I have played guitar for nearly twenty years. Countless hours of strumming, chording, and fingering have led to an ability to play the instrument almost unconsciously. I can pick up a guitar like two old friends pick up a conversation. Comfort and familiarity flow from the knowledge that these fingers on those frets make that particular sound. I can confidently stand on a stage with a guitar in one hand and a pick in the other because time and trial have taught me what to expect as I play. Yet…

The Tension Between Love and Authority A few weeks ago, a pastor at one of the Weekend Workshops for the First Baptist Center for Ministry Training asked an interesting question. After spending several days with our pastoral team, he was amazed at how much love existed on our team. In particular, he noticed the close relationships of love that exist between those in authority and those under authority. He said he had never seen people having such close relationships with their bosses. He wonder…

A Class to Help You Think Clearly and Live Faithfully with Money Money is never just about money. It is about worship, trust, fear, contentment, and love. That is why financial trouble is often not just a math problem. It is a heart problem. This six-part class, Biblical Finances: God’s Word, Your Money, and What to Do, is designed to be deeply rooted in Scripture while also being highly practical. Whether you are young or old, in plenty or in need, you can experience financial pressure. And wh…

A Class to Help You Endure with Hope Suffering has a way of taking big questions and making them intensely personal. Some seasons of pain arrive slowly. Others show up suddenly through a diagnosis, a fractured relationship, a financial crisis, or a crushing disappointment. And when suffering comes close, it often brings more than grief. It can bring confusion, fear, temptations, and pain. This class is designed to help people who are currently hurting, and also to prepare those who know they wi…

We’re excited to share an important update: our Phase 1 ACBC Training is now completely free. First Baptist is a certified training center with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, and we’ve removed the previous program costs because we want to make this training as accessible as possible for anyone who wants to grow in ministry. We want to eliminate barriers and equip you for all of life. The world is in need, and God’s Word is sufficient. If this training blesses you and you’d li…

Every year, our church goes all out for Advent. We slow down. We prepare. We linger over the wonder of Christ’s coming. And that’s good. But Easter—the center of the Christian faith, the victory over sin and death—deserves the same kind of intentional focus. That’s why this year we want to extend the time we celebrate Easter by inviting our church and our community into a season we’re calling “From Dust to Glory.” Just like we celebrate the birth of Christ during Advent in the weeks leading up…

As we begin a new year, we naturally find ourselves thinking with a broader view toward ministry than at any other time of the year. It is a normal tendency to contemplate a bigger picture at this time. When I look back over 2025, I might suggest two sweeping (perhaps over-) generalizations about the practice of music and worship in our churches: 1) there is a lack of a compelling, cohesive vision for what music and worship should be in Southern Baptist Churches (SBC); and 2) everyone does what…

The Great Ministry Transition We are witnessing today one of the most remarkable ministry developments in church history. It began with the introduction of the American Mega Church in the 20th Century. Many of these ministries grew up under the leadership of remarkably faithful men who preached with bold conviction and led with great effectiveness and integrity. As those leaders move off the scene, a generation of younger pastors is inheriting the leadership of their massive congregations. That…

I suspect I’m not alone when I say that sometimes I am afraid of submission. Why is that? In a word, fear. But before I tell you my particular brand of fear, let’s start with a brief discussion on submission. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I am to submit to God himself. James says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God” (James 4:7). This command comes on the heels of James’ discussion on warring passions and desires in our hearts and the dangers of being a friend of the world. Submission to God…

I love to read devotional books personally, with my wife, and with my children. This habit is important to us because theology is not meant to be merely intellectual. It is meant to be alive with passion. God’s Word is meant to capture our hearts and press into the practical details of our lives. I brought Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening with me into the hospital when I received my bone marrow transplant. It was a real comfort to me, day and night, in those isolated hours. Jenny would re…