July 11, 2010
The Boy with the Odd-Shaped Head
C. Robert Wetzel reflects on baptism, Scripture, and grace through a childhood barber shop debate and a lifetime of ministry shaped by Restoration Movement convictions.
Series: Featured
God Bless America?
Marshall Leggett reflects on America’s heritage of faith, its blessings and challenges, and the Christian call to pray, witness, and seek God’s blessing for the nation.
July 4, 2010
For God and Country
James B. North traces how people connected to the Restoration Movement have served in public office, from presidents and senators to judges, representatives, governors, and state legislators.
Serving the People, Serving God: An Interview with Harriet Miers and Nathan Hecht
By Dusty Rubeck Serving Today In October 2005, George W. Bush introduced Harriet Miers as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. He had once introduced her as a “bulldog in size six shoes.” This nomination capped a long and steady rise of her career in the law. Although she was not yet well known across the nation, fellow Texans were well aware of her rise to prominence. Harriet holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and the SMU Law School. The National Law Journal has named her to the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” list and the “50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America” list. She
A Religious Man for President
Jerry Rushford traces James A. Garfield’s Restoration Movement roots, from baptism and preaching at Hiram to his presidency, assassination, and enduring influence on Christian churches.
July 4, 2010
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July 4, 2010
“˜Be Nice or Leave!”
Rick Grover reflects on how church leaders can respond to criticism, conflict, and mean-spirited behavior with self-examination, compassion, courage, and Christlike firmness.
June 27, 2010
Great and Mighty Things
Chuck Booher shares how Crossroads Christian Church turned an impossible financial campaign into 40 days of prayer, renewed faith, and more than $3 million in commitments.
June 27, 2010
Evangelize Unreached Teenagers? (It Can Be Dangerous)
Rick Bundschuh challenges churches to count the cost of evangelizing unreached teens, especially when outreach brings disruption, conflict, and the joy of changed lives.
June 27, 2010
Church Ladies Spotted at Strip Clubs
Bruised Reed volunteers from Southland Christian Church bring meals, prayer, and relational ministry to Lexington strip clubs, showing Christ’s grace while experiencing transformation themselves.
June 20, 2010
Lessons We”ve Learned from Eating with Sinners
Brandon Smith reflects on how studying Eats with Sinners helped campus ministry students practice relational evangelism through meals, patience, humility, and authentic friendships with non-Christians.
June 20, 2010
Likeitis
Phillip Murdock reflects on how friendships with volunteer firefighters helped him escape the church bubble and rediscover the importance of real relationships with nonchurched people.
June 20, 2010
Crimes and Misdemeanors (a Parable)
John Castelein considers Crimes and Misdemeanors as a modern parable of the soils, exploring guilt, repentance, moral vision, and Christian witness through carefully selected cultural artifacts.
June 20, 2010
Some of My Best Friends Are Lost
Arron Chambers reflects on Jesus’ habit of eating with sinners and challenges Christians to build intentional relationships with lost people—one conversation, one friendship, and one meal at a time.
June 13, 2010
Two Views About the Future of the Restoration Movement: Dissolve or Thrive?
Dick Alexander reflects on the Restoration Movement, identity, unity, innovation, and the future of Christian churches and churches of Christ in a changing century.
June 13, 2010
Broken People Change the World
Janet McMahon reflects on how leading support and recovery groups taught her to confront brokenness, seek God’s healing, and trust imperfect stories to reveal his grace.
June 13, 2010
Responses to Lawson and Alexander’s Articles
Readers respond to LeRoy Lawson and Dick Alexander on the future of the Restoration Movement, weighing unity, Scripture, preaching, restoration, church identity, and New Testament Christianity.
June 13, 2010
Two Views About the Future of the Restoration Movement: Let’s Keep Moving!
Why the Restoration Movement Still Matters LeRoy Lawson reflects on whether the Restoration Movement should continue as a distinct movement or dissolve into the broader church. He argues that the movement still has a vital role to play through nondenominational connectedness, unity, New Testament authority, spiritual gifts, and shared mission. The article asks whether the Restoration Movement still needs to exist. Lawson argues that institutions do not define the movement; the church’s mission does. He identifies 10 values the Restoration Movement can still offer to the larger Christian enterprise. By Leroy Lawson This January, Standard Publishing’s Publishing Committee, CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s
The Hero HeadQuarters Field Test
Ross Christian Church hosted a field test for Standard Publishing’s 2010 Hero HeadQuarters VBS, giving children an interactive week while staff evaluated lessons, music, graphics, and activities.
June 6, 2010
Preparing to Preach
Preacher Preparation Begins with the Whole Person Bruce E. Shields reflects on the lasting influence of a preacher’s character and argues that sermon preparation must include personal and spiritual preparation. Drawing from Phillips Brooks and practical ministry experience, he encourages preachers to pray, hear the text personally, study deeply, and offer the sermon as worship. A preacher’s character often leaves a deeper lasting impression than any single sermon. Preachers should prepare both the message and the whole person who delivers it. Prayer, personal engagement with Scripture, scholarship, and worship are essential to faithful preaching. By Bruce E. Shields Who is
