Series: Mark A. Taylor

March 4, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Brighter Days Ahead?

By Mark A. Taylor For the person enduring dark times, the biblical story of Joseph can be an inspiration. As a young man he went from favored son to captured slave to a position of authority to years in prison and then, finally, to his place as the second-in-command to the Egyptian pharaoh. When my men”s Bible study looked at his life, we focused on the happy ending to Joseph”s many years of recurring disappointments and confusion. What”s the lesson for our lives today? Our study guide pointed us to a verse Christians love to quote: “In all things God

February 25, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

A Bold Statement, a Beautiful Movie

Let”s go see Son of God, the new movie about Jesus in theaters this weekend! By Mark A. Taylor  Not everyone had praise for the History Channel”s miniseries The Bible when it became a surprise hit last year. Facebook posters and tweeters complained about biblical inaccuracies, criticized the show”s choice of Bible stories, generally attempted to demonstrate that they knew more about the Bible than the show”s producers. But I liked it. Oh, I didn”t like every little thing about it. It had a little too much bombast for my taste. I wasn”t sure every portrayal matched my image of

February 18, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Beyond the Problem

By Mark A. Taylor Let”s not dwell on the fact that too many know too little about God”s Word. After clarifying the situation (and more than one writer at our site this month gives troubling facts and examples), let”s talk about how to solve the “know problem” all around us (not only in our neighborhoods, but in our churches too). We’re posting many stories and strategies to help your church increase biblical literacy where you are. From this wealth of help, several principles stand out. “¢ People want to know the Bible better. When presented with an accessible plan for

February 11, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Living with Open Hands

By Mark A. Taylor The topic was consumerism, and I was ready with my questions for the three CHRISTIAN STANDARD writers who formed the panel at our Beyond the Standard BlogTalkRadio program last month. But soon they took the conversation much deeper than my concerns about defining wealth and deciding how much of our money we should give away. “Consumerism is a byproduct of bad thinking,” said E.G. “Jay” Link, head of Stewardship Ministries based in Mooresville, Indiana. “You can”t resolve the big issues of life simply by resolving to spend less. The basic issue is: I own nothing.” Link

February 4, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Living with the Lie

By Mark A. Taylor The sermon reminded us again of the sly lie the devil told Eve. “You won”t die if you eat that fruit.” And I couldn”t help but remember how he continues to whisper the falsehood in the ears of vulnerable believers today. “No one will know, no one will care if you do this just once.” “You believe God loves you? Then why does he let you suffer like this?” “See what your integrity has gotten you? Why don”t you wise up and have a little fun and make some money? Isn”t it time to stop denying

January 28, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

After the Fall

By Mark A. Taylor Did you ever fall without anticipating it? No slow-motion loss of balance before your arm flew out to break the impact””you didn”t even realize you had fallen till you were on the ground. That was my experience last week in a restaurant parking lot on a frigid morning. “Oh, I”ve hit my head,” I said, moving to stand up as soon as I landed. I raised my hand to the pain on my pate and brought back a bloody palm. I have to wash my hand, I thought, and walked back inside. Thankfully, a couple of

January 21, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

What We Watch and How We Behave

By Mark A. Taylor Does what we watch on TV affect how we act in everyday life? Those broadcasting sex, violence, and other vices into our living rooms would likely say no. “Our programming is a reflection of the culture around us, not a cause of everyday behavior. Our job is to entertain, not to educate.“ I didn”t believe it when I first heard the words from network executives” mouths almost 30 years ago, and I don”t believe it now. But I must admit I was surprised to hear a college professor interviewed on National Public Radio (NPR) support my

January 14, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Not Hiding, but Seeking

By Mark A. Taylor If you follow contributing editor Jennifer Johnson”s blog, then you”ve probably already enjoyed a chuckle from a link she posted there last week. If not, go now to “21 Brilliant Little Children Who Have Absolutely Mastered the Game of Hide and Seek,” and then please come back. The delight of the pictures is the tendency of toddlers to think they”re hidden if they cover their heads. There they are under the bedspread or behind a sofa cushion or wearing a lampshade, with feet or hands and arms all sticking out in plain sight. But they can”t

January 7, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Reading Again for the First Time

By Mark A. Taylor “Do professors have to be boring?” Dan Ariely”s answer to the college student who asked that question offers insight for Christians as well as academics. I can imagine a secular neighbor or friend asking, “Do Christians have to be “˜churchy”?” The student”s problem, posed to the Wall Street Journal advice columnist, was this: He had recently attended a lecture by a well-known professor and “was amazed and baffled” by the teacher”s inability to communicate even basic concepts in a compelling and understandable way. The student”s question, which got me to thinking about lifetime Christians like me:

December 31, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

A Spiritual Checkup

By Mark A. Taylor  “What a difference a day makes.” We”ve all experienced the truth of that proverb, but when you substitute “year” for “day,” the changes can seem even more dramatic. Think about the year we”re finishing. In just those 12 months: Someone close was diagnosed with disease or cured from one. Romances blossomed or marriages dissolved. Neighbors came and went. Job layoffs or promotions changed a family”s lifestyle. Babies were born, and a loved one died. Year”s end can be a wonderful time to reflect on the rhythm of life. “We”re used to seeing the doctor for an

December 24, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

We Follow Too

By Mark A. Taylor  “Where he leads me, I will follow.” That was Mary”s decision, finally, after she had expressed her confusion about the message the angel brought her. “I am the Lord”s servant,” she said. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). Joseph, with his own set of doubts, decided he would obey God, too. When God”s messenger explained to Joseph that his fiancée was pregnant by action of the Holy Spirit, “he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Matthew 1:24). Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, obeyed God”s will, too, although

December 17, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

More Than a Magazine

By Mark A. Taylor Do you see CHRISTIAN STANDARD magazine? Many readers say it”s the best it”s ever been. But our monthly publication is not the only media we”re using to serve readers and leaders. There”s this website, of course, with new material every day to inform and inspire you. Frequent visitors have discovered they can have total access to all the news, commentary, practical help, and biblical and theological studies here for one, low annual price. And if you want to commit to less than a year, the service offers ridiculously inexpensive one-day and one-month options. Although many of

December 10, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Getting Ready for Christmas

By Mark A. Taylor We hear plenty of exhortations to “Keep Christ in Christmas” but receive far too little help for actually doing that. Here”s a simple idea: Read and reflect on some part of the Bible”s Christmas story each day in the week-and-a-half before Christmas. Following is a plan for daily Bible reading December 15-25. The Scripture passages are short, and most are very familiar. You”ll hear some of them quoted in church services this month. But your own commitment to consider them afresh and alone can add balance and joy to your holiday this year. Or you might

December 3, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

An Opportunity to Ponder

By Mark A. Taylor The gospel is born and bathed in mystery. How can we understand, how can we respond to what Jesus said and who Jesus was? He told his followers, “I am the light of the world” and, “You are the light of the world.” We and he are the same light? How? He commanded, “Be holy, even as I am holy.” How is that possible? He told Nicodemus, “You must be born again,” and with the puzzled Pharisee, the first-time reader asks, “How can a grown man climb back into the womb?” The greatest mystery, of course,

November 26, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Giving to Those Who Can”t Give Back

By Mark A. Taylor Looking for a different way to infuse your Christmas celebration with meaning? Gayla Congdon has an idea. During our November 21 Beyond the Standard BlogTalkRadio program*, she mentioned a program with lots of possibilities. “We”re encouraging families to participate in 24 days of disruption, starting December 1,” she said. “Each day visitors to our blog or Facebook page will receive another idea for family activities to create a meaningful Christmas.” Here”s how Amor”s website describes the challenge: The 24 Days of Advent journey will stretch you. It will cause you to rethink your economy of Christmas

November 19, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Mistakes Are Good and Conflict Can Be Productive

By Mark A. Taylor If there”s one thing too many Christians avoid, especially with other Christians in church settings, it”s conflict. Bad situations fester because leaders fail to confront. Inferior ideas get implemented, and sometimes enshrined, because someone in charge is afraid to say no. A better way goes undiscovered because those discussing the future are too willing to follow the first plan proposed. A minority voice sways a decision because others in the group will not stand up and say, “Brother, you”re wrong.” Yet the greatest progress is often the product of freewheeling dialogue where dissent is welcome. Bob

November 12, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Must-Haves for the Missions-Minded

By Mark A. Taylor Several resources remind me of Standard Publishing”s commitment to missions and a host of special opportunities for missions-minded visitors to this website. The first is actually a set of three books, mission trip devotions and journals by Lena Wood. Called (item 022501113) gives spiritual nourishment and assessment to older teens and adults preparing to go on a short-term missions trip. Challenged (022501213) helps the reader deal with the spiritual transformation he may experience while he”s on the mission trip. Changed (022501313) is the devotional journal to use once the traveler has returned home. How will he

October 29, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Self-Fed

By Mark A. Taylor Usually my wife and I grab something at a restaurant after church on Sunday morning, but a few weeks ago the church fed me lunch. It was an information meeting for small group leaders at our church, and the menu was box lunches from one of my favorite local cafes. I tried the chicken salad sandwich. Never had it before””it was great! There were extra meals on hand after the meeting, so each of us could take a couple home with us. My wife and I enjoyed ours the next day. So that means the church

October 22, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

We”re Doing Well, but Not Well Enough

By Mark A. Taylor A generation ago, Dr. Steve Hancock made sure his graduate Christian education students understood the principles of Sunday school growth. One of the rules, which he learned at the Southern Baptist seminary he attended, went something like this: “New classes grow faster, win more people to Christ, and develop more workers than existing classes.” We don”t hear much about Sunday school growth nowadays. But church growth, especially growth through church planting, is on everyone”s radar. Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, is a Southern Baptist church growth advocate for today”s generation. And he says “any movement

October 15, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Bringing People Together

By Mark A. Taylor “The power of the gospel to bring people together is greater than I thought,” Kevin Haah said in the September 26 Beyond the Standard BlogTalkRadio program. Haah”s New City Christian Church reaches the homeless in the church”s Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles as well as upwardly mobile young professionals with six-figure incomes. This is possible, he believes, “because we make the gospel the centerpiece.” “We”re all more messed up than we think we are, but God loves us more than we can imagine,” he said. “The gospel is the story of God coming to save

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