Audio Conference for Pastors -- Daniel Akin

Audio Conference for Pastors
January 20 2009

Dr. Bobby Gilstrap interviews Dr. Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

1.  Why do we have so many unhealthy churches?

We have jettisoned the authority and sufficiency of scripture.

Jesus repeatedly affirms the authority of the Word of God, as does Paul after him.

A bishop who is an avowed practicing homosexual is leading prayer in todays inaugural. You cannot get there in the bounds of accepting the authority of scripture.

A NT church is a church that reflects the true teaching of the Bible.

The church to be healthy, must ask, "What does the Bible say about the church?"
Matt 16:13-20; Acts 2:40-47; Eph 4:1-16; 1 Thes 1:1-10

2.  Why do we need a recovery of Word based ministry?

Geo Barna says among evangelicals almost half believe Jesus committed sin while he was on the earth. They also believe that it is possible to work your way to salvation, even through other non-Christian religions.  The only way you can take this position is to either to deny the Bible or be ignorant of the Bible.

We need to teach our people think in rigorous Biblical categories.  We are seeing a young group who are modeling men who are radically committed to expository preaching and theological thinking.  Dr. Johnny Hunt convinced of the necessity of teaching his people theology.

If we have a rigorous word based ministry we could have a real revival of substance in our churches and denomination.

3.  Why do you beieve we need recovery of a regenerate church ministry?

Filling the church with baptized unregenerates opens the door for all types of confusion in the church.

We Baptist have baptized unregenerate adolescents who were not aware of what they were doing when they joined the church.  If you have a church filled w unregenerate members you will have a mess on your hands.  We must do a much better job of explaining the gospel and more rigorous as pastors in making sure people have genuinely believe the gospel.

What are practical tips for transforming an unregenerate membership to a regenerate membership?
1. Word Based Ministry  - expositional
2. Christ Centered Preaching  - gospel focused
3. Narrow the front door of the church. Deal with those who profess to believe the gospel seeking membership. We need to be certain that they understand and are committed to the gospel.

   
4.  Why do yo believe there is a need for recovery of church discipline?

Church discipline should be a natural normal part of the body loving one another and taking care of one another. If you don't have both regenerate church and a disciplined church it will not work.

5. What are the essentials and non negotiables?

1. The Word rightly preached.
2. The Ordinances  need the primacy they received in the early church.
3. Regenerate membership
4. Disciplined
5. Great Commission people who realize their obligation to carry the gospel both across the street and to the nations.