September 2, 2010
Growing Like Jesus (Intro)
Christian Standard introduces eight essays from contributors and Publishing Committee members reflecting on what has helped them grow intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually.
Series: Featured
September 1, 2010
An Incarnational Approach to Mission?
Ash Barker reflects on incarnational mission, urban poverty, and the costly call to enflesh hope while living among neighbors in Klong Toey slum in Bangkok.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: The Bad Bounce
Jim Tune reflects on spiritual growth, the weakness of the human heart, and the Christian leader’s need to press toward the cross rather than settle for image management or despair.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Wisdom You Can Touch
By Eddie Lowen (Eddie Lowen was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Lowen, a member of Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee, is senior minister with West Side Christian Church, Springfield, Illinois.) ___________________ A television commercial for cars.com depicted a fictional young genius named David Abernathy during several phases of his life. In the first scene, as a newborn, David shocked the obstetrician who de- livered him by reaching up to shake hands with him! As a preschooler, David amazed his parents by using graphs and PowerPoint slides to successfully negotiate a later bedtime.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Wisdom from Fellow Travelers
Jennifer Taylor reflects on how God uses trusted friends, difficult people, and honest conversations to help believers grow in wisdom, courage, patience, and spiritual maturity.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Sight and Insight
Pat Magness reflects on a vision problem, high blood pressure, and the spiritual lesson of caring for the body as part of growing in wisdom, stature, and trust in God.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Hearing God Through People
Glen Elliott reflects on how a friend’s hard truth helped him confront his need for affirmation and experience deeper spiritual growth, marriage renewal, and security in God’s favor.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: Learning to Obey
By Becky Ahlberg (Becky Ahlberg was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Ahlberg is minister of worship and neighborhood engagement at First Christian Church, Anaheim, California. She serves as a CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor.) __________________ The story of Jesus at the temple at age 12 has always fascinated me, but it”s the line just before our “grew in wisdom and stature” assignment that really hits home with me: “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them” (emphasis mine). Many things have led to my own growth
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: The Spiritual Discipline of Parenting
Matthew Proctor reflects on parenting as a spiritual discipline, showing how raising children teaches humility, sacrifice, trust, and joy while shaping parents more closely into the image of Christ.
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: No Pain, No Gain
LeRoy Lawson reflects on how grief, loss, and suffering have shaped his spiritual growth, offering a candid testimony that pain often teaches what success cannot.
August 25, 2010
A Heart for God
Michael Mack reflects on leadership that begins in close fellowship with God, showing how prayer, solitude, devotional life, and remaining with Jesus shape leaders who overflow into others.
August 25, 2010
Why Some Corporate Practices Should Have a Home in the Church
Pastoral Professionalism and Christian Ministry J. Andrew Keith argues that Christian leaders need not choose between faithful service and professional excellence. While churches are not corporations, ministers and elders can reclaim sound leadership practices as expressions of stewardship, mission, and service to Christ. Christian ministry should reject a false choice between professionalism and service. Churches should pursue excellence, accountability, and wise stewardship in staffing and programming. Strategic thinking can help congregations communicate the gospel clearly to their communities. By J. Andrew Keith (with Chris Keith) Several years ago, popular Christian writer John Piper warned ministers about the dangers of professionalism1.
August 25, 2010
Life in All Its Fullness
Michael Mack reflects on Matthew 11:28-30, showing how spiritual leaders experience the abundant life by coming to Jesus, surrendering to his yoke, and learning from him.
August 25, 2010
Eight Ways to Be a More Positive Leader
Victor M. Parachin offers eight practical ways to practice positive leadership that inspires loyalty, develops people, shows respect, gives generously, accepts responsibility, and leads with humor.
August 18, 2010
Lookin” for Squirrels
George Ross reflects on church staff recruiting, true ministry fit, and the need to trust God’s leading when hiring decisions carry huge implications for a congregation’s next season.
August 18, 2010
Prophetic Lessons for the 21st-Century Christian Leader (Part 2)
©Standard Publishing Christian Leadership Commitments from Jeremiah’s Call Edward Sanders reflects on Jeremiah’s call to show how Christian leaders today can make commitments rooted in trust, discipline, Christ-centered ministry, God’s authority, perseverance, and disciple-making purpose. The article connects Jeremiah’s difficult prophetic calling with the responsibilities of church leaders who serve under God’s authority. Christian leaders must place their complete trust in God alone. God’s discipline, authority, and presence shape authentic leadership. Jeremiah’s call points leaders toward Christ-centered, disciple-making ministry. (This is part 2 of a 2-part article.) By Edward Sanders The calling of Christian leaders today is different and more
August 18, 2010
A Vision to Feed Families
Bayfield Christian Church is expanding a small community garden into a 5-acre effort to help local families grow food during economic hardship.
August 18, 2010
Breathtaking Servanthood
Wynne Gillis reflects on a church that gave away its building fund to serve its community, showing how sacrificial service can bear witness to the gospel.
August 11, 2010
The Pastoral Call of Corporate Leaders
J. Andrew Keith urges Christian corporate leaders to practice honesty, care for employees as people, and lead with the servant-minded concern of faithful pastors.
August 11, 2010
Myth Busting
Terry O’Casey challenges churches to move beyond narrow claims about being “New Testament” and recover a fuller biblical vision of discipleship, worship, baptism, leadership, discipline, and unity.
