Category Archives: faith

What Baptists Believe

Posted on January 13, 2014 | Leave a comment

I’m finishing a biography of John D. Rockefeller.  It is 650 pages long- which is about 450 pages beyond sufficient.  I realized that the author- an otherwise excellent writer- doesn’t seem to understand Baptists much.  (Rockefeller joined a Baptist church when young and stayed a Baptist all of his life- though in the more theologically liberal branch.)  Earlier, I read a biography of Harry Truman. (Truman joined a Baptist church when young- though he didn’t stay very connected or influenced.)  The author told me what he had for breakfast on multiple occasions, but hardly spared a word for what Baptists believed.  I doubted that he knew.

I thought to myself, “If those fellows don’t know what Baptists believe, I’ll bet some others don’t either.”  So, here is a brief synopsis.

A couple of quick disclaimers.  Baptist belief in argumentation seems to be overly developed,  so note that there are some differences of opinions about some issues.  Note that this is my belief about Baptists beliefs (as a Baptist believer) and may not necessarily be matched by everyone using that title.  And, these things are believed by many in the broader conservative, Evangelical world.  Also, I can’t cover everything here, so I’ll just focus on a couple of basics.

1.  Baptists believe that the Bible is God’s word Continue reading →

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What Education Can’t Do

Posted on January 6, 2014 | 4 comments

I spent a lot of time getting educated.  Perhaps I needed more of it than most?  I am so thankful for my educational opportunities and commend education to you.  But let me note some inherent limitations.

1.  Education doesn’t make you wise.  My favorite definition of wisdom is “seeing things as God sees them.”  Education can make you smart, but that isn’t the same as making you wise.  Want some tuition-free advice?  Seek wisdom.  (See the book of Proverbs for additional tuition-free advice on the importance of wisdom.)

2.  Education doesn’t make you godly.  Godliness–seeking to be Continue reading →

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Posted in baptist, Christianity, Church, discipleship, education, faith, Uncategorized

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The Heart of the Matter

Posted on December 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

I have treasured Your Word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.   Psalm 119:11

Your heart is critical…

…A friend of mine told me about preaching on the back of a flatbed truck next to Red Square in Moscow some years ago.  The communist government had just fallen and many people there were searching for meaning and purpose.  My friend was put on the back of the truck, given a microphone, and told to preach to the walking masses through a translator. Continue reading →

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Why Johnny Can’t Witness

Posted on October 24, 2013 | 3 comments

10 reasons Johnny can’t share his faith with others.

1. Those video games won’t play themselves.

2. Really, witnessing seems like a lot of work.

3. What if someone gets saved who isn’t elect?

4. What if someone gets re-saved?

5.  What if someone gets re-saved who wasn’t elect the first time? Continue reading →

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Posted in Christianity, evangelism, faith, Uncategorized

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Lessons learned from Dr. Roy Fish

Posted on October 15, 2013 | 3 comments

   I said at the funeral for Dr. Roy Fish last year that I believed him to be the most beloved seminary professor in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention.  I’ve thought of him often in the last year and wanted to note some lessons he still teaches.

Lesson 1-  Talent gets you admired; goodness gets you loved. Continue reading →

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Posted in Christianity, Church, evangelism, faith, preaching, southern baptist convention, Uncategorized

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Consistency (in praise of)

Posted on September 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

   Our church just started a new sermon series called “Immersed: 40 Days to a Deeper Faith”.  We are using the devotional book I wrote by the same title in conjunction with it.  The idea is to read a devotional each day for 40 days and the 2 chapters of the bible each day as it suggests.  By the end of the 40 days we will have read the books of John, Acts and Proverbs.

   Christians often look for a mountaintop experience- and I like mountaintops.  But less often do believers buckle down to the harder work of consistent bible study, prayer and reflection.  May I put in a good word for consistency?

   There is something beneficial in a steady, long walk with God.  Wonderful experiences are, well, wonderful.  Emotional experiences have some merit.  But a consistent walk day by day is not to be overlooked or discounted.  In fact, I suggest that some of the greatest gains of discipleship are made in the consistency of a devotional life each day.

   Feelings come and go; rise and fall.  Emotional responses can be worked up or worked out.  But a consistent walk with the Lord will get you somewhere.  It will get you closer, deeper and stronger. 

  And that is a good destination.

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Small Groups or Bust! 3 Reasons Small Groups Matter in Church Life

Posted on September 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

   I make a big deal out of small groups (we call our Sunday School classes LIFE groups) at FBC O’Fallon, IL.  Why would I even care since I’m not preaching in those classes?  (Insert your own sermon joke punch line.)  Here are 3 important reasons why Christians should be in a small group in their church. 

1.  For Connection.  People are like legos- made for connection.  Small groups allow people to get connected on more personal levels.  You need that connection- even you computer nerds who are socially awkward!  And, more importantly, other people need you.  Small groups allow us to know each other’s names and favorite ice cream flavors.

2.  For Information.  I don’t let people ask questions during the sermon.  I probably wouldn’t know the answer anyway!  But discussions can happen in small groups.  We can sharpen each other and think together.  It is a great way to learn and study and grow.  Attend a small group bible study long enough and you will probably know much more about the bible than you do now.  And that is a good thing.

3.  For inspiration.  Okay, I can’t relate to the pastor.  He’s kind of weird anyway.  But I can sure relate to that guy in the class who is struggling to live out his faith in a hostile work environment.  I can relate to the lady who wants to shine the light of Christ in her life even though she has a suspicious spot on the x-ray.  Those people inspire me- and I hope I can inspire them! 

   I love small groups enough that Vickie and I are going to teach a LIFE group on Saturday nights for the 7 weeks  our church goes through the “Immersed: 40 Days to a Deeper Faith” study beginning this weekend- even though I already preach my sermon 4 times each weekend. 

   Small groups or bust!

 

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When Shallow Christianity Doesn’t Satisfy

Posted on September 3, 2013 | 1 comment

   I’m all for people being babies- when they are actually babies!  But it isn’t as attractive when big boys act like babies. 

   I’m all for Christians being immature.  But if they are still immature after years of faith we have a problem.

   The example I use is the kiddie pool and the high dive.  Permit a brief quote from the introduction of my devotional book “Immersed: 40 Days to a Deeper Faith”. 

   “I still remember my first time jumping off the high dive.

   In the summertime I spent a lot of afternoons at the community pool in my small towns.  Most of my time was spent in the shallow end, splashing and playing with my bothers and friends.  I watched other kids jumping off the diving boards at the deep end of the pool.  It seemed fun and exciting, but too scary for me.

   As the summer progressed, I thought more and more about what it would be like to overcome my fears and worries and plunge into the deep, blue water of the deep end.  I even walked by that area of the pool a few times to calculate the possibilities.  The deep water was so inviting, yet I was so frightened to plunge in…”

  Okay, you can get the book to read the rest.  But suffice it to say that God made us to swim in the deep water of faith.

   Shallow Christianity will never fully satisfy because we long for the deeper faith of spiritual growth.  We need the meat instead of the milk.  We want the diving board instead of the kiddie pool.

   Come on in.  The water is fine!

  

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Just Had My New Baby!

Posted on August 28, 2013 | 11 comments

Okay, I didn’t have the baby.  (Thank you, Lord, that men don’t deliver the babies!)  And, fortunately for Vickie, it wasn’t necessary for her to deliver this one either.

But I did just receive my new devotional book “Immersed: 40 Days to a Deeper Faith”.  She joins “Seven Steps to Becoming a Healthy Christian Leader” and “Warriors in Hiding” in my quiver of book offspring.

Books feel sort of like babies- there is a lot of crying and sleepless nights involved.  And, the labor can be pretty intense- though nothing like real birthing labor, I’m sure.  (Again, thank you, Lord, that men don’t deliver babies!)

I am praying God will use “Immersed: 40 Days to a Deeper Faith” to strengthen churches, small groups and individual believers.  In two weeks, our church will begin this 40 day devotional with accompanying messages and small group lessons.  I hope others will use and benefit from the material as well.

Special thanks to Elmer Towns of Liberty University, Steve Gaines of Bellevue Baptist Church, John Avant of FBC Concord, TN, John Marshall of Second Baptist Springfield, MO, Preston Nix of NOBTS, Gregg Matte of FBC Houston, TX, David Uth of FBC Orlando, FL and author Aaron Broyles for endorsements.  Think of yourselves as godparents.

Here she is!

1-IMG_5840

Isn’t she a pretty baby?

*You can order books from me at dougmunton@yahoo.com for $10 each, or $9 each for 10 or more, or $8 each for 30 or more.  Limited time offer.  (I always wanted to say, “limited time offer”!)

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