August 6, 2008
Simply Challenging
Mark A. Taylor reflects on a gift-shop slogan, the cost of “living simply,” and the biblical call to stewardship, contentment, and freedom from the love of money.
Series: Columns
First Steps Toward Mending Broken Relationships
Mark A. Taylor reflects on the Great Communion celebration and its call for Restoration Movement churches to take a first step toward mending broken relationships around the Lord’s Supper.
July 23, 2008
Spontaneous Combustion and the Weekly Grind
Mark A. Taylor reflects on the demanding, joyful work behind preaching, teaching, and writing, drawing on Rob Bell’s challenge to give oneself fully to the creative calling.
July 16, 2008
Showing a Better Way
Mark A. Taylor reflects on Doug Wood’s reminder that healthy church growth begins with making disciples, not with polished programming, image-building, or crowd-attracting strategies.
July 13, 2008
FROM MY BOOKSHELF: Insights Into the Middle East
LeRoy Lawson reflects on Afghanistan, humanitarian service, and three books that illuminate suffering, courage, culture, and the costly hope of education in a wounded region.
Let”s See More Stories Like This One
Mark A. Taylor reflects on CMF and FAME’s cooperation in AIDS ministry and urges churches and parachurch ministries to work together for the cause of Christ.
June 25, 2008
What Part of Speech Should “˜Christian” Be?
Mark A. Taylor reflects on whether “Christian” should be merely a label—or a consuming call that shapes creativity, work, culture, and everyday life.
June 18, 2008
Shepherding: A Bigger Task Than Most Are Accomplishing
Mark A. Taylor considers how elders can fulfill their shepherding responsibility by equipping small group and adult Sunday school leaders to care for church members.
Hoping to See You in Cincinnati!
Standard Publishing welcomes the North American Christian Convention to Cincinnati with sponsored events including a Restoration Heritage Tour, luncheon, President’s Reception, and Minister’s Mentorship Breakfasts.
June 8, 2008
FROM MY BOOKSHELF: Beyond Normal
LeRoy Lawson reviews books by David Michaelis, John Elder Robison, and Arron Chambers, reflecting on Peanuts, Asperger’s syndrome, Christian identity, and the extraordinary shape of human potential.
June 4, 2008
Four Standards for Small Groups
Mark A. Taylor identifies four standards for thriving small groups: begin with the Bible, adopt a strategy, train leaders, and expect community to grow organically.
May 28, 2008
Can We Do It His Way?
Mark A. Taylor reflects on Christian unity, Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address, and a Great Communion opportunity calling believers toward the bold possibility of “one church.”
May 21, 2008
From Guilt to Joy
Mark A. Taylor reflects on guilt, comparison, time, and money, showing how Christians can serve others generously while using everything they have for God’s glory.
May 14, 2008
Some Prayer Requests Can Hurt
Mark A. Taylor warns that prayer requests can become gossip when curiosity, self-righteousness, or public criticism replace humility, privacy, and genuine concern.
May 7, 2008
Beyond the Steeples
Mark A. Taylor reflects on churches without steeples, showing how ordinary acts of service, evangelism, and faithful neighborhood witness reveal the church at work beyond its walls.
May 4, 2008
FROM MY BOOKSHELF: Looking for God
Leroy Lawson reviews spiritual writing and Reggie McNeal’s church leadership books, reflecting on humility, mission, global Christianity, and the church’s need to move beyond the status quo.
April 30, 2008
External Focus, Careful Balance
Mark A. Taylor reflects on the challenge of balancing evangelism and social action, urging externally focused churches to bring together good deeds and good news.
Available Only from Us
By Mark A. Taylor This information isn”t available anywhere else. That was the comment one reader made about the expanded Christian college issue CHRISTIAN STANDARD published March 16. The same is true for this week”s issue. Hidden on the computer hard drives of several campus ministers, the directory we publish annually tells our thousands of readers about these ministries. Keep this issue or send it to college-age students you know. Or find the directory at our Web site and bookmark it for future reference. Hundreds of Christian students on secular campuses across the country are making life-changing commitments to God
April 16, 2008
Struggles in High Places
Mark Zuckerberg’s leadership struggles at Facebook echo challenges many church and parachurch leaders face: rapid growth, pressure to sustain the work, and the temptation to lead on one’s own terms.
April 13, 2008
Mega Myth Busters: A review of “Beyond Megachurch Myths”
Dick Alexander reviews Beyond Megachurch Myths, highlighting research that challenges common assumptions about megachurches and points church leaders of every size toward healthier, more effective ministry practices.
