Theology &amp; Bible

Getting the Most from Old Testament Law (Part 1)

Those who first received the Law viewed obeyingÂ it a privilege, not a restriction. Can New TestamentÂ Christians also see the beauty in these ancient texts? (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 Imagine it”s New Year”s Day, and you make a resolution to read through your Bible this year. You begin with Genesis, and all goes well that first week. But hold on. Soon you”ll get to Leviticus, and then what will you do? Genesis starts with a bang as God

March 21, 2011

Lesson for March 27, 2011: Compassionate Service (1 Timothy 5:1-8, 17-22)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for March 27) is written by Robert Woolfolk who serves with Agape Christian Church in Denver, Colorado. ____________ Compassionate Service (1 Timothy 5:1-8, 17-22) By Robert Woolfolk As we read Paul”s instructions to the young preacher Timothy, we gain wisdom about godly relationships in the church, which is the body of Christ. Families Godly family interaction is important to the health and vitality of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. How we treat one another speaks louder than anything we teach, preach, or counsel. Paul”s instructions still reverberate 20 centuries

March 14, 2011

Lesson for March 20, 2011: Leadership Priorities (1 Timothy 4:6-16)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for March 20) is written by Bruce Stoker who serves as adult education minister with Memorial Church of Christ in Livonia, Michigan. ____________ Leadership Priorities (1 Timothy 4:6-16) By Bruce Stoker It”s a shame we have made worship such a divisive thing within the church. If we can get back to the “heart of worship,” as Matt Redman”s song says, and recognize with him that it”s all about God, then Paul”s directives in 1 Timothy 4:6-16 ought to clarify the priorities of church leaders. When leaders have their priorities straight, division

March 7, 2011

Lesson for March 13, 2011: Leadership Qualities (1 Timothy 3)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for March 13) is written by Cheryl Frey, a freelance proofreader and editor from Rochester, New York. ____________ Leadership Qualities (1 Timothy 3) By Cheryl Frey Because I make my living as a proofreader, I find it very hard to ever read a book for pleasure. But not wanting to miss out on all the wisdom to be found in good literature, I now check out books on tape or CD from the library. I especially love to listen to authors Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, Stephen Covey, and John Maxwell, who

February 28, 2011

Lesson for March 6, 2011: Worship Guidelines (1 Timothy 2)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for March 6) is written by Jeremy Lawson who serves as minister with Mount Pleasant Church of Christ in Williamstown, Kentucky. ____________ Worship Guidelines (1 Timothy 2) By Jeremy Lawson In a majority of churches, the worship service goes something like this: someone welcomes the congregation and worship begins. After a few songs, there is a time of Communion and offering. After that, one or more persons sing a special number that everyone will clap for regardless of its quality. The preacher then takes the stage and 20 to 30 minutes

February 21, 2011

Lesson for Feb. 27, 2011: Jesus Is Coming Again (Mark 13:14-27)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for February 27) is written by M. Y. Perkins, assistant professor of theology and society at Emmanuel School of Religion in Johnson City, Tennessee. ____________ Jesus Is Coming Again (Mark 13:14-27) By M. Y. Perkins Your job is soon to be phased out. You have a terminal disease such as cancer. Your spouse is ending your marriage. If you have ever received or been a close friend to someone who has faced difficult news about the future, you will understand the significance of Jesus” words to his disciples in Mark 13.

February 19, 2011

Communion & Lord's Supper Theology & Bible

The Time for Cross-Examination

By Charles Gerber Examine is a word often used in court proceedings. Examination can be defined as “putting yourself under evaluation, as with a microscope.” This type of examination is for our own good, like when we visit a doctor. Some examinations are done with great care and precision. The word examine is found only twice in the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 11:28 and 2 Corinthians 13:5. The word examine is from the Greek word dokimazo, meaning to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve. Cross-examine is another term used in court proceedings. A witness is cross-examined by

February 14, 2011

Lesson for Feb. 20, 2011: Jesus Came to Serve (Mark 10:35-45)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for February 20) is written by Jonathan Feathers, senior minister with West Waynesboro Church of Christ in Waynesboro, Virginia. Jesus Came to Serve (Mark 10:35-45) By Jonathan Feathers (Note: The italicized words in this lesson may be used as discussion questions.) To serve or to be served? What is your response to this question? In our 21st-century American culture, we strive to make it to the top and to cross the finish line first. In today”s economy, we are prepared to push and shove to be the front-runner for the new

February 10, 2011

Holy Spirit Theology & Bible

He”s Taken Up Residence

By Dave Butts I”ll never forget that Thursday night in April 1983. I had been struggling for months to understand what it meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit. That night at a conference in Nashville, Tennessee, I heard Argentinean evangelist Juan Carlos Ortiz speak these simple words, “To be filled with the Spirit is to be continually conscious of Christ in you.” From that point on, I had a life verse that has shaped my life and ministry: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Before that time, I certainly had understood biblically, theologically, and intellectually

February 7, 2011

Lesson for Feb. 13, 2011: Jesus Is God”s Son (Mark 9:2-13)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for February 13) is written by Rod Idle who serves with Journey Community Church in Fernley, Nevada. Jesus Is God’s Son (Mark 9:2-13) By Rod Idle There is a discussion about Jesus still going on today. It doesn”t center on whether he existed. We all can agree Jesus lived 2,000 years ago, and historians accept that he was born in Bethlehem and lived in Galilee. The discussion is not whether or not Jesus really lived, breathed, and died. The question is, “Who was Jesus?” It”s not a new question. This discussion

February 5, 2011

Salvation Theology & Bible

The Highest Purchase Price

By Charles Gerber People buy and sell some outrageous items on eBay. I heard about someone who tried to sell an elastic band you put around your head to hold your mobile phone to your ear. (It sounded an awful lot like a rubber band.) No one bid on it. (What a surprise!) However, someone actually did buy a half-eaten taco! Yard sales are places you can find some great bargains, but at auctions you are more likely to pay a premium on your purchase. Perhaps the most expensive sculpture sold at auction was L”Homme qui marche, created by Alberto

February 3, 2011

Nancy Meets God in Isaiah

By Nancy Karpenske It”s just a purple spiral notebook, well-worn and nondescript. But it contains my personal history with the book of Isaiah. All I really knew about Isaiah was that it held precious prophecies””a virgin shall conceive, unto us a child is born, despised and rejected, a man of sorrows. And the famous vision of God”s throne room that resulted in Isaiah crying out, “Here am I, Lord, send me!” I set my sights on becoming more familiar with Isaiah””not the facts and time lines and interpretations; I intended to look for God in the pages. I decided to

February 1, 2011

Getting the Most from Old Testament Stories (Part 2)

(This is the second of six articles Matt Proctor will write this year under the theme, “Reading the Bible for All It”s Worth.) By Matt Proctor When we read one of these Hebrew narratives,Â we want to discover the author”s intended meaning. This guards us against imposing our own meaningÂ on the text. How do we uncover the clues to the author”s intended meaning? I love Warren Wiersbe”s observation in The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament, “If you don”t talk to your Bible, your Bible isn”t likely to talk to you!” In other words, if you don”t ask the text

January 31, 2011

Lesson for Feb. 6, 2011 Jesus Is the Messiah (Mark 8:27″“9:1)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for February 6) is written by Rick Walston, senior minister with Marion Church of Christ, Rochester, Minnesota. Jesus Is the Messiah (Mark 8:27″“9:1) By Rick Walston What are life”s most important questions? “Where will I go when I die?” “What will I do with my life?” “Whom will I marry?” Some might say the answers don”t matter as long as we are asking the right questions. But answers are important, and the most important question of life must be answered correctly because its implications are eternal. Jesus asked his disciples this

January 24, 2011

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

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

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 toldÂ 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