Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
New Video Features Memory of King at Southern Seminary in 1961
A new video from EthicsDaily.com features memories of Martin Luther King Jr.'s appearance at a white Baptist seminary in the early 1960s. "I remember being excited when we were told that Dr. Martin Luther King would be...
Ever Been Homesick?
A sermon delivered by Robert Browning, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky., on January 13, 2013. Isaiah 43:1-7 Have you ever been homesick? I am confident most of us have and know what a miserable feeling it...
This Year, Give the Gift of Friendship
A sermon delivered by Robert Browning, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky., on December 23, 2012. Luke 1:39-45 This morning, our attention is drawn to Mary’s visit to Elizabeth soon after Mary discovered she...
When God Comes Calling
A sermon delivered by Randy Hyde, Pastor, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark. on January 13, 2013. Psalm 29:1-11; Luke 3:15-22 It’s a question I ask every person who comes to me requesting baptism. Young...
Baptized by God’s Spirit
A sermon delivered by Michael Cheuk, Pastor, University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va., on January 13, 2013. Luke 3:15-17, 21-22; Act 8:14-17 What a joy and privilege for us today to witness the baptism of Li...
Great Themes of the Bible: Prayer
A sermon delivered by Joel Snider, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Rome, Ga., on January 13, 2013. Deuteronomy 4:29-31 Morning Prayer: Lord, as your first disciples did, we also ask that you would teach us to pray. ...
Beach Front or Mountain View?
A sermon delivered by Howard Batson, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Tx., on January 13, 2013. John 14:1-6 Beach front or mountain view? Or how about an island retreat? HGTV has a whole slate of shows that...
God’s Unconditional Love Doesn’t Come with an ‘If’
I met a man yesterday who is passionate about his mission. In his lifetime he hopes to bring one billion people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Did you hear that? One billion. This is his approach: he goes to...
3 Ways to Improve Your Religious Literacy
As the 113th Congress was being sworn in, media were covering not only the many problems this legislative body will face in the coming days, but also the new religious diversity that sets this Congress apart from...
Finding Hope by Sharing What You Treasure Most
I first met John Irving's writings in Mali, West Africa. My reading buddy, Joanne, had a wonderful library and a beautiful heart, and she became my literary oasis in our Saharan desert country. One day she handed me a...
Prepared to die?
A January 14 press release from LifeWay Christian Resources caught my eye with a surprising headline: "Survey: Most SBC pastors not prepared to die." I read the release, curious to see if a majority of Southern Baptist...
Why Pastors Will Suffer Fools Gladly
Sightings is supposed to be about "public religion." So what are pastors, ministers, priests and rabbis doing here this week? David Brooks mentioned them Friday in his New York Times column; that is a pretty public...
A New Prayer for a New Year: God Bless This Mess
A minister friend of mine was telling me a few days ago about her daughter who was reluctant to attend yet another Christmas service and who asked with a tired voice, "How many different ways are there to rehash the...
Skype Interview: Bill Wilson Shares Advice for Search Committees
"The most important work you will do is the work you do in preparation for the conversation with your candidates." That's the No. 1 piece of advice Bill Wilson gives church search committees. Wilson, president of the...
Can You Evaluate Your Pastor’s Effectiveness?
The United Methodist denomination is the latest to make the news regarding its efforts to address the clergy effectiveness debate. First, they decided to do away with guaranteed appointments, then decided to continue...
Martin Luther King Jr.: The Inconvenient Hero
Today, Jan. 15, is his birthday, although the national holiday celebrating it will not be until next Monday, Jan. 21. I'm writing, of course, about Martin Luther King Jr., about whom we will be hearing much this year....
What Point of View Guides Your Life?
In the world of novels, editors are constantly quizzing authors about POV (point of view). Establishing POV is vital for two very important reasons. The first is obvious – a strong POV helps the reader follow the...
Tell a friend?
Driving through Cary on a very foggy Friday night, I was especially careful about driving at a safe speed, stopping completely at intersections, and looking both ways before entering the road. That's why I was a bit...
Skype Interview: Zach Dawes on New Role as Managing Editor
"What EthicsDaily offers has a lot of application to a trend that I'm seeing in local church life," says Zach Dawes, EthicsDaily.com's new managing editor, in a Skype interview now live on Vimeo. Skype Interview: Zach...
Who’s Your Hero? Reflections on Assad’s Latest Speech
Many years ago, when I was 12, I took part in a children's summer camp in Switzerland, attended mainly by Lebanese, but also by a dozen Syrian kids. I remember a game where children were asked to declare who their hero...
January Is Human Trafficking Prevention Month; Church Action Needed All Year Long
January is "National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month" by presidential proclamation. Human trafficking "is a crime that amounts to modern-day slavery," said President Obama in his Dec. 31 proclamation....