Thursday, April 17, 2014

• Final days of Jesus' life explored; critics challenged

  by David Roach, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  

  Image courtesy of LifeWay Christian Resources

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- In A.D. 33 Jerusalem was a political powder keg ready to explode. More than ever, Jews expected a Messiah who would overthrow their hated Roman oppressors. In turn, the Roman Empire was spring loaded to pounce on any rivals to Caesar at the first sign of trouble.

  Into that milieu came an itinerant rabbi from Nazareth, riding into town for Passover on a donkey and being proclaimed by the crowds as the promised Messiah. Within days one of two things would surely happen: either He would overthrow the Romans or suffer a brutal death. Read More

• Attacks don't hinder Ukrainian Christians

  by Marc Ira Hooks, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  

  Photo by Marc Ira Hooks

  DONETSK, Ukraine (BP) -- Christians gathering to pray near a political rally site in one of Ukraine's eastern cities have come under numerous attacks -- even gunfire -- from protesters. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: From tragedy to tourism

  by Marc Ira Hooks, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  

  IMB photo

  KIEV, Ukraine (BP) -- Just a month after the fiery riots now known as Euromaidan occurred in Kiev's Independence Square, I visited Ukraine's capital. I was there less than a year before this most recent trip, but that was a different time -- a different Kiev. Read More

• Moore, Obama meet on immigration reform

  by Tom Strode, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  

  White House file photo by Pete Souza

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Southern Baptist ethicist Russell D. Moore and other religious leaders have met with President Obama to discuss the continuing effort to pass immigration reform this year. Read More

• Hiring policies updated at Southern Seminary

  by James A. Smith Sr., posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  

  SBTS photo

  LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- In order to continue to "attract and retain a first-class academic faculty," President R. Albert Mohler Jr. said, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's board of trustees approved updates to faculty employment policies and unified the graduate and undergraduate faculties during its April 14-15 meeting. Read More

• Baptists minister to fire victims in Chile

  by Daniela Ramirez, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  

  IMB map by Ricardo Green

  VALPARAÍSO, Chile (BP) -- Baptists in Chile are providing food, supplies and the hope of Christ to victims of a large and fast-moving forest fire that has killed 15 and displaced at least 12,000 people in Valparaíso, Chile. Read More

• Bible Study: April 20, 2014

  by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

  This week's Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum.*

  Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

  Discussion Questions: When you hear the word "victory," what comes to mind? W... Read More

• CALL TO PRAYER: 'Lord, prepare me to be ...'

  by Jimmy Draper, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  As our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, the church is the body of Christ. "Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary," should be our prayer, says Jimmy Draper, president emeritus of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Read More

• EDITORIAL: ¿Recuerdas? Tetelestai

  by Luis R. López, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  Consumado es. Esta fue la expresión del original griego que Jesús expresó momentos antes de morir en la cruz del calvario. Por un lado se refería al sufrimiento y a la vida terrenal del Maestro. ... Read More

• Se exploran facetas ignoradas en la historia de la Pascua

  Por David Roach, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- En el año 33 d.C. Jerusalén era un barril de pólvora política listo para explotar. Más que nunca, los judíos esperaban a un Mesías que derrotara a los odiados opresores romanos. A cambio, el Imperio Romano estaba listo para aplastar a cualquier rival del César a la menor señal de disturbio.

  

  Imagen por cortesía de LifeWay Christian Resources

  A ese ambiente llegó el rabí itinerante de Nazaret, montado en un burro al entrar a la ciudad para celebrar la Pascua y ser proclamado por las multitudes como el Mesías prometido. En cuestión de días una de dos cosas habría de pasar: derrotaría a los romanos o sufriría una muerte brutal.

  Este es uno de los muchos momentos dramáticos y teológicamente ricos en la Semana de la Pasión, enfatizados en "Los últimos días de Jesús," una armonización publicada por Crossway que contiene los cuatro relatos bíblicos de la semana anterior a la Pascua. Tomando materiales de Mateo, Marcos, Lucas y Juan, Andreas Kostenberger, profesor del Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary y escritor popular de un blog, junto con Justin Taylor, presentan la última semana de vida terrenal de Cristo como una sola historia unificada. La apodan "la semana más importante de la persona más importante que haya vivido."

  Explican el significado teológico de los eventos claves y enfatizan los hechos que los estudiantes de la Biblia frecuentemente ignoran en la Semana de la Pasión.

  "Como un erudito en la Biblia, y como cristiano, quiero saber lo que puedo saber de la Biblia y de la vida de Jesús tan precisamente como sea posible," dijo Kostenberger en una entrevista con el pastor y autor Chris Brauns. ... Read More

• Moore ve el matrimonio necesitado del modelo pro-vida

  Por Tom Strode, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Los defensores del significado bíblico y tradicional del matrimonio deberían tomar una página del manual del movimiento pro-vida, dice el líder en ética bautista del sur Russell D. Moore. Read More

• 'Luna roja' no es una señal, dicen profesores bautistas

  Por David Roach, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- La predicción del televangelista John Hagee de que una serie de eclipses lunares "lunas rojas" señalan un "evento mundial estremecedor" es una mala interpretación de la Biblia, dijeron dos profesores bautistas. Read More

• Dilbeck de OKC a ser nominado como 2º vicepresidente

  Por el personal, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  

  WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP) -- El pastor de Oklahoma City Hance Dilbeck será nominado en junio como segundo vicepresidente de la Convención Bautista del Sur, anunció el expresidente de la CBS, Johnny Hunt. Read More

• EDITORIAL: ¿Recuerdas? Tetelestai

  Por Luis R. López, posted Thursday, April 17, 2014 (10 years ago)

  Consumado es. Esta fue la expresión del original griego que Jesús expresó momentos antes de morir en la cruz del calvario. Por un lado se refería al sufrimiento y a la vida terrenal del Maestro. ... Read More