Matt Henslee's Blog, page 14
March 29, 2022
Pastors’ Conference Update: March/April
It is almost April, which means the weather is warmer, thunder is rolling, and the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference in Anaheim, California, is right around the corner. So without any further ado, here is your March/April update…
Preachers.
As most Southern Baptists know by now, we set out to find twelve SBC pastors from across the country. I could have easily picked my twelve favorite preachers, but that would have been Matt’s Pastors’ Conference, not the Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastors’ Conference. So, we sought nominations, sifted through them, and ended up with twelve faithful brothers who affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy, and lead their families and ministries well.
In the previous update, we shared that these guys got together at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for a time of study and preparation as we dove into Colossians together, which these men will preach verse-by-verse on June 12-13. In another, I shared that we would be led in singing by a church planter from Texas, Matt Boswell, who the Cowden Hall Band from SWBTS will join. I have also previously mentioned some guest speakers who will join us but did not go into detail because many things were a work in progress.
Interspersed among the twelve expositional sermons you will hear through Colossians will be six timely messages from some faithful men of God. While exegetically faithful and a little shorter, these will cover topics vital to our work as Southern Baptist pastors. You will hear from Drs. Adam Greenway, Paul Chitwood, Hance Dilbeck, Bryant Wright, Kevin Ezell, and a dynamic evangelist named Daniel Ritchie.
While I wish I could take credit for our entire lineup, I cannot. I believe God has brought together a lineup from our main preachers to guest speakers and song leaders that Southern Baptists can be proud of and see among them what they are about and what they are navigating as pastors. From our SBC entities to the most diverse lineup we have seen that includes church planters, replanters, retired pastors, rookie pastors, large churches, small churches, and everything in between––all committed to our cooperative work as Southern Baptists.
Prayer.
As I shared my vision and the principles that would drive the SBC Pastors’ Conference, I shared that we would have a significant time devoted to prayer. To be honest, going through an entire book of the Bible takes a long time. Add to that the other elements of putting on a Pastors’ Conference, I began to worry prayer was getting squeezed a bit. While there will still be prayer throughout our four sessions, I have some great news!
Preceding the Pastors’ Conference, we are welcoming Dr. Robby Gallaty, pastor of Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, TN, to lead us in a time of prayer and singing with his worship team. You may remember that Dr. Gallaty did something similar in a packed side room in Nashville, but this will take place in the main room this year and take us to the beginning of the Pastors’ Conference. I realize many will have to preach at their church and make a mad dash to the airport and fly across the country, while others will already be in Anaheim––do not fret, but I do want everyone to do something:
I should not need to tell you why prayer is so critically important for us as we descend upon Anaheim, CA, but I would like to remind you of what the late E.M. Bounds said: “Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed.” If you can get there by 4 pm on June 12th, or 4:30 pm, or even 5 pm––do not stop; go straight to the main hall and join us for prayer. If you cannot, I ask you to pray wherever you are from 4 pm to 6 pm.
I cannot think of a better way to kick off our SBC Pastors’ Conference and the four days Southern Baptists will spend in Anaheim.
Providing.
While previously announced, it bears repeating. We are working hard to fundraise every dollar we will need so that every dollar we raise during the SBC Pastors’ Conference can go to a ministry near and dear to my heart, Mission:Dignity. We will ask you to give as you leave the first two sessions. In the third, you will hear more about Mission:Dignity by video and have the chance to give. In the fourth, you will hear from Dr. Hance Dilbeck before one final opportunity to give during the conference.
Now would be a great time to plan for this in a couple of ways: 1) If you can, put away a little extra over the next few months. 2) Ask your church to send you with a check for Mission:Dignity. And then give! Many of us are where we are because faithful pastors paved the way. Many of those pastors have passed away, leaving behind a widow, or are no longer able to pastor and find income rather tight. What better way to thank them than donating to a ministry that serves them?!
As a pastor, if I thought alliterating this would help––the final “p” would be plans, I guess, so pray for us as we finalize the plan (schedule) for release in May or early June, and then, well, plan to join us June 12-13. Until then, give if you are able, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and keep tabs on our website for the latest information.
See you soon!
March 2, 2022
February 19, 2022
Be A Barnabas
In Acts 11, Christianity continues to grow, the gospel makes its way to Jews and Greeks alike, and Barnabas heads to Antioch. But that begs the question, who is this Barnabas?
We’re first introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4 as the so-called “son of encouragement” who sold some land and gave the proceeds to the apostles…and he just keeps showing up.
In Acts 9, the Jews are ready to kill Saul, but he is able to escape and make his way to Jerusalem and runs into the disciples who are quite naturally afraid of him. Barnabas, however, steps in to tell them about Saul’s conversion and the rest is history.
Barnabas shows up again at the end of chapter 11, at the beginning of chapter 12, and is instrumental in the discipling of John Mark in chapter 15. Time and time again, Barnabas is there, at just the right time and in just the right way––a true son of encouragement.
Take just five seconds online and you’ll notice we are not lacking sons of discouragement. Guys who use their keyboards and platforms to tear down and rip apart––they’re a dime a dozen. What we need today are more sons or daughters of encouragement, guys or gals like Barnabas.
One of the best examples of Barnabas’s encouragement is in Acts 11:23-24. Culturally, no one would’ve thought twice if Barnabas––a Jew, a Levite––saw a bunch of Greeks getting saved and went home disgusted, but that’s not what happened. Barnabas saw God at work, rejoiced, and encouraged & helped it continue.
We need more of that today, not less. It costs you nothing to be kind, it only takes a few seconds to encourage someone––and we need it. Many pastors are weary as the pandemic drags on, and most of us are beyond tired at the mudslinging that comes far too easy for some.
Do you rejoice in the successes and blessings of others, even among those you do not like? Few circumstances give us a better opportunity to exhibit God’s grace than rejoicing over someone else’s wins.
We have more than enough discouragement going around, before the sun goes down today, look for someone you can encourage, and, well, encourage them.
February 18, 2022
Henslee urges believers to be encouragers, like Barnabas - SWBTS
Write-up from SWBTS about my message from Acts 11:23-24.
"Be a Barnabas" - Matt Henslee, #SWBTSChapel
Be A Barnabas, Acts 11:23-24, at SWBTS.
February 15, 2022
Pastors’ Conference Update: February
First, can you believe we are already two months into 2022? Second, that also means it is time for another monthly update.
Gathering.
We are exceedingly grateful for Southwestern Seminary’s partnership and rolling out the red carpet for us this week! On February 17th, the SBC Pastors’ Conference preachers will gather for a time of brain-storming, equipping, and fellowship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
After chapel, we will feast on good ol’ Texas BBQ with Dr. Adam Greenway before afternoon preaching workshops with Drs. David Allen, Matthew McKellar, Deron Biles, and Chris Osborne. After the workshops, the preachers will have more time to connect and fellowship over dinner and TopGolf.
Theme.
Shortly after Josh Reavis announced his intention to nominate me, I began to release a few pillars or principles behind my vision for the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference if I was elected. The first was Everyday Pastors, followed by Expository Preaching, and concluded with Engaging Worship and Embracing Endurance. The third principle, however, was Encouraging Unity. In a sense, that was the linchpin.
I truly wanted to bless the boots, Cole Haans, or Crocs off those that would gather with a clarion call to unity. Our list of everyday pastors who would preach expository sermons to everyday pastors would encourage unity. Our time of engaging worship with guys who have embraced endurance in front of thousands of everyday pastors who have done the same would encourage unity.
Well, I was elected, and it was off to the races. As I listened to sermon after sermon to select our preachers, a phrase kept coming to mind: “We proclaim Him.” So many differences among the hundreds of sermons, but they all had something in common: proclaiming Christ. After all, that is what we do––week in and week out, everyday pastors all over our convention proclaim Christ from pulpits, pub tables, and everything in between. The pastors may be in suits, or they might be in skinny jeans; they might be in mega-churches or tiny churches––the differences are endless, but the call is universal: Proclaim Christ. Rallying ourselves around this linchpin of our ministries is a great way to encourage unity.
So, I began to prayerfully search the Scriptures for a book that would highlight that call, and that is when I landed on Colossians. In June, as we gather for the 2022 SBC Pastors’ Conference, we will have twelve men who affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message and the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy preach through Colossians, verse-by-verse. In addition, we will have some special guests offer short but timely messages to inspire and encourage all who are in the trenches of gospel ministry––all getting to the heart of our call to proclaim Christ.
Fundraising.
We crossed the $300,000 mark late last month, and are sitting around $320,000 for #SBCPC22 in Anaheim with recent gifts from churches like Shades Mountain, First Baptist Plant City, and Champion Forest, as well as a few generous individuals who gave anywhere from $50 to $10,000. We are also grateful for the willingness of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary to join in on the fun in the exhibit space, and are waiting to hear from a few others.
In other words, we’re almost there, and you can help! No matter how big or small, every gift will help––and we mean that. If you can spare a few bucks or a few thousand, it will be used––and used well:
https://www.sbfdn.org/ways-to-give/give-now/donate/?hash=7409570231424287db30abbb7fc19aab&id=208
Socials.
If you have not, follow us on Twitter and Facebook for steady encouragement and equipping. We also have an online presence that will soon host announcements and details for the Pastors’ Conference.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SBCPastorsConfFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SBCPastorsConferenceWebsite: http://sbcpc.netPastor, while we are a few months away and there is still work to do, we are hard at work for YOU. Please continue to pray for us, give if possible, and make plans to join us in Anaheim! Until then, lead on for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.
February 11, 2022
We Need Guys Like Hur
The story of Aaron and Hur lifting Moses’s arms in Exodus 17:8-16 has been on my heart for a long time. I love how simple it is––Joshua fighting, Moses praying, and Aaron and Hur helping––but I also love how none of those four men are the true hero of the story, God is.
Still, I think there is much we can learn from Joshua’s faithfulness to fight, Moses’s faithfulness to pray, and Aaron and Hur’s faithfulness to help. Joshua couldn’t fight without Moses praying; Moses couldn’t pray without Aaron and Hur helping.
You see, there are times you’ll need to be down on the battlefield and stay there; there are times you’ll need to be in your prayer closet and stay there––we need to be ready for both, but we must always look for those we can help, people we can lift up, people we can encourage.
The pandemic drags on, politics keep rearing its ugly head, and while every pastor I know realizes ministry is awesome––they also know it is hard, and there is no shortage of mudslingers. Maybe, just maybe, we could use some arm-lifters––some guys like Hur.
Hur wasn’t mentioned before, and he’s barely a footnote after, but the battle wouldn’t have been won without this instrumental, involved, invisible helper. The simple help of Hur doesn’t sound like much, but had it not been for Hur, Moses wouldn’t have had the strength to do his job, and Joshua would never have been able to lead Israel to victory in the battle.
Hur couldn’t do everything, but he did something…and that’s important to note. No task in God’s service is unimportant. Or, to put it another way, every task in God’s service is critically important. I think 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 speaks well to this, my friend––we are all in this together.
We must fight––together.
We must pray––faithfully.
We must help––selflessly.
We can’t fight without prayer, and we can’t pray without the fight, but we all need to remember we’re in this together with Christ, after the lost. I encourage you to think of some people in your circle of influence who could use some help. Commit today being a guy like Hur and lifting them up when they’re wearing down.
February 9, 2022
Chapel | Matt Henslee
We Need Guys Like Hur, Exodus 17:8-16, at NOBTS.
February 6, 2022
Daddy's Celebration of Life, Ephesians 1:3-14
I had the privilege of preaching my daddy’s funeral sermon on February 5, 2022, and am uploading it mostly for my own safekeeping. While I shared a few stories about daddy and some of the lessons he taught us, the focus was on his Savior with a nod toward adoption. You see, daddy adopted my biological mother and her sister, Patti, and would later adopt me shortly after they became empty nesters. However, humans adopting humans is only a taste of God adopting human as we see in Ephesians 1:3-14. I used our adoption stories to illustrate the beauty of our Triune God’s adoption of His children, something the Father planned, the Son purchased, and the Spirit preserves––from eternity to eternity. If you do take the time to listen, I hope it encourages you.
