Just wanted to let you know that we are changing the URL for the blog here at No Sunday School Answers. The new web address will be: anthonystephens.wordpress.com. This address (www.anthony-stephens.com) will be shut down at the beginning of September. Make sure that you update your feeds and all. Also, let me know what you think about the new (more simple) site.

I was doing some work at the house on Friday since the offices were closed. I was getting frustrated with some tax stuff. That’s when I decided that it was time to take a little break and enjoy the weather outside for a little. This was cool because I got to do something that I hadn’t in a while: meditate.

I know that “meditate” sounds creepy, weird, and somehow just wrong to many Baptists, we are reminded to do just that in the Psalms. To meditate means simply to spend some time really focusing on one key thing about God.

I spent a few moments outside noticing how the trees & flowers were starting to bloom and show new life. I began to ponder this: “God, You knew exactly what You were doing. You knew that when You established the Passover that it would coincide with spring. You knew that Jesus would suffer, die, & rise from the grave during this time. You were setting the scene for the greatest on-going illustration ever. New life can & will come but only through Jesus.”

I encourage you to take some time this week to just break away and let Jesus give you a refresher of what the resurrection is all about by spending some time meditating on His Word (the Bible).

I have spent the past couple of days in Indianapolis scouting out the places that our student ministry will be coming this summer do some mission work.  It has been a great couple of days talking with church planters in the area and hearing about all that is going on.  I am very excited to be teaming with God’s people in the Indy area this summer for Powerplant.  It appears that we will be doing primarily backyard bible clubs and reaching out to families through their children.  I know that this will excite our students because they have been actively involved in working with students over the years at our fellowship.  I believe that this pre-project visit was
a big success (unlike some that I’ve been on in previous years).  The only thing I wish would have been different was that if it would have been next weekend while the Final Four was in town.  Oh well…

Here are some nuggets and thoughts from my Sunday today…

1. True love for Jesus is best demonstrated by our obedience to His commands.

2. Jesus used the very weapon that was meant to destroy Him (murder) to bust open the gates of the mighty graceflood of God.

3. It is always so good to see former students now grown up and loving them some Jesus.

4. How much do traditions of our surrounding culture vs. the Bible determine how we live and what we believe?

5. Though end-times events can be very intense and call for great understanding, God has given it to us so that even middle schoolers can get the big picture.

I currently attend New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where I am working on my Masters of Divinity degree.  I came across a great opportunity for those who are looking to attend seminary.  It is called “seminary scholarship“.  It is a scholarship for those attending seminary provided by Logos.  I know that the costs of seminary training can be a drain on the pocket.  When I heard about this great opportunity, I had to jump at it.  I thought that I’d share the opportunity with others who are looking to further their training in biblical studies.  Check out the link above and see if it can benefit you!

As I was finishing up with my midterm in systematic theology, our professor gives us something to think on during the break we have from classes this next week. He puts forth this scenario: if God is everywhere (omnipresent), how do you account for hell (separation from God)?

I thought that this was a great question. I have heard it come up before in working with students. I am going to be tossing this one around over the next week. I would love to hear your input on this question. There will be a couple of guidelines though…

1. 1. You have to be able to back up your thought with specific Scripture.
2. 2. Be careful not to just use a verse. What does the entire Bible have to say on this?

I am interested in hearing what different people have to say (mainly, what does the Bible have to say) on this subject.

I don’t know where the time went to, but here it is Wednesday and I realized that I hadn’t put out the weekend update for our student ministry.  So here goes…

Message: “Shaped for Serving God” This was part 5 in our series “What on Earth Am I Here For?” that we are using from Simply Youth Ministry.  It has been a good series for us to refocus on the purposes of our lives and the life of our church.  This message was somewhat a refresher course for most of our students.  It talked about how God has gifted us to serve and make a difference.  We did a big series last year on this topic.

Music: “Here is Our King” – David Crowder Band; “Everlasting God” – Chris Tomlin; “Center” – Charlie Hall

Game: PowerPoint Game from the series dvd.  (Note: these PowerPoint games are going over really well with our group.  They’re very competitive and are really getting into them.)  We gave away an Everyday Sunday CD to the winner.

Overall: As stated before, the message was a little of a refresher for the students.  That can be a good thing though.  We tend to have short memories and forget things easily.  You could see it on many faces that look of, “haven’t we already gone over this?”  I think still it was a good night.

I was talking to my summer intern a couple days ago before his time was up and he mentioned that he liked the name of my blog here. He asked about where it came from. I suddenly realized, I have never posted why in the world I chose this title for my blog. I thought that today I might shed a little light on that subject.

I am a student pastor full-time at FBC Birmingham, Alabama. For most of my Christian life, I have heard the joke that if you don’t know an answer to a question asked (maybe in Sunday School or during Bible study) then remember that “Jesus is the answer!” I have never been content to just settle with that cop-out answer. Honestly, that frustrates me greatly.

The more I pondered this thought, I realized that even in my own life there were times when I answered a question with a “Sunday School answer.” These are those answers that you know the word that goes in the blank because you’ve been in church for so long, but you don’t know the meaning nor the impact of that answer. I believe that it was after hearing someone mention this phrase (No Sunday School Answers) that it really clicked that not only do I need to be prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope that I have (1 Peter 3:15), but I also need to really know what the answer is.

I realize that I don’t have all the answers to people’s questions.  I don’t even have the answers to all of my questions.  But one thing that I am committed to is that the answers I give and base my life on are not just those that can fill a blank, but rather they can fill my life.  Now maybe we can all sleep a little easier knowing the reason behind the name.

Since I am in the evaluate and update mood with our student ministry, it just seems fair that I should do the same with the blog here.  I am trying out a new look.  Please let me know what you think by voting in the poll on the right.

Last night, at the Crossroads Student Ministry, we had a great time. I had to confess sin openly to our intern, Casey Ortner, because I had lied to him about what was going on that night. Instead of us finishing out our FLIX series, we gave our students a chance to encourage Casey and roast him. Great night.

Songs: “In The Secret”, “I Worship You, Almighty God”, and “Mighty To Save”.