Articles for tag: Baptism

November 1, 2021

Michael C. Mack

Restoring the Power of Pentecost

By Michael C. Mack Every day you and I face many challenges, and biggest of them all may be how we choose to perceive them. As the apostle Paul put it, we can fix our eyes on what is seen or what is unseen, on what is temporary or what is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Our perspective makes an incalculable difference in our lives and, by extension, the lives of those around us. How you view the articles in this issue will make a difference, too. A main theme for this issue is missions. One article describes how COVID-19 is

May 1, 2021

Justin Horey

SPOTLIGHT: Boones Creek Christian Church (Johnson City, TN)

God’s Word Brings Growth At the beginning of 2019, Boones Creek Christian Church in Johnson City, Tennessee, started a three-year sermon series on the Trinity. Senior minister David Clark planned to spend a year preaching and teaching on God the Father, a year on the person of Christ, and a year on the Holy Spirit. In 2020, the focus was on Jesus. David Eversole, the church’s administrative minister, recalled that the first two months of 2020 were an encouraging time for the congregation because of the churchwide emphasis on learning about Jesus. Not only were the Sunday sermons all about

April 1, 2021

Mark A. Taylor

The Guards at Jesus’ Tomb:
‘Did That Just Happen?’

By Trevor DeVage with Mark A. Taylor My buddy Aaron and I were at our friend Matt’s house. We were 17, Matt’s folks were out of town, and we were bored. Matt’s stepdad’s prize vehicle, a beautiful, brand-new, gold Buick LeSabre, sat in his driveway. “Don’t drive the car unless it’s an emergency” the stepdad had told Matt before he left. “And if it is an emergency, call me, and I’ll tell you where I’ve hidden the keys.” It took us about 10 minutes to find the keys and 5 minutes more to jump into two cars (Aaron was driving

April 1, 2021

Michael C. Mack

Put Yourself in the Story

Imagine being an eyewitness to Jesus’ final days on earth: his entry into Jerusalem, his celebration of Passover with his followers, his trial, death, burial, resurrection, commission, and ascension. Try to put yourself there as part of the crowd or one of his followers or even one of his detractors on the dusty streets of the Holy City. In this issue, we provide nine character studies of people who witnessed these historic events. None were the main characters in Jesus’ passion, but all were vital to the story. (By the way, this is a sequel to last April’s Easter issue.)

April 1, 2021

Chris Hankins

The Repentant Thief’s Story:
A Beautiful Reminder of God’s Amazing Grace

The repentant thief on the cross who put his faith in Jesus is one of my favorite people in the Easter narrative. Possibly more than any other Bible character, this man shows that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace and it is truly never too late to trust in Jesus. The repentant thief shows us today can be the day of salvation! While this crucified criminal is mentioned in all four Gospels (Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27, 32; Luke 23:32-33, 39-43; John 19:18, 31-33), it may seem we know little about him. But Matthew and Mark used the

March 1, 2021

Dave Stone

Truth + Love: The Balancing Act

My wife, Beth, and I had just met a young couple as we were leaving church. After visiting with these strangers for a few minutes, we invited them to go eat lunch with our family. We found ourselves laughing and devouring sandwiches and getting to know them. And that’s when it got awkward. After asking Matt what part of town he lived in, I innocently proceeded to ask the same question of Stacie. In between bites, in matter-of-fact fashion, she replied that they lived together. Two voices in my subconscious immediately began whispering to me. One unwavering, firm voice said,

February 25, 2021

Christian Standard

Sam E. Stone: Reflecting on 25 Years as Editor

Just a few years after retiring as editor, Sam E. Stone was asked to reflect on his 25 years in that role (1978–2003) for the 140th anniversary issue of Christian Standard in April 2006. Those thoughts and reflections will serve as our final Throwback Thursday for February, a month during which we have shared writings from Sam, who died Jan. 25 at the age of 84. _ _ _ Christian Standard at 140: 25 Years as Editor By Sam E. StoneApril 2, 2006; p. 8 I can’t remember just when I started reading Christian Standard. My dad subscribed to it

February 17, 2021

Christian Standard

Indiana Church’s First Feature Film Encourages Fathers to ‘Fight’

By Chris Moon First Capital Christian Church in Corydon, Ind., has produced its first feature-length film. The movie, called Fight, premieres in March in theaters in Indiana and will be available for streaming after that. The film is about a boxer who falls into addiction, jeopardizing his family in the process. “We geared this movie toward dads, to teach them there’s a lot of stuff in life worth fighting for,” said the film’s director, Tyler Sansom, who also serves as lead digital pastor for First Capital. The film was produced by the church, which has been investing heavily in its

February 8, 2021

Stuart Powell

Being a Christian

What does it mean to be a Christian? How are we different from nonbelievers? What distinguishes the people who follow Jesus from those who ignore or neglect him? We might think the difference is most clearly evident when comparing our Sunday activities. On the first day of the week, Christians gather to study what’s written in the Bible. We seek Scripture’s insights into living moral lives and overcoming temptations. We focus much effort on identifying sins that threaten our faith and corrupt our communities. We see the regular gathering of disciples as vital expressions of encouragement and fellowship among Christians.

Help Keep Christian Standard Free & Accessible with a Tax Deductible Donation

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Does Your Church Want to Support Christian Standard?

Would your church consider including support for Christian Standard in its annual missions budget? Your support would help us not only continue the 160-year legacy of this unifying ministry, but also expand the free resources, cooperative opportunities, and practical guidance we provide to strengthen churches in the U.S. and around the world.

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Secret Link