Here are some videos about church revitalization. I will be posting more soon.

Back in August, I was invited to record a television program and shoot some video for the Assemblies of God. Both programs were videotaped at the Total Living Network in Aurora, IL.

Larry Griswold and Gary Blanchard from the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God interviewed me for the video. They then took the videos as part of a bigger program and showed it to over a thousand leaders in different meetings throughout the region.

To load them on YouTube, I combined them based on length so each video (after the introductory one) is between 5-10 minutes.

Thanks, Larry and Gary, for the chance to serve your churches and permission to share these videos with my blog readers.

I have included all the videos below.

Introductions, The State of the Church in the U.S, Re-Focusing on the Lost

The Bridge to What God Desires, The Keys to Change

The First 100 Days of Change

The Role of Leadership/Teamwork

Mistakes to Avoid

A Word to Denominational Leaders - Making it About the Mission, Not the Machine

I just landed in San Antonio and am getting ready to talk about missional church issues all day tomorrow with a couple hundred younger pastors in San Antonio. I will blog more on that tomorrow, but I just received Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox for the week.

Some interesting things this week:

Scott McKnight, professor and leading emerging church blogger, has an insightful article on evangelism and the importance of connecting the Great Commission to the Great Commandment. You can read it here.

Tim Keller is also quoted in the Toolbox:

"The theory that there is a God who made all of the world accounts for the evidence we see better than the theory that there is no God. Those who argue against the existence of God go right on using induction, language, and their cognitive faculties, all of which makes far more sense in a universe in which a God has created and supports them all by his power.�? - Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (Dutton Adult, 2008)

Prediction: tomorrow, this newsletter will be cited on certain blogs as proof that Purpose Driven (Warren), Emerging (McKnight), and Missional (Keller) are really all the same heresy. Grin.
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Anyway, there is also an article there (in the fine print) by Mike Dodson and me (primarily Mike, truth be told). You can read it here or I have included it below.

The article comes from a conversation Rick and I had a few months ago. Mike and I found it remarkable that 50% of the 324 pastors we surveyed mentioned a Warren resource in their survey response. The graph tells the story-- click here to open in a new window.

So, we wrote this article which you might find helpful. We wrote:

Today I am in Bowling Green, KY teaching at First Baptist Church, Bowling Green for the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

Here is a photo of the conference from inside the sanctuary of First Baptist. There were about 350 people at the conference and the KBC announced that they are creating a process around our book, Comeback Churches. You can download the PowerPoint here.

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Now, you keen students of history know that First Baptist is an important part of the history of the Southern Baptist Convention.

And, since I like to give a "little extra" on the blog...

First Baptist was a key part of what is knows as the Landmark Baptist movement.

Wikipedia explains Landmarkism:

Most theologians and historians who have dealt with Landmarkism have agreed that the following ecclesiological convictions were inherent to the system:

The exclusive validity of Baptist churches

Although different champions of the Landmark Baptist cause have identified different required characteristics, or "marks," that validate a legitimate Baptist church, all varieties of Landmarkism stipulate that legitimate Baptist churches are the only legitimate churches. According to Landmarkism, congregations of other denominational varieties are merely religious gatherings, or "societies," with no claim to the title "church."

The invalidity of non-Baptist churchly acts

Landmark Baptists have refused to recognize as valid any baptisms or ordinations performed in circumstances other than under the auspices of a Baptist church. Thus, Landmark Baptists have declined to allow non-Baptists to preach in Landmark Baptist churches and have required prospective members who have received "pedobaptism" or "alien immersion" to be baptized by a Baptist church before receiving them into membership. Expressed as a syllogism, the Landmark Baptist argument is:

Major premise: To be valid, Christian ordinations and baptisms must be performed by a valid New Testament church.

Minor premise: Only valid Baptist churches are valid New Testament churches.

Conclusion: Therefore, only ordinations and baptisms performed by valid Baptist churches are valid Christian ordinations and baptisms.

The leaders of the Landmark movement were at times called "The Great Triumvirate," made up of J.R. Graves, James Madison Pendleton, and Amos Cooper Dayton.

James Pendleton was the pastor of First Baptist in Bowling Green. His work, Old Landmark Reset, is a foundational document for Southern Baptist Landmarkism. You can download the entire book here, and be sure to note the subtitle: "Ought Baptists to Invite Pedobaptists to Preach in Their Pulpits?"

However, Pendleton did not hold the same views as some other Landmarkers, particularly on "Baptist successionism."

Baptist Successionism

Some Landmark Baptists (not all) believed that the true church could be traced back all the way to John the Baptist. They wanted a view of "succession" that focused on baptism (hence Baptist Successionism). Some saw this as a response to the view of Apostolic Succession, or the belief that Peter ordained (Pope) Linus ordained (Pope) Anacletus... eventually ordained the current pope. I tend to think it had more to do with the Stone Campbell movement's "restoration" views-- Baptists wanted to show they had nothing to "restore." They were always here.

Landmark Baptists believed that the early Christians baptized each other properly. But, they believed, error soon crept in on issues such as baptism. But, some believed there was always a remnant, a "trail of blood." So, the Montanists baptized the Donatists, who baptized the Paulicians... eventually baptizing Southern Baptists.

You can click here to download the chart with all the details. (As a young pastor, I once preached at a rural North Carolina church with this very chart painted on the wall.)

James Milton Carroll, decades later, wrote The Trail of Blood, telling the full story from the Landmark Baptist successionism perspective. You can download the whole book/pamphlet here. Over 2 million copies were published and its influence on the denomination was profound.

Some people mistakenly equate successionism with Landmark ecclesiology although, as with Pendleton, one can be the latter without being the former.

So What is Landmark Baptist Ecclesiology?

Theopedia explains in more detail:

The impetus for the movement was the publication of Pendleton's An Old Landmark Reset in 1854, and the Cotton Grove meeting of Baptists in 1851. The meeting at the Cotton Grove Baptist Church near Jackson, Tennessee sought to answer five questions:

"(1.) Can Baptists with their principles on the Scriptures, consistently recognize those societies not organized according to the Jerusalem church, but possessing different government, different officers, a different class of members, different ordinances, doctrines and practices as churches of Christ?

(2.) Ought they to be called gospel churches or churches in a religious sense?

(3.) Can we consistently recognize the ministers of such irregular and unscriptural bodies as gospel ministers?

(4.) Is it not virtually recognizing them as official ministers to invite them into our pulpits or by any other act that would or could be construed as such recognition?

(5.) Can we consistently address as brethren those professing Christianity who not only have not the doctrine of Christ and walk not according to his commandments but are arrayed in direct and bitter opposition to them?"

The emphasis of Landmarkism is:

-that the church is local and visible only;

-that the church has had a continuous existence since its organization by Jesus before Pentecost until the present day (sometimes called Baptist successionism or church perpetuity);

-that the Great Commission was given to the church (local churches) only; and

-that baptism and the Lord's supper are church ordinances and are only valid when performed by authority of a New Testament (Baptist) church.

So, today I spent that day at a church that was part of a movement... interesting indeed.

Although I am not teaching history today, I thought you might find it interesting!

Here is a picture of the baptistry. It is big-- very big. I am guessing 8 people could fit in there. There is a dome over it and it is the most distinct feature in the sanctuary (which, makes sense, considering the info above).

Recently, I inadvertently said good things about Pentecostals and Presbyterians, so let me atone by sharing a few SBC updates:

Junior Hill

One of the things I love about my job is the chance to meet with and learn from great men and women of God. One such person is Junior Hill.

I had dinner with Dr. Hill in Orlando last week. We talked about the gospel, evangelism, Calvinism, the emerging church, and the diet that helped him lose an amazing 125 pounds.

My favorite moments came when he told the stories of men and women he had led to Christ. My guess is that tens of thousands have trusted Christ at a meeting preached by Junior Hill. I was honored to spend time with a man of his character and passion.

Rob Zinn Speaks to Southern Baptists

Rob Zinn, well known leader in SBC life and former head of the SBC Executive Committee, joins a chorus of voices calling for cooperation around God's mission. We both spoke to the Oklahoma Missional Ministry Summit in Moore, OK.

While there, Rob said to the attendees:

We got into this big battle in 1979 over the Bible. But I'm here to tell you, we won that battle! What we need to do is get on with the rest of life. We need to quit fighting a battle that's been won and get back to doing the main thing; which is the main thing, and that's winning people to Jesus, evangelizing the world, and starting missions and going out and doing what God told us to do. That's what we NEED to be doing! When there's a battle to be won, then we ought to get together. But folks, when the battle is over, then we need to quit beating people over the head with it and get down to the basics of ministry. And the basics of ministry is not politics, it's JESUS!

Comeback Churches

The Kentucky Baptist Convention is turning our book, Comeback Churches, into a process. Should be interesting...

Johnny Hunt
I had some time with Johnny Hunt this morning who is increasingly concerned with our denomination's lack of focus. He shared with me: "We can get 45,000 people to a convention to declare the Bible is true but we can't get 10,000 to a convention to live it out--we have lost our focus on the main thing.�?

If you have not yet signed up, let me encourage you to come with Johnny, me, and a host of other people at his Bonfire Conference. We talked a bit about the conference and its focus. We are going to talk much about church transformation and revitalization. It will definitely be worth your time.

John 3:16 Conference

Speaking of Johnny Hunt, his church (First Baptist Church of Woodstock) is hosting a conference with some of the great preachers of our day.

My friend Steve Lemke sent me this note today. As Steve has indicated, there has been some buzz about this in the blogs. Steve gave me permission to post his note that gives some more details about the meeting.

Steve explains:

Ed,

I'm sure you're aware of my involvement in the upcoming John 3:16 conference scheduled November 6-7 at FBC Woodstock.

The conference will begin and end with sermons on John 3:16 by Dr. Jerry Vines and by Dr. Charles Stanley. In between, Southern Baptist scholars will be presenting a Biblical response to the well-known tenets of the Presbyterian Synod of Dort:
• Total Depravity - Dr. Paige Patterson (SWBTS)
• Unconditional Election - Dr. Richard Land (ERLC)
• Limited Atonement - Dr. David Allen (SWBTS)
• Irresistible Grace - Dr. Steve Lemke (NOBTS)
• Perseverance of the Saints - Dr. Ken Keathley (SEBTS)

This conference is intended as a majoritarian Southern Baptist response to the "Building Bridges�? and "Together for the Gospel�? conferences. The announcement of this conference has already provoked considerable buzz and speculation in the blogosphere.

Hope you'll join us!

Steve Lemke

I can't go, but there are some good men sharing and I trust it will bring honor to God and a focus on the Great Commission.

That is something upon which we can all agree.

Heading Home

I just finished preaching at the Southern Baptists Conservatives of Virginia Evangelism Conference (tonight) and the State Convention of Baptists Evangelism Conference (yesterday), so now I am on my way home.

I must confess. I do love encouraging SBC pastors to engage their communities for the gospel. It is good to be around the family with common values, passions, and an abiding love for fried chicken.

Are we perfect? No. But, I believe that the SBC is increasingly more focused on God's global mission and cooperating more effectively. That is good news.

I am trusting that I made much of the cross and Jesus in my message tonight. That's my passion and, I hope, our purpose.

So, here I am in California teaching a seminar built around my book, Comeback Churches.

It is called the "The Comeback Challenge."

It is a great conference so far-- Nelson Searcy, Voddie Baucham, and several other pastors. You can download the PowerPoint I used at www.comebackchurches.com.

And, who shows up to teach the last session of the Comeback Challenge? Rick Warren. He steals my last session and starts talking about my stuff!!! UGH.

Can't he write his own stuff?!?!?

Last month, it was announced he was speaking at the Exponential Conference, again following me around. Sigh.

Stop stalking me Rick!

He's OK at teaching my stuff... and he even brought a little of his own. Grin.

We are doing dinner tonight and then a panel for a smaller group.

Here are a few quotes (written on the fly, but I think they are pretty accurate) from when Rick spoke.

You want to make them doers of the word and not just hearers.

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Jesus led people from "come and see" to "deny yourself and take up the cross" to "eat my body and drink my blood." That takes a while and it takes a plan.

Some of you are "come and see preachers�? and your people need you to lead people to "eat my body and drink my blood.�? They need you to lead them to harder truths. You need a plan to move people to high commitment of "denying yourself" and "eat my body and drink my blood.�?

Some of you are "eat my body and drink my blood preachers�? and you need a plan to help people "come and see.�? Church is all about bringing people closer and closer to Christ.
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Saddleback may be the most spiritual mature church in the nation... we have more people in small groups than we have in Sunday morning worship... we have 13842 tithers... over 14,000 people having a daily quiet time... the over 15,000 people who are serving in ministry...
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Teaching a sermon will not disciple people... it is not enough.
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Spiritual growth is incarnational... it's Christ in you... it is helping people let Christ live through them... Christ in you the hope of Glory.
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There are three dangers: hedonism, materialism, and secularism-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

If you have been in the minsitry 10 to 20 years and kept your pants on, I honor you.
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Prosperity gospel: don't ever put an adjective in front of gospel: Prosperity gospel, social gospel.

The gospel is good news: Christ died and was resurrected for our sins.
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[Referring to the temptation of Jesus] The plan was that Jesus would be worshiped because he died on a cross not because he jumped off the temple.

I am on the way to California today for a conference called "The Comeback Challenge." I have never had a conference named for my book before, so it is a little intimidating! They are giving away a free copy of Comeback Churches to each attendee.

I have been told that a very special guest is going to show up but I don't see him on the schedule, so I better wait for the folks in charge to make that announcement.

More soon...

I am at the annual conference of the American Society for Church Growth at Biola University.

I have been visiting with friends and listening to a couple of seminars.

George Hunter, Art McFee, and I ended up on the same flight. I offered to drive them to the meeting and George bought lunch. We had a good time talking about books and projects, past and future.

George wrote The Celtic Way of Evangelism and a bunch of other books. Art wrote Friendship Evangelism before other people put those words together (and has written several other books as well).

Tonight we had an Executive Committee meeting with George Hunter, Chip Arn, Elmer Towns, Gary McIntosh, and several others. These men have written so many of the books that adorn my shelves, it is intimidating to serve with them. But, they have a great love for the church and a passion to reach the lost.

This year's theme is "Church Growth and the Real World: Leadership Successes, Failures, and the Future." I'll be leading a session on "Leadership Lessons from Comeback Churches" on Friday.