Articles for tag: Apostle Paul

Better Than a Vacation

By Mark A. Taylor “It”s hard to imagine no crying and no mourning.” The statement came from a group member when our weekly Bible study was nearing the end of Revelation. We had stopped to ponder the significance of Revelation 21:3, 4: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God”s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. “˜He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or

April 22, 2013

Lesson for April 28, 2013: The Lord Will Triumph (2 Thessalonians 2)

By Sam E. Stone Paul wrote his first letter to the church in Thessalonica to encourage the new converts and give additional teaching. Last week”s lesson from that letter focused on the certainty of the Lord”s return and the need to be ready for it at all times. A short time later””perhaps six months or so””he wrote them again. In this second letter he corrects their misunderstanding about the return of Jesus (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12) and offers additional encouragement and guidance. Unshaken Believers 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 People in the church at Thessalonica were upset. Paul urged them not to

April 15, 2013

Lesson for April 21, 2013: The Lord Will Return (1 Thessalonians 4:13″“5:11)

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.Â 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).

February 4, 2013

Lesson for February 10, 2013: Raised with Christ (Colossians 2)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone If you had lived in first-century Colossae, you would have seen much similarity to today”s world. Competing pagan religions and philosophies battled for the souls of the residents. A Christian should stand out in such a society. For this reason Paul wrote them this letter of encouragement and guidance. Be Faithful! Colossians 2:6-7 Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him. Paul here combines two early confessions”””Jesus is the

January 28, 2013

Lesson for February 3, 2013: Focused Solely on Christ (Colossians 1)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Although the apostle Paul himself did not plant the church in Colossae, some of his associates did (Colossians 1:7). When he learned of challenges facing the congregation while imprisoned in Rome, he wrote this memorable epistle to them. His letter focuses on Jesus Christ. Apparently the Colossian church was being challenged by heretical teaching, possibly from Jewish and Gnostic sources. Paul”s strong effort to establish the church”s faith solidly on the Lord should be replicated in

January 14, 2013

Lesson for January 20, 2013: Knowing Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:1-11)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone This month”s lessons are all taken from Paul”s letter to the Philippians. His message to them centered in Jesus Christ, just as his other letters did. Evidently some false teachers were afoot in Philippi, as well as in Galatia (Galatians 3:1-5). They were causing some believers to have misplaced confidence. They taught that salvation could come from what they could do””not by depending on God. We see similar errors today. Paul reaffirmed his previous message to

January 11, 2013

Church Leadership

How Do You Define Your Leadership? Brent Storms

ByÂ Brent Storms When I started playing soccer, it was hard to find shin guards that didn”t come up past my knees. I didn”t get very good until about the time my voice changed. I played three years on the varsity team in high school (we were terrible) and four years in college (we were pretty good). I stopped playing in adult leagues a few years ago when most games ended with an injury of some kind. I”ve always been a forward, an offensive player. Of course, every forward loves to score goals, and I”m no exception. But there”s something else

December 19, 2012

Care & Counseling Grief & Suffering

We Still Can Celebrate

By Mark A. Taylor Some residents in the small, close-knit community of Newtown, Connecticut, took down and put away their Christmas decorations this weekend, and we probably can”t blame them. In the wake of Friday”s trauma and loss, many residents of that small town can”t face holiday festivity. Any of us, even those far from Connecticut, have trouble sorting out our feelings after nonstop news about the horror. The Muzak cycle of “Holly, Jolly Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” and “I”ll Be Home for Christmas” rings hollow””especially when we think about so many who will never again be home for Christmas. But

November 30, 2012

Proclaim the Savior

By Diane Stortz I”m sure you”ve seen and heard the recent proclamations. Retailers” shelves have overflowed for weeks with wrapping paper, wreaths, and wind-up reindeer. Carols mingle with Christmas pop classics on the radio and in the grocery store. Advertisements abound online, on TV, and in magazines and newspapers. The cultural celebration of Christmas has begun! There”s another Christmas, of course””the reason for Christmas, the birth of Christ””and angels announced the wonderful event. Have you ever seen an angel or talked with one? Their first words are often, “Don”t be afraid!” The angel Gabriel proclaimed to Mary, “Don”t be afraid!”

November 26, 2012

Lesson for December 2, 2012: Blessed in Christ (Ephesians 1)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone “Jesus Is Lord” is the theme for this quarter”s studies, focusing on Paul”s letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. These books (along with Philemon) are often referred to as the Prison Epistles. Most Bible students believe they were written around the same time period. In Ephesians the apostle refers directly to being imprisoned at the time he wrote (3:1; 4:1; 6:20). If this letter was written soon after the time described at the close of

November 5, 2012

Lesson for November 11, 2012: Paul Survives a Shipwreck (Acts 27)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone In last week”s lesson, Paul stood before King Agrippa and the Roman governor, Festus. They both found him innocent of any crime but, since he had appealed to Caesar, they sent him on for a hearing before the emperor in Rome. Today we study a part of his sea voyage en route there. Paul was accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus. Whether Aristarchus was a voluntary companion or whether he was himself a prisoner is not clear.

October 29, 2012

Lesson for November 4, 2012: Paul Testifies Before King Agrippa (Acts 25, 26)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone The remaining four lessons in this unit help answer the question, “Where does faith take us?” We will look at examples of the apostle Paul”s faith and ministry recorded in the book of Acts. Paul was preaching fearlessly in Jerusalem when a riotous crowd threatened his life (Acts 22:22-24). The Roman soldiers took him into custody in an attempt to restore order. When the commander ordered that he be flogged, Paul asked, “Is it legal for

September 7, 2012

Despite?

By Jackina Stark Mama died on July 4, 2011. We almost lost her earlier that year when she went to the hospital with pneumonia. Her doctor told us pneumonia isn”t called the old person”s friend for nothing, but she was treated and released to a nursing home, where she could get rehabilitation. That didn”t go well. She had spent too many years trying to breathe, and she was tired of it. We brought her home, and almost daily she told Dad, who took such loving care of her, that she couldn”t do it anymore. Even walking across a room was

September 6, 2012

Sad Good-byes, Fruitful Labor

By Mark A. Taylor Two weeks ago we heard the sad news that a member of our church, a dynamic, active physician, died. Remarkably, he had survived a brain aneurysm two weeks before that, but ultimately his system broke down, along with his family”s hope for his recovery. His funeral was Sunday, August 23; he would have turned 63 August 28. We were sharing this story with a couple who told us a mutual friend”s husband, age 57, had just been diagnosed with Stage Four esophageal cancer. Their kids were coming to visit while they waited to hear treatment options

March 24, 2012

Communion & Lord's Supper Theology & Bible

Unwelcome at the Table

By William Baker The original Supper of the Lord took place at a table (Luke 22:21, 30). Devoted disciples ate with Jesus at this Passover meal. One, however, left before the meal was over. Judas ate the wine-soaked bread Jesus offered him but immediately left to do his dirty deed of informing on Jesus to the temple authorities (John 13:26-30). His pact to help them capture Jesus out of the public eye would be honored that night (Luke 22:1-6). In a few hours, Judas would lead the guard to Jesus and betray him with a kiss of death. Jesus

February 7, 2012

Communion & Lord's Supper Theology & Bible

The Lodge and the Lord”s Supper

By Mark A. Taylor I”m not sure now why I attended the monthly meeting of the local lodge. I had been invited by someone, maybe to pray or see him installed into some office. I don”t recall who he was or any specifics about the evening. I only remember my reaction to being there. The whole service was meaningless to me, in spite of the sober demeanor of the lodge members who participated in it. They somberly went through the motions, careful to complete the program “decently and in order.” But none of it communicated anything to me. Many of

February 6, 2012

New Testament Theology & Bible

Lesson for Feb. 12, 2012: Blessed with Abraham (Galatians 3:1-14)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Paul continues his warning to the Galatian Christians in today”s text. In last week”s lesson he asserted that “a man is not justified by observing the law” (Galatians 2:16). This by itself should have silenced the Judaizers who insisted that a Gentile must first become a Jew before he could become a Christian. It is self-defeating for a person to return to the Old Testament regulations while saying he trusts in Jesus and follows him.

August 26, 2011

Christian Living

God Has Been Teaching Me about Giants

By Dinelle Frankland Several weeks ago, the sermon series at my church brought us to the account of Moses sending 12 spies into Canaan (Numbers 13, 14). Despite the bright promise of overflowing milk and honey, not to mention the flawless history of God”s provision for his people, the majority of this party chose to dwell on the negative: there were giants in the land. Two weeks later I was seated on an airplane next to a friendly gentleman. I discovered he was a dentist and a member of a Methodist church. We talked about the changes we both have

August 8, 2011