Missouri Baptists honored, thanked for partnership with MBTS during celebration

posted on Sep 19, 2011 by T. Patrick Hudson

Desiring to honor Southern Baptists across the state for their partnership and cooperation in support of Midwestern’s mission, the school held a “Missouri Baptist Day” celebration on Sept. 6.

Present in the chapel service audience for the event were Missouri Baptist Convention leaders, directors of missions, and pastors and staff from churches across the state.  The morning’s guest speaker was Dr. John Marshall, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo.

“We are thankful for our partnership in the Gospel and for the good things Missouri Baptists have helped Midwestern Seminary with over the years,” said Dr. Phil Roberts, MBTS president.  “We are also grateful for the MBC’s vision to plant churches across our state and to encourage churches where the Gospel is preached and the truth is upheld.  So we wanted to take this opportunity to hold a special day to thank all Missouri Baptists for the love, support and prayers with which they continue to bless us.”

In response, Jay Hughes, the MBC’s interim executive director, noted his appreciation and suggested areas that the Seminary family could pray for them.  Hughes said he would appreciate the group’s prayers as the search continues for a permanent executive director and also as they pursue a convention-wide focus on carrying out the Great Commission.

“We at the Missouri Baptist Convention are centering our vision around the Great Commission, so everything we do is with that in mind,” he said. “We are insisting that our churches be missional and to do church planting as we grow and do our part in God’s kingdom. Also as a part of this focus, we appreciate the partnership we have with Midwestern Seminary, and we’ll continue to do everything we can to grow and assist in that partnership.”

Continuing along the Great Commission theme, Marshall, who is also the MBC president, preached a message from John 20:21.  He said that the Great Commission, or what he likes to call the “Great Assignment,” was given by Jesus five times -- in each of the Gospels and in Acts 1:8.  “Jesus obviously meant for us to hear, to understand and to do the ‘Great Assignment,’” he said.  “You have one ‘Great Assignment,’ and that is to take the Gospel to people who’ve never heard it and who don’t know Jesus.”

The pastor then said that because of what Jesus has done, every person can experience peace, and the Great Assignment is carried out when believers proclaim the message. “Christians are the ambassadors for the King throughout the earth to sue for peace,” Marshall said.  “We must tell unbelievers that because of what Jesus has done, their spiritual war can end. They are welcome to come home to the heavenly Father in peace.”

Marshall added that there is a great trade-off when it comes to God’s plan for believers in carrying out the Great Commission. He said that because of His sacrifice at Calvary, Jesus substituted His body for our bodies, and now we are to substitute our bodies for His body.  Jesus spoke through His own vocal cords, walked with His own feet, and used His own hands to minister while on earth, but now He wants to use ours in spreading the Good News.

The speaker noted that there was a problem with this plan, though.  “I know me well.  I know it’s ludicrously impossible for me to ever become Jesus incarnate and replicate His earthly ministry. Thankfully the answer for this comes in verse 22,” Marshall said. That answer is that God gifted man with the Holy Spirit to assist in our assignment.  The Spirit wasn’t just sent to help us with the big things in our mission, rather in everything we do, he added.

“Our power does not come from within ourselves,” Marshall said. “If we ever think that we’ve arrived, that we’re somebody, then we have a problem.  Only God can give spiritual power.  Without the Holy Spirit, you would have never loved Jesus Christ and turned from your sin.  You became a believer because the Holy Spirit pierced your heart and said ‘You need to be born again.’  Once that power is ours, then it is ours throughout all of life…to overcome anything.”

Marshall addressed why the ministries and lives of believers go awry.  He said it’s because the person goes from walking in the Spirit to walking in the flesh.  He said the best way to avoid this fate is to place utter dependence on God’s Holy Spirit.

“It’s not in anything we do,” Marshall said.  It’s only in Him, and when we forget it, we do so at our own peril.  Blessed be the Christian who lives their whole life remembering that it is not in their own strength, but rather from God breathing on them and in them every step of the way that they receive power.”

To hear Marshall’s complete Missouri Baptist Day message, go to MBTS Audio Podcast and scroll to the Sept. 6 entry.