Series: Featured

November 18, 2007

Christian Standard

Why I Take a Premillennial View (Longer Version)

By Alex V. Wilson It is deplorable that such topics have often occasioned bitter controversy and even church-splits. That should never be. Sincere Christians who hold differing interpretations should be able to love and respect each other and cooperate in God”s service despite disagreements. Otherwise Satan wins great victories by sowing strife among the Lord”s people. “Divide and conquer” is one of his favorite strategies. I know of congregations with premills, a-mills, and people who don”t know the difference between a millennium and a millipede””and yet they work together because of unity in Christ. Being correct about the millennium is

November 18, 2007

Christian Standard

Why I Take a Premillennial View (Shorter Version)

By Alex V. Wilson A more comprehensive treatment of this subject by Alex V. Wilson is also available.     Being correct about the millennium is not necessary for salvation. I can”t find any verse that says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and premillennialism, and you will be saved.” Nor is believing correctly about the millennium essential for Christian character and service (though “the blessed hope” of Christ”s coming definitely is). There were strong Christians for decades before John wrote Revelation. Paul never read it, and if you asked him to explain “the thousand years” he might have replied, “I

November 18, 2007

Christian Standard

Why I Am an Amillennialist

By Robert Lowery Years ago when I began my study of Revelation, I attempted to do so with no preconceived theories. I tried to let John say what I think he means to say. I came to the conclusion that John did not teach Jesus was going to return to earth and set up an earthly kingdom for a thousand years. Furthermore, nowhere else in the Bible do I find such a teaching. Many may differ, but we can agree upon the following: We believe God, in his own time and in his own way, will bring all things to

November 11, 2007

Christian Standard

Three Stories, One Problem

By Darrel Rowland The student minister starts his car, already planning how he will unbuckle his seat belt, zoom onto a nearby causeway, and veer over the guardrail into the lake . . . The senior minister silently envies the ailing neighbor he”s visiting, wishing he could trade places with the terminal cancer patient . . . The church leader, alone one night in his small apartment, pulls out a steak knife and stares at his wrists . . . CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s editors asked for an article on sexual misdeeds by church leaders and ministers. So why are we talking

November 11, 2007

Christian Standard

The Secret That Must Be Told

By Faith Ingraham I have lived with a secret for the majority of my life. Many others are living with the same secret and they, like me, are suffering from the damage and pain it causes. I was born into a pastor”s home, the sixth of nine children and the only girl. We attended church regularly and seemed to be the normal pastor”s family. My mother worked full-time as a secretary to support the large family. My father pastored several small churches. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was 5 years old. I wanted to please God,

November 11, 2007

Christian Standard

What Would Jesus Do?

By Faith Ingraham Jesus were to visit our churches, would he ignore and excuse criminal behavior because he does not want the church to suffer the embarrassment of dealing with prominent church members who are involved? Would he confront the victims and tell them they should just forgive those who have stolen their innocence, childhood, and trust? The Bible teaches he would confront the abusers and expect that they face the consequences of their sinful lifestyle. Jesus was not afraid to confront the religious leaders while he walked upon the earth. In Matthew 23, Jesus continually rebukes the Pharisees and

November 11, 2007

Christian Standard

My “˜Jesus With Skin On”

By Barbara Rendel God knew I would need “a Jesus with skin on.” Maybe you could live on a deserted island. Maybe you could exist for many years without having someone in your life. God knew I would need a husband. God knew I would need a family. I was born into the best family I can imagine. Our community of modest-income families knew the things that mattered most””Jesus, Christian morals, integrity, and love for one another. My family gave me the opportunity to go to a Christian college. That”s where I met my husband. I was asked to play

November 4, 2007

Christian Standard

Weeping With David

By Jackina Stark Mercy, there are a lot of reasons to cry. I went in not so long ago and talked to Ozark Christian College Academic Dean Mark Scott about cutting back my teaching load. I wanted more time to travel, to write, to see the grandchildren and my aging parents. Necessarily, our talk moved to when I would retire altogether, and of course, at that point I started crying. I”m sure he wished I”d just sent a letter. Well, for goodness” sake, he must have thought, what do you want? I want more time to travel, to write, to

November 4, 2007

Christian Standard

Recovering from Excellence

By Daniel Schantz An angry young man blocked my exit from my college classroom. He thrust a term paper in my face, and with quivering voice said, “How come I only got a B on this paper?” “Well,” I replied, “a B is an excellent grade.” He was not satisfied with my answer. He is one of the self-esteem generation who expects to get nothing but As. To them, anything that is not an A is an F. Now, the excellence generation has taken the reins of the church. It is a generation with astronomical expectations. “Excellence” is their mantra.

November 4, 2007

Christian Standard

Common Ties, Gratefully Shared

By Ted Parks Standard Publishing, publisher of CHRISTIAN STANDARD since shortly after the American Civil War, recently donated a major collection of archival materials to Nashville”s Disciples of Christ Historical Society. The gift is remarkable not only because of its historical value, but as an expression of goodwill between distinct “streams” of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. The historical society, founded in 1941, serves all congregations related to this movement: those in the Disciples of Christ and a cappella churches of Christ as well as independent Christian churches and churches of Christ. Housed in the Thomas W. Phillips Memorial Building in

November 4, 2007

Christian Standard

An Open Apology Letter to My Class

By Randy Gariss Dear Class and Family: Well, I”m here at the Teacher”s Rehab Center and I just got back from my first support group session for struggling teachers and preachers. I really hate to admit it, but the first day wasn”t as bad as I expected. I am not yet ready to thank you for kidnapping me and forcing me to go, but I do want to apologize for my angry words and swinging fist as the class mobbed me and carried me out to the rehab bus. (Especially to you, Sweetheart . . . I just think your

November 4, 2007

Christian Standard

Eastern Christian Convention Celebrating 40 Years

Staff Report The Eastern Christian Convention will be celebrating its 40th year when it meets at the Hershey (PA) Lodge and Convention Center on Nov. 16-18. Speakers will include Bob Russell, former longtime senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY; Chuck Sackett of Madison Park Christian Church, Quincy, IL; and Toney Salva of Discovery Christian Church, Cranberry, PA. The convention, which begins Friday afternoon and concludes at noon Sunday, will feature four worship sessions, several workshops, an informative exhibit area, and activities for all ages: nursery, preschool, children, teens, and adults. There will be a Bible Bowl competition

October 28, 2007

Christian Standard

Let’s Celebrate

By Bob Russell About These Articles This article and its companion, “How Should We Celebrate?,” are excerpted from Bob Russell“s closing sermon at the North American Christian Convention in Kansas City, July 6. Bob reviewed the biblical examples of celebrating what God has done, and then he highlighted some of what God is doing among us today.     This is a time when those of us in the Restoration Movement should really be celebrating God”s victories. In the early 1800s our forefathers sensed a lack of vitality in the church and prayed for revival. They desired not just a

October 28, 2007

Christian Standard

How Should We Celebrate?

By Bob Russell About These Articles This article and its companion, “How Should We Celebrate?,” are excerpted fromBob Russell”s closing sermon at the North American Christian Convention in Kansas City, July 6. Bob reviewed the biblical examples of celebrating what God has done, and then he highlighted some of what God is doing among us today.     First, celebrate the past but don”t dwell on the past. Over the years I watched a number of people become a part of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville who would say, “This is a breath of fresh air. I dropped out of church because it

October 28, 2007

Christian Standard

Multiplying Your Impact

By Kent Fillinger     From Late Night“s Top 10 lists to college sports” Top 25, almost everything imaginable has been ranked. Americans love lists, and the number of lists generated seems endless. Outreach magazine recently initiated a new list”””America”s Top 25 Multiplying Churches.” Researcher Ed Stetzer said, “Among churches today, the conversation””a long overdue one””is moving from church growth to kingdom growth.” The 25 churches were selected from more than 300 surveyed and were ranked based on the total number of church plants over the life of the church, the average number of churches planted each year, dollars and

October 28, 2007

Christian Standard

Extraordinary Living

By Lisa Jernigan How did you celebrate your last birthday? Did you have a big party, or maybe a quiet celebration with family and friends, or was it just another ordinary day? Was it a time of reflection of the past or anticipation of the future? I recently celebrated a birthday that kinda” stopped me in my tracks! Though it wasn”t a “milestone” birthday (that”s next year!), it did grab my attention and cause me to take inventory of my life. People are often asked who their heroes or role models are. When I am asked that question, several people

October 21, 2007

Christian Standard

Be Our Guest: 10 Tips for Visitor-Friendly Buildings

By Jennifer Taylor Churches spend millions of dollars designing buildings and paving parking lots to make room for visitors. While bricks and mortar provide space for new people, leadership teams often don”t realize the impact of spending just a few more dollars to make those areas guest-friendly. PlainJoe Studios, based in Corona, California, works with churches to incorporate environmental design into every phase of a project. From huge new buildings to modest renovations, simple strategies help every church open the door to visitors. 1. Think like a visitor Although considering a newcomer”s experience seems obvious, it”s also deceptively difficult. Building

October 21, 2007

Christian Standard

Why and How Your Church Should Use Name Tags

By Krista Petty My coworkers teased me all week long. (Yes, people in ministry razz one another.) Ten of us were attending a national outreach convention, and the one workshop I was most excited about was titled something like, “The Value of Name Tags.” Yes, it was all about using name tags at church. Why were they making fun of me? The youth minister told me name tags were dorky. He”d never wear one. Another staffer said, “Out of all the great options, you”re choosing that?” To make matters worse, they all pointed out that this workshop was at 4:00

October 21, 2007

Christian Standard

Welcome Back! How Some Churches Work to See Visitors Return

By Krista Petty The outreach strategy is working. Your church has an abundance of first-time guests, or maybe a nice, steady stream of curious new people from week to week. Now what? What does it take to get them back for a second look at all your church family has to offer? And just as important, what gifts and strengths does that new person or family have that the kingdom of God may miss without their involvement? Without planned and purposeful follow-up, visitors may come and go through a revolving door without setting down roots or feeling involved. Several growing

October 21, 2007

Christian Standard

What”s at Your Front Door?

By Robert Kitchen Our local newspaper ran an article headlined “Home Decor Starts at the Front Door.” It said an entryway is the visual introduction to a house, and that it sets the stage for all that may follow. Consider the front door of your church. It should be clean, neat, and in good repair. But it doesn”t stop there. The helpfulness and demeanor of the people who are at the door are what”s most important. Many churches recognize the importance of their entryways; unfortunately some do not recognize them as opportunities. A church”s music may be tremendous, the sermon

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