Perspectives on Perseverance: Recent Episodes
Mark Ballard
Northeastern Baptist College seeks to develop the perseverance of a soldier in our students. A friend says, 'Life is the hardest thing you will ever do.' Even followers of Jesus face difficult times. Sometimes we are tempted to quit, so perseverance is needed. In this weekly podcast, Dr. Mark Ballard seeks to encourage believers to persevere in life and in serving the Lord. Whether in church planting, pastoral ministry, or serving as the founding president of a 4-year college, Ballard has had to persevere through many difficulties. Today, he delights in encouraging others to persevere as well.
In the finale of season 2, we take time to look back at our favorite moments from the season, look forward to the SBC Annual Meeting and the launch of Northeastern Baptist Press, and continue to persevere through until season 3, coming this September.
For the Southern Baptist Convention to persevere, its churches and its members need to have a unified focus: reaching souls for Christ. Through evangelism, the SBC and its churches fulfill their commission as given by Christ, bringing people into the kingdom day by day. In today's episode, Dr. Ballard explores exactly how crucial evangelism is to the state and future of the SBC, as it carries the gospel message to the ends of the earth.
In today's special episode, Dr. Ballard hosts a Q&A session with SBC Presidential Candidate Pastor Mike Stone, where Pastor Stone fields questions about his vision for the future of the SBC. This is a rare chance to hear the heart of a potential President of the SBC, and learn more about the convention and its direction today.
As the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville approaches, you may be wondering: "How do I participate?" In today's episode, Dr. Ballard explores what it means to participate in the SBC as a Messenger, representing your local church and making your voice heard.
Perseverance requires a lot of us, and it can be easy to doubt whether the fight is worthwhile. However, we have a great reward promised to us--if not in this world, then in the next. Today, Dr. Ballard looks to Galatians for this timeless truth, as well as discussing NEBC's 40 Days of Focused Prayer for the Future and the future of the SBC.
Our regular Perspectives on Perseverance is taking a break this week for Easter, but in the meantime we want to wish you a happy and blessed Resurrection Day!
In this special Lion's Den episode, Dr. Ballard responds to two hot-button issues facing the church today: how to minister to transgender individuals and what women's roles are according to the Scriptures.
Of all the parts of Christian belief where you can find hope, the rapture may not come to mind first. However, just as with Christ's return and the resurrection, the promises in Scripture surrounding the events of the rapture are truly glorious. With these promises in mind we can persevere through life, as Dr. Ballard illustrates today from 1 Thessalonians.
In the midst of the strife and pain of life, where can we find our hope? For one, we have Christ and His return; for another, we have the promise of our own resurrection. One day we will have incorruptible bodies, facing none of the trials of this earth as we spend eternity with the Lord. In today's episode, Dr. Ballard explores this wonderful truth, in how it gives us strength to persevere to the end.
Even when the world goes crazy and hope is hard to find, Christians can always trust in one glorious truth: Jesus will return. In this episode, Dr. Ballard explores the meaning and significance of Christ's promised return, with an eye towards how it gives us the strength to persevere to the end.
Even the great prophet Elijah faced discouragement when the world seemed against him, even with God on his side. Likewise, Christians today often face discouragement in the midst of a chaotic world. However, like Elijah we can overcome by praying and obeying God, as Dr. Ballard discusses in this episode.
Elijah was a man of great obedience to God, even while facing great adversity, but also a man who prayed in faith for the seemingly impossible. In today's episode, Dr. Ballard shows the lessons we can learn from Elijah's faithful obedience and prayer, as we face an uncertain world.
Today's Lion's Den is a special one: all the questions come from Northeastern Baptist College students! Some are serious, some are fun, but Dr. Ballard answers them all just the same.
Following God's commands can be hard, but telling others about Him can be even harder--especially when you have a hostile audience. The Prophet Elijah faced the extreme of this situation in 1 Kings, as Dr. Ballard discusses in today's podcast.
When times are uncertain, trusting God can be a difficult task. However, when we give God our obedience He will always provide, as Dr. Ballard explains in our new series out of 1 Kings.
In days of change and uncertainty, it's easy to forget where we find our security and lose ourselves in stress and worry. In today's episode, Dr. Ballard discusses how we should still find our safety and security in God no matter what happens in the world, trusting that He is still in control.
In this special Christmas episode, Dr. Ballard turns the tables on our Host, Joe, and our Producer, Tripper, asking them questions about their favorite Christmas traditions and memories, and lessons they've learned from Christmases past.
Christmas is not only a time of celebration of Jesus's birth, but a time to think of giving. In this episode, Dr. Ballard discusses how giving goes hand-in-hand with Christmastime, in expressing our generosity in light of God's gift of His Son.
We've learned about the 3 God-given institutions, now it's time to find out what to do when they come into conflict. In this episode, Dr. Ballard takes us through how we as Christians should respond when our obligations to the family, the government, and the church conflict, in keeping with God and His Word.
As Christians, we are part of the body of Christ; this means we all have a role to play. In today's podcast, Dr. Ballard discusses exactly what that means for each of us, in the responsibilities we have to be members of the church.
In our tenth special Lion's Den episode, Dr. Ballard fields listener-submitted questions, with an emphasis on Thanksgiving.
No matter our place in life, we all have a duty to the family. In this episode, Dr. Ballard explores our God-given responsibilities as spouses, parents, and children, working to glorify God through our example.
Election Day may have come and gone, but we're far from having all the answers. In the midst of this ongoing political uncertainty, President Ballard addresses how Christians should respond in faith.
As the election looms, we have to ask ourselves: what are our responsibilities to our countries as Christian citizens? In this episode, Dr. Ballard explores our duties to our government and our country according to God's Word, giving respect to both earthly and divine authority.
In our ninth edition of Lion's Den, Dr. Ballard responds to viewer questions on why churches should remain in the SBC, and how a Christian should vote according to his or her biblical values.
After the family and government, the next institution given by God is the church itself. Today, Dr. Ballard explores church's foundation by God, its function on earth, and its future in the Kingdom.
After creating the family, God established the second institution: government. In this episode, Dr. Ballard explores how government was established by God, its functions on earth, and how we live as citizens under it.
When God created mankind, He created with it the first institution: the family. In this episode, Dr. Ballard looks to Genesis for answers on what the family is, its roles in the world, and why it is the underpinning of all of society.
For our eighth special Lion's Den episode, Dr. Ballard answers questions about when it's appropriate to leave a church, how to have more consistent quiet times, and more details about his latest book, Words Matter.
God's people have always faced tension between their responsibilities as citizens on earth and as citizens of God's kingdom. To help us understand this balance, Dr. Ballard looks in depth at Jesus's own statement on the subject, of rendering to God what is God's and Caesar's what is Caesar's.
Oftentimes, life feels like one defeat after another. However, in Christ we have ultimate victory, no matter what life throws at us.
In our Season 2 premier, Dr. Ballard introduces us to his latest book, Words Matter: What Is the Gospel? In this book he seeks to explain what the gospel truly is, but equally important, what it is not.
In our final episode of season 1, Dr. Ballard looks back at subjects we've covered and looks forward to season 2, beginning September 6th, 2020.
This week, Dr. Ballard explores various preaching styles, concluding that text-driven and expositional preaching stands above the rest.
In our next edition of Lion's Den, Dr. Ballard answers questions on how to evangelize during the quarantine, resist sin, and love others as God does.
This week, Dr. Ballard explores why our method of interpreting Scripture still matters, for how we understand the meaning of the Bible and our faith.
This week, Dr. Ballard addresses why the church is still important today, both theologically and for believers.
In today's Easter episode, Dr. Ballard looks to the resurrected Christ as our hope in the midst of suffering, even through the COVID-19 crisis.
In this edition of Lion's Den, Dr. Ballard answers questions about how to pastor in the midst of a pandemic, how to mentor someone whose spiritual growth has stalled, and what it means to be called to ministry.
In another special episode covering the ongoing COVID-19 virus, Dr. Ballard explores how we should keep our faith in times of financial struggle, trusting the God who provides for all our needs.
As we face the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 virus, Dr. Ballard explains the biblical approach to handling fear, being lights in the world in uncertain times.
This week, Dr. Ballard explores why the title of "Baptist" still matters in the 21st century church.
In our fifth special Lion's Den episode, Dr. Ballard fields questions on how to disagree with fellow believers, the struggles of time management, and what spiritual revival truly looks like.
This week, Dr. Ballard discusses why baptism is a crucial subject in the church, in identifying with Christ and the church body.
This week, Dr. Ballard discusses the importance of making sure that we're using the same dictionary as others when discussing the gospel and Christianity, understanding and expressing our terms and what we believe.
This week, Dr. Ballard answers the question: What IS the Conservative Baptist Network, why does it exist, and what does it believe?
In this week's Perspectives on Perseverance podcast, Dr. Ballard fields questions from our listeners covering the practical, the biblical, and the theological.
This week, Dr. Ballard discusses the importance of holding to complete biblical inerrancy, persevering for truth against all opposition.
This week, Dr. Ballard discusses his latest upcoming book, about the state of the evangelical church and where it stands and is going in the 21st century.
This week, Dr. Ballard explores how God will always be with His faithful followers as they persevere through their trials, such as He was with the prophet Jeremiah in Israel's darkest days.
In our third special Lion's Den episode, Dr. Ballard fields questions from pastors about the struggles and trials of pastorship, and how keeping God and Scripture in perspective can help them (and us) to persevere through.
This week, Dr. Ballard explores a pair of historical and biblical accounts about perseverance through danger and trials, the stories of Anabaptist leader Felix Manz and Mordecai from the Book of Esther. Both men's lives demonstrate what it means to stand for God's truth no matter the opposition, even when their very lives were put on the line.
In this week's episode, Dr. Ballard answers questions about his new book, Priorities: Reaching the Life God Intended.
Perseverance can be scary. When opposition comes, there may be noting you would rather do than turn and run. However, with God's help you can stand strong, as the stories of D.L. Moody and Elijah show in a powerful way.
In our second special Lion's Den episode, Dr. Ballard fields questions sent in by listeners like you!
In this episode of Perspectives on Perseverance, Dr. Ballard walks us through the stories of two great women of faith, Lottie Moon and Ruth. Both women demonstrate what it means to be faithful despite mounting adversity, be it poverty and persecution in China or widowhood and famine in the ancient world.
In this week's Perspectives on Perseverance, Dr. Ballard continues the story of Joshua and Caleb. Specifically, we look at Caleb's quiet but powerful perseverance, which lasted through his long and faithful life.
This week on Perspectives on Perseverance, Dr. Ballard looks at the life of Joshua and the perseverance he learned as Moses' right hand man.
No, we are not talking about Daniel today. At NEBC, Dr. Ballard holds the occasional event he calls The Lion’s Den. It is a time for students to ask him any question they desire. The question can be about any aspect of life including biblical, theological, and practical questions. The title, Lion’s Den, comes from one of Dr. Ballard’s mentors, who introduced him to the idea many years ago. On occasion the podcast will hold a Lion’s Den episode. The questions for today’s episode came from Alumni of Northeastern Baptist College. Future Lion’s Den episodes will feature questions from you the listeners. At the end of the podcast, your host will share with you how to submit your questions on perseverance.
In today’s episode, Dr. Ballard encourages us to persevere by trusting in the strong hand of our God. We will first consider the Biblical example of Jochebed, and also consider a modern day example of perseverance as well.
We all know that opposition is a part of life, but it can distract us, discourage us, and even derail us if we are not careful. In this episode Dr. Ballard considers perspectives on perseverance from Joseph and from a preacher named Mordecai.
In this inaugural episode, Dr. Ballard encourages his listeners to persevere by considering the perspective of Noah. Dr. Ballard also shares a time that he almost quit before he even got started. Join us for this encouraging podcast!