Shepherding Thoughts

by Pastor Ben Francis

Welcome to Shepherding Thoughts: An inside look at a Southern Baptist Pastor's comments on navigating popular topics in Christianity and Religion.

A Pastoral Guide to Preparing for Communion

Ben Francis

Dec 158 min read

A Pastoral Guide to Preparing for Communion

Communion ; the Lord’s Supper ; also called the Eucharist . ** A Note upfront : This guide represents the Baptistic tradition and...

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Why American Christians Can No Longer Vote for Democrats.

Ben Francis

Oct 225 min read

Why American Christians Can No Longer Vote for Democrats.

For much of American political history, American citizens have shared a common worldview, which led to basic agreement on a great many...

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Walking Our Wives through the Valley of Miscarriage: An Encouragement to Husbands

Ben Francis

Sep 97 min read

Walking Our Wives through the Valley of Miscarriage: An Encouragement to Husbands

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they...

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Ben Francis

Jul 126 min read

Give us Preachers, not Shepherds!

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do...

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Ben Francis

Jul 26 min read

How God Decorates our Lives

“Sunday morning worship is a Saturday night decision.” Maybe you’ve heard that said, or maybe you’ve said it yourself. And it's right. It...

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The 2024 Southern Baptist Convention in Review…

Ben Francis

Jun 1313 min read

The 2024 Southern Baptist Convention in Review…

For those of you interested in a recap of the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention, here is a broad, and hopefully fair overview of the main...

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Down Go the Boy Scouts: Weak Men get Weaker

Ben Francis

May 75 min read

Down Go the Boy Scouts: Weak Men get Weaker

In an unsurprising move, the Boys Scouts of America (BSA) announced on Tuesday, May 7th, that the Organization would be changing its name...

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Is the Southern Baptist Convention Overstepping its Authority?

Ben Francis

Apr 511 min read

Is the Southern Baptist Convention Overstepping its Authority?

A discussion of Creeds, Authority, and Autonomy There is a growing discussion in some corners of the SBC that the Convention is preparing...

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Pastor Ben's Reading List: A Guide for Christians, Bible Students, Pastors, Parents, and More.

Ben Francis

Mar 278 min read

Pastor Ben's Reading List: A Guide for Christians, Bible Students, Pastors, Parents, and More.

I’ve put this list of resources together for Christians, Church ministry leaders, Sunday School teachers and small groups leaders,...

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What Are Pastors Doing During the Week? 10 Things...

Ben Francis

Mar 187 min read

What Are Pastors Doing During the Week? 10 Things...

I often get a lot of questions about how I spend my time as a Pastor. People are understandably curious about what I do. Some people are...

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10 Leadership Lessons from the Movie: Greyhound

Ben Francis

Mar 55 min read

10 Leadership Lessons from the Movie: Greyhound

In 2020, the Movie Greyhound was released on AppleTv in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a groundbreaking movie for several...

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10 Lessons about Church I've learned from the Gym…

Ben Francis

Mar 16 min read

10 Lessons about Church I've learned from the Gym…

I go to the gym 5 days a week (most weeks anyhow). I do it for several reasons, but mostly for my own personal well-being. Caring for the...

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What's Happening when the Pastor is Preaching?

Ben Francis

Feb 2313 min read

What's Happening when the Pastor is Preaching?

Every single week, 52 weeks per year (and more if you include Sunday nights and Wednesday nights), Pastors rise to speak the Word of God...

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A Pastoral Guide to Preparing for a Funeral.

Ben Francis

Feb 1510 min read

A Pastoral Guide to Preparing for a Funeral.

**Note, this post is written in view of North Carolina Law.** Funeral planning comes during some of the most difficult moments of our...

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Developing a Christian Political Worldview

Ben Francis

Feb 102 min read

Developing a Christian Political Worldview

The 2024 political season will be tumultuous. It already is. That much is a given. Lots will be said and written…and probably thrown. For...

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Our Responsibilities in Baptizing Our Children

Ben Francis

Jan 268 min read

Our Responsibilities in Baptizing Our Children

In Matthew 19:13-14, we read these words, “Then children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples...

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Male and Female He Created Them: The Bible and Homosexuality

Ben Francis

Dec 26, 202311 min read

Male and Female He Created Them: The Bible and Homosexuality

The issue of homosexuality confronts Christians everywhere we look today. Our twenty-first century culture is inundated with the full...

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How Should Christians Practice Santa Claus?

Ben Francis

Nov 20, 202313 min read

How Should Christians Practice Santa Claus?

Christians, Christmas, and Santa Claus. And Elf on the Shelf, the Easter Bunny, and More… SHHHHHHHHH! Don’t tell the kids…but, Santa...

868 views2 comments

The Priority of Sunday Christian Worship

Ben Francis

Nov 13, 20237 min read

The Priority of Sunday Christian Worship

Is Sunday morning Church important? With the rising list of activities and committments facing us today, is gathering with our Church...

213 views0 comments

Ben Francis

Sep 21, 20237 min read

How God is Saving Me from Preaching

Thoughts from a growing Pastor-Shepherd… I'm a Pastor-Shepherd, and I preach and teach every week; multiple times each week. And by God’s...

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