Wednesday, July 29, 2015

News from the Illinois Baptist

Prayer: Keep it going

God is moving, and his Spirit is stirring people in Illinois to pray. Since the Concert of Prayer at the IBSA Annual Meeting last November, we have heard reports from many places about prayer events. Learn how your church can keep prayer going at IB2news.org.

Unity in the SBC: What threatens it and what brings it

SBC President Ronnie Floyd shared, "One of the greatest challenges we face as a convention of churches is unity. Throughout Scripture, unity is evident. We are called upon to unify, meaning to walk in oneness, to be like-minded, to walk in agreement, and to live in a harmonious manner." Read more at RonnieFloyd.com.

MIO Kits for churches are in the mail!

Mission Illinois Offering Kits were packed and mailed to churches July 27. Thank you to the Illinois Baptist women who volunteered and packed the almost 1,000 kits for IBSA churches all around the state. Find out more about the Mission Illinois Offering and the Week of Prayer September 13-20 at IBSA.org/mio.

The importance of preaching R-rated Bible texts

How are pastors to preach through the Bible when they happen upon passages such as the slaughter of the Amorites, the incest of Lot, or the rape of Dinah. How should they preach Jael jamming a tent-peg through the temple of her sleeping enemy, or Ehud forcibly emptying the bowels of Eglon with his sword. Russell Moore shares how at PreachingToday.com.

Steps to forgive a church . . . or a person

If you've been hurt by a church or another believer, you know the pain can be searing. Sometimes it seems like there's no pain quite like the anguish believers can cause one another. Nevertheless, we must not hold on to that pain. Learn how to address these issues at ChuckLawless.com.

Living Proof Live Simulcast Sept. 12

Dig into Scripture with author and Bible teacher Beth Moore and worship with Travis Cottrell during this Living Proof Live Simulcast experience at the IBSA Building in Springfield! If you've ever enjoyed studying the Word through Beth's Bible studies, you'll love experiencing her teaching via simulcast. Register now at IBSA.org.

IBSA eConnection is a weekly e-newsletter designed to provide Illinois Baptists with useful information and resources. We pray it enriches your ministry and helps your church to grow and minister.