Theology & Bible

Theology & Bible helps Christians understand Scripture and the core teachings of the Christian faith. Explore Bible-based articles on biblical interpretation, doctrine, salvation, the Holy Spirit, baptism, communion, creation, and key themes across the Old and New Testaments. You’ll find thoughtful guidance for studying the Bible faithfully, applying God’s Word to life and ministry, and growing in theological clarity rooted in the gospel. Whether you’re a church leader, teacher, student, or everyday disciple, this hub equips you to know God through Scripture and live with conviction and hope.

January 28, 2013

Christian Standard

Lesson for February 3, 2013: Focused Solely on Christ (Colossians 1)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Although the apostle Paul himself did not plant the church in Colossae, some of his associates did (Colossians 1:7). When he learned of challenges facing the congregation while imprisoned in Rome, he wrote this memorable epistle to them. His letter focuses on Jesus Christ. Apparently the Colossian church was being challenged by heretical teaching, possibly from Jewish and Gnostic sources. Paul”s strong effort to establish the church”s faith solidly on the Lord should be replicated in

January 21, 2013

Christian Standard

Lesson for January 27, 2013: Standing Firm in Christ (Philippians 3:12–4:1)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone In his personal letter to the church family at Philippi, the apostle Paul emphasized the importance of doing everything for the sake of Christ (Philippians 3:7). In addition to warning against false teachers, he spoke candidly about spiritual maturity, encouraging every Christian to remain faithful. Today”s text provides guidance for believers living in a hostile world.   Don”t Dwell on the Past Philippians 3:12, 13 It is not wise to think that one has “arrived,” having

January 18, 2013

Christian Standard

Deeper Hunger for God”s Story

By Brian Mavis Eighty-five percent of American households have at least two Bibles. Eighty-five percent of Americans say they want to read their Bibles more.1 There”s an old saying, “Figures don”t lie, but liars figure.” Even so, the stats look promising, and it seems to me that Americans have the necessary ingredients””Bibles and motivation””to know God”s story better. Maybe having a deeper hunger for God”s Word isn”t “what”s next”; maybe it”s just what I wish was next. But if we listen to what people are saying, I do think it can be what”s next. In its REVEAL study, Willow Creek”s

January 14, 2013

Christian Standard

Lesson for January 20, 2013: Knowing Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:1-11)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone This month”s lessons are all taken from Paul”s letter to the Philippians. His message to them centered in Jesus Christ, just as his other letters did. Evidently some false teachers were afoot in Philippi, as well as in Galatia (Galatians 3:1-5). They were causing some believers to have misplaced confidence. They taught that salvation could come from what they could do””not by depending on God. We see similar errors today. Paul reaffirmed his previous message to

January 7, 2013

Christian Standard

Lesson for January 13, 2013: Imitating Christ (Philippians 2)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Paul”s epistle to the Philippians reads more like a personal letter than a theological treatise. Today”s text (chapter 2), however, ranks as one of the most significant passages in all the New Testament regarding the coming of God”s Son to earth. It is filled with practical lessons for us as well.   Humility Required Philippians 2:1-4 When the apostle says, “If you have . . . these qualities,” he is not questioning whether or not the

December 31, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for January 6, 2013: Proclaiming Christ (Philippians 1)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Philippians is a letter of encouragement. Although Paul wrote it while a prisoner of Rome, it is not a “Woe is me!” message. The Christians in Philippi and countless believers since have found in this letter reason to rejoice, no matter what life”s circumstances may be. Pat Edwin Harrell called today”s text “a picture of the gospel”s progress.” He notes that Paul reveals how his imprisonment has directly (1:12-14), indirectly (vv. 15-18), and unfailingly worked to

December 27, 2012

Christian Standard

Your Best First Step

By Mark A. Taylor As we finish 2012, many are deciding their Bible-reading plan for the new year. While there are dozens, if not hundreds, of plans out there, here are three that deserve special attention. The first is published by our daughter publication, The Lookout. The plan takes users through the whole Bible in a year, but not straight through Genesis to Revelation. Instead, each day”s selections include readings from the Gospels, another New Testament book, the Wisdom books (Job through Ecclesiastes), and another Old Testament book. Next year”s plan begins January 6. Each Sunday The Lookout will devote

December 25, 2012

Christian Standard

How Much Do You Know About Christmas?

By Victor Knowles How well do you know the Christmas story? Here are 17 Bible questions, taken from the King James Version, to test your Christmas IQ. 1.  The first messianic promise of the seed of woman is found in: a.  Genesis b.  Ruth c.  Psalms d.  Isaiah   2.  What Old Testament prophet said, “A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son?” a.  Daniel b.  Ezekiel c.  Isaiah d.  Zechariah   3.  What Old Testament prophet foretold that a ruler in Israel would come forth from Bethlehem? a.  Nathan b.  Micah c.  Samuel d.  Amos   4.  The angel

December 24, 2012

Christian Standard

Have a Mary Christmas

By Victor M. Parachin Although Mary, the mother of Jesus, became an important focus of theology and piety in the history of Christianity, she is seldom mentioned in the New Testament. Mary is never mentioned explicitly in the New Testament letters, and only once each in the books of Acts and Mark. She is involved in two stories in the Gospel of John, but the writer never identifies her by name. Yet, in Luke”s account of Jesus” birth, Mary is a bright and shining star. Luke writes eloquently about the character and strength of Mary, suggesting Mary”s words and actions

December 24, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for December 30, 2012: Christ”s Love for the Church (Ephesians 5:15″“6:9)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Key passages from the book of Ephesians have been considered this month, following the theme, “Victory in Jesus.” Chapter 5 contains guidelines for Christian behavior in a pagan world. Today”s background Scripture begins in v. 15. Even before this, however, Paul warned about dangers such as sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, and foolish talk (vv. 3-7). The first section of our printed text is addressed to the whole church (vv. 18-21). All Christians must be careful

December 17, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for December 23, 2012: Alive in the Light of Christ (John 1:1-14; Ephesians 4:17″“5:14)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ By Sam E. Stone Today”s text is especially appropriate as the world celebrates the birth of Christ. The Christmas story does not begin in Bethlehem. Before the world was created, God existed. The prologue of John”s Gospel affirms this. That life was the light of all mankind. Paul”s message to the church in Ephesus some years later also emphasizes that light in the Lord in which all Christians walk.   Life-Giving Light John 1:1-5, 14 In the beginning was the

December 14, 2012

Christian Standard

Sticky Conversations: Eternal Security

THIS IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF FIVE “STICKY CONVERSATIONS”   By Ben Merold I was making a call in the house of a family that had attended the church for the first time on the previous Sunday. I was greeted warmly, but as I started to sit down, I was told if I did not believe in “once saved, always saved” I might as well leave. In fact, the lady of the house informed me she doubted if I was a Christian if I did not hold to that doctrine. A few weeks ago a young man was

December 11, 2012

Christian Standard

Spiritual Gifts

By Jennifer Johnson In February we wrote about the history, goals, and current projects of eight missions agencies supported by Christian churches and churches of Christ. (Visit Christian Standard”s website to read the articles*.) As the year comes to a close, we invited each organization to share its “Christmas wish list.” Here are their most pressing needs and how you can help during this season of giving.   Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMFI) Christian Missionary Fellowship works with a variety of missionaries and leads a number of programs around the world, from developing international campus ministries to improving the lives

December 10, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for December 16, 2012: Part of One Body in Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone When we become discouraged in today”s hostile religious environment, it helps to remember what it was like for the first-century Christians back when the church began. In pagan Ephesus, few people knew anything about Jesus Christ, even less about who or what a “Christian” was. There of all places, it was important for members of the church to stand together as one, representing their Lord to the world.   Called to Unity Ephesians 4:1-6 Paul challenged

December 7, 2012

Christian Standard

Knowing Jesus and Why He Matters

By Jennifer Johnson For the past few years I”ve become concerned about the huge lack of biblical knowledge among many people professing to be Christians. Some of this is the fault of the individual, of course; we”re each called to learn and study for ourselves. But the church is also responsible for helping believers to grow, and our current approach to programming has resulted in several generations of biblical illiteracy. (As just one example, a 2005 Barna survey reported that 25 percent of Christians rated themselves as “immature” in their knowledge of the Bible.) Instead of equipping adults to understand

December 3, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for December 9, 2012: One in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2, 3)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone In the book of Ephesians the apostle Paul tackles one of the great challenges facing believers in the first century: uniting all Christians in one body, following the one head, Jesus Christ. That challenge remains today! Two groups of people were living side by side in Ephesus””Jews and Gentiles. Each group had contempt for the other. Jewish Christians had been reluctant to admit Gentiles into the church, unless they first became Jews (Acts 15:1; Galatians 2:11-21).

November 30, 2012

Christian Standard

The “˜New” Revelation

By Brian Mavis In celebration of the Mayan calendar ending, I dedicate this installment of “What”s Next” to eschatology. Specifically, we”ll look at a “new” interpretation of Revelation that is trending up. Let me frame the argument by mentioning the four main schools of interpreting Revelation. Preterism This view teaches that the events described in Revelation were fulfilled in AD 70 with the destruction of the temple and the fall of Jerusalem (or with the fall of the Roman Empire). Most preterists believe chapters 20-22 point to future events.   Historicism This view teaches that the prophetic symbols are the

November 26, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for December 2, 2012: Blessed in Christ (Ephesians 1)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone “Jesus Is Lord” is the theme for this quarter”s studies, focusing on Paul”s letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. These books (along with Philemon) are often referred to as the Prison Epistles. Most Bible students believe they were written around the same time period. In Ephesians the apostle refers directly to being imprisoned at the time he wrote (3:1; 4:1; 6:20). If this letter was written soon after the time described at the close of

November 19, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for November 25, 2012: Paul Evangelizes in Rome (Acts 28:11-31)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Paul”s long-desired opportunity to preach in Rome was becomming a reality. Last week we learned how he and others from the ship wintered in Malta, awaiting better weather to complete their journey. With spring, navigation was considered safe and they resumed their voyage (Acts 28:11-14). Luke notes that when they met brethren in Puteoli, Paul remained there for a week. W. R. Walker suggests that this makes it “more than probable” that the centurion transporting Paul

November 12, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for November 18, 2012: Paul Ministers on Malta (Acts 28:1-10)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Once safely on land after the shipwreck, Paul and his companions learned they were on the island of Malta. Located about 60 miles south of Sicily, it is some 500 miles west of Crete where Paul”s trip to Rome had begun.   Warm Welcome Acts 28:1, 2 When the sailors saw land during the storm (Acts 27:39), they weren”t sure just where they were. Upon landing, they met people on the beach who told them. The

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