Baptism

A Financial Deep Dive

In 2023, 57 percent of churches reported that giving exceeded their budget, with 21 percent saying giving met their budgeted needs. . . .

Equal Before God

In the practices of the church, God has continued to erase differences when people come before him. . . .

THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Barton W. Stone—Champion of the Word’ (1962)

Sam Stone wrote in 1962, "If the early leaders of the Restoration movement are like men engaged in a race, it might be said that Barton Warren Stone…

2023 Annual Survey Fast Facts

The Christian Standard Church Report for 2023: The New Normal?

The pandemic caused some churches to refocus or redefine their ministry practices. . . .

Baptism: The Healing Plunge into Jesus’ Plea for Unity

I wondered, "What could I do as a local church pastor to exalt Christ, proclaim gospel truths, and heal hardened and hurting hearts?" . . .

April 28 Study | Resurrection

The resurrection (both Jesus’ and ours) makes a mockery of death. It is the ultimate joke on the devil. . . .

April 28 Application | ‘Of First Importance’

Jesus Christ is risen indeed! Aren’t you glad? The miracle of Jesus’ resurrection is the turning point of history, the backbone of biblical theology, and the foundation of…

April 28 | Discovery Questions

These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Resurrection” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 16-27, 50-58), by Mark Scott.

What Is the Lord’s Supper? Exploring Unity, Renewal, and Remembrance

What actually happens when churches gather to celebrate the Lord’s Supper? Answers vary. I want to suggest that the Lord’s Supper is a weekly experience of church unity,…

March 31 Lesson | Edification

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…

THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘The Birth of the Restoration’ (Part 1; 1924)

"The nineteenth century dawned on an America that was far from Christian. Unbelief was prevalent and popular," Ira M. Boswell wrote in 1924. "The Bible was considered a…

A Bright Future Across the Pond: Restoration Churches in the U.K.

Living Hope and Unquenchable Joy: Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus

Why does it matter that some guy died on a cross and rose again many years ago? . . .

Guardians of Truth

When I was a teen in the late 1960s, my church became a verbal battleground . . .