“It matters little if there is frost on the roof if there is fire in the boiler.”
Harold Gregory, Local Missions: Keystone of All Missions, 1949
A Word to the Wise by Harold Gregory, Founder of SBCAL
“It matters little if there is frost on the roof if there is fire in the boiler.” Harold Gregory, Local Missions: Keystone of All Missions, 1949
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A Word to the Wise: Barna Study Finds 2 in 3 Pastors Struggle with Porn
Barna’s groundbreaking study, Beyond the Porn Phenomenon—produced in partnership with Pure Desire Ministries— found that two in three pastors (67%) say that they've struggled with pornography use at some time in their life, and one in five (18%) would say that it's currently an issue. The larger cultural statistic Barna found is that 58 percent of Christians use porn. In a culture saturated with sexual content, it’s no surprise that pornography affects many inside the Church—including those in leadership. But what’s often missing in the conversation is honesty, hope and a clear way forward. Barna email, 6.3.25, 2 in 3 Pastors Struggle with Porn A Word to the Wise: How to Handle Tough Conversations (Dan Reiland)
3 guidelines to help you prepare for the tough conversation: 1) Learn the power of one sentence. When we’re anxious during a challenging conversation, we tend to over-talk. We talk all around the core of the real issue, and we end up not being direct enough to accomplish the purpose of the moment. In the vast majority of those tough moments, the heart of the entire situation is best delivered in one sentence. 2) Understand the secret behind the moment. It’s not really a secret, but we don’t talk about this very often. When you try to power up to get through the tough moments on your own, you will typically overdo it and therefore not realize the outcome you hoped for. The “secret” is in the preparation and involves how you engage God. When you invite God into the process of a difficult conversation, you gain a quiet confidence that translates to spiritual strength in the moment. 3) Measure your outcome by inner peace, not outer perfection. As I mentioned, the outcomes are never guaranteed. The other person or group can choose their response. But when you enter into the tough moment with inner peace, the potential for great results increases exponentially. When you enter in unsure, you will not likely gain the results you pray for. When you are clear, and at peace with God, you have done your best and need to leave the outcomes to Him. Experience may be gained slowly because you don’t practice this on a daily basis. But the companion to tough conversations are honest conversations, and they can happen often and will help you become better at the tough ones. Dan Reiland, 5.26.25, How to Handle Tough Conversations, https://danreiland.com/how-to-handle-tough-conversations/ A Word to the Wise: 8 Ways to Pray for Missionaries, Chuck Lawless
A Word to the Wise: The Root of Words, by Paul David Tripp
James unequivocally declares that our communication problems cannot be solved by normal human means. Changes in location, situation, education, training, exercise, or the nature of the relationship will not solve the problem. What we speak is directly related to what we want. Our words are one means to get what is important to us. An idolatrous heart produces words that serve the idols that grip us, which are often destructive and hurtful to others who stand in the way of our idols. Word problems reveal heart problems. The people and situations around us do not make us say what we say; they are only the occasion for our hearts to reveal themselves in words. How does this change begin? James 4:7-10 holds the answer. Change begins at the level of the heart. Our passions, desires, thoughts, and motives must change. We must renounce the idols that have replaced God and turn our hearts back to him so that our words will reflect a heart ruled by God alone. Because Jesus died, this transforming grace is freely available right here, right now. Paul David Tripp, 5.14.25, Wednesday’s Word, https://www.paultripp.com/wednesdays-word/posts/the-root-of-words A Word to the Wise: 8 Reasons We Can’t Give Up on Our Non-Believing Friends
A Word to the Wise: Love Through Punctuality: Why Being on Time Matters
3 Reasons Why Being on Time Matters 1. Punctuality Is a Form of Love “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2 2. Punctuality Reflects Integrity “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No,’ no.” – Matthew 5:37 3. Punctuality Is Part of Your Witness “So that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Strategies for Punctuality The heart is the most important part of this thing, that’s why I began with the “why.” But here are some super practical ways to be better at being on time.
A Word to the Wise: Ken Sande
One of the best ways to improve your relationships is to develop the habit of drawing attention to EGGs. Not the ones you cook or search for at Easter, but the innumerable Evidences of God’s Grace that he lavishes on you and those around you … and calls you to recount to others. Ken Sande, 4.16.25, One Simple Habit That Transforms Relationships A Word to the Wise:
The Bible calls us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. This is a better framework for thinking about the Bible than "applying" its principles to our lives. I believe there's a better word than "apply," and that's "transform." In fact, I can't think of any passage in the Bible that instructs us to apply the Bible to our lives as I have described it above. It's simply not the verb used. Sometimes, we are called to hear, obey, and keep God’s commands. At other times, there are other words like "being transformed from one level of glory to another" or "growing in knowledge," and such words name the general way in which we grow in the word. What's a better general term than application? I believe we need to consider the words "contemplation" and "transformation." When you contemplate the Bible, you reflect on what it says so that it can transform you from the inside out. This aligns with how the Bible talks about transformation. For example, Romans 12 says, "Don't be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." What happens is that when you reflect on Scripture, you contemplate in your mind what is being said about reality, and you come to know what is true about reality—whether that's about yourself or the world around you. So rather than asking, "How do I apply this Bible passage to my life?" we might ask, "How does contemplating this truth transform how I see reality?" When we do this, the Bible doesn't become a manual for extracting principles; it becomes a lens through which we see the world as it truly is—created, fallen, and being redeemed by God. Through contemplation, the Bible transforms us from the inside out, renewing our minds and changing how we interact with everything from the stars above to the miracle of new life. I am not saying “applying” the Bible is bad. I simply think there is a better way to generalize what we are doing when we read the Bible to know God. We read to be transformed from the inside out by what we have contemplated in his word and world. Wyatt Graham, 4.2.25, Don’t Apply the Bible to Your Life. Do This Instead. (One of Trevin’s Seven, 4.11.25) Cooperation as a Southern Baptist Distinctive…One of Four Things to Know This Week, April 10, 20254/10/2025 A Word to the Wise: A Simple Truth to Fight Temptation (Chuck Lawless)
Here is the way Jesus taught us to pray about temptation: “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt 6:13). Albert Mohler, my president for many years when I served at Southern Seminary, notes these conclusions about this text:
Chuck Lawless, 3.28.25, A Simple Truth to Fight Temptation |
SubscribeAuthorI’m Ray Gentry, the President/CEO of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL). I’ve served Southern Baptist churches & associations in various roles for over 35 years. I have served as an associational leader for five associations, starting in 1993. The most recent one being the Southside Baptist Network, McDonough, GA. Categories
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