Series: Featured

January 20, 2008

Christian Standard

What About War?

By Robert F. Hull Jr. For almost 50 years I have been haunted by this question. It began, I suppose, with Thomas Hardy’s poem “The Man He Killed,” which I first read as a junior high school class assignment: Had he and I but met By some old ancient inn, We should have sat us down to wet Right many a nipperkin! _ But ranged as infantry, And staring face to face, I shot at him and he at me, And killed him in his place. _ I shot him dead because— Because he was my foe, Just so: my

January 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Teens Matter

By Curtis Booher and Phyllis Fox The First of Four Articles About Teens We will offer four Reflection articles: an overview of why teens matter to the church (what you”re reading now), a second article in the spring on church leaders” perspectives on teens” role in the church, a third article in the summer on the vital influence of parents and other caring adults, and a closing article next fall about students” perceptions of their role in the community of faith. This dialogue began this summer at the NACC Teen Convention when a panel of nine ministers came together to

January 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Standard”s VBS: More Than Learning, Beyond Fun

By Joni Baker “The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.” “”Billy Graham, as quoted in Beyond Your Backyard, by Tom Ellsworth (Standard Publishing)     Churches today are rediscovering the world outside their four walls. In fact, a movement of “externally focused” churches reaches out to show love in practical service to schools, parks, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in their communities. Within these churches, all ages can serve together. Even small children learn the joy of helping others. But even though the value of service in Christ”s name has been

January 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Giving Preteens a SuperStart!

By Patrick Snow Thank you soooo much! I can”t even begin to describe how much of a difference you have made.” These words were spoken to me as I was finishing up a phone call with one of the most grateful children”s ministers I”ve ever encountered. What had I done to deserve such a heartfelt and honoring statement? I merely helped connect the gospel of Christ to her preteen students in a way they could understand. Many churches across America have been experiencing a loss of students in the fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade age bracket. If they haven”t disappeared, they”ve

January 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Defining the Win for Junior High Small Groups

By Johnny Scott Have you ever come home from a convention with great enthusiasm about your new small group master plan? You have the best volunteers ever, and you”ve communicated to parents and fellow church staff in meticulous detail how the program will be a success. The curriculum was field-tested by the leaders and chosen by the student leadership team. Everyone is excited. But somewhere between the “back-to-school kickoff” and Christmas break the impact you envisioned fizzles out. What went wrong? It just didn”t seem to add up. Let me propose you take a step backward. Ask yourself, “How did

January 13, 2008

Christian Standard

A Simple Plan for Children”s and Youth Ministers Threatened by Burnout

By Matt and Amy Andrew Why are so many ministers to children and youth experiencing burnout and leaving the ministry? Could it be we need to focus on what is truly important in youth and family ministry? Have we learned to spend the most time on activities that make ministry effective? How often do ministers feel as if they are on an unstoppable treadmill, jumping from one program to another, packing as many activities into the week as they possibly can? How many feel they are not effective in ministry unless the church door is always open and something is

January 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Mentoring Fourth-Grade Boys!

By Andy Hansen Have I told you I”m an assistant teacher for fourth-grade boys on Wednesday nights? Those who know me realize my skill set is much more in line with the junior high and senior high level. I”m much more comfortable with that age group. So . . . why fourth-grade boys? A Problem in Our Society In a recent article in Newsweek (September 17, 2007, page 44), a 24-year-old male teacher told how numerous fellow teachers and even parents asked him to be a “buddy” and mentor to certain at-risk students. Josh Holt quickly realized why. “The principal

January 10, 2008

Christian Standard

The Lost Generation

By Chuck Booher Fifteen years ago I visited one of the largest churches in the country. I was in awe of its high school ministry: 2,000 high school students passionately worshiping Christ. However, when I recently visited this same church I was disheartened to discover its high school ministry had dropped to 500 students. The church has doubled in size, and yet its youth ministry is dwindling. The reason definitely isn”t a lack of students in the area. In fact, the city recently opened two new high schools, and its junior college is brimming with college students. Ironically, as I

January 6, 2008

Christian Standard

Introducing . . . The Year of the Elder

By Staff What is the role of the elder in the 21st-century Western church? Many who hold firm positions on this question disagree with others whose opinions are just as set! And too many congregations are stressed by the tug-of-war between their elders and their preachers. Is there a solution? The first step is discussion about what the Bible says and how we are trying to obey it. And so we are designating 2008 as “The Year of the Elder,” with plans to publish articles about the eldership at least once every month. We will look at the question from

January 6, 2008

Christian Standard

To Err Is Divine: “˜Pastoring” in Biblical Perspective

By Thomas Scott Caulley The other day I met a Japanese Christian who is a Protestant pastor in that country. He had heard of the Christian church. “Yes,” he said, “I know your group: baptism by immersion, Lord”s Supper every week, and no alcohol!” The stereotype made me smile, but it also reminded me of the need to move beyond outward forms. “Bible names for Bible things” is a good guide, but we must also move beyond outward forms in the area of church leadership. What about the title “pastor” for our preachers? Given the New Testament”s general lack of

January 6, 2008

Christian Standard

Restoration Forum”“Catalyst for Change

By Sam E. Stone “At this meeting I”ve found that I have about a million brothers and sisters I didn”t even know about!” That was one person”s reaction after attending his first Restoration Forum. Those in churches of Christ share essentially the same faith and practice with those in the Christian churches/churches of Christ, with one obvious difference. Most of them do not worship with instrumental music accompaniment. The churches of Christ have been listed separately in the U.S. Census since 1906, although both groups trace their roots back to the same Restoration Movement of the 1800s. The a cappella

January 3, 2008

Christian Standard

Three Incentives for Joining the Movement

By Brandon Smith _____ Read the main article: “Provoking Change: A Review of Catalyst Atlanta”     The Catalyst conference, true to its name, has kindled motion. It has invited the next generation of Christian leaders to become change agents in the ever-evolving church. In the last decade, more than 100,000 young leaders accepted that invitation by attending a Catalyst conference. They come from every corner of this country, representing every major denomination. It”s clear that Catalyst is having incredible influence upon churches and Christians everywhere. We in the Restoration Movement have also been summoned to engage in the action.

December 31, 2007

Christian Standard

Worship Ideas from The Creek

Laura Dingman has shared a few examples of worship services and worship elements from gatherings her team has planned at The Creek in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Creek-Download contains orders of worship, monologues, and responsive readings to stimulate your creativity, and even to use where you worship.

December 30, 2007

Christian Standard

More Than All We Ask or Imagine!

By Jackina Stark Transformation is a cultural phenomenon. I know this because I have television. HGTV is practically devoted to it. But I think every network has hopped on the transformation bandwagon. Aren”t you amazed at Extreme Makeover? Of course, most of us are amazed that people would stand before cameras in their underwear and have someone draw lines to show what kind of work is going to be done. What a nightmare! But I must admit the unveiling is exciting, as each brave and transformed soul steps out of the limousine that transports them to their reveal party. I

December 23, 2007

Christian Standard

The Sign of Peace

By Alan Ahlgrim “Peace on earth, good will to men.” It”s one of the most common refrains of Christmas, and yet one of the most elusive of realities. Conflicts rage all around us. Families are fractured. Friendships are strained. Nations are at war. Christmas is not always a peace-filled time, and yet, peace is the essence of the message of Christmas. I suspect peace is what everyone most wants: peace with God and peace with others. You could receive all sorts of expensive and extravagant gifts this year, but without peace in your heart you will be unfulfilled. If you

December 23, 2007

Christian Standard

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and John the Prophet

By Robert Lowery What in the world does Charles Dickens, the 19th-century British author, have to do with the first-century prophet John? I made a connection just the other night after reading Dickens”s short story, A Christmas Carol. The rereading of this classic work intersected with a paper I had graded earlier that evening written by a student in my class on Revelation. The theology of John and Dickens merged late that evening. Most of us are familiar with the characters in the story published in 1843″” Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, and Bob Cratchit and his family, notably Tiny Tim””if

December 23, 2007

Christian Standard

“˜Carols” for any Season of Suffering

By Matt Proctor Max Lucado tells of Mrs. Smith, an elderly widow who loved her parakeet Chippy. His songs brightened her lonely days. One day while vacuuming, Mrs. Smith noticed Chippy”s cage was dirty. Opening the little door, she inserted her vacuum hose . . . when the phone rang. As she turned to pick up the phone, the hose shifted slightly and””slurp!””sucked poor Chippy down into the sweeper”s bowels. Horrified, Mrs. Smith dropped the phone, tore open the sweeper bag, and dug through the dirt until she found the now-brown little feathered lump. Chippy wasn”t breathing, so she did

December 16, 2007

Christian Standard

Restoration Scholars and Their Evangelical Counterparts (a book review)

By Gary Weedman A review of Evangelicalism and the Stone-Campbell Movement: Engaging Basic Christian Doctrine, Volume 2, William R. Baker, editor With this second volume, William Baker continues to make a notable contribution to the interaction between the scholarship of the current Stone-Campbell (SC) Movement and a significant segment of the general evangelical world. Baker was one of the early participants from the SC fellowship in the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), and along with Paul Pollard of Harding University, established an ongoing program unit, called the Stone-Campbell Adherents Group, within the ETS. This effort has spawned the Stone-Campbell Journal, edited

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