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 24, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for Jan. 30, 2011: Wounded for Our Transgressions (Isaiah 53:1-12)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for January 30) is written by Drew Sherman who serves with Compass Christian Church in Colleyville, Texas. Wounded for Our Transgressions (Isaiah 53:1-12) By Drew Sherman A few years ago on a mission trip to India, we, like many others who tour India, included a visit to the city of Agra where the Taj Mahal is located. Known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, this marble monument was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is widely considered as one

January 20, 2011

Christian Standard

A Birthday Worth Celebrating

By Victor Knowles The King James Version of the Holy Bible will be 400 years old on May 4, 2011. Happy Birthday, KJV! Like many readers of Christian Standard who are 60 and older, I was raised on the King James Version. It was the only Bible we used in church, VBS, or Christian service camps. Not that we were King James Version-only Christians. It just happened the King James Version was the only Bible used in the Midwest where I grew up in the 1950s and “60s. There were very few translations available other than the American Standard Version

January 19, 2011

Christian Standard

Getting the Most from Old Testament Stories (Part 1)

By Matt Proctor (This is the first of six articles Matt Proctor will write this year under the theme, “Reading the Bible for All It’s Worth.) All human beings love a good story, so when God wanted to communicate the most important message in the universe to us, guess what he did? He told stories . . . and we”ve been captivated ever since. The Bible, and especially the Old Testament, is chock-full of narratives. The Old Testament is two-thirds of Scripture, and more than 40 percent of the Old Testament is narrative. In Sunday school children are still taught much-loved

January 17, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for Jan. 23, 2011: Light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:1-7)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for January 23) is written by Steve Carr who serves with Echo Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:1-7) By Steve Carr As a minister and an employee at a Christian institution, I have spent a lot of time talking with people about God”s call in their lives. Through these interactions I have met people who have claimed to hear the audible voice of God speak to them. I”ve also met people who fear for their salvation because they have never felt God speaking in their lives. While

January 10, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for Jan. 16, 2011: Reassurance for God”s People (Isaiah 48:12-22)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for January 16) is written by Matt Schantz who serves as director of organizational development with a national building supply company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reassurance for God”s People (Isaiah 48:12-22) By Matt Schantz I don”t listen well. Too often I get distracted and I fail truly to hear what someone is saying to me. My daughter has come up with a remedy for this malady. When she senses I am losing focus, she grabs my cheeks and cranks my head in her direction and says, “Daddy, listen to me with

January 9, 2011

Christian Standard

Interview with Jim Eichenberger

Having taught junior high and high school and served as a school principal, Jim Eichenberger has a passion for education. He holds a master”s degree in educational administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield and an undergraduate degree in Christian education from Lincoln (Illinois) Christian College. As a Christian educator, Jim has been a contributor to Standard Publishing since the 1970s and has been employed by Standard full-time since 1995. Thirteen years ago Jim began developing the concept of a chronological treatment of the Bible that would have broad appeal to Christians of all maturity levels. That concept has

January 6, 2011

Christian Standard

What to Call Our Year of the Bible?

By Mark A. Taylor What better time than 2011 to focus on the Bible? This year marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, and in Christian Standard we”ll be lifting up the Bible all year long. This week”s special articles are the first of many about everything from how we got the Bible to how we teach it. Friends and advisers””our contributing editors as well as colleagues here at Standard Publishing””gave us dozens of ideas for the year. But even with all their excellent input, we couldn”t agree on what to call our year of

January 3, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for Jan. 9, 2011: Salvation for God”s People (Isaiah 45:14-25)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for January 9) is written by Ron Martin who serves as pastor at Bayfield (Colorado) Christian Church. Salvation for God’s People (Isaiah 45:14-25) By Ron Martin One of the most beneficial pursuits for a Christian is the study of God”s attributes. But when God gives testimony to himself in Isaiah 44 and 45, we are wise to put down our theology books and to listen carefully. In these chapters, God testifies to his existence and power in comparison to the empty wooden idols invented by man. In so doing, the Lord

January 2, 2011

Christian Standard

What Should We Believe About Hell?

By Glen Elliott People of the Restoration Movement know the declaration well. These days I hear it quoted by many in the church worldwide. I use it when I introduce our doctrinal position to the new members at our welcome event. Most attribute the statement to St. Augustine. This 1,500-year-old declaration remains powerful in its simplicity: “In essentials, unity. In opinions, liberty. In all things, love.” Nothing has the potential to divide us so much as differences over doctrine and theology. We take different stands regarding the end times and the “rapture.” We still have debates over speaking in tongues.

December 27, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Jan. 2, 2011: God Is Our Redeemer (Isaiah 44:21-28)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for January 2) is written by Byron Davis who serves with Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, California. God Is Our Redeemer (Isaiah 44:21-28) By Byron Davis “Remember these things . . . I have made you . . . I will not forget you” (Isaiah 44:21). “Daddy, you stink!” Those were the first words that came out of my 4-year-old daughter”s mouth after I returned home from a 13-mile morning run. I walked into the kitchen to grab some water. Soon, I started talking with my wife and

December 20, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Dec. 26, 2010: God Is with Us (Isaiah 43:1-7, 10-12)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for December 26) is written by Tom May who serves as discipleship minister with Eastside Christian Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana. God Is with Us (Isaiah 43:1-7, 10-12) By Tom May Isaiah would not have used the word near to describe any part of his life in Judah. Isaiah was not near to his friends and family. His work as a prophet often took him from his home. The burden of sharing an unpopular message from God put a strain on many of his relationships. If the traditional belief that Isaiah was

December 17, 2010

Christian Standard

The Tyranny of the Paradigm (Part 3)

Read “The Tyranny of the Paradigm (Part 1) Read “The Tyranny of the Paradigm (Part 2)” ________ By Jack W. Cottrell My thesis is that the understanding of the doctrine of salvation in most Protestant groups is captive to the Zwinglian version of the sola fidei paradigm. In the previous article (last week) I showed how this is the case in the way faith is treated as the sole condition for justification, and not just its sole means. It is also seen in the way repentance either is excluded as a condition altogether, or is diminished by being made simply

December 13, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Dec. 19, 2010: A Child Is Born (Isaiah 9:6, 7; 11:1-8; Matthew 1:21-23)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for December 29) is written by Jeff Stone who serves as senior minister with Bright Christian Church in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. A Child Is Born (Isaiah 9:6, 7; 11:1-8; Matthew 1:21-23) By Jeff Stone “For to us a child is born. . . . And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6, 7). Unending Reign You might be surprised to learn that the word peace appears more than 400 times in

December 6, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Dec. 12, 2010: The Lord Is Our God (Isaiah 41:8-10, 17-20; 42:1-4, 9)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for December 12) is written by Ken Greene, vice president of enrollment services with Mid-Atlantic Christian University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The Lord Is Our God (Isaiah 41:8-10, 17-20; 42:1-4, 9) By Ken Greene In early September, my region of North Carolina faced her first hurricane threat of the season with Earl. This storm had the potential to cause major damage, as everyone watched to see if Earl”s course would bring it across the Outer Banks. The area braced for the worst; community events were canceled and evacuation plans were

November 29, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Dec. 5, 2010: God Gives Strength (Isaiah 40:1-8, 25, 26, 29-31)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for December 5) is written by Teresa D. Welch, assistant professor of Christian education at Emmanuel School of Religion in Johnson City, Tennessee. God Gives Strength (Isaiah 40:1-8, 25, 26, 29-31) By Teresa D. Welch Are you waiting, worried, or weary? What concerns do you carry? Wars and rumors of wars? Economic upheaval and increased poverty? Political decisions and governmental policies? Religious hostility or indifference? The words of God recorded in Isaiah 40 are delivered to the nation of Judah, which had these concerns and many more. The people of God

November 28, 2010

Christian Standard

From My Bookshelf: It Matters What You Believe

By LeRoy Lawson Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality Manjit Kumar New York: W.W. Norton, 2008 Pearl Buck in China: Journey to The Good Earth Hilary Spurling New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010 The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century Steve Coll New York: Penguin Press, 2008 “What is REAL?” asked the Velveteen Rabbit in that all-time favorite children”s book, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. “What is REAL?” asked some of the 20th-century”s most brilliant scientific minds. We”re still waiting for their definitive answer. Manjit Kumar”s Quantum records their best guesses

November 22, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Nov. 28, 2010: God Is Omniscient (Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16, 23, 24)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for November 28) is written by Karen Rees. She and her husband, Benjamin, have served in Hong Kong since 1975. God Is Omniscient (Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16, 23, 24) By Karen Rees Their God What is their god like? In the 35 years my husband and I have served in Hong Kong, knowing the answer to this question has helped us to share our God in a more meaningful way with the variety of people we”ve worked with. The Chinese traditionally believe that the gods can”t be known. They rely on their

November 15, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Nov. 21, 2010: God Is Protector (Psalm 91:1-6, 9-16)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for November 21) is written by Don Hamilton who serves with Capital Area Christian Church in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. God Is Protector (Psalm 91:1-6, 9-16) By Don Hamilton I grew up in an Ozzie and Harriet kind of family. For those of you too young to remember, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson were parents in a television series that ran from 1952 to 1966. The program presented a wonderful, well-adjusted suburban family who thrived under the leadership of a good father. My family was kind of like that. I had a really good

November 8, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Nov. 14, 2010: God Is Forever (Psalm 90:1-12)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for November 14) is written by Phyllis Fox who serves as director of church relations and Youth in Ministry at Milligan College in Tennessee. God Is Forever (Psalm 90:1-12) By Phyllis Fox Stephen R. Covey”s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was a best-selling self-help book in the late 1980s and early “90s. Principle 2 says to “begin with the end in mind.” Perhaps Covey was thinking of Psalm 90 when he wrote, “How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and, keeping

November 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Nov. 7, 2010: God Is Awesome (Psalm 66:1-12)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for November 7) is written by Jason Jones, an elementary school principal in Clinton County, Ohio. God is Awesome (Psalm 66:1-12) By Jason Jones It was a simple family outing on a lazy, late-summer Saturday. A cool breeze kept the smell of fresh kettle-popped popcorn permeating through the fairgrounds. My 4-year-old boy was having the time of his life riding a real train, jumping on giant inflatables, and playing alongside other like-minded toddlers. My baby girl observed from her stroller and laughed at every silly dance move her brother performed for

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