March 25, 2024
What constitutes success in the church? The number of seats occupied on Sunday mornings? The number of baptisms per year? . . . For the apostle Paul, one litmus test for church success surely was edification.
January 1, 2024
By Jim Estep Upon seeing a familiar person in the church lobby and asking them, “How are you doing?” we all know the answer that is expected: “Fine!” . . . even if it is not true. I have often wondered what would happen if someone were open and honest about their struggles. “How’s it going?” “Well, do you really want to know?” I remember a church member calling to share about a family member who had suffered a heart attack. They asked for prayer and whether someone from the church could visit with their loved one and the family.
December 26, 2022
Certain events invite us to both look back and look forward—graduations, weddings, New Year's Day. At these times we consider the significance of the past and anticipate the future. The Lord's Supper is such an event.
November 17, 2022
"Why is the American Thanksgiving celebration characterized more by indulgence than gratitude?" editor Mark A. Taylor asked in 2007.
August 29, 2022
Kairos Benevolence Fund and the International Conference on Missions are partnering to provide encouragement and support to those who have given their lives in service to Christ.
March 1, 2022
By Chris Philbeck In a scene from Walk the Line, a 2005 biographical movie on the life of Johnny Cash, Johnny and his band are in a studio with music executive Sam Phillips. The musicians are auditioning a gospel tune, but they are performing with little emotion or conviction. Finally, Phillips interrupts: “Hold on. Hold on. . . . Do you guys got something else?” After some interesting dialogue where the angry singer says Phillips is accusing him of not believing in God, Cash finally protests, “Well, you didn’t let us bring it home.” “Bring it home?” Phillips asks in
November 15, 2021
This Last Supper was a family meal, much like our own Thanksgiving around the dinner table.
November 1, 2021
A Christian Psychologist’s Perspective on Happiness
November 1, 2021
By Megan Rawlings Our world is in chaos. It seems as if major bad news breaks every day! As this chaos occurs, society seems increasingly to be motivated by materialism and comfort. When the church was young, the people of Galatia turned away from God, and this did not escape Paul’s attention. In fact, he penned one of his harshest letters to the Christians there. While reading that letter, I realized Paul’s reprimand is applicable to us in modern times. I’ll borrow from his Epistle to the Galatians to state some hard truths surrounding our current status. I am astonished
November 1, 2020
This “Application” column goes with the Bible Lesson for Nov. 8, 2020: Appoint Godly Leaders (Titus 1:5-11) ________ By David Faust In an episode of the TV comedy The Office, regional manager Michael Scott makes his priorities clear. He tells his boss from the Dunder Mifflin corporate office, “I want the credit without any of the blame.” Blameless appears twice in Paul’s description of godly elders (Titus 1:6-7). If being blameless requires moral perfection and flawless decision-making, no one qualifies except Jesus. Noah was “blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God,” yet he had some less-than-stellar moments
By Chuck Sackett Sam compassionately shepherded a congregation I”ll call Countryside Church, but a massive heart attack cut short his ministry, forcing him into an extended rehabilitation, and ultimately, retirement. The elders, assessing the situation, determined that Sam”s wife could live in the parsonage until he was released from the hospital. However, the church would begin searching for a minister immediately, so she needed to vacate the parsonage upon his release. On the other side of the state, Doris served the children of a congregation I”ll call Community Fellowship. Her ministry was exploding with children. Tragically, her husband found her
April 15, 2013
By Sam E. Stone The apostle Paul founded the church in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey (Acts 17). Because he was not able to stay with the new converts as long as he would have liked, he continued to instruct them by letter. A central theme in both epistles to the Thessalonians is the topic of today”s study””the return of Jesus Christ. Return 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul describes Christians who have already died as those who sleep in death. In the New Testament, death is often compared to sleep for the believer (Luke 8:52; John 11:11; Acts 7:60).
March 1, 2013
By R. Paige Mathews You”re kidding me! This can”t be true! I couldn”t believe who was requesting help. Just a few years ago he was a highly visible church leader; in fact, his signature might be on my ordination certificate! His story: In 1956 we began serving as missionaries on the island of Cebu in the Philippines. We had three children but one infant son passed away while there. My wife also died in the Philippines after receiving an injection that was mistakenly 20 times stronger than prescribed. I returned to the United States with my two small children. After
February 22, 2013
By H. Lynn Gardner Certain events invite us to both look back and look forward””graduations, weddings, New Year”s Day. At these times we consider the significance of the past and anticipate the future. The Lord”s Supper is such an event. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord”s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26, English Standard Version). When we worship through participation in Communion we look back to the cross. We are reminded of our sin that made Christ”s death necessary. As we remember the cross, we must face our unworthiness
November 21, 2007
By Mark A. Taylor Even when economic times are tough, most readers of this column are surrounded by enough affluence that thanksgiving should come naturally. In a world where much of the population worries about having enough food, our overladen tables this past weekend are just one symbol of our bounteous blessings. So why is the American Thanksgiving celebration characterized more by indulgence than gratitude? Just as the blind-from-birth adult doesn”t miss what he”s never seen, the blessed-from-birth American may not appreciate what he”s always enjoyed. A full stomach? Enough clothes? A comfortable place to sleep? Most of us view
October 1, 2006
Is prayerlessness sin? Dave Butts explores what a lack of prayer reveals about self-dependence, love for the Lord, and concern for Christ’s kingdom—and encourages believers to take the next step forward in a life of prayer.
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April 28, 2026
Rick Cherok
April 28, 2026
David Faust
April 28, 2026
Rick Cherok