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.

July 22, 2011

Christian Standard

Faith, Liberty, and Love in the Holy Spirit

By Gary Holloway “In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; in all things, love.” This is one of the most powerful statements in Christian history. It has been an influential statement for those of us who have a heritage in the American Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. But in my experience, we have often argued and divided over matters of opinion. One problem is that what some consider opinion, others consider a matter of faith. It must have been the same in Paul”s time. In writing to the Romans, he talks about these disputable matters in Romans 13:8″”15:7. The

July 19, 2011

Christian Standard

The Holy Spirit and the First-Century Church

By Jack Cottrell The Holy Spirit, as one of the three persons of the Trinity, has been working alongside the Father and the Son since the world began (Genesis 1:2). He was involved in the life of God”s people, Israel, from the days of Moses onward (Numbers 11:17, 25; Isaiah 63:10-12). When the church took the place of Israel as the people of God, the Spirit continued his work and indeed added a new blessing, as indicated in Acts 2. He will continue to work among God”s people throughout this age and in the age everlasting. This essay focuses upon

July 18, 2011

Christian Standard

The Holy Spirit Today

By Chris Seidman Let me begin with some good news. Our imperfect understanding of the work of the Spirit does not serve to limit his actions in our churches. For thousands of years, humans enjoyed the benefits of oxygen without the slightest idea of its chemical properties or how it works in our bodies. When scientists began to better understand oxygen, however, their ability to work in partnership with it also grew. That increased knowledge has improved everything from fighting fires, to saving lives, to optimizing the performance of athletes. Jesus likened the Spirit to wind in John 3, and

July 18, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for July 24, 2011: Let God Rule (Judges 7:2-4, 13-15; 8:22-26)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for July 24) is written by Steve Carr, teaching minister at Echo Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. ____________ Let God Rule (Judges 7:2-4, 13-15; 8:22-26) By Steve Carr In the late 16th century there emerged a religious/political doctrine known as the divine right of kings. As the Protestant Reformation spread across Europe, monarchs attempted to solidify their positions with this philosophy. This divine right claimed that God gave kings their authority, so kings were accountable to God alone. Even if a king was evil, the doctrine dictated, he could not be overthrown

July 11, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for July 17, 2011: Use God”s Strength (Judges 3:15-25, 29, 30)

Bible background. Pronunciation guide. Real-life commentary. Discussion questions. Find it all in Standard Lesson Commentary. ____________ This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for July 17) is written by James Hansee, senior associate minister with Whitewater Crossing Christian Church in Cleves, Ohio. ____________ Use God’s Strength (Judges 3:15-25, 29, 30) By James Hansee Where the world sees disability, God sees potential. Where the world sees disadvantage or defect, God sees opportunity. When people rely on God”s strength, even their weaknesses or perceived shortcomings can be powerful tools in his hands to accomplish his plans. Such is the case

July 4, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for July 10, 2011: Listen to God”s Judges (Judges 2:11-19)

Eight pages every week to help you with your Sunday school lesson. Learn more about Standard Lesson Commentary! ____________ This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for July 10) is written by Rick Walston, senior minister at Marion Church of Christ, Rochester, Minnesota, and adjunct professor at Crossroads College. ____________ Listen to God’s Judges (Judges 2:11-19) By Rick Walston Today”s lesson begins a new Old Testament book as we move from the conquest of the peoples in the promised land during Joshua”s lifetime to the challenging period of the judges. This unit, “Listening for God in Changing Times,”

June 27, 2011

Christian Standard

God Does Not Have a Plan for Your Life

By Jennifer Johnson “God”s plan for your life isn”t a map you see all at once, but a scroll unrolled a little at a time, requiring faith,” Rick Warren recently tweeted. “God will accelerate his plan for your life as you put your trust in him. God is giving you victory sooner than you think,” says Joel Osteen. Less prominent Christians champion the theology as well. In responding to a new believer”s question about his career, a contributor to Bible-Knowledge.com writes, “God will now be the one to fully guide you into whatever jobs he will want you to have. .

June 27, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for July 3, 2011: God Responds to Disobedience (Joshua 7:1, 10-12, 22-26)

Be a better parent. Overcome an un-Christian culture. Understand the Bible Read The Lookout! 16 pages of help and hope every week! Here’s how. ____________ This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for July 3) is written by Caleb Kaltenbach, senior minister with Valley View Christian Church in Dallas, Texas. ____________ God Responds to Disobedience (Joshua 7:1, 10-12, 22-26) By Caleb Kaltenbach Some subjects make us squirm in our seats. Disobedience is one of them . . . mainly because we all can identify with it. We disobey the speed laws, our parents, our employers, etc. As a

June 26, 2011

Christian Standard

How We Got THIS Bible (Part 2)

By Jon Weatherly The Bible”s history helps us understand why we have this Bible, not a tidier, easier-to-understand, simpler-to-explain Bible. We have the Bible because God acted in history to make himself known, and faithful people responded. What God did and how the faithful responded tells us how the Bible came to be and came to us. The fact that the process happens in history helps us understand why we have the Bible we have, instead of the one that some imagine. Last week, in Part One of this article, we considered how God acted in history. We examined what

June 21, 2011

Christian Standard

Why We Need to Listen to the Message of “Love Wins”

By Dustin Fulton There has been no shortage of controversy in Evangelical circles surrounding the release of Rob Bell”s latest book, Love Wins. One of the blogs I read hailed it as an “instant classic” (she was a self-proclaimed friend of his from college, with a picture to prove it), while others have called it “complete heresy” and labeled him a Universalist (apparently they weren”t his friends in college!). While Bell certainly didn”t shy away from publicity on this one, I think we ought to be a bit more careful of jumping on or off the bandwagon so quickly. In

June 20, 2011

Christian Standard

How We Got THIS Bible (Part 1)

By Jon Weatherly Where did the Bible come from? Was it delivered by angels to King James I in a leather binding with gilt-edged pages? Was it the product of church councils seeking to squelch dissent? Was it immediately and universally recognized as God”s Word until the recent rise of secular humanism? Today the Bible is the world”s most widely read and widely debated book. We Christians revere it as God”s Word, the full and final authority for what the church believes and does. But the Bible is not necessarily what people expect in God”s Word. It has many sections

June 20, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for June 26, 2011: God Gives the Victory (Joshua 6:2-4, 12-20)

Better Bible lessons starting at 30 cents per week! Get them in Standard Lesson Commentary! (click here) ____________ This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for June 26) is written by Matt Schantz, director of organizational development with a national building supply company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. ____________ God Gives the Victory (Joshua 6:2-4, 12-20) By Matt Schantz Jericho, known as the “City of Palms,” is considered both the world”s oldest city and””at 850 feet below sea level””the lowest. This elevation also makes it one of the hottest places on earth. I had the opportunity to visit Jericho a

June 13, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for June 19, 2011: God Protects His People (Joshua 2:2-9, 15, 16, 22-24)

Read The Lookout every week . . . Two full pages of helps for your Sunday School lesson . . . And inspiration for everyday Christian life. Here’s how. ____________ This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for June 19) is written by Don Hinkle, pastor at Yucaipa (California) Christian Church. ____________ God Protects His People (Joshua 2:2-9, 15, 16, 22-24) By Don Hinkle Joshua 2 would make an amazing film. It has all the ingredients””spies, intrigue, a double cross, humor (“I don”t know which way they went. Go after them quickly”””Joshua 2:5), midnight escapes, secret deals, and

June 12, 2011

Christian Standard

Sustained by the Word

By Kay Moll I was 22 years old. My husband of eight months had left our home in Illinois to travel to Homecoming at Johnson Bible College in Tennessee early on a snowy February morning with five teenagers from the small congregation we were serving in Illinois. A small group of us from the church had prayed with them for safety on the trip and watched them drive away. A little while later I went to the junior high school where I was teaching English and history and began my workday. Around 10:00 a.m., a fellow teacher stuck her head

June 10, 2011

Christian Standard

Getting the Most from Old Testament Prophets (Part 2)

Just as a Rubik”s Cube has six sides, six principles will help you understand these often-overlooked books. (This is another in a series of articles titled “Reading the Bible for All It”s Worth” that Matt Proctor is writing this year.) _____________ GO TO PART 1 ______________ By Matt Proctor In Part One of this essay, I pointed out the first four of six principles that can help you grasp the marvelous meanings in the Bible”s prophetic texts. I pointed out that the 17 Old Testament books we call the Prophets””Isaiah through Malachi””contain some of the most powerful passages in all of

June 8, 2011

Christian Standard

Read the Bible

By Jon Weece Of all the books our children will read in their lifetimes, none will prove more valuable than the Bible. But the Bible has been exiled from far too many Christian homes. I love to read. Always have and probably always will. When I was in the third grade my older brother, Jud, introduced me to the book My Side of the Mountain. It chronicled the life of a boy who ran away from home and lived in a hollowed-out tree in the Catskill Mountains of New York. At the age of 9, I did not possess the

June 7, 2011

Christian Standard

Getting the Most from Old Testament Prophets (Part 1)

Just as a Rubik”s Cube has six sides, six principles will help you understand these often-overlooked books. (This is another in a series of articles titled “Reading the Bible for All It”s Worth” that Matt Proctor is writing this year.) _____________   By Matt Proctor The 17 Old Testament books we call the Prophets””Isaiah through Malachi””contain some of the most powerful passages in all of Scripture, and yet these books remain some of the least read portions of the Bible. A nationally respected business leader, John Dasburg, saved Northwest Airlines from bankruptcy in the early 1990s when he served as CEO.

June 6, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for June 12, 2011: God Expects Obedience (Joshua 1:7-18)

Better Bible lessons starting at only 30¢ per week! Get them in Standard Lesson Commentary! ____________ This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for June 12) is written by Damon Reid, lead minister with Bethany Church of Christ in Kettering, Ohio. ____________ God Expects Obedience (Joshua 1:7-18) By Damon Reid The long-awaited day””anticipated for centuries””had finally come. The children of Israel were preparing to enter the promised land! Because of his disobedience, Moses was not permitted to enter the promised land. Although he died at the age of 120, the Bible notes that his “eyes were not weak

June 5, 2011

Christian Standard

“˜Then the Lord Said to Moses”

By Alan Ahlgrim Once again this year I”m enjoying a slow pilgrimage through the Bible. I don”t read through the entire Bible every year, but my daughter and I are using The One Year Bible, and it”s been wonderfully refreshing and enlightening. The best 30 minutes of my day are at the beginning. They”re the ones spent reading and reflecting on God”s Word. That certainly was true this morning when I was once again gripped with the fact that, at times, God spoke to people directly. I”ve been reading the book of Numbers over the last few days and have

June 3, 2011

Christian Standard

Questions After a Dinner

By Mark A. Taylor Why attend a retirement dinner? To honor the retiree, of course. He (or she) is the focus when speakers describe accomplishments, tell a few funny stories to show his human side, and present a gift from admirers who have gathered to congratulate him. All that happened at the last retirement dinner I attended. But since then I”ve decided the greatest benefit of a retirement dinner may not come to the person or couple retiring, but to everyone else at the party. We hear the accolades and wonder, What will people say about me when I get

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