Category: Christianity

Matt Capps Biblical Theology, Books, Christian Theology, Christianity, Culture, Faith, LifeWay, LifeWay Church Resources, Pastoral Ministry, Religion, The Southern Baptist Convention, Theology

Isaiah: Free Advent Devotinals

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I recently wrote a series of devotionals through Isaiah for LifeWay.

Advent is a special and important time to reflect on the birth of Jesus and everything Jesus came to do. The goal for using the devotionals,

  • Draw your family closer around the birth of Christ
  • Help you develop fresh appreciation for why Christ came
  • Adopt a purpose- and mission-filled approach to the busy Christmas season.

I encourage you to not only use it for your family but to share it with other families in your study groups.

You can download them here. 

Matt Capps Christian Theology, Christianity, Faith, Pastoral Ministry, The Great Commission Resurgence, The Southern Baptist Convention, Theology

Young Pastors Network of North Carolina

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If you are planning on being at the NC Baptist State Convention, consider participating in a gathering for Young Pastors?

John Mark Harrison and I are hosting a gathering titled “The Young Pastors Network”, a meeting for pastors, led by pastors.

The purpose being, to connect the next generation of Great Commission-minded SBC pastors in the state of North Carolina.

This gathering will be focused on building relationships, learning from each other, and discussing how we can steward our future together. The discussion will center around questions like:

  • Where do you go for resources, tips, and training?
  • How are you developing leaders in your church?
  • How do you keep yourself fresh to do ministry with a full tank?
  • How are you engaging your community with the Gospel?
  • How are you leading culture change in your church?
  • What is the best way for us to cooperate to strengthen our future?

After the gathering, you can grab dinner and return to the convention hall to hear David Platt preach the convention sermon.

B&H Publishing and Crossway are providing free books (a $55 value) for each attendee.

 There will also be light snacks! To sign up for the meeting, click on the link below.

Sign Up For The Young Pastors Network Gathering

Matt Capps Biblical Theology, Christian Theology, Christianity, Faith, Gospel, LifeWay, LifeWay Church Resources, Pastoral Ministry, The Gospel Project, The Great Commission Resurgence, The Southern Baptist Convention, Thoughts

The Gospel of Jesus in Jonah

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What does Jonah have to do with Jesus? Here is one thought…

“The good news of the gospel is that Jesus has provided a way of salvation. Jesus (though He did not deserve it like Jonah did) hurled himself into the storm of God’s wrath so that you and I might be saved. When Jesus sunk to the depths of death on our behalf, he made it possible for us to arrive safely on the shore of eternity. That is not only good news for us; it’s also good news for those around us.”

This is an excerpt from a reflection on the gospel of Jesus in the book of Jonah that I wrote for The Gospel Project. You can read the whole thing here.

Matt Capps Biblical Theology, Christian Theology, Christianity, Faith, Gospel, Pastoral Ministry, Religion, The Great Commission Resurgence, The Southern Baptist Convention, Theology

A Story Of Discipleship

Today our church celebrated her 26th anniversary! During our time of worship, my sermon focused on our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ”. This story captures the relational nature of that mission.

By the power of God, equipped with the word of God, the people of God can accomplish the mission of God.

Matt Capps Christian Theology, Christianity, Culture, Faith, Gospel, Pastoral Ministry, Philosophy, Religion, The Southern Baptist Convention, Theology, Thoughts

Eugene Peterson and The Pastoral Imagination

There is something special about pastoring a local church.

Being called to shepherd a local congregation and being a part of a particular church family is a blessing.

In the American church we often hold the megachurch pastors in high esteem becuase of the breadth of their influence. This is something we can be thankful for, if they steward their influence well.

However, let us not forget that the depth of ministry in a local community – through a local congregation – is a powerful witness to the kingdom of God.

While local church ministry happens in obscurity, it has profound implications on eternity.

In the past few years I have come to appreciate the ministry of Eugene Peterson. His writings have profoundly shaped my pastoral imagination.

Take a few minutes and watch this video from Nav Press and you will see why. Also, if you have not read any of Peterson’s books – I encourage you to do so. Here is a link to his Amazon Author’s Page.

Matt Capps Biblical Theology, Christian Theology, Christianity, Faith, Gospel, Pastoral Ministry, Religion, The Southern Baptist Convention, Theology, Thoughts

Community (Part 2)

As stated in my last post, I recently contributed to a free 10-week Bible study for the North Carolina Baptist State Convention called Patterned. This curriculum explores what it means to be a disciple-maker.

This free curriculum includes a downloadable workbook and videos for each session. Here is a list of the topics covered in the curriculum. I wrote the sessions for week 6 on community.

Week 1: Praying for the Lost
Week 2: Defining Evangelism and Discipleship
Week 3: Studying the Bible
Week 4: Telling your Story
Week 5: Gospel Conversations
Week 6: Community
Week 7: Unreached People Groups
Week 8: Ministry Opportunities/Storying
Week 9: Living Intentionally
Week 10: Transformation, not Information; Sending

Visit the website to find out more: Patterned 

Matt Capps Biblical Theology, Christian Theology, Christianity, Faith, Gospel, Pastoral Ministry, Religion, The Southern Baptist Convention, Theology, Thoughts

Community (Part 1)

I recently contributed to a free 10-week Bible study for the North Carolina Baptist State Convention called Patterned. This curriculum explores what it means to be a disciple-maker.

This free curriculum includes a downloadable workbook and videos for each session. Here is a list of the topics covered in the curriculum. I wrote the sessions for week 6 on community.

Week 1: Praying for the Lost
Week 2: Defining Evangelism and Discipleship
Week 3: Studying the Bible
Week 4: Telling your Story
Week 5: Gospel Conversations
Week 6: Community
Week 7: Unreached People Groups
Week 8: Ministry Opportunities/Storying
Week 9: Living Intentionally
Week 10: Transformation, not Information; Sending

Visit the website to find out more: Patterned 

Matt Capps Biblical Theology, Christian Theology, Christianity, Culture, Faith, Gospel, Pastoral Ministry, Philosophy, Religion, Theology, Thoughts

The Neglect Of Beauty in Theology

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The Gospel Coalition just published my newest article titled “5 Reasons Christians Neglect Beauty In Theology“.

To be human is to have a sense of beauty. Beauty demands our attention. There is no way, then, to escape the aesthetic task.

If the practice of aesthetics is the responsibility of every person, it’s especially true of Christians. Doing aesthetics isn’t so much a theological option as a theological necessity.

It’s no stretch to argue that the evangelical church has largely neglected theological inquiry into the nature of beauty and aesthetics. Most reflection and writing on these subjects come from professionals in philosophy and in the specialized field of aesthetics. Christians are largely on the sidelines. This should not be.

Here are the five factors that have contributed to the lack of distinctly evangelical contributions to the conversation. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Matt Capps Biblical Theology, Christian Theology, Christianity, Faith, Gospel, Pastoral Ministry, Religion, The Southern Baptist Convention, Theology, Thoughts

Pastors, Let Your Deacons Serve

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I recently wrote a post titled Pastors, Let Your Deacons Serve at For The Church. 

A few weeks ago I was having lunch with the chairman of our deacons when he casually made a comment that revisited me throughout the day. Our conversation was focused on several upcoming opportunities and decisions that would require preparation and administrative work. As we were making a list of things to do, I “offered” to take care of the tasks so that he would not have to bother with them.

With wisdom and gentleness, he said, “Matt, I know you like to take control. I know you work hard and like to take charge of these things, but allow me to do this.” The operative word in that comment was “control”. In that moment the Holy Spirit quickly revealed that my “offer” was actually a manifestation of my idolatrous bow to control.

Read the rest here.

Matt Capps Adoption, Biblical Theology, Christian Theology, Christianity, Culture, Faith, Gospel, Pastoral Ministry, Religion, Theology, Thoughts

This Is My Son.

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This is our precious son.

We have taught him about MLK, and that Americans have not always been nice to brown skinned people.

But, it breaks my heart to think that one day I will have to fully explain to him the complex brokenness of our world.

One day I will have to fully explain our country’s disgraceful history of racial discrimination.

One day I will have to help him understand that we, as a country, have not fully moved beyond these racial issues.

Thankfully, I will also get to point him to the coming day that we read about in Revelation 21.

The day when our loving Father “will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things will have passed away.”

On that day, God will “make all things new.”

On that day every believer, from every “tribe and people”, will “stand before the throne and before the Lamb”, as one (Revelation 7).

How long, O Lord?