Author Archive for Steve Bradshaw

Celebrating Easter as a Group – Not Forsaking the Assembly

By Steve Bradshaw · Comments (0)
Sunday, April 12th, 2020

How ironic that I would be writing on this subject of “Celebrating Easter as a Group” in the midst of a historic pandemic that has stretched the globe and has prohibited gatherings of groups larger than 10 and even then, social distancing of 6 feet apart. 

But regardless of our earthly circumstances, EASTER is NOT CANCELED or being postponed and should be celebrated in many ways, more than ever.  And yes, we can do so without forsaking the assembly.

The writer of Hebrews encouraged us in this way in Chapter 10: 23-25 – and notice his plurality in speech. 
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

So, this common confession of our hope that is in the Risen Christ, stirs up love and good works and creates this desire for us to be with other believers.  So, how do we do that with these unusual restrictions?

Large Group Easter Celebrations
Pastors and church leaders are scrambling to provide large worship experiences via social media or online streaming.  They are recreating live music sets, offering the message from God’s Word and providing opportunities for response through texting.  Some have gone to other lengths to provide a church Drive-in experience, with families remaining in their parked cars while the worship team uses amplification or radio transmission as a means by which to share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and therefore, we are not forsaking the assembly.

Small Group Easter Celebrations

For me, I still thrive in an environment of vulnerability and accountability.  So, in these days, we are utilizing live video conferencing in order to be able to see and hear from our Sunday School / Small Group participants.  And yes, I must raise my hand to talk, or put my comments on the chat tool in order to speak or share a prayer request, – but we are all together at one time, on the same computer screen.  And you know what?  – It feels like a small group that is not forsaking the assembly.

Home Group Easter Celebrations
Should we be reminded that the first small groups and churches met in homes?  So, now would be a great time to get back to basics and gather as a family for devotion, Bible Study, participate in an online worship experiencing.  So, even as a family, confined to the four walls of our home, we do not have to forsake the assembling of ourselves, – when we are together. 

Written by Steve Bradshaw, Director of Evangelism and Strategic Initiatives, SBC of Virginia

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Connect through Baptism and Membership 2: Baptism

By Steve Bradshaw · Comments (0)
Monday, August 26th, 2019

As the Director of Evangelism for the SBC of Virginia, I am excited about the Southern Baptist Convention’s renewed emphasis on sharing the Gospel.  As I have been praying for my neighbors and the unsaved people that the Lord has placed on my heart, I am asking Him to direct me to someone in whom I can generate Gospel conversation.  Depending on the circumstance, I could use the Three Circles tool, or show The Story video, or simply share my testimony of how the Lord saved me.  But most importantly, I must invite them to trust the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior too.

And if they do, we will rejoice together with the Angels in Heaven over this one who repented and turned to Christ.  I will also encourage them to be doers of The Word by confessing Jesus to others as an indication of their genuine decision.  But soon after, I will charge them to be baptized, just like Jesus, by immersion as their first public expression of obedience to Christ.

According to our Southern Baptist Confession of faith, The Baptist Faith and Message, article VII on Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead.

So, baptism connects the believer.

– It connects the believer to Jesus.  It says, I am one of His.  I identify with Christ.

– It connects the believer to other believers.  It says, I am one of them.  I identify with Christians.

Now, it is important to note here, that soon after baptism, we encourage believers to find a local church where they can be discipled and transformed into the likeness of Jesus.

Acts 2:41–42 (HCSB)

41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.

On September 8, 2019, churches across the Southern Baptist Convention will be celebrating “Baptism Sunday” as they #FillTheTank in anticipation of the need for spontaneous baptisms in our churches that day.  Through this special emphasis, there will be preaching on this topic, a call for response to the gospel, and an opportunity to be obedient through baptism immediately following their decision.

If you have never trusted Jesus, or never been baptized as an outward symbol of your inward conversion, we invite you do so, on Sunday, September 8.  For more information about “Baptism Sunday” visit the links below.

J.D. Greear article in Baptist Press promoting Baptism Sunday from 08/12/2019

http://www.bpnews.net/53426/jd-greear-why-baptism-sunday

Baptism Sunday Resources for your church

https://www.namb.net/baptism-sunday-resources/

Steve Bradshaw is the Director of Evangelism and Strategic Initiatives, SBC of Virginia

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Categories : Baptism

The Disciple and Prayer

By Steve Bradshaw · Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018

Why would we ever separate prayer from discipleship? Before we are too quick to marry the two, let’s consider their individual meanings.

Prayer is simply communication with God. It is an opportunity to not only talk with God, but to listen to Him. I already know how to talk with God because I am in the habit of asking Him for things. But my communication part of prayer is so much more than making requests. It is adoration for who God is. It is my confession of sin. It is thanksgiving for what He has done. It is supplication or petitioning my and other’s needs to Him. So, what about God’s side of the communication? Henry Blackaby says, “God speaks to us through His Word, His Holy Spirit, through His body, and through our circumstances.”

Discipleship is simply being a learner, a student, a follower of Jesus Christ. So, as I study Jesus, I want to be more like Him in my faith journey. I want to think like Him, talk like Him, act like Him, love like Him, serve like Him, etc… In other words, I want imitate Jesus. Not so much WWJD, “what would Jesus do?”, but rather, WDJD, “what did Jesus do?” and do the same.

So then, it would stand to reason, if I want to be a better disciple of Jesus, then I will need to spend disciplined, quality time with Him -in conversation with Him. And it would also stand to reason that if I want to be a better disciple of Jesus, I will model my life after His. How could I ever expect to be like Jesus, unless I spend time with Him?

So, prayer and discipleship go hand in hand. If you don’t believe it, then consider this: Jesus prayed, He taught us to pray and how to pray.

1. Jesus modeled the need to retreat to pray
He gave the instruction in His sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:5-6)
He modeled finding a quiet place to pray alone. (Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:23, Luke 5:16)
2. Jesus modeled just a simple prayer is enough
The Heavenly Father already knows our needs and intercedes on our behalf (Matthew 6:8; Romans 8:26-27)
Many words are not necessary (Matthew 6:7)
3. Jesus modeled the prayer
His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray and He did (Luke 11:1, 5-10)

You see, if I desire to be a true disciple of Christ, if I want to become more like Him, then I must be intentional in spending quiet time with Him in prayer and follow His model of prayer. I don’t think I can be a disciple of Jesus without prayer – or at least not a good one.

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Categories : Disciplemaking, Prayer, Sunday School