Series: Featured

Apologetics & Worldview

What a Bunch of Hard-core Vegan Pagans Taught Me About Jesus

By Ryan Rasmussen Quite possibly the scariest moment in my life came at age 22, whereupon graduating from Bible college, I was embarking upon my first full-time ministry. I had taken a job as youth pastor at a little church just north of Indianapolis, Indiana. The church sat comfortably between cornfields and was on the outskirts of a blue-collar factory town the Beach Boys used to sing about (Kokomo). The people were nice, the church was great, but I still felt all alone in this new world I had taken by storm. In an effort to kill time and distract

December 19, 2013

Theology & Bible

Incarnation

By Tom Lawson Stephen and Ian stood together talking, while they braved the crisp breeze of a cold December in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. They had decided to go to a popular local cafÃ© for lunch. But the people standing outside told them what was confirmed by the hostess at the door, “It will be about 20 to 30 minutes, if you want to wait.” They did. In the eight months between college and graduate school, my son Stephen decided to live and worship with a group of Christians in a depressed section of Lexington. From various denominations, the members of

December 16, 2013

New Testament Theology & Bible

Making Disciples

By Jeremy Brown Standing on the platform at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Phil Robertson spoke with conviction as the crowd hung on every word. “I”m not an ordained preacher in the way that you”re thinking””I”m just a guy who makes duck calls.” Much of the world is interested in the thoughts of the “Duck Commander” because this everyday man from the woods has chosen to use every platform afforded him over the last 30 years to introduce people to Jesus Christ””and God has allowed him a significant platform! “I”m just trying to get America and the rest of

December 16, 2013

Shawn McMullen

The Father Was There

By Shawn McMullen We see Jesus Christ as the focal point of the final week, the main character in the drama of redemption. From the triumphal entry to the resurrection, our eyes are fixed on him. We picture him during his last days on earth cleansing the temple, teaching the masses, and warning hypocrites. We follow him as he observes the Passover, prays in the garden, and suffers a friend”s betrayal. Our hearts ache over his abandonment, arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Following Christ in his final week helps us appreciate the scope of his sacrifice and the depth of his

December 15, 2013

Church Life

What About the Church?

By Chris Beard John 1 is by far my favorite Christmas story. With all due respect to mangers, angels, and magi, John”s account of the Christmas event overflows with the epic proclamation and fanfare that such an earth-shattering moment deserves. Before the foundation of the world, One existed who shared in God”s presence and identity. This eternal being was the chief executor of creation; nothing was made without him. On a day that would redefine history, this all-powerful, eternal being became flesh and made his dwelling among us! This majestic juncture when God collided with human history is known as

December 14, 2013

Theology & Bible

God Enfleshed

By Miriam Y. Perkins Incarnation is not a word we often use in church settings. It has the intimidating look of a complicated theological term that causes more confusion than clarification. Yet the incarnation sums up three of the most important aspects of Christian faith: the nature of God”s love, the shape of salvation, and the spirit of Christian ministry. The incarnation inspires wonder and delight in knowing and worshipping God, who is beyond all we know and understand and yet is as fully present to us in the person of Jesus as we are one to another. I invite

December 13, 2013

Theology & Bible

Like Us, With Us

What are we to think of ourselves, to make of ourselves, because God became a manÂ in Jesus? How does Jesus help us understand and define our own humanity? By Jon Weatherly What is a human? The story is told of two medieval philosophers discussing that question. One said, “A human is a featherless, two-legged creature.” The second excused himself, then returned an hour later with a plucked chicken. We need a better definition. Or perhaps we humans are better off describing our experience rather than formulating a definition. So what is our experience? We are like and unlike other

December 12, 2013

Jim Nieman

‘Happy Incarnation Day’

By Matt Proctor Your theology of the incarnation matters. It affects how you view your body, your problems, your ministry””and your celebration of the holiday before us. Your theology of the incarnation matters. Santa Claus thought so. Saint Nicholas, the bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the early fourth century, is the historical basis for the Santa myth. Born to a wealthy family, Nicholas used his entire inheritance to help the poor, sick, and children in need. Stories of Saint Nick describe him saving young women from slavery, providing grain in a famine, and sparing innocents from execution. It”s

December 9, 2013

Conferences & Gatherings Organizations & Events

ICOM Calls Christians Everywhere to Glorify God Globally

By Doug Lucas It was a global gathering with a distinctly Latino flavor. From the free chips and salsa in the exhibit hall to the mariachi band on the main platform, the International Conference on Missions (ICOM) reminded us of opportunities among Spanish-speaking friends in our country and all over the world. Much of this was due to the influence of 2013 President Jair Castillo who extended his life of influence in Mexico to ICOM. But the convention”s impact extended far beyond the Americas. Meeting November 14-17, 2013, at the Kansas City Convention Center, ICOM hosted church leaders, missions advocates,

December 9, 2013

Twelve Pictures of the Incarnation

By Ethan Magness Both in my life and in the larger ministry of Mountain Christian Church, we are making strides to embody the incarnation as an intentional ministry strategy. We are seeing new modes of ministry emerging at the level of churchwide strategy, group engagement, and individual action. As we look around, we see pictures of Jesus enfleshed in the world he loves. Don”t be confused by how simple these strategies may be. Incarnational ministry is pretty simple. We just show up and live where Christ”s presence is needed. We see a picture of the incarnation when . . .

December 8, 2013

The Ironic Opportunity of Christmas

By Ethan Magness For centuries, church leaders have been creatively using the cultural opportunities available to them to proclaim the gospel and the reign of the kingdom of God. Most of our current Christmas traditions developed in this way. Cultural practices (many pagan in origin) were adapted and redeveloped in the context of celebration of Christ”s birth. In fact, although the precise history is murky, it is likely the date of the celebration itself was chosen to co-opt the ancient celebration of the sun that occurred at the winter solstice. These opportunities to redeem the culture around us and focus

December 6, 2013

Addiction Ethics & Moral Issues

King Corn and Captain Kirk

By Jay Engelbrecht My grandmother quoted Scripture to warn me against the evils of alcohol. But today another culprit wreaks equal, if not greater, harm. “Never take a drink and you”ll never become a drunk.” When my grandmother admonished me to avoid alcohol, she did me a world of good. Her advice spared me weight gain, high blood pressure, heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, and dementia Thanks, Grandma. Of course, she cared more about my character than the physical impact of alcohol. Her view on alcohol was influenced by Deuteronomy 21:20: “They shall say to the elders, “˜This

December 1, 2013

Christian Standard Updates News & Updates

Index to CHRISTIAN STANDARD for 2013

By Staff Some readers keep their printed copiesÂ of CHRISTIAN STANDARD for future use and reference. Each year we create an indexÂ to assist these readers. This index allows for research based on topic, author, and columnist. Click the following to access the pdf: Christian Standard Index for 2013.

November 28, 2013

When It”s Hard to Give Thanks

By Sam E. Stone Two men were walking through a field when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they started running for the nearest fence. The bull was in hot pursuit. Terrified, one shouted to the other, “Pray, John. We”re in for it!” “I can”t,” his friend yelled back. “I”ve never prayed in public in all my life!” “You”ve got to!” his friend implored. “The bull”s gaining on us!” “OK,” panted John. “I”ll pray the only prayer I know””the one my mom taught me at the table: “˜O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.””

November 25, 2013

Coming ‘Home’: When Missionaries Come Off the Field

By Carla Williams They were so vulnerable and wounded, barely able to look me in the eye. They”d gone into missions directly after college, bright with hope and the thrill of obedience. With sincere love and determination, they”d adopted an unreached people group. Thousands of dollars had been sacrificed for their language study and living expenses. And here they were, three years later, looking so lost and alone, feeling all the weight of their supposed failure. When many missionaries come off the field, churches and families don”t know what to say and the missionaries themselves don”t know how to move

November 23, 2013

JUST ONE: Ivan S. Prokhanov

TRUE STORIES OF WORLD CHANGERS WHO STARTED ALONE:Â This month we share stories of individual Christians who couldn”t wait for others to tell them when to help the hurting and share the gospel. Their clear vision of a pressing need pushed them to do what they could as soon as they could. IVAN S. PROKHANOV By Victor Knowles He was born April 17, 1869, in the Russian city of Vladikavkas, nestled in the snow-clad Caucasus. The highest peaks in the Caucasus are taller than the fabled Alps. It was perhaps fitting that Ivan S. Prokhanov should be born here because

November 22, 2013

JUST ONE: Sole to Soul

TRUE STORIES OF WORLD CHANGERS WHO STARTED ALONE:Â This month we share stories of individual Christians who couldn”t wait for others to tell them when to help the hurting and share the gospel. Their clear vision of a pressing need pushed them to do what they could as soon as they could. SOLE TO SOUL / www.facebook.com/ShoesForKenyaKids By Janet Smith As Andrew and Rachel Scott and their four children, members of Crossway Christian Church in Nashua, New Hampshire, prepared for a mission trip to lead a VBS program at Missions of Hope International in Nairobi, Kenya, an event occurred that sharpened

November 21, 2013

JUST ONE: An Evangelist from Moldova

TRUE STORIES OF WORLD CHANGERS WHO STARTED ALONE:Â This month we share stories of individual Christians who couldn”t wait for others to tell them when to help the hurting and share the gospel. Their clear vision of a pressing need pushed them to do what they could as soon as they could. AN EVANGELIST FROM MOLDOVA / www.tcmi.org By David Wright Raised in Moldova, one of the smallest states of the former Soviet Union, Mihai Malancea and his family were different from most of their neighbors. They were Christians. His father led a small house church in the capital city, Chisinau.

November 18, 2013