Wednesday Bible Study

Baptist Foundations

• Scripture is inspired by God, without error, and fully authoritative.
• A church should submit its beliefs and practices to God’s Word.
• Church membership is for those who have been born again through Christ.
• Baptism is for believers and is practiced by immersion.
• The Lord’s Supper is a memorial that should be approached with reverence.

Church Authority and Cooperation

• Baptist churches are governed locally under the authority of Christ.
• The congregation has a role in church accountability and decision-making.
• Religious liberty has been an important Baptist conviction.
• The Southern Baptist Convention is a voluntary partnership of autonomous churches.
• Churches cooperate together to accomplish ministry that would be difficult alone.

How the Convention Functions

• The convention exists to support missions, seminaries, and other shared ministries.
• Cooperative Program giving helps fund missionaries, church planting, and theological education.
• Trustees provide oversight for convention entities.
• The convention cannot control individual churches through top-down authority.
• Churches remain accountable to Christ while choosing to partner together.

Reports from the Mission Field

• Thousands of missionaries and missionary families are supported around the world.
• Gospel conversations, professions of faith, and baptisms continue to increase globally.
• New churches are being planted in many locations.
• Some previously unreached people groups are now considered reached with the gospel.
• Missionary work faces financial pressures even as ministry opportunities grow.

Encouraging Developments and Ongoing Faithfulness

• Church planting, disaster relief, and chaplain ministries continue to bear fruit.
• Southwestern Seminary has experienced significant financial and institutional recovery.
• New efforts are being developed to help churches serve people with disabilities.
• Convention discussions should be guided by Scripture rather than public narratives.
• The goal remains to honor God by following His Word faithfully.