November 5, 2026
Not Just on Sunday
Lonetta McKee
Print edition2017
What Is the Church?
What Is the Church? | Christian Standard, January 2017 explores the church’s identity, disciple making, leadership health, and ministry in local congregations.
- Issue
- January 2017
- Volume
- CLII
- Number
- 1
- Published in
- Cincinnati, OH
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About this issue
What Is the Church? | Christian Standard, January 2017 is a focused issue on the identity, mission, and health of the church. Built around the cover question “What Is the Church?”, this issue gathers biblical teaching, leadership reflection, ministry stories, and practical examples to help readers think carefully about what the church is and what the church is called to do.
Visible contents begin with Mark Scott’s biblical definitions of the church, followed by Alan Ahlgrim’s articles on leadership pressures and the need to redefine success by more faithful measures. Jeff Faull draws from Revelation’s lampstand imagery to offer a framework for understanding the church, and five ministry leaders explain why they love the church in articles shaped by service, reconciliation, mission, and hope. Ethan Magness examines disciple making as the church’s core mission, while Shawn McMullen profiles smaller churches that continue to make a difference in their communities.
The issue also highlights practical ministry in action. Andy Daniell tells how a struggling church connected with teens, Jon Hembree writes about offering hope to children, Jennifer Johnson explores steps toward healthier church leaders and healthier churches, Glen Elliott revisits what it means to be the church, and Larry W. Timm shares a story of fear and faith in a minister’s family.
For readers researching the identity and mission of the church, What Is the Church? | Christian Standard, January 2017 offers a substantial snapshot of how church leaders were grounding ministry in Scripture, discipleship, community, and long-term faithfulness.
Table of contents
1 | From the Editor
Glimpses of Glory
Mark A. Taylor
4 | 4C’s
Helping Ministry Leaders Develop Skills, Relationships
8 | Seen and Heard
Sexual policy survey results.
10 | What Is the Church?
Bible definitions help provide a clear answer.
Mark Scott
13 | 6 Secrets Leaders Share
Surprises . . . and solutions.
Alan Ahlgrim
14 | Redefining Success
Many definitions miss the mark.
Alan Ahlgrim
18 | Candlestick Framework
Revelation offers clues to “What is the church?”
Jeff Faull
22 | I Love the Church!
Five leaders tell why:
Because It Pushes Against ME
Rhesa Storms
Because the Church Loved Me . . .
Rick Chromey
Because It’s Finding New Ways
Dennis Bratton
Because There’s Work to Be Done
Miriam Perkins
Because of What I See It Doing
Scott Ancarrow
30 | The Church’s Mission: Making Disciples
“Doing” church vs. the mandate of Christ.
Ethan Magness
34 | Smaller Churches: Here to Stay & Making a Difference
Examples from congregations in four states.
Shawn McMullen
37 | Our Link in the Chain
How a struggling church connected with teens.
Andy Daniell
40 | Fostering the Good News
How one church is offering hope to children.
Jon Hembree
42 | Healthy Leaders, Churches
Crucial steps for strengthening the church staff.
Jennifer Johnson
45 | Being the Church
Looking again at who we are and what God called us to do.
Glen Elliott
47 | Beauty in the Battle
A minister and his family grapple with fear and faith after their teenage daughter is diagnosed with cancer.
Larry W. Timm
53 | From My Bookshelf
Three by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre.
55 | Ministry Today
Advice for your ministry: share the Spirit.
56 | At His Table
John’s thoughts while standing before the cross.
57 | Culture Watch
What is a Christian movie?
59 | Preaching
Leaders tell about a sermon they can’t forget.
60 | Best Practices
Ministry in an environment of violence.
64 | A Different Tune
Principled pluralism, a better way.
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