our Spanish Mission, Iglesia Bautista la Rocha. The Spanish service alone had 230 people, pushing our total attendance to nearly 600 on Sunday. Our mission, under the leadership of Dr. Fernando Abella, our Spanish pastor, has baptized nearly 20 people over the past year. Among those baptized were an 80-year-old man and a young man who had been studying for the priesthood!
We thank God for what He is doing here at Delaney Street!
Tags: Church, Faith, Hispanic Ministry, Vacation Bible School
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June 21st, 2010
This is the week of the year which we dedicate to our children. Our Vacation Bible School for children is this week here at Delaney Street Baptist Church. We are using the Southern Baptist program, “Saddle Ridge Ranch,” to minister to our children.
Already we had two boys publicly accept Christ as their Savior today. We have an evangelistic message each day. We teach the Word of God to our children. We have fun, crafts & recreation as well.
VBS is for children ages 4 through 6th grade. We run daily from 9 AM to 12:00 noon this week through Friday, June 21 to 25. Anyone is welcome!
Tags: Bible, Children, Salvation, VBS
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