March 22, 2009
The Point of Christianity
Douglas Foster argues that reconciliation is the point of Christianity, shaping how believers understand Scripture, human divisions, and the ongoing evil of slavery.
Series: Featured
March 22, 2009
Hard Times for Healthy Churches
Churches across the country are facing uneven financial pressures during the recession, especially around giving, building campaigns, debt, and the hard stewardship decisions required of leaders.
March 22, 2009
Church Loans, Risky Loans?
Church Development Fund president Doug Crozier says moral and leadership failure, more than economic downturns, poses the greatest risk to church loans and congregational stability.
March 22, 2009
The Greed Factor
Karen R. Rees reflects on economic abuse among foreign household servants in Hong Kong and challenges Christians to respond with biblical justice, generosity, and trust in God.
March 15, 2009
Accessibility, Affordability, and Accountability: A “Spellings Report” for Our Schools
Tom Tanner considers Christian higher education through the lenses of accessibility, affordability, and accountability, calling churches to understand and support schools preparing future leaders.
March 15, 2009
Spiritual Formation as Leadership Development
Bill Weber urges Bible colleges and seminaries to make spiritual formation intentional, developing Christian character through curriculum, faculty mentoring, spiritual disciplines, and a campus culture centered on discipleship.
Christian College: High Value
Christian colleges report on the value of Bible-centered education, highlighting ministry training, mentoring, affordability, service, spiritual formation, and preparation for lifelong kingdom impact.
March 8, 2009
What Baptism Requests
Jon Weatherly’s article excerpt introduces a Christian Standard baptism resource and highlights the New Testament pattern of baptism in the context of conversion.
March 8, 2009
Read More About Baptism . . .
Jon Weatherely offers a concise bibliography of recommended baptism resources, including works by G.R. Beasley-Murray, Jack Cottrell, Robert H. Stein, and Jon A. Weatherly.
March 8, 2009
Understanding Four Views of Baptism
A Christian Standard baptism resource collects several 2009 articles, while this sample from Mark S. Krause’s review introduces Understanding Four Views on Baptism and its Restoration Movement perspective.
A Capitol Idea of Serving Others
By Rod Roberts I was first elected to the Iowa House of Representatives on November 7, 2000. Since that first election victory I have had the good fortune to run opposed in four subsequent re-election campaigns. At the conclusion of this current term I will have served 10 years in the Iowa House. There are 100 members who comprise the Iowa House of Representatives. A five-term member like myself is a legislator who has seniority among his peers. In addition to seniority, I am a leader within the House Republican caucus. In any state Legislature, seniority and position matter a
March 8, 2009
WEB EXTRA: A Time of Cutbacks, But a Season of Opportunities
Ben Cachiaras challenges church leaders to meet economic cutbacks with unity, creativity, pastoral care, prayer, bold vision, and renewed trust in God’s promises.
March 1, 2009
Remember Your Baptism
By Bruce E. Shields  This article is no longer available online, but all of the articles about baptism that appeared in the March 1 and 8, 2009, issues of CHRISTIAN STANDARD–plus a bonus article–are available for purchase as a single, redisigned, easy-to-read and easy-to-use downloadable resource/pdf (a fuller explanation is below).  Baptism: 7 Practical Perspectives Item 02973 “¢Â $2.99 What does the Bible teach about baptism? What does baptism symbolize and what does it accomplish? Why is there so much disagreement? Seven writers offer their insights on this controversial but fundamental topic in this 14-page resource that””with the exception
March 1, 2009
What Happened When I Preached on Baptism?
Brian Jones reflects on the pastoral challenge of teaching about baptism, introducing Christian Standard’s Baptism: 7 Practical Perspectives resource and the questions surrounding baptism’s meaning and importance.
March 1, 2009
Mexico Family Camp: Families Building Homes, Homes Building Families
Mexico Family Camp helped families serve together by building homes in Mexico, deepening bonds across generations while shaping hearts for missions, generosity, worship, and life-changing service.
March 1, 2009
Not the Only Christians
Robert O. Fife reflects on baptism, grace, Dachau, and Martin Niemoeller while asking whether loyalty to biblical baptism can become blindness to the marvelous grace of God.
February 22, 2009
Just What Is Christian Spirituality?
Neal Windham defines Christian spirituality as a conscious, authentic relationship with the triune God that shapes prayer, practice, formation, and holistic life integration.
February 22, 2009
What the Monks Can Teach Us
J.K. Jones reflects on how ancient monks and nuns, despite their flaws, can mentor modern Christians in disciplined, Scripture-tested devotion to God.
February 22, 2009
Spiritual Growth at Manchester Christian Church
Josh Peigh describes how intentional discipleship at Manchester Christian Church helps people pursue spiritual growth through worship, small groups, planning, mentoring, and recovery support.
February 22, 2009
To Swell a Progress
By Robert Wetzel   As a young man, I heard an enthusiastic evangelist say, “Don”t think you are serving God by coming to a worship service. The worship service is an occasion of refreshment and fellowship. Serving God begins when we leave here and go out and win people for Christ.” I have come to see that he was mistaken. Although his enthusiasm for evangelism was commendable, he unwittingly depreciated what happens when we gather to worship God. If worship is not a service to God then how do we account for all of those passages in the Psalms
