CONGREGATIONS, CHURCHES, AND THE KINGDOM
By William (Bill) Brackney
The life cycle of a congregation is a useful way to understand Baptist growth and development. Every congregation goes through the stages, as do Baptist organizations. Beyond the congregation, Baptists believe God has led them to form larger associations. The “Kingdom of God” terminology has sometimes been used to identify what God is doing in the world. For Baptists, the Kingdom “is always,” as Jesus said, “but also coming.” It is seen as more than the nature of the church.
ORIGIN OF THE BAPTISTS
Baptists have three points of origin: The New Testament, the Protestant Reformation, and Puritan and Separatist congregations. Being over 400 years old, Baptists have always been first and foremost people of the Book, Christological in...
0WHO WERE THE BAPTISTS?
The first Baptists were known as general atonement Baptists, due to their belief that Christ’s death on the cross was for whosoever believed in it. Yet 30 years later the Separatists would arise, placing themselves alongside more...
0HOW BAPTISTS CAME TO NORTH AMERICA
It is true that Baptists’ origins lie in Great Britain, but they would quickly spread beyond the border of Britain. The rise of religious persecution in England inspired many Baptists to leave for North America, seen as a place to find...
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