the Proclaim & Defend Podcast

the Proclaim & Defend Podcast
  • 3.7 (3)
  • Christianity

The Proclaim & Defend podcast is the podcast of the Foundations Baptist Fellowship International. We established this podcast to give a voice to our publication, FrontLine Magazine. We hope you enjoy the additional content we provide here. You can subscribe to our magazine via Substack or go to http://fbfi.org/subscribe/ to subscribe to the magazine. proclaimdefend.substack.com

  1. 1d ago

    Fighting Depression and Discouragement in the Ministry

    This seems like such a 21st century topic. It sounds like I am joining the modern legions who are preoccupied with and find comfort in discussions about their mental health. But the springboard for this discussion comes from a text written 150 years ago. It was a recognized problem them, and it still is today—maybe even more so. Every preacher should go back and read Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students. Too often students preparing for ministry read it in college or seminary and then fail to pick it up again. After a decade in ministry (or more) it strikes a more familiar chord than for seminary students. In this article, I am focusing on chapter eleven—“The Minister’s Fainting Fits.” Discouragement is common among those in ministry. Here is how Spurgeon so eloquently admits that he struggled with what we would today call depression. … Read the rest of the article here, or just listen to the podcast. Get full access to the Proclaim & Defend Podcast at proclaimdefend.substack.com/subscribe

  2. 3d ago

    Interview 121: Welfare, Collectivism, and the Christian Vote

    We are discussing the September/October edition of FrontLine called, “Getting Ready to Vote.” Of course, we are writing in light of the upcoming elections in the USA and, as it happens, we are having elections here in the province where I live as well, so our topics seem very timely to me. Today’s conversation is with Ryan Martin, pastor of Columbiaville Baptist Church of Columbiaville, Michigan. Ryan is a long-time online friend so I enjoy talking to him on the podcast. He is writing this time on “Welfare, Collectivism, and the Christian Vote.” What he is doing in the article and in our interview is to help us think about this issue and how to look at candidates for office. How closely do our candidates reflect Christian thinking on this issue? We will likely not find candidates who fully embrace the Bible model for caring for the needy, but the more we understand about the Bible point of view, the better we can analyze those who want our vote. I hope you find the conversation helpful. Before we get into the discussion, let me remind you that Ryan’s article is available on our Substack right away for paying subscribers. We have previews for everyone else. I hope you will join with us and support the ministry of the FBFI by becoming a paying subscriber. The Article: Welfare, Collectivism, and the Christian Vote The Contents & Editorial for the July/August FrontLine: Getting Ready to Vote | FRONTLINE - Proclaim & Defend Get full access to the Proclaim & Defend Podcast at proclaimdefend.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Sep 27

    The Problem is Muslim Nationalism, Not Christian Nationalism

    The Problem is Muslim Nationalism, Not Christian Nationalism Christians are debating Christian nationalism constantly these days, and the political and theological left are fueling that debate. The contours of the argument are difficult to understand because the definitions of Christian nationalism vary widely. The political and theological left seek to disregard any honest discussion of the of the Judeo/Christian thinking that formed the basis of our Republic. They also forbid any participation of Christianity in the public square. The problem with this is that the ethics of Christianity create an unavoidable societal fabric that is inseparable from government and governing if Christianity is genuinely held. Certainly, some are wary of the danger of raising partizan support and patriotism above fealty to Christ—and such a concern is warranted. Peter’s response to the Jewish leaders in Acts 5:29 clearly identifies our ethical limits as believers. However, this does not preclude us from being thankful for the government God has given us, however flawed, because it is still His gift according to Romans 13:1. We also should be loyal to the nation God has given us as good citizens (1 Peter 2:13-14). It is even permissible for believers to be enthusiastic in our thanks and loyalty. What about Muslim nationalism? Islam, wherever it resides, longs for Sharia Law—regardless of which branch of Islam. Sharia Law, and the Constitution of the United States of America are in direct conflict with one another. The reasons for the conflict are found in the differences between the two religions. … Read the rest of this post here, or just listen to the podcast. Get full access to the Proclaim & Defend Podcast at proclaimdefend.substack.com/subscribe

    The Problem is Muslim Nationalism, Not Christian Nationalism

  4. Sep 19

    Interview 120: Immigration: A Biblical Perspective

    Today we begin our look at the September/October edition of FrontLine which is on the topic, “Getting Ready to Vote.” We are thinking about current political issues and how we as Christians should approach them as we decide which candidates to support. The issues aren’t always clear cut, but we hope we can provide something of a Biblical perspective. We will be publishing interviews with our authors in the order of recording, not the order they appear in the magazine. Our first author is Preston Mayes, who is tackling the issue of Immigration in his article, “Immigration: A Biblical Perspective.” Dr. Mayes is professor of Old Testament at Central Baptist Seminary. He introduces us to the subject notably through the eyes of the Old Testament prophets, translating those views to our present circumstances as Christians within a secular state. The topic is a complicated one, and I am not sure we have achieved “the final answer” on the subject, but we hope that at least you can take the Bible in hand and think about the issue of immigration from the Bible perspective. Before we get into the discussion, let me remind you that Preston’s article is available on our Substack right away for paying subscribers. We have previews for everyone else. I hope you will join with us and support the ministry of the FBFI by becoming a paying subscriber. The Article: Immigration: A Biblical Perspective The Contents & Editorial for the July/August FrontLine: Getting Ready to Vote | FRONTLINE - Proclaim & Defend Get full access to the Proclaim & Defend Podcast at proclaimdefend.substack.com/subscribe

  5. Sep 14

    Seven Reasons Why Churches Eventually Fail

    All ministries seem to have a shelf life. It doesn’t have to be that way, but it most often is. The failure that comes at the end does not discount the great accomplishments for Christ over a long history of faithful ministry. However, our desire is to see Christian ministries—especially churches continue to prosper spiritually and in their effectiveness for Christ for as long as possible. One way to persevere in effectiveness is to consider the messages to the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3 and hear the warnings directed toward them. Here are seven reasons that church eventually fail. … Read the whole post here, or just listen to the podcast. Get full access to the Proclaim & Defend Podcast at proclaimdefend.substack.com/subscribe

  6. Sep 7

    Considering 1 Corinthians 6 Before Posting Online

    1 Corinthians 6:1-7 says the following. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren. The FBFI is no stranger to controversy. Our fellowship was born out of a reaction to the doctrinal compromise of the Northern Baptist Convention during the fundamentalist/modernist conflicts of the early 20th century. We have also been very vocal over the last 70 years or so regarding the compromise of New Evangelicalism, as well as compromise and errors within broader fundamentalism and evangelicalism. However, with the advent of the internet, social media, and even this blog site, we have had to seriously consider about how we approach conflicts between Christian brothers and how we approach them. … Read the whole post here, or just listen to the podcast. Get full access to the Proclaim & Defend Podcast at proclaimdefend.substack.com/subscribe

    Considering 1 Corinthians 6 Before Posting Online

  7. Sep 5

    Interview 119: Shaping the Church from the Ground Up

    We are finishing up our conversations on our July/August edition of FrontLine, which was on the subject of building the church: “Built to Grow: Understanding and Advancing the Mission of the Church.” Our guest today is pastor Will Cover, from Houston, TX. His article was called “Shaping the Church from the Ground Up.” One of the unique features of Will’s ministry is his approach to small group Bible studies. I really appreciated the conversation we had. We aren’t offering Will’s ideas as the “only way” to “do church” — whatever that means — but we are giving it as an example. You might not use every idea Will shares, but I am sure you will come away with something that will be a help for your own ministry of building disciples. Before we get into the discussion, let me remind you that Will’s article is available on our Substack right away for paying subscribers. We have previews for everyone else. I hope you will join with us and support the ministry of the FBFI by becoming a paying subscriber. The Article: Shaping the Church from the Ground Up The Contents & Editorial for the July/August FrontLine: FrontLine: Built to Grow: Understanding and Advancing the Mission of the Church Get full access to the Proclaim & Defend Podcast at proclaimdefend.substack.com/subscribe

  8. Aug 31

    Plagiarism and the Preacher

    This seems to be a hot topic these days. After all, it is easy to read someone else’s message on Sunday morning. And AI can write sermons. Also, AI tools now can examine every word every preacher speaks for unattributed quotes or content. It’s daunting to think that members of congregation can be using tools on their phones to evaluate the words of the preacher as he speaks. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and a misunderstanding of the nature of preaching verses the published word or academic paper. So, a few words are in order now, and a fuller development of the subject should follow later. Please read or listen to the end before you criticize. Originality in preaching should not be an expectation. The word of God has been exegeted by hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of preachers over the 2000 years of church history. Libraries are filled with books that explain passages both directly and indirectly. The Word we are commanded to preach is finite in content—bound within the 66 books of the Bible. We are commanded to preach the word of God—not our own creative thoughts or ideas. What should alarm a congregation on Sunday is not when their preacher says things that others have also said, it is when he says things that no other has ever said (someone else said this before me, but I don’t know who). … Read the rest of the article here or just listen to the podcast. Get full access to the Proclaim & Defend Podcast at proclaimdefend.substack.com/subscribe

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Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Proclaim & Defend podcast is the podcast of the Foundations Baptist Fellowship International. We established this podcast to give a voice to our publication, FrontLine Magazine. We hope you enjoy the additional content we provide here. You can subscribe to our magazine via Substack or go to http://fbfi.org/subscribe/ to subscribe to the magazine. proclaimdefend.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    the Proclaim & Defend Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    303
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Foundations Baptist Fellowship International
  • Show Website
    the Proclaim & Defend Podcast

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