Matt Davis

Jesus crashes into our life two ways: come and live and then go and die. @rayortlund

GO BRAVES. #ChopOn #ForTheA

@ErikReed @deaninserra The jokes make themselves.

@deaninserra @WMatthewDavis Computer Tutors!!

@BullyPulpitPod @deaninserra @EricTeetsel @ErikReed @AndrewTWalker Two little league team names growing up: 1. Stop Foods - convince store. 2. Seaboard Farms - poultry plant. No mascots. Just company names. This was circa 1987-1990.

@ErikReed @BullyPulpitPod @deaninserra @EricTeetsel @AndrewTWalker I guess the banks had all the money lol.

@ErikReed @BullyPulpitPod @deaninserra @EricTeetsel @AndrewTWalker First American Bank and Trust.

Yes I do. But I don’t think they’re required. Not worth blowing a church up over. My biggest factor is the fact that qualifications are listed for the women/wives in the deacon context but not the pastors’ wives. I’ve never heard an adequate (to me) explanation for why that is unless the women serve in some capacity there. At the very least it’s a male deacon and his wife serving as a team without any recognition/title of her (seems unlikely since she’s listed in the qualifications). This is possibly a wise practice for deacons helping widows. At the most it is outright allowing for deaconesses on their own. I don’t think the Phoebe passage is clearly determinative either way. The only way this works is if you have functioning pastors/elders and the deacons are strictly service roles and not quasi elders. There is no way deaconesses would biblical in the practice of most Baptist churches. We give our deacons areas of responsibility (deacon of widows, grounds, member needs, etc.) If we ever had female deacons it would likely be deaconess of nursery, hosting, weddings, etc. similar to the early church reference y’all gave. We might not ever put it in practice - it’s not my call, but the other elders and then affirmed or denied by the congregation.

@WMatthewDavis So you approve of female deacons then? I wouldn't resist it, but I see 'male only' as preferable, as stated.

Is "deaconess" a biblical role in the church? brookdalebaptistchurch.subspla.sh/nnqp7vx

@MeeplePastor I say we’re - our church hasn’t taken a formal stand on this question yet, though I know where I fall.

@MeeplePastor I really appreciated the gracious tone of this. Informative and helpful. I differ some on the conclusion, but am glad a likeminded church doesn’t think we’re heretics😄.

This week on The Front Porch: Calibrating the Conscience A Flow Chart for Christian Liberty gwdbaptist.org/the-front-porch

It's probably worth examining whether there's a correlation between England's state church ordaining a woman as Archbishop and Finland (which has national churches) persecuting actual evangelicals. State-sponsored egalitarianism (along with gay marriage and euthanasia) and state-sponsored persecution coming at the hands of "promoting true religion" through government is not the solution we're told it is. It will not work because it cannot work: the state has no disciplinary mechanism within itself to preserve orthodoxy. All that's left is a hollow shell of a once-vibrant faith held captive to religious nominalism. When the state formally allies itself with a religious body, nothing of benefit persists—only long-term dilution of real faith. The historical record is unbeaten in nationalized Christianity corrupting true religion.

Both of these things are true.

Holding Christian beliefs isn’t a crime. Finland’s “hate speech” conviction of MP Päivi Räsänen – for simply writing a pamphlet defending the Bible – shows the tragic state of religious freedom in the West. The United States stands opposed to these ideological attacks against the Christian faith.

The current state of medical costs and insurance is all the proof you need that most of our leaders don't really care about the people they serve. As long as Congress has its fantastic healthcare, and insurance companies have a way to their campaign chests, the average American will be stuck with the onerous burden of medical costs. It is a decades long problem that the only real attempt to solve MADE IT WORSE. This is less about me (though it stinks for us) and more about how unjust the system is for young couples starting out.

@martensmatt1 @EWErickson I got Luther, Calvin, then Anselm.

@EWErickson Interesting. I got Anselm.

Gonna say the quiz is pretty accurate, not necessarily because of Calvin, but because of Barth. 😂whichtheologianareyou.netlify.app

@DKCaudell We had a 4 hour window to walk around and I think hit 6 miles in that time, and that included a ride on the metro for part of it.

@WMatthewDavis Facts, bro. We got our steps in, for sure.

Mall stroll. Everything in DC looks a lot closer than it actually is.

I was able to hear Carl Trueman speak last night at North Greenville University. Highly recommend if you're ever able. His discussion of desecration vs. disenchantment was really good.

I don't know whether you guys are history buffs, but this is quite a turnabout for both parties

It's time for a special edition of The Front Porch. This touches on something I mentioned in my sermon on Sunday concerning Gideon and decision making. I also included the link to the resource I mentioned. gwdbaptist.org/blog/2026/03/2…