Opinion Column

15 WORSHIP ‘HELPS’ FOR REGATHERING CHURCHES

April 29, 2020

By Scott C. Shepherd Tennessee Baptist Mission Board music and worship specialist In the coming weeks and months, churches across Tennessee will make the decision to gather again for worship. These services — though COVID-19 restrictions have been reduced — will not be a return to “worship as usual.” Here are 15 worship-related helps for churches to consider as they prepare to regather. Maintain social distancing in worship. Restrictions have

COVID-19: IT’S NOT A MATTER OF BLACK AND WHITE

April 29, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Maryville Baptist Church in Hillview, Ky., made national news recently when the church chose to hold in-person worship services on Easter Sunday, defying the Kentucky governor’s stay at home order. What’s more, Kentucky State Police officers patrolled the church parking lot, handing out citations. The church sued the state but a judge tossed it out of court. On one side, people are

DO YOU HEAR GOD WITH YOUR GOOD EAR?

April 27, 2020

By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director One of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board ‘s very best servant-leaders has some hearing loss in one ear. If he and I are conversing, he will position himself so he can hear me with his good ear. You might say he “inclines his ear to hear.” In John 10:27 Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” I sense that the God of

PASTORS AND DEPRESSION (Part 1)

April 27, 2020

Editor’s note: This article is the first of a two-part series about pastors and depression. Reprinted with permission of SBC Life. Part II of the series can be found HERE. By Tony Rose Depression is an invisible sickness. It cannot be seen. A broken leg is obvious. But a broken soul—is there such a thing? Many seem to think that our depressed friends just need to get up, quit feeling sorry for

PASTORS AND DEPRESSION (Part 2)

April 27, 2020

Editor’s note: This article is the second of a two-part series about pastors and depression. (SEE PT. 1 HERE.) Reprinted with permission of SBC Life. By Tony Rose Christopher Love wrote, “Melancholy (depression) in a man darkens the understanding and troubles the fancy (imagination). It disturbs the reason, saddens the soul, and clothes it in mourning weeds. And when these meet together, it must cast the man down and suspend the

FLOYD: WE WILL NOT RETREAT: THE REAL REASON FOR SUPPORTING THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM

April 21, 2020

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ronnie Floyd is president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. April 26 is Cooperative Program Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention. By Ronnie Floyd NASHVILLE — When the coronavirus (COVID-19) began to spread across the globe, our work as Southern Baptists did not stop. And as we approach and celebrate Cooperative Program Sunday in the SBC on April 26, it’s possible that in our lifetimes,

COVID-19 AS GOD’S INSTRUMENT OF INSTRUCTION

April 20, 2020

By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville The invisible enemy of COVID-19 has brought the most powerful nation(s) in the world to its knees. In fact, COVID-19 is a “global pandemic,” impacting every nation on the globe. We thought our national humbling would come at the hands of a terrorist cell or as a by-product of a dictator gone awry. Little did we know that an unseen germ would

CARING FOR YOURSELF – FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS

April 17, 2020

By Mike Pennington The flight attendant has a definite life-saving purpose when she tells you to put your oxygen mask on first if you’re flying with a small child. In those critical moments of life or death, your life must be safe before you secure the life of others. How secure is your mask today?

THE PATH FROM BROKENESS TO WHOLENESS

April 16, 2020

By Kristi Pennington Three years ago, I found myself running on empty, long before the current pandemic crisis we find ourselves in today. I was a busy minister’s wife. I was involved in things I loved! Bible Study Fellowship came to my town and I got on board. I joined a small church to help meet needs in music and children’s ministries and within the span of a three month

WILL COVID-19 MAKE YOU REEVALUATE PRIORITIES?

April 15, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] COVID-19 has turned lives upside down all over the world. Thousands of people have died and thousands have gotten the disease. Thankfully, many have survived and have recovered from the virus. Millions of people, however, have not gotten the disease but their lives also have changed. Whoever heard of “social distancing” a month ago?

Opinion Column

15 WORSHIP ‘HELPS’ FOR REGATHERING CHURCHES