Tom James: Convention Sermon 2011
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In his sermon to the 174th Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, Tom James, pastor of Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green, challenged Kentucky Baptists to remain steadfast in proclaiming the truths of the gospel.
"I’m convinced that if we’re going to do More for Christ, we must be hearing More from Christ through us (pastors)," James said. "There’s too much psychology handed down from the pulpit."
During the afternoon session of the meeting at Florence Baptist Church at Mt. Zion, James lamented that the truth of Christ’s sacrifice is missing from many contemporary theologies.
"You would think in Christian circles the one thing we could agree on is the blood of Christ," he said.
Helpful to staying close to the gospel is the Christian’s acceptance of himself as an adopted child of God.
James said a believer’s status is not unlike slaves from centuries past who, not only were freed by their masters, but "were adopted into the family that freed them."
Adoption—physical and spiritual—is planned with deliberation, and requires the transfer of responsibility from one party to another, he continued.
"Adoption is not cheap," James added. "Our adoption was free, but it wasn’t cheap. It cost the Son of God His place in heaven."
