Christianity has died many times and risen again;
for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave.
Few sentiments better connect our months than this quote from G. K. Chesterton. Looking back at March, we investigated the current condition of the Southern Baptist Convention, and we noted that unless serious actions are taken, the future of the convention hangs in the balance. From trust and transparency to the trustee system and the transition of leadership over time, men who love the SBC raised serious concerns about its institutional health and longevity.
Accordingly, if you are in the Southern Baptist Convention, these essays are vital reading for your ongoing cooperation. For as we noted, trends in church planting, book publishing, and online debates are just some of the ways that vocal conservatives in the SBC are rightly alarmed at the direction of the convention. Thankfully, there are good leaders in the SBC and we have a chance to talk with some of them. Yet, even among the two leading presidential candidates (Josh Powell and Willy Rice), there are noticeable differences.
Both recognize the erasure of trust in the convention and want to see that improved. But as you listen to their interviews and our final discussion about the convention, you will also recognize differences. And so, to be most prepared, I would ask you to take time to read these essays and listen to the podcasts. Equally, please share the resources here with others who need to hear them—especially, trustees, state executives, and other leaders in the SBC.
In March, it was our aim to offer a critical-yet-constructive evaluation of the SBC. And we continue to pray that these resources might be helpful. At the same time, we do not want to spend all of our days focusing on the hot spots, trouble spots, or blind spots of the SBC. While only time will tell if any of our assessments are ultimately correct, we know that no matter what becomes of the SBC and its countless ministerial alliances, it is ultimately the resurrected Christ who will build his church.
Indeed, whether the SBC downsizes and dies or whether it defies the odds and thrives, we know that the resurrected Lord will have his way. Whether we live or die, our God is one who raises the dead. And with that confidence we can approach an uncertain tomorrow with absolute certainty that the nations will hear the gospel, the elect will come to faith, and those who trust in Christ will be brought safely to glory. For truly, this is the good news which has marked the Southern Baptist Convention and all genuinely Christian churches, denominations, and parachurch ministries.
And it is this gospel that we celebrate in April, as Christ Over All moves to meditate on the resurrection as told from the pages of the Old Testament. Yet, before introducing that subject, be sure to consider all the resources available from March.
Stewardship of Our SBC Land by Mark Coppenger • Concise Article • The Southern Baptist Convention is like a beautiful landscape . . . scarred by five disasters from recent years. We need understand these problems so we can then work towards cleanup.
Five Reasons to Be Thankful for the Southern Baptist Convention by Brad Green • Longform Essay • There’s a lot to love about the Southern Baptist Convention. Here’s what I’m most thankful for.
5.13 “Five Reasons to be Thankful for the Southern Baptist Convention” & “Stewardship of Our SBC Land” by Brad Green & Mark Coppenger • Podcast Reading • There’s a lot to love about the Southern Baptist Convention. Here’s what I’m most thankful for. / / The Southern Baptist Convention is like a beautiful landscape . . . scarred by five disasters from recent years. We need understand these problems so we can then work towards cleanup.
- More Money Than Men: The NAMB Church Planting Problem by Michael Clary • Concise Article • This is what happens when you have pressure to spend money to plant churches but not enough qualified men to plant them.
- 5.14 “The SBC: A Presidential Perspective with Clint Pressley” by Clint Pressley, David Schrock, & Stephen Wellum • Podcast Interview • Join David Schrock and Stephen Wellum as they interview SBC President Clint Pressley on the current state of the SBC.
Whoever Holds the Purse, Holds the Strings: The Financial Plan that Could End the SBC by Rhett Burns • Concise Article • As of 2025, if liberal groups try to steer the SBC in a more progressive direction by giving strings-attached money to SBC entities, you would never know it. Something needs to change.
- Morphology of Modernism by Tom Nettles • Concise Article • Once the foundation of inerrancy is removed, Christian denominations, like the Southern Baptist Convention, will be crushed by the downward spiral of modernism. Denominational sustainability thus demands uncompromised confidence.
- Why Baptists Must Recover the Order of Love by Alex Kocman • Concise Article • The church is tasked with taking Christ’s love to the ends of the earth. But if we don’t love our own neighbor, church, and country first how can we possibly do that?
- 5.15 “Five Reasons to be Thankful for the Southern Baptist Convention” & “Stewardship of Our SBC Land” by David Schrock, Brad Green, & Mark Coppenger • Podcast Interview • Listen in as David Schrock interviews both Mark Coppenger and Brad Green on their COA Essays.
- What’s Trusty About SBC Trustees: Does Trustee Training Fix Ailing Entities or Institutionalize Passivity? by Jon Whitehead • Concise Article • What is the point of having trustees if they are officially discouraged from doing their actual job of oversight?
- 5.16 “Getting to Know SBC Presidential Candidate Josh Powell” by Josh Powell, David Schrock, & Stephen Wellum • Podcast Interview • Listen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview SBC Presidential Candidate Josh Powell.
- Cooperation Catechism: Why be a Southern Baptist? 7 Questions & Answers that Succinctly State the Fundamentals of our Cooperative Identity by Richard Lucas • Concise Article • Why do Southern Baptist churches cooperate? Here are seven questions and answers that show the value of association among Baptist churches.
- One Sacred Effeminacy: The Cooperative Longhouse And the Great Feminization of the SBC by Doug Ponder • Concise Article • Soft hearts and sharp minds will not avail us if we lack strong spines with the courage to teach what the Bible says about female pastors.
- 5.17 “Getting to Know SBC Presidential Candidate Willy Rice” by Willy Rice, David Schrock, & Stephen Wellum • Podcast Interview • Listen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview SBC Presidential Candidate Willy Rice.
- What is the Cause of Our Divisions? Social Media and Other Strategies For Effecting Positive Change in the SBC by David Schrock • Concise Article • Are there two SBCs? Some divide the SBC into the SBC of social media and “the real SBC,” yet this is far from the truth. There is one SBC, but it lacks an adequate and fair hearing for all it has to say.
- New Boss, Same as the Old Boss: Michels’ Iron Law of Oligarchy and the SBC by Josh Abbotoy • Concise Article • Are we circling back to the time of the Conservative Resurgence? While the 1970s saw the oligarchy of liberal elites, the 2010s and 2020s have so far seen an oligarchy of Cultural Engagers.
- Seeking a Convention That Is Not Southern Baptist In Name Only: How to Regain Trust, Rebuild the Trustee System, and Avoid an Impending Exodus of Vocal Conservatives by David Schrock • Longform Essay • Many aspects of the SBC are broken, and this article charts a possible route forward into a dawn marked by humble leaders, diligent trustees, and a reorganization.
- 5.18 “Seeking a Convention That Is Not Southern Baptist In Name Only: How to Regain Trust, Rebuild the Trustee System, and Avoid an Impending Exodus of Vocal Conservatives” by David Schrock • Podcast Reading • Many aspects of the SBC are broken, and this article charts a possible route forward into a dawn marked by humble leaders, diligent trustees, and a reorganization.
- The Big Tent of the SBC by Marc Minter • Concise Article • The SBC has long been called a “Big Tent” association of churches. That is, substantial diversity exists in the denomination. While this may be helpful for Cooperative Program giving, the key to fruitful ministry may be affinity groups and associations within the SBC.
5.19 “Seeking a Convention That Is Not Southern Baptist In Name Only: How to Regain Trust, Rebuild the Trustee System, and Avoid an Impending Exodus of Vocal Conservatives” by David Schrock, Trent Hunter, & Stephen Wellum • Podcast Interview • Listen in as Trent Hunter and Stephen Wellum interview David Schrock on his COA Longform Essay, “Seeking a Convention That Is Not Southern Baptist In Name Only: How to Regain Trust, Rebuild the Trustee System, and Avoid an Impending Exodus of Vocal Conservatives”
ACME: Worth (Careful) Consideration by Trent Hunter • Concise Article • Churches that share our convictions just formed a new association for planting churches and sending missionaries together. We’re excited! But we have a significant concern…
Resurrection in the Old Testament
When Paul outlined the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15, he declared,
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Affirming the heavenly origin of his gospel (cf. Gal. 1:12), Paul rooted his Christ-centered message in the Old Testament. That is to say, that according to the Scriptures Jesus died for the sins of his people and he rose again on the third day. Notably, the Old Testament did not simply promise a death and resurrection, or Christ’s suffering followed by glory (as Peter has it in 1 Pet. 1:10–12). Far better, the Old Testament actually reveals a pattern of third day resurrections. And this month, we will look at that pattern of resurrection.
But more than that, we will also consider many other promises, types, and shadows of Christ’s resurrection. Starting with the third day of creation and tracing resurrection themes through the whole Old Testament, we will meditate on the good news of Christ’s victory over the grave. And specifically, we will devote our time to passages in the Old Testament.
So, as you celebrate the Lord’s resurrection this week (Easter Sunday) and every Lord’s Day, we invite you to take up and read the articles that we publish this month. Additionally, just as you might share polemical essays on the SBC, take the time to share these resources. And to do that more effectively, consider signing up for our weekly emails. Or, if there’s someone you know who should be getting a weekly email from COA, you can sign them up, too. If they get upset, just tell them April Fools 🙂
More seriously, this month will be an edifying time reflecting on many of the most glorious passages in Scripture. So come join us!
News and Notes
First, we now have PDFs available online—half off!
More than half our themes are now available for download. You can find them in the Store Tab. As you will see, every theme is formatted and organized for easy printing. For a sample, you can go to September 2022 or October 2022, where both of those months are free for download. For the rest, the regular price will be $15. But for now, we have them marked off by half.
These PDFs, which have a book’s worth of material in each volume, are intended to help you better read a large section of a given subject and to share them in your church as needed. Once you download a PDF, they are there for your use for ministry, teaching, and training. We would ask that you don’t republish them online, but please make use of them freely in your ministries.
Second, come join Christ Over All for lunch in Staunton, Virginia on June 19, 2026.
If you are in or near Virginia, or if you want to make the drive to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, come join David Schrock at the Reformark Missions Conference happening in Staunton, Virginia on June 19–20.
Christ Over All is helping sponsor this event. And David will be there on Friday, June 19 to share about the mission and vision of COA. If you are able, come to the conference and join him for lunch, where you will receive a couple books and we can talk about how Christ Over All might help you in your local ministry.
Third, be aware of our upcoming months.
If you have interest in one of the following topics in bold and are interested in writing for us (in line with our doctrinal distinctives), feel free to shoot us an email to tell us what you are thinking.
May: Critiquing Eastern Orthodoxy
June: Opposing Islam
July: Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary
August: A Sabbath Rest: A Collection of COA’s Best Essays . . . So Far
September: The Ten Commandments
October: Pastor, Be Political: A Guide to Glorifying God in the Midterms
November: Economics 101
December: Christmas Carols to the Glory of God
December is a short story (~5000 words) contest. Submit a Christmas themed story, and enter a chance to win a cash prize.
That’s all for this month. Until next time, let’s remember that because Christ is Lord over all, we ought to exalt Christ in all things.
