Readers - wanted to recommend to you a sermon series currently being preached by Jimmy Scroggins, pastor at First Baptist Church West Palm Beach.
It is entitled "Who Chooses Who?" and Scroggins deals with issues like predestination and the sovereignty of God versus the free will of man. Those who are interested in the current Calvinism debate in the SBC will find these extremely interesting, thought-provoking messages. He has preached the first two sermons in the series, with more to come in future weeks.
For those of you that don't know, Scroggins grew up at least in part at FBC Jacksonville under Vines and Lindsay, and completed his seminary education at Southern Seminary. You will find his preaching style very refreshing and down-to-earth. He doesn't mix in the convoluted history lessons and greek verb tenses and stories of himself - he is truly interested in preaching a simple, truthful message from the Bible that is practical and helpful to his congregation.
You can listen to Scroggins' sermons at their church website here.
You can view video of Scroggins' sermons here.
If you want to subscribe to Scroggins' podcast via I-Tunes, click here.
21 comments:
I can't listen to the sermon just now. I may try to catch it later.
I have met Jimmy Scroggins and think that he is a very nice Christian servant. I wish him well.
I am glad to see that you are giving him a plug on the blog.
I believe that he went to West Point, if I am not mistaken.
I am not an English grammar expert, but shouldn't it be "Who Chooses Whom?"
Or are we just about done with that in the English language.
I mean, Star Trek split the infinitive decades ago with, "To boldly go where no man has gone before."
Louis
Hopefully he does a better job with this subject than some of the sermons preached the last few years. Regardless ones understanding (hopefully reached through serious study of the scriptures) theres been much misrepresenting the "other" side if this issue. It's okay and often healthy to disagree, however it's wrong to knowingly mislead those you lead.
Of course you had to get a swipe in at Mac about history but I find a pastor who has a good command of Greek to be very enlightening. But then you wouldn't know since you are busy trying to find yet something else to complain about.
Anon 11:27 pm.
Of course you had to get a swipe in . . .
Interesting comment, as for years I have listened to what you would call "spiritual swipes" coming out of the mouths of FBCJ leadership, classroom teachers, and from the pulpit about others in the ministry.
It's the norm for leadership to insert bashing and "swipes" in their lessons and sermons. I find their good manners to be just as enlightening to the audience, from my perspective
As far as the history lessons, of course Mr. Brunson is quite knowledgable in that area since he's known for his world travels.
No complaint here Sir/Mam, just the truth as I see it.
Hey, Give the Dog a bone for finding a pastor and sermons that he likes. He is not the man who dislikes pastors universally, just those who teach one thing and do the opposite, while lining their pockets at the expense of their congregation.
Anon 11:22. The greek doesn't help anyone know the Gospel. Strange that pilots have to know English rather than greek. Its a dead language no one uses it except those that want you to believe they know more than you. The English was better, is better, and in the future will always be better. Get a grip!!!
Of course you had to get a swipe in at Mac about history but I find a pastor who has a good command of Greek to be very enlightening. But then you wouldn't know since you are busy trying to find yet something else to complain about.
October 27, 2009 11:22 PM
Mac is not the only "pastor" who uses convaluted Greek and questionable history. How did you know he was talking about Mac? There are hirlings everywhere.
I think Scroggins is part of the quiverfull movement:
http://www.fbcwpb.org/About/welcome.html
Which is big at SBTS now.
I like the history tidbits at the beginning of a sermon. Some pastors use a little humor along, and I like that as well. It is a very good technique to make sure that you have everyones attention.
If I were reading between the lines I would say that you want the Pastor search committee to get started up.
Even if FBCJax lost their minds and got another pastor, there would still be some unfinished business with the discipline committee. I think that you know that deep down.
Okay, go ahead and give me the list of rights and wrongs again.
I hate to disappoint you critics but any pastor worth his salt will have a working knowledge of Greek and know how to communicate it to the people. Your ignorance is showing on here....
"If I were reading between the lines I would say that you want the Pastor search committee to get started up."
__________________________________
Certainly we don't need to use the last Search Committee who agreed on behalf of the membership to pay 6 figures to hire a preacher who has so many out of town "speaking engagements" that he has no time to care for his own flock here in Jacksonville.
He himself regularly asks for our prayers for his busy out of town speaking engagements. Everyone wants him! Would say his spiritual gift is more of a traveling evangelist and not that of a home town preacher.
One by one, good people are quietly leaving (taking their money as well)
But the administration in return faithfully give us a good report and say the budget is up, membership is growing, the Academy is great and wow, even the Ponte Vedra South Campus is booming with so many new people coming. So the good news is all is well at FBCJ.
My question pertaining to finances is why pay a 6 figure salary to an "employee" who is gone more than present, at the expense of the First Baptist members.
I don't think there is much that can help this church. Not in today's "church climate". This church needs an old time gospel preacher. One that preaches "hell fire and damnation, and THE SAVING GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST!! And I don't see any preachers like this on the horizion. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is "out of style" today, at least in the fast, slick lanes of todays "modern" preachers. Plus salvation of the lost is not the primary concern of most churches or pastors these days. The entire leadership is on the wrong road at First. I guess you could say it's an agenda driven church. But, who's agenda and for what purpose. There seems to be a lot of Calvanistic doctrine in charge. The attitude appears to be.... God is going to save who He wants, so why bother with preaching salvation messages in order to get the lost to Jesus. Just preach history and the Greek and call it a sermon. Still get the same money for it. I think we are seeing the "falling away" of the church (all churches) spoken of in 2 Thess. My opinion of course.
Not the same search committee please, the church can't afford it. Nor can the church stand another disaster.
If I were a preacher I would not want to be known as a "Bible scholar", or known for my intellect. These characteristics are "tags" that impress man. Some men anyway. Knowing history, wowing the masses with "look how smart I am", fall far short of what God wants in His church or His preachers. Most "smart" people in the Bible went their own direction and God didn't use them. God wants a humble man sold out to Him. Who's sole purpose is doing Gods will, and that of getting people SAVED. Jesus is the one that died on the Cross. He is the only way to salvation. These "smart" intellectual, Greek speaking boys don't do much for God or man. Humility, humility!!! Not false but genuine humility.
Here's a plan. Hire a different pastor to preach every Sunday morning and night. Pay him $1500 per sermon. Allow the subordinates to preach on Wednesday night. That would be 52 weeks @ $3000 per wk or $156,000.00. yearly. End of expense. No retirement, as there is no permenant position , no car or housing allowances. You could pick and choose whoever comes in far in advance and highlight their names and sermon topics on the I-Mags. Can you imagine the potential of this and how effective it would be. It would eliminate most of the criticism and definitely get rid of Nepotism and Perks. Probably save the church a million dollars of expense each year and strenghten the body of Christ,i.e. no partiality. The mega pastor would no longer be there taking in thousands and thousands of dollars forever and forever. You might call this Christian downsizing, something all the rest of us have to endure!!!! You might actually get a real preacher that only wants to preach Gods word WITHOUT FAVOR!!! What a prospect, How refreshing.
"If I were a preacher I would not want to be known as a "Bible scholar", or known for my intellect. "
That is right. You would want to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And those who do know Christ personally, know that the Holy Spirit is the one that really teaches us through the Word.
Anyone looked at an M. Div course study lately? What is with all the admin stuff?
Save your money, study the Word, prayerfully and really be used by the Holy Spirit. It won't be glamarous or highly paid like Mac and others but you will have great treasure in heaven.
Hey Watchdog,
I go to FBC West Palm Beach and I've been following this blog since your story came out! It was so cool to see Scroggins mentioned on your blog! He's an awesome preacher and a great leader and we're blessed to have him down here! Thanks for sharing the sermon series on your blog!
BTW, Scroggins addressed the "who vs. whom" issue when the series began. He knows it's whom but liked Who because it made the title more symmetrical and catchy, lol.
The anony 9:04 says
"He himself regularly asks for our prayers for his busy out of town speaking engagements. Everyone wants him! "
===============
Yes, and he even took Blount with him to the Indiana state Baptist convention preaching assignment. Brunson is in higher demand than ever, even by his own admission he is getting more speaking requests than ever.
I seem to recall one of these mega preachers did not desire to be a pastor of a local church. Well, some of them get what they desire don't they?
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