FROM THE HILL: Darling discusses topics including race and Christmas, Queen shares about evangelism

“From the Hill” is a regular series highlighting the work of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s faculty. Check back here regularly to find articles, blogs, podcasts, interviews, and more.

“Ministers of Reconciliation: Preaching on Race and the Gospel” (book with Lexham Press), edited by Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement and assistant professor of faith and culture

• “In this collection of essays, issues of race and ethnicity are explored from a variety of perspectives, offering guidance to pastors on how to address those topics in their own contexts. Each builds on a foundational passage of Scripture.”

“Queen: Overcome Your Fear of Evangelism” (article on The Baptist New Mexican), featuring Matt Queen, associate dean of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions; professor of evangelism; L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism (“Chair of Fire”)

• “At the final session of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s 2021 Annual Meeting held at First Baptist Church, Roswell, Oct. 26-27, Matt Queen challenged messengers and guests to go out and evangelize the lost.”

“Queen Urges Re-Engagement in Evangelism” (article on The Baptist New Mexican), featuring Matt Queen, associate dean of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions; professor of evangelism; L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism (“Chair of Fire”)

• “A group composed mostly of New Mexico pastors listened as Matt Queen spoke about recovering ministry and about re-engaging evangelism as COVID restrictions ease. Queen serves as associate dean of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth. Queen led two morning sessions of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s Pastor’s and Layman’s Conference, Oct. 26. Calvary Baptist Church, Roswell hosted the event as an activity of the BCNM’s Annual Meeting of messengers from its participating churches.”

“After God’s Heart: Becoming Who God is Seeking” (book published by Engedi Publishing), written by Deron J. Biles, professor of preaching and pastoral ministry

• “Throughout history, God has been looking for faithful men and women. In the story of David, we meet a man God found. Throughout David’s life, we learn about the riches of God’s grace, the heights of God’s love, the depths of His patience, the trauma of our sin, and the dependability of God’s Promises. David was a good man. But he was also a sinful man. He loved God, served God, obeyed God, and worshiped God. He also failed God … a lot. At times he sought God, and, at other times, he seemed to avoid Him. In the end, the hero of this story isn’t David. Maybe the times when David forgot that are the moments of his deepest failures. The story of David is a story about God. It’s a story about a seeking, loving, holy, and faithful God. God saw David. He saw David’s humility in his obscurity, and He saw David’s arrogance in his prominence. Through everything and despite everything, God loved David, sought David, chose David, and used David. Believers today can be encouraged that God wants to do the same for us. He loves you, is seeking you, is calling you, and wants to use you. The question you must answer is: What will it take for you to become a man or a woman after God’s heart?”

“FIRST-PERSON: Forgetting Christmas – from obstacle to opportunity” (article on Baptist Press), written by Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement and assistant professor of faith and culture

• “With hymns blaring in our favorite coffee shops and retail stores and major television networks replaying ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ you would think most everyone who walks into our churches during Advent season would understand the basic contours of the Christmas story.”