September 1, 2024
Honoring Christ in an Age of Outrage
In a time when so many are drunk with rage, Christians—and leaders in particular—must be sober-minded. Don’t forget that we’ve got essential and eternal kingdom work to do.
Articles for tag: Chad Ragsdale
October 11, 2023
News Briefs for Oct. 11
News briefs from Celtic Christian Mission (2024 tour of Ireland), Ozark Christian College (new dean of Graduate Studies), and two churches in Kentucky. . . .
May 31, 2023
News Briefs for May 31
Central Park Christian Church in Topeka, Kan., is planning a “Rooftop Revival” this weekend to bring the community together and help raise funds for the church’s youth ministry. Also briefs about funeral arrangements for Nell Stacy, a new book on Hebrews by Chad Ragsdale, and more. . . .
September 28, 2021
Possible Errors in Practicing Apologetics
"I believe we can make at least two errors in practicing apologetics," writes Chad Ragsdale. "The first error is when we forget the purpose of apologetics. Apologetics is a servant of evangelism and discipleship. . . ."
July 14, 2021
JUTN Royals Join NAIA (Plus News Briefs)
Johnson University Tennessee joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics effective July 1. Additional brief news items about Traders Point Christian Church, LCU's Jim Allison, the Michigan Christian Convention, and more.
June 23, 2021
Whitewater Crossing Leadership Transition Announced (Plus News Briefs)
David Vaughan plans to step down as senior minister with Whitewater Crossing Christian Church in Cleves, Ohio, on Aug. 1, 2022, and be succeeded by senior associate minister Jon Tisevich, the church’s elders announced on Sunday morning.
August 14, 2019
Ozark Profs Share the Bible ‘On Demand’ Via NextLevel
By Jim Nieman In 2016, Ozark Christian College began producing free online teaching videos featuring professors such as Chad Ragsdale, Michael DeFazio, Shane Wood, and Mark Scott. Since that time, the project—known as NextLevel Online—has grown to include 25 different biblical teaching series and 198 free online videos that have been viewed more than 100,000 times by church classes, small groups, student ministries, and individuals in all 50 states and 35 countries. Ozark’s mission is to “train men and women for Christian service,” said Jim Dalrymple, Ozark’s vice president of advancement. “We do this in the classroom every day, and
April 25, 2018
SPOTLIGHT: Cross the Line Church, Lincoln, Nebraska
Cross the Line is trying to better leverage building spaces and resources for kingdom expansion. By Chad Ragsdale It’s 9:00 on Wednesday morning. A group of women have gathered to enjoy some coffee and conversation at the Front Porch Coffee Café in Lincoln, Nebraska. Their children are laughing and running in the adjacent play area. Nearby, in the same building, the Super Starts Child Development Center bustles with activity as parents drop off their kids and hurry off to work. Further inside, a gym is still set up for the youth basketball practice from the night before. This former
February 13, 2017
Surprise!
By Chad Ragsdale The Jesus of Scripture is not the safe Jesus we may seek. I was in the library the other day and stumbled across a book titled What Would Jesus Drive? My imagination was immediately captivated by the idea of Jesus and his disciples road tripping down the dusty back roads of Galilee. I was also curious how in the world the author could get an entire book from such a narrow topic, so I opened it up. It turns out each chapter placed Jesus in a different, contemporary ethical situation. “What would Jesus eat?” “What would Jesus
December 13, 2016
What Women Can Do
By Mark A. Taylor While opinions differ about what women should or should not do in a Christian church, no one can deny that God is working through women today. And, as Matt Proctor, Jennifer Johnson, and Chad Ragsdale remind us this month, women have always been at the center of God”s work on earth: “¢ Several significant and surprising women are included in the genealogy of Jesus. “¢ Mary, the mother of Jesus, demonstrated strength, character, and obedience to equal that of any male Bible hero . “¢ And in this virgin”s submission, God showed the divinity of her
December 11, 2016
Mystery, Model, Hope
By Chad Ragsdale Difficult to comprehend, frustrating to explain, the fact that God became flesh is central to our faith. And he did it through the birth of a baby to a virgin. Sometimes I wonder what Christmas at Job”s house would have been like. Holidays can be especially difficult for families living in the wake of tragedy. The songs, parties, and decorations might have the opposite of their intended effect. Rather than inspiring goodwill and joy, they only amplify loss and grief. So try to imagine living through Job”s unimaginable loss while also navigating the joy, festivity, and family
February 13, 2016
My Theology and My View of Technology
By Chad Ragsdale I”ve heard someone observe that we are all cyborgs now””witness our desktops littered with computers, smartphones, and tablets. Technology is, of course, not new. The creation and use of tools to enhance our power and improve our lives is uniquely human. What is new, I think, is the level of intimacy our technology now enjoys in each one of our lives. Our technology has become an inseparable part of us, and we notice it more for its absence than its presence. Recently I went 10 days without a cell phone. This wasn”t some grand experiment in minimalist
October 26, 2015
Our Reading Group
By Chad Ragsdale Life can get busy. Correction, life is busy. It is often the principal description we give for our lives. How are we? We”re busy. And our persistent busyness stunts our spiritual and personal growth. Growth simply demands too much of our time. And, let”s face it, in our culture many of the things that best lead to growth are typically treated as merely “recreational” or diversionary in nature. Important disciplines like Sabbath, study, and meditation are regarded as luxuries (“if you have the time for such things”), much like a day at the golf course or the
April 6, 2015
Forgiving God
By Chad Ragsdale Not long ago I was asked to preach a sermon as part of a series on forgiveness. It was a good idea for a series. There are few things as “Christian” as forgiveness. My topic was a little different from the ordinary sermon on forgiveness, however. I was asked to preach a sermon on forgiving God. I admit I didn”t have the best attitude about the topic. Forgiving God seems like a modern man”s dilemma. Modern man has attempted to kill God but continues to be haunted by his presence. God, the hero, is dismissed and mocked
June 11, 2014
Who Needs Apologetics?
By Chad Ragsdale While attacks abound on faith in general and Christianity in particular, some claim the time for apologetics is past. But I say apologetics will always be relevant and essential for two reasons: the nature of our faith, and the nature of our call. “Apologetics is a wonderful thing,” the guest speaker said. “If you live in the 1950s. And in Kansas.” It was an awkward moment. And not just because the crowd included a large number of Kansas students sometimes sensitive about their home state being used as the universal standard for lameness. But also because it
October 6, 2013
The Unpopular Answer
By Chad Ragsdale When someone asks me about God”s will for their life, my reply isn”t usually what they”re anticipating. “Be holy,” I say, for this is the Bible”s simplest solution to the problem. “So . . . I”m trying to figure out . . . what exactly is God”s will for my life?” Living and working among hundreds of Bible college students for several years, I”ve heard different versions of this question dozens of times. Where should I go to school? What career should I pursue? Whom should I marry? Should I get married at all? We can, if
