Series: Featured

January 1, 2013

Christian Standard

Tried and True and New for You!

By Mark A. Taylor Take a glance at Standard Publishing Vacation Bible School materials this year, and you may think you”ve seen them before. But look a second time, and you”ll realize Standard has created something all-new for this vital summer ministry. We talked to the creative team that produced God”s Backyard Bible Camp to discover what this material is all about. Frankly, we couldn”t have been more pleased with the answers we received!   To tell you the truth, this looks an awful lot like a VBS course Standard already offered before. Is this just old stuff with a

January 1, 2013

Christian Standard

VBS Program Features Back2Back Ministries

“God”s Backyard Bible Camp,” Standard Publishing”s Vacation Bible School program for 2013, features Beth Guckenberger, cofounder of Back2Back Ministries. The “Backyard Bible Camp” includes separate VBS programs for day (“Under the Sun”) or evening (“Under the Stars”), and will carry a mission emphasis, which is where Back2Back Ministries comes in. We asked Beth to share some thoughts about Back2Back Ministries. It was 15 years ago that we started to share with a few friends and family our “whisper calling” to move to Mexico. This was met with mixed reactions. Some thought we were shortsighted or ill-equipped (they were right). Some

December 31, 2012

Christian Standard

Closed for Renovations

When we talk about makeovers, we”re usually focusing on externals: a new hairdo, new makeup, or maybe a new kitchen or paint job for our house. What would happen if Christians took time for a spiritual “inside” makeover?   By Danny R. Von Kanel As we prepare to face a new year, maybe this is the time to consider a spiritual makeover. The following steps can help make it happen.   Take a spiritual inventory of your relationship with Christ. A spiritual inventory reveals your spiritual condition. Such honest grappling with your spiritual state includes addressing sin, character flaws, relationships, spiritual disciplines,

December 28, 2012

Christian Standard

The Power of No

By Kent E. Fillinger No is a word more church leaders need to learn. No signifies a necessary ending more churches need to choose. No is a message that needs to be embraced, but understood. But sometimes No means only that “less is less.” Here”s how and when to say the word that transcends every language. “No.” The crisp, bold black letters that jumped off of the stark, white cover of the 3-by-5-inch booklet in the magazine piqued my curiosity. I opened the booklet and read these simple, but significant, sentences: Two letters. A word that transcends every language. A word that

December 25, 2012

Christian Standard

How Much Do You Know About Christmas?

By Victor Knowles How well do you know the Christmas story? Here are 17 Bible questions, taken from the King James Version, to test your Christmas IQ. 1.  The first messianic promise of the seed of woman is found in: a.  Genesis b.  Ruth c.  Psalms d.  Isaiah   2.  What Old Testament prophet said, “A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son?” a.  Daniel b.  Ezekiel c.  Isaiah d.  Zechariah   3.  What Old Testament prophet foretold that a ruler in Israel would come forth from Bethlehem? a.  Nathan b.  Micah c.  Samuel d.  Amos   4.  The angel

December 24, 2012

Christian Standard

Have a Mary Christmas

By Victor M. Parachin Although Mary, the mother of Jesus, became an important focus of theology and piety in the history of Christianity, she is seldom mentioned in the New Testament. Mary is never mentioned explicitly in the New Testament letters, and only once each in the books of Acts and Mark. She is involved in two stories in the Gospel of John, but the writer never identifies her by name. Yet, in Luke”s account of Jesus” birth, Mary is a bright and shining star. Luke writes eloquently about the character and strength of Mary, suggesting Mary”s words and actions

December 23, 2012

Christian Standard

The Other Side of the Angel Tree

By Jessica Vana I served on staff at Summit Christian Church in Sparks, Nevada, for more than five years. Each year when the glittering Christmas decorations went up, I would get a little spring in my step and a grin I found impossible to restrain. The whole campus glows with dozens of trees, thousands of lights, and many other special touches. But every year, there was one tree that stood out. It wasn”t a very large tree, and it was simply decorated with paper angels. On the back of each angel was the name of an under-resourced child. Parents, grandparents,

December 22, 2012

Christian Standard

A Clap-Clap-Clap-Clappity Christmas

By Elaine L. Schulte In early December, my husband and I packed for a small-ship adventure in the South Pacific. I phoned our friends and neighbors, Judy and Andy, who would travel with us. “Will there be a pastor for Christmas on such a small ship?” I asked them. “What if God wants us to conduct the Christmas service?” “I”ll bring songbooks, just in case,” Judy replied. “I could do my Christmas reading. . . .” We were willing. On December 17, we flew to Guam, a United States protectorate. Our bus”s guide said, “Don”t expect too much. Guam is

December 18, 2012

Christian Standard

Merry Christmas

By Boyce Mouton Merry Christmas! This is among the most familiar phrases in the English language. It brightens the eyes of little children, brings cheer to those imprisoned on beds of suffering, and gives hope to those in dungeons of despair. In spite of political correctness, these precious words still echo throughout every city and village in America. Even those who do not read, speak, or understand the English language, can say these words with a smile and find blessed relief from the difficulties of life. Merry Christmas! These words are music to the ears of our brave men and

December 14, 2012

Christian Standard

Sticky Conversations: Eternal Security

THIS IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF FIVE “STICKY CONVERSATIONS”   By Ben Merold I was making a call in the house of a family that had attended the church for the first time on the previous Sunday. I was greeted warmly, but as I started to sit down, I was told if I did not believe in “once saved, always saved” I might as well leave. In fact, the lady of the house informed me she doubted if I was a Christian if I did not hold to that doctrine. A few weeks ago a young man was

December 11, 2012

Christian Standard

Spiritual Gifts

By Jennifer Johnson In February we wrote about the history, goals, and current projects of eight missions agencies supported by Christian churches and churches of Christ. (Visit Christian Standard”s website to read the articles*.) As the year comes to a close, we invited each organization to share its “Christmas wish list.” Here are their most pressing needs and how you can help during this season of giving.   Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMFI) Christian Missionary Fellowship works with a variety of missionaries and leads a number of programs around the world, from developing international campus ministries to improving the lives

December 10, 2012

Jerry Harris

Rediscovering the Sacred Stones

A church”s new multisite campus. A town steeped in history. The grave of a Restoration Movement pioneer”s wife. A reflection on what this frontier preacher stood for, and the message we still proclaim today.  By Jerry Harris There she was. Her stone lying on its back, broken and weathered among scores of neglected reminders of lives long since past. The inscription was hard to read because of a combination of age, moss, and dirt, but careful examination gave witness to the precious soul long forgotten to so many.   Celia W. Wife of Elder B.W. Stone Died Apr. 23, 1857

December 9, 2012

Christian Standard

The Passion of Barton Stone

By Jim Tune Barton Warren Stone was one of the foremost leaders for religious freedom on the western frontier during the first half of the 19th century. He led a movement with goals many—including me—are still pursuing today. Barton Stone was born in Maryland in 1772 and as a boy decided to become a preacher. At age 19 he was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian church. In 1801, Stone moved to Cane Ridge, Kentucky. As he took up his preaching ministry, he discovered that some of the things he read in his Bible seemed inconsistent with the strong Calvinist

December 1, 2012

Christian Standard

ICOM 2012: Radical . . . Again

By Dave Butts “Radical . . . Again.” The theme for the 2012 International Conference on Missions (ICOM) November 15-18, was more than a clever title pulled from a popular Christian book. It was an apt description of a conference committed to challenging Christians to meet the needs of an increasingly desperate world in every way possible. Preaching, workshops, worship, exhibits, and service projects combined to call those thousands who attended to deeper levels of global impacting discipleship. It was appropriate the inaugural meeting of ICOM, formerly the National Missionary Convention, was in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Convention Center is always

November 27, 2012

Christian Standard

Ezekiel”s Endless Summer

By Jay Engelbrecht I tend to be skeptical, but the facts have convinced me. As new heat records continue to be set, decade after decade, as the evidence continues to mount, I can no longer deny that climate change is real. When my dad was growing up, his family butchered a cow every November, then hung a side of beef outside, and ate off it all winter. The meat never spoiled. I live in the same area, but these days, I play football in short sleeves with my son on November afternoons. Thirty years ago I helped a neighbor put

November 24, 2012

Christian Standard

Sticky Conversations: Pornography in Ministry

THIS IS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF FIVE “STICKY CONVERSATIONS”   By Steve Larson We want to believe this is someone else”s problem. We want to believe that ministry professionals are above entanglement in this sin. But statistics tell us, and my experience affirms this: pornography is present even in the church, but those enmeshed in it can be helped. A little over 15 years ago, I left the marketplace in Michigan and planted a church in Cary, North Carolina. Crosspointe Church began in the fall of 1997. Having been involved in a family business for a number of years,

November 23, 2012

Christian Standard

Reporting on Restoration Revolution

By David Empson In November 2010, Restoration Revolution was started at the former National Missionary Convention””now the International Conference On Missions (ICOM)””in Lexington, Kentucky. For almost 18 months prior to its launch, more than 100 leaders representing all kinds of ministries among Christian churches and churches of Christ had been meeting to consider what could be done for the kingdom of God over the next 10 years. Here is a report on progress with these goals so far. Restoration Revolution”s vision statement calls it “a 10-year collaboration that desires to share Jesus with all people.” The four points of Restoration

November 18, 2012

Christian Standard

Urban Ministry in Lansing

By Kendi Howells Douglas Lansing, Michigan, is a city of about 115,000 with a median income of $35,000. The population is 61.2 percent white, 23.7 percent black, 12.5 percent Hispanic, and 3.7 percent Asian1. The car industry town has seen economic hardships the past few years, with increasing unemployment, crime, domestic violence, single-parent homes, school closings, and many health care and education issues, among others. As in most towns, there are areas that seemingly are ignored, forgotten, or plain invisible. Delta Community Christian Church decided to go to one of those forgotten neighborhoods. Delta is a house church of about

November 17, 2012

Christian Standard

Urban Ministry: Not Just an Academic Concern

By Kendi Howells Douglas In January 2012, an academic society was formed and met for the first time in Bangkok, Thailand. The International Society of Urban Mission is a gathering of like-minded Christians, teachers, missionaries, and urban practitioners from around the world. Its members focus on the issues of urban life, specifically serving those who live in poverty-stricken conditions in the growing slums around the world. Officially, “The International Society For Urban Mission exists, therefore, to be a fellowship of urban missiologists committed to seeking God”s Shalom in cities, especially majority world cities, through active reflection, solidarity and leadership development.”1

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