Series: Featured

August 5, 2012

Christian Standard

Surviving Ministry Means Knowing Ourselves

By Rob McCord I believe the pastoral ministry is one of the most exhilarating and rewarding ways one can spend a life. It is an honor and a thrill, an adventure and a delight, full of amazing highs and irreplaceable glimpses of God at work. However, upon entering ministry, I completely lacked understanding of the pain that would accompany it. Pastoral ministry carries with it the potential of psychological, emotional, and even spiritual trauma. It can be dangerous. The statistics regarding pastoral burnout and failure are staggering. The pain and anguish that so many pastors endure is heartbreaking. These servant

August 2, 2012

Christian Standard

What Do You Say about Church Music?

By Randy Gariss Within the American church, few topics have brought out more absurdity, immaturity, and blind passion than the discussion of “what shall the music in our worship services be like?” Of course, there are exceptions, but if one listens to the discussion in blogs, small groups, church hallways, and around Christian family dinner tables, let”s just say our finest behavior is seldom on display when we are discussing worship music. Why has the style of music in a worship service been such a lightning rod for disagreement? What has caused this issue to tower over the landscape of

August 1, 2012

Christian Standard

Learning to Trust

By Mike MacKenzie Jeff is not unlike many ministers we see. He has been in ministry for 25 years and has been reasonably successful. He accepted his current senior pastor position eight years ago knowing it was going to be a challenge. The congregation”s former senior pastor, who was also the founding pastor, had left under a cloud of suspicion. The church”s building program was hanging in limbo after a church split had seen half the members leave. And the finances were messy. But Jeff figured, with his experience, he had a responsibility to do what he could when he

July 31, 2012

Christian Standard

Even a Leader Needs a Friend

By Patti Cappa Very successful people, driven people, devoted people, parents, leaders of all kinds, and people in ministry leadership sometimes don”t have a best friend. We hear the excuses time and again from those who come to us at Marble Retreat (an interdenominational Christian counseling center primarily serving people in ministry): “It isn”t safe to have best friends,” they say. “I don”t have time for them.” “I am simply too busy with work and ministry to make such an investment.” “I really don”t need a best friend. That”s for children.” “I have God and/or my spouse and I don”t

July 30, 2012

Christian Standard

Confronting Burnout in the Ministry (Part 1)

By Daniel Sherman “I”m exhausted! I don”t think I can endure one more day.” You might be surprised at how many ministers feel this way. If you are a minister and you are worn-out, you are not alone. Church leaders need to be a constant source of support and encouragement for a minister so he doesn”t become a member of the “former ministers” group. But we need to be careful not to equate exhaustion with burnout. Exhaustion may be a symptom of burnout, but it isn”t burnout. Burnout is a gradual process of loss during which the mismatch between the needs of

July 30, 2012

Christian Standard

He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need

By Joe Bliffen Your initial reaction to hearing about a terrible sin someone has committed indicates immediately whether you are developing the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16*). “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). What was Jesus” attitude toward sinners as he walked among us? In Zacchaeus, Jesus saw a man who had really messed up his life and needed a friend. On the cross, Jesus saw two criminals and the Roman soldiers, people who mocked him and blasphemed God. Yet Jesus looked beyond their faults and saw their need; he died for

July 29, 2012

Christian Standard

The Wisdom in Meat Loaf

By Daniel Schantz Hunger is a great teacher. The lessons I learned as a lad in Sunday school were immediately reinforced by the potluck dinner that followed services. It was at the potluck dinner that I learned just how hard it is to master the virtues of patience, self-control, and acceptance.   Patience Church dinners always started late, and the bowl of corn flakes I had at sunrise would not sustain me till noon. During the morning sermon, the fragrance of coffee and hot rolls would drift up from the church basement, and my stomach would begin to ache. I

July 26, 2012

Christian Standard

What Our Websites Say about Baptism

By Daniel Overdorf I baptized my younger son on New Year”s Day. On a day of new beginnings, we celebrated his new birth. My voice cracked when I asked him to confess what he believes about Jesus. He responded, “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” These words rang sweeter in my ears than the first words he spoke as a toddler. My tears mixed with the baptismal water when I lowered him into the burial of his old self, and raised him as a new creation in Jesus. I experienced the same joy

July 26, 2012

Christian Standard

What Are They Saying about Baptism? (Samples from Church Websites We Visited)

By Daniel Overdorf An extended discussion that presents a solid biblical argument with a positive tone: “¢ Hazelwood Christian Church, Clayton, Indiana; See downloadable three-page document about the church”s view of baptism at www.hazelwoodchristian.org/hcc/about_us.   An exemplary medium-length discussion: “¢ Westerfield (Ohio) Christian Church; www.westerville-christian.org/about-us/what-we-believe.aspx In the New Testament church, once people believed in Jesus were willing to turn from sin (repentance) and publicly confess Christ as Lord, they were then baptized for the forgiveness of their sins and the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 41; 22:16). In the original Greek language, baptize meant to dip, plunge,

July 25, 2012

Christian Standard

Is Your Church Bloated?

By Brian Jones In all my years of following Christ, there are only two prayers I really regret praying. The first was a prayer asking God to direct me where he wanted me to serve as a missionary. “OK God,” I remember praying. “I”m going to lean back, close my eyes, and the first country that pops into my head””I promise you that I will move there and spend the rest of my life trying to reach those people.” With all the impulsive recklessness a newly converted 18-year-old with the gift of evangelism could muster, I leaned back, cleared my

July 25, 2012

Christian Standard

Too Much Is at Stake to Forget

By Fred Liggin We are shaken by mourning as we hurt for those suffering due to the horrific events in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20. Yet even in our mourning, the political and social debates have already begun to light up the airwaves. And I am reminded of a most sobering reality. No government, regardless of how strong or well-meaning, can thoroughly legislate morality. To be sure, it can create laws that limit behaviors destructive to society (“You shall not steal”). But as a Christ follower, I am led to believe that only Jesus will bring lasting and systemic change (“You

July 18, 2012

Christian Standard

NACC Wrap-up: Numbers and More

By Mark A. Taylor It seems everyone who attended this year’s North American Christian Convention was happy about their experience. Many speak of the wonderful resort where the conference was held under just one roof July 10-13. They praise the preaching. They comment on the refreshing insights from special guests like Alan Hirsch and Reggie McNeal. They were engaged and inspired by the creative worship led by Tim Foot. They loved laughing with Chonda Pierce. And quite a few of them played golf and enjoyed the waterpark-like pools at Orlando’s World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center. And now that

July 17, 2012

Christian Standard

Why Are Christians SO Intolerant?

From the new book by David Faust Natalie started attending the church I led in New York. A quiet, pleasant person, she seemed to appreciate the biblical teaching and friendly atmosphere she found in our church. After some time, she dropped by my office one day. She said, “I like this church very much, but from listening to the messages each week, I get the impression that you think it”s necessary to believe in Jesus Christ in order to go to Heaven. That sounds awfully intolerant to me.” “We do believe it”s necessary to trust and obey Jesus,” I replied,

July 16, 2012

Christian Standard

Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead

By C. Robert Wetzel I am not dead. At least I wasn”t when I wrote this article. But I have come to see that Jesus was talking about people like me when he said, “Let the dead bury their own dead.” Let me explain. While reflecting on Matthew 8:19-22, which contains that quote, I remembered something that had happened about 30 years ago during our 11-year ministry in England. During that time, I would spend about a month each year visiting churches in the United States that supported or might support our ministry. On one of those trips I was

July 14, 2012

Christian Standard

Meeting Needs & Saving Souls

By Randall R. Childress A recent movement among churches is “Don”t go to church””Be the church.” The idea is that instead of gathering for worship, the church should be out in the community doing good in the name of Christ. But sometimes well-meaning Christians focus on “doing good” and forget the “in the name of Christ.” The church is not a humanitarian society so much as an evangelistic one. I thought about the church meeting needs and saving souls when I read a comment by Drew Dyck, managing editor of Leadership Journal, in the Winter 2012 issue. “My church is big

July 13, 2012

Christian Standard

How Shall We Face the Future?

By Mark A. Taylor “Refreshed in the Future” was Bob Russell’s sermon topic at the closing session of the North American Christian Convention in Orlando, Florida, Friday morning, July 13. And even though he’s a little skeptical about predicting the future, he observed that “one sure way to get attention” is to try. But in spite of future predictions that have not come true (By the 21st century we will will have colonies on the moon) and those that have (Automobiles will be guided by satellite systems), he reminded us of one thing we do know: American culture is growing

July 13, 2012

Christian Standard

A Widow’s Faith

By Karen Wingate On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado bulldozed through the south side of Joplin, Missouri, demolishing a regional hospital, nine schools (including the high school and adjoining tech school), several large stores, churches, businesses, and more than 8,000 homes. Hundreds were injured, and 163 died. In the ensuing months, relief came from across the country. This is the story of just one of those efforts, as churches in 21 small western Illinois communities helped a young widow rebuild her home. As they worked, they saw God rebuild relationships and restore faith. After the violent storm subsided, Stephanie

July 12, 2012

Christian Standard

Discussions Just Begun

By Mark A. Taylor “Wherever two or three are gathered together . . . someone’s wrong!” That was one of a hundred one-liners Chonda Pierce delivered during her alternately hilarious and heart-touching monologue during the Thursday-night evening session at the North American Christian Convention in Orlando, July 12. Chonda hadn’t attended two special seminars I heard earlier that day. But each of them contained questions and ideas that at least someone in the church would call wrong. This is one more thing good about this year’s North American Christian Convention. It stretched us by challenging us with ideas we may

July 12, 2012

Christian Standard

Just One NACC Story

By Mark A. Taylor Meet Tyrone Benson, minister with the  Pontoon Beach (Illinois) Christian Church, not far from St. Louis Missouri. Tyrone graduated from St. Louis Christian College this spring, and this is his first ministry. This is his first North American Christian Convention too. He’s at the event in Orlando, Florida, this year because of convention president Rick Rusaw’s idea to honor new ministry graduates at a special service during the convention’s closing session Friday morning. Tyrone is one of several dozen such ministers who will be singled out then. I can’t imagine a candidate more deserving of our

July 12, 2012

Christian Standard

Barnabas Day

By Tyler Edwards It”s no secret in the world of restaurant employees that Sunday morning is the worst shift. The problem is not missing church, it”s serving the people who went to church. Sunday morning consistently boasts the rudest, most demanding, least patient, and cheapest people.1 I once heard a waiter say, “When I work Sundays and I see a group bow their heads to pray, I know I can kiss my tip good-bye.” Having been a server for five years, I can say these critics have a point. I”m embarrassed that we, “the church crowd,” have earned this reputation.

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