Encourage: Important opportunities
Regular readers of this column know that I do not often push programs or events. With this edition, however, I want to put extra emphasis on a few important opportunities and issues you will read about in the pages that follow. First, I would like to invite you to join us at the State Evangelism Conference (SEC), Jan. 28-29, at Del City, First Southern located at 6400 South Sooner Road. The theme for this year’s conference is...
Encourage: With one shoulder
E. F. Hallock served as the pastor of Norman, First for 46 years, from November 1923 to September 1969. He was a great preacher. He was a visionary leader, pioneering Baptist Student Union work (now Baptist Collegiate Ministries) across the Southern Baptist Convention by beginning the work on the University of Oklahoma Campus. I suppose Preacher Hallock is best remembered as a man committed to praying the promises of God. He read the...
Encourage: God keeps His promise
Read again Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1:46-55: “And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him. He has done mighty...
Animar: Avanzando el Evangelio
Nos animamos los unos a los otros a avanzar el Evangelio. Con esta frase, proclamo el propósito de la Convención General Bautista de Oklahoma al unirnos para nuestra reunión anual de negocios. Somos una asociación, un compañerismo de iglesias trabajando para alentarnos unos a otros en la obra del Señor. La obra del Señor es el avance del Evangelio de Jesucristo. Pablo emplea la idea del avance de las Buenas Nuevas de Jesús. “Hermanos,...
Encourage: A ‘dangerous’ song
In the Dec. 6 Baptist Messenger, we began to consider Mary’s song in Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus. This song is often called the Magnificat because of the key word in the opening phrase, “My soul exalts the Lord.” Exalt or magnify means to make great. Mary’s response to all that was happening was a deep desire to make great the Lord’s Name. Read again her song of praise from Luke 1:46-55: And Mary said: “My soul exalts the...
Encourage: Season of praise
The old French carol confirms our pattern of celebrating the birth of Jesus by singing. Sing we now of Christmas, Noel sing we here! Hear our grateful praises to the Babe so dear. Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel! Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel! Why do we sing at Christmas? The people of God have been singing about the birth of Jesus since Mary was pregnant. The Gospel of Luke tells us the story of Mary’s song. Take...
