May 27, 2009
Simply Appealing
Mark A. Taylor considers the appeal of simplicity in church life, drawing from David Browning, Simple Church, and the need for congregations to focus clearly on God’s priorities.
Series: Columns
More Than Talk About Unity
Mark A. Taylor reflects on the difficulty and necessity of practicing unity within the Restoration Movement, pointing to conversations that may help divided streams rediscover common ground.
May 13, 2009
The Final Challenge
Mark A. Taylor challenges readers to keep serving faithfully through every season of life, stewarding experience, wisdom, and opportunity until the final lap.
Doing Good”“an Earmark of Our Times?
Mark A. Taylor reflects on the church’s growing external focus, the wider cultural movement toward service, and the call to demonstrate Christ’s love through hands-on compassion.
April 29, 2009
Campus Ministries”“Something Special
Christian Campus Ministry and Christian Colleges Help Students Keep Their Faith Christian campus ministry can provide vital community for students during the college years. Mark A. Taylor reflects on how campus ministries, Christian colleges, and Bible colleges help students strengthen their faith whether they attend faith-based schools or secular universities. Campus ministries can provide vital Christian community for students on secular campuses. Christian liberal arts colleges and Bible colleges offer scholarship in an atmosphere of faith. Families and congregations should pay attention to ministries serving students preparing for college. By Mark A. Taylor It was a typical college visit, the
April 19, 2009
FROM MY BOOKSHELF: Personal Faith and Church Function
LeRoy Lawson reviews David J. Wolpe’s Why Faith Matters and Kevin G. Ford’s Transforming Church, highlighting resilient faith, thoughtful leadership, and congregational transformation.
Your Vision”“and Ours
Mark A. Taylor explains why Christian Standard devotes a special issue to megachurches while urging churches to pursue their own God-given vision instead of copying others.
April 8, 2009
Exciting Times, Hopeful Times, Times to Be a Blessing
Mark A. Taylor reflects on how difficult economic times can become an opportunity for churches to lead with creativity, pastoral care, teaching, and trust in God.
More Than One Way to Use a Magazine
Mark A. Taylor shares how churches can use CHRISTIAN STANDARD with leaders, elders, and small groups, then previews the upcoming annual megachurch issue.
March 25, 2009
Highlighting the Beauty of Baptism
Mark A. Taylor highlights baptism stories from California, Georgia, and Pennsylvania while pointing readers to Christian Standard resources that help churches teach baptism clearly.
Our Money Can Point People to Jesus
Mark A. Taylor reflects on Waterfront Community Church’s radical generosity and challenges congregations to use money as a visible witness to Jesus during difficult economic times.
March 15, 2009
FROM MY BOOKSHELF: For Presiders, Preachers, Prayers, and Other Leaders
LeRoy Lawson reviews five Christian books on the Lord’s Supper, the Lord’s Prayer, preaching, hermeneutics, and the ministry needs of smaller churches.
More Than a Matter of Percentage
Mark A. Taylor introduces a new Restoration Movement statistic in the Christian college summary and invites readers to discuss what it reveals about mission, support, and student identity.
To Keep, to Share, to Teach
Christian Standard announces a downloadable baptism resource collecting recent articles and interviews on baptism for churches to use in teaching, outreach, and discussion.
February 25, 2009
Preventing Spiritual Desertion
Mark A. Taylor reflects on spiritual warfare, Civil War desertion research, and how unity, fellowship, camaraderie, and trust can help congregations remain faithful in the battle.
February 18, 2009
What’s the Future for the World Convention?
World Convention faces staff cutbacks, financial shortfalls, and leadership uncertainty as executive director Jeff Weston prepares to end his service later this year.
February 15, 2009
FROM MY BOOKSHELF: Wisdom from a Hayseed’s Hayseed
LeRoy Lawson reviews Wendell Berry’s The Way of Ignorance and Other Essays, reflecting on humility, community, ecology, politics, and the wisdom of starting small.
February 11, 2009
Another Visit with an Old Friend
Mark A. Taylor reflects on the North American Christian Convention as an old friend—mature, familiar, challenging, and still connected to younger leaders and contemporary needs.
February 4, 2009
Safe Streets, Saved Souls
Mark A. Taylor reflects on elders, Christian Standard’s “Get Your Hands Dirty” theme, and Timothy Keller’s reminder that Jesus’ mission includes both salvation and restoration.
January 28, 2009
Random Notes, Important Items
Mark A. Taylor shares Christian Standard updates, including an apology, a correction, Great Communion news, a megachurch survey request, and a remembrance of missionary martyr Phyllis Rine.
