Articles for tag: Christmas

January 10, 2017

Glimpses of Glory

By Mark A. Taylor Like one writer this month (Rick Chromey in “Why I Love the Church”), many readers have lived in the embrace of the church since birth. They know what the church is, because they see what the church is accomplishing. They can”t imagine what life would be like without the nurture, community, and accountability uniquely provided by God”s people. They”ve seen the parade of meals carried to the ill and the shut-in. They”ve experienced hours and days of quiet companionship from Jesus followers who walked with them through sickness, disappointment, or the death of someone close. They”ve

December 28, 2016

Christian Standard

Christmas Communicates

By Jim Tune “What we”ve got here is failure to communicate,” said the prison warden in the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke. The line has endured because communication is so tough. Marketers spend millions of dollars to communicate. Marriages have broken down due to a lack of communication. In some ways, communication is everything. The ultimate communication gap, though, is between God and us. Left to ourselves, we”d never be able to figure out what God is like. We would know that he exists, but what is he really like? Is he angry and harsh? Is he loving? Does he

December 27, 2016

Sacrifice Unequaled

By Mark A. Taylor Does anyone still use the phrase, “Not equal giving, but equal sacrifice”? It once was standard verbiage in church fund-raising campaigns, but I”ve always cringed a little when I”ve heard it. If it has become passÃ©, I”m glad. Not that the idea doesn”t spring from biblical principle. Along with exhortations to giving that is generous (Romans 12:8), cheerful (2 Corinthians 9:7), and regular (1 Corinthians 16:2), Scripture commands giving that is proportional (1 Corinthians 16:2; Deuteronomy 16:17). Many believers today still use God”s original template, the tithe (10 percent), for their giving (Malachi 3:10). Such believers

December 25, 2016

Christian Standard

Jesus and the Powers

By Joe Boyd We”ve all seen much attention this year given to power and those who possess it. But the church”s attitude toward power is different. Christmas, at its core, is about power. Who holds real power? Where does it come from? How do we get it? All the answers are in the Christmas story, buried under the sentimentality and tradition. The Christmas story shows us true power comes to earth in the humility of a dependent infant. Power comes in the form of an impoverished peasant child. A desperate refugee. A homeless wanderer. Power comes in weakness. This is

December 23, 2016

Christian Standard

Better Than Christmas

By Daniel Schantz “A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one”s birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1, New King James Version). There is nothing so magical as the birth of a child, whether it”s a routine birth or a baby that comes in the taxi on the way to the hospital. There is always that frisson of fear””is the baby normal? Does he have all his fingers and toes? Were there complications? Is mother OK? And there is curiosity. “Is it a girl? Is it a boy? Is she pretty? Is he cute?”

December 21, 2016

Christian Standard

The Colors of Christmas

By Jim Tune Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34, 35). A popular Roman Catholic devotion holds that Mary suffered seven sorrows: Simeon”s prophecy that her heart would be pierced, her flight to Egypt that Jesus might escape the infanticide, the anxious days in Jerusalem when she thought she had lost Jesus,

December 20, 2016

Keeping the Peace

By Mark A. Taylor The spectacle stunned the shepherds. A multitude of angels lit up the black sky over a field outside Bethlehem, proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” Although we can only imagine what the shepherds experienced, the content of the angels” song is as surprising and beautiful to us as it must have been to them. Glory to God? Daily the news demonstrates that pride and self-promotion are the currency of our times. History tells us this has always been so. Peace on earth? A nice

December 19, 2016

Christian Standard

Bible Study Theology & Bible

Lesson for December 25, 2016: The Savior Has Arrived (Luke 2:1-21)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teachesÂ preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the December 18Â issue ofÂ The LookoutÂ magazine, and is also available online atÂ www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark ScottÂ “The Savior has arrived.” That is quite a headline. Big news. Make no mistake””this is a big day for the church. Joni Eareckson Tada said, “If God can become man, then everything else is easy.” Paul Scherer, who taught homiletics at Princeton Theological Seminary, said, “God came walking down the stairs of heaven with a baby

December 14, 2016

Christian Standard

God Understands

By Jim Tune A friend of mine has a daughter who struggles with an eating disorder. His friends are sympathetic, but found it hard to understand. One day he attended a support group for fathers of children with eating disorders. I”m not alone anymore, he thought. These people know what I”m going through. They didn”t have to say a word. He felt understood and validated. If you”ve ever gone through a hard time””and I know you have””then you know how helpful it is to find others who have been through the same thing. God, of course, is not like us.

December 12, 2016

Christian Standard

Christian Living

Almighty Favored

By Jennifer Johnson I write a lot of small group Bible study curriculum, and in the process I work with many different churches, different pastors, and different perspectives. One of my favorite clients is a preacher in Atlanta who leans toward the “spirit-filled” side of the spectrum and often talks to his congregation about God”s favor. He encourages his church members to pray for God”s favor in their families, their business dealings, and their health. Sometimes I question the theology of those prayers. Sometimes I question whether I am brave enough to pray them. In the Old Testament we see

December 11, 2016

Christian Standard

Doctrinal Issues & Debates Theology & Bible

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

December 10, 2016

Christian Standard

Take a Look at the Family Photo Album of Jesus

By Matt Proctor One of my favorite Christmas pastimes is sitting with my kids and looking through family photo albums. Almost every picture sparks a story about their ancestors: “¢ “There”s your Great-Grandpa Weede. Oh, he loved to joke. One time, he painted faces on his two big farm-fuel tanks. One had a smiley face that said, “˜I”ve got diesel.” The other had a frowning face that said, “˜I”ve got gas!” “The whole county knew his laugh . . . and his faith. He prayed every day for every grandkid by name.” “¢ “And there”s your Granny Ruth. A strong,

December 7, 2016

Christian Standard

Doctrinal Issues & Debates Theology & Bible

Incarnation

By Jim Tune “”˜The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “˜God with us”)” (Matthew 1:23). We build our walls and we call it peace. In Northern Ireland, miles and miles of “peace walls” snake through Belfast and some other cities to separate Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods. The first walls were built in 1969 during the outbreak of “the Troubles.” Even since the Good Friday peace agreement was finally reached in 1998, many miles of new walls have been built. Forty-eight peace walls exist in Northern Ireland today. They divide

December 2, 2016

Christian Standard

Care & Counseling Grief & Suffering

The Gift of Grief

By Daniel Schantz “A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3, King James Version). Sorrow does not take a holiday at Christmas. One of America”s most comforting Christmas anthems, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” was composed by a man fluent in the language of grief. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a popular professor and poet at Harvard in 1850, but he paid a price for his greatness. Although he loved students, he found teaching to be “a grinding mill.” He suffered from stomach distress, arthritis, vertigo, and depression. At one point he said, “I hate the sight

December 1, 2016

Michael C. Mack

Worship Worship & Prayer

Christmas Best Practices

By Michael C. Mack Pre-invite: Christmas Movie Celebration Host a Christmas film fest, featuring family-friendly Christmas movies, at the church building or another community gathering place. Serve seasonal foods and refreshments, and encourage church attendees to invite their friends. This may be a great way to “pre-invite” people and help them get to know others before your Christmas services. Invite Friends to Christmas Services. According to a recent LifeWay Research study, 61 percent of Americans attend church services at Christmastime. Which means, of course, that 4 out of 10 people do not attend. Yet, among those who don”t attend church

July 6, 2016

Christian Standard

Church Leadership

Ministry Success

By Jim Tune “I experienced success in ministry,” the speaker said, “but it wasn”t worth it.” I was attending a church planting conference. The speaker had served as pastor and as a leader of two national church planting networks. He had written books. At one point, he worked 364 days a year. (He took most of Christmas off.) This guy is, and was, a big deal. In hindsight, he said, it wasn”t worth it. He wanted us to learn from his mistakes. In the years I”ve served as pastor and leader, I”ve seen many rise to the top. They are

March 4, 2016

Christian Standard

What Are You Waiting For?

By Jennifer Johnson As you read this it”s March, but I”m writing it in December. The lead times for print mean I”m usually penning reflections for an issue months before it goes to press, so although you are currently preoccupied with final preparations for Easter, I am in the middle of Advent. I have a love/hate relationship with this part of the church calendar. Christmas is my favorite time of year, but that”s because most of us jump right to the celebrating. Music, lights, special events, too much special food””we go right from Thanksgiving to Emmanuel. But Advent reminds us

January 15, 2016

Christian Standard

Christian Living

Let Us Celebrate

By Rick Chromey Every culture has holidays, but few sanctify more special days than Americans. Perhaps it”s because we embrace our past as good and godly. Perhaps it”s because we hunger for any reason to party or get a day off. Or perhaps it”s because we need another special day to capitalize on our consumerism. Regardless of the reason, Americans celebrate famous people like Martin Luther King Jr., St. Patrick, and Columbus. We memorialize Mondays into three-day weekends to rest from our labor. We throw parties on July 4, October 31, and December 31. We love to give thanks around

January 1, 2016

Christian Standard

Meditating on Love: January 1

By Becky Ahlberg Friday, January 1, 2016 Read Hebrews 1:1-3.Â This passage brings the story of the incarnation full circle. We have come through another year to remember Jesus” birth with calls to hope, peace, joy, and love. I hope your Christmas celebration was meaningful. And now as you head into the new year, clean up the leftovers, return gifts, and put away the decorations, never forget that his coming, though a gift to you, was a sacrifice for him. I pray that the depth of that sacrifice moves you beyond the quaint story of a manger and hay. Never

December 31, 2015

Christian Standard

Meditating on Love: December 31

By Becky Ahlberg Thursday, December 31 Read Romans 8:28-39.Â It”s New Year”s Eve, a time forÂ reflection. Another year has passed by and a new one dawns tomorrow. In this passage from Romans are some important promises to contemplate as you look back at this past year and forward to the new one: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (v. 28). Can you look back and see God”s hand in the days of 2015? What do you see? What are you still looking to find? “If God is for us, who can be against