December 2, 2020
50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years of Preaching
Victor Knowles recommends you ask yourself these questions as you preach or prepare to preach.
Articles for tag: Francis Chan
August 10, 2020
Lesson for August 16, 2020: Stop the Spiral (Judges 2:10-19)
Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the August 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: When God disciplines, repent. ________ By Mark Scott Judges may well be the ugliest book in the Bible. Perpetual sin was creating a union with death among God’s people. “There was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25, English Standard Version; cf. 17:6; 18:1;
June 22, 2019
Considering Robert Coleman
By Jerry Harris Some people we cross paths with in life leave an indelible mark. Robert Coleman is such a person for me. A few years ago, I was part of a group of leaders who were preparing the speaking lineup for that year’s Exponential conference. The focus that year was on discipleship and its relationship to church planting. Jim Putman, a preacher whose life and ministry have been devoted to relational discipleship, was chosen as a featured speaker and also selected to help write that year’s accompanying book. He and Bobby Harrington were looking for a third person to
September 25, 2015
The Best Sermon I’ve Ever Heard (3)
By Arron Chambers Christian leaders, some of them preachers themselves, tell us about a sermon they can”t forget””and maybe you won”t either. Interestingly, this month”s submissions include two sermons delivered at the same church but by different speakers, and two sermons by fathers of the contributors. Enjoy! Jennifer Farber Jennifer is executive director of the KORE Foundation. She works with the Small Holder Poultry Project in Haiti and oversees stateside operations. Jennifer”s Best Sermon: The best sermon on reaching, serving, and helping people to live better lives by Dennis Bratton (Jennifer”s father). This sermon was delivered at Journey Christian Church
June 29, 2015
9 Recommended Discipleship Materials
By Michael C. Mack While discipleship is more than a program or curriculum, a number of tools can be helpful in your discipling process. Here are nine resources recommended by ministers and elders across the country: 1. The Pastoral Epistles (especially 1 & 2 Timothy) 2. Thoroughly Equipped (available at www.thoroughlyequipped.org) 3. The Truth Project, Del Tackett (www.thetruthproject.org) 4. Seven Keys to an Effective Ministry, Rick Warren (www.pastors.com/7keys) 5. Multiply, Francis Chan (www.multiplymovement.com) 6. Becoming a Disciple-Maker / A Call to Joy, Billie Hanks Jr. (www.ieaom.org) 7. Real-Life Discipleship Training Manual: Equipping Disciples Who Make Disciples, Jim Putman (amazon.com, among
March 14, 2014
Ships in the Night?
By Darrel Rowland Churches across the country are shedding denominational names, and well-known Evangelical leaders, such as Francis Chan, are expressing the importance of biblical baptism. Are the heirs to the Restoration Movement headed in the other direction? “I find that denominational preachers are really finding an interest in our doctrine and our stand,” says Ben Merold, minister-at-large with Harvester Christian Church in St. Charles, Missouri. “At about the time they”re kind of coming our way, we”re not making much of our doctrine and our Restoration Movement stand.” Victor Knowles, founder of Peace On Earth Ministries, remarked, “It is more
June 20, 2013
A Conversation with Jeff Faull
Meet Our Contributing Editors: This month we begin a series of interviews with CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors. What they have to say about the church, the ministry, our fellowship of churches, and anything else on their minds will challenge and interest our readers. Their insights and questions amply illustrate why each of these volunteers is such a valuable part of the CHRISTIAN STANDARD team. Interview by Jennifer Johnson QUESTION: You and I both sit in on these conversations about the future of the Restoration Movement, and it seems many times they rehash the same topics and complaints. Let”s go
January 10, 2013
Quality People, Challenging Content
CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors will enjoy their annual retreat January 16-18, a meeting that is a highlight of the year for many of us who attend it. The discussions each meeting focus on the magazine”s and this website”s content and appearance. What are the topics and who are the writers that must be included in coming issues? Which are the events and trends that our readers want to read more about? This is all very serious stuff, but in the midst of it there”s plenty of laughter, an abundance of good-natured kidding, and the brand of hilarious true stories that
September 22, 2012
The Culture of Celebrity Pastors
By Brian Mavis Joel Osteen, Rob Bell, Francis Chan, John Piper, T.D. Jakes, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Billy Graham, Dwight L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield, John Wesley, John Calvin, Martin Luther, Augustine, Origen, Polycarp. Celebrity pastors are nothing new. So what”s new and what”s next? Putting ourselves first is as old as day one (I mean, day six). The difference today is that the ability to reach the fruit, feed that temptation, and be applauded for it has never been easier. Just consider these low-hanging branches: YouTube, MySpace, iTunes, iMac, iPod, iPad, and iPhone. “I, me, mine . .
September 25, 2011
What a Wonderful Convention!
By Darrel Rowland A blur of scenes from the 2011 North American Christian Convention in Cincinnati . . . “¢ A pair of preachers, leaders of churches totaling about 30,000 in weekly attendance, breaking down in tears at 1 a.m. in their hotel””then taking pizza to the homeless . . . “¢ Two women riding one step apart on the escalator cackling when they realize they had worn identical blouses that day . . . “¢ Noisy protestors””including one toting a sign saying “Your Pastor Is a Liar”””occupying all four corners of the intersection just outside the main entrance to the
July 26, 2011
Read It for the Stories
By Mark A. Taylor I”m reading Unleashed, Dudley Rutherford”s brainchild and Standard Publishing”s new release based on the sermons at this summer”s North American Christian Convention. And I”m a fan. I expected the book to be full of solid scriptural teaching. But I didn”t expect the book to draw me in so that I didn”t want to put it down. I didn”t expect it to make me laugh out loud or fight back tears. Unleashed will be purchased for many reasons, but my advice is, get the book for its stories. You”ll share them with your spouse. You”ll use
May 17, 2011
More than Teacups . . . a Plea for Biblical Literacy
By Megan Gariss I was in elementary school during the mid-1990s when “Magic Eye” posters were all the rage. As you may remember, these posters produced three-dimensional images out of two-dimensional patterns. For some in my class, seeing the image was no problem””they could simply glance at the poster and quickly discern the hidden 3-D image. However, for most of the class, myself included, viewing the image was hard work. We all had different methods of looking at the “Magic Eye” poster, each guaranteed to help the viewer discover the 3-D image””be it a penguin on a raft or the
February 18, 2011
The Dynamic NACC Message in a Challenging New Book
By Dudley Rutherford When you read in the Bible about the powerful ministry of Jesus or the revolutionary witness of the first-century church, does a longing well up inside you to capture that same strength and vigor in your personal effectiveness for the kingdom of God? The church in the New Testament impacted the world. It changed culture from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The early disciples turned the world upside down with their message, their lives, their commitment, and their passion. Can you imagine today”s church having the same influence in our
February 16, 2011
Through the Week at the 2011 NACC
The 2011 North American Christian Convention takes place from July 5-8 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here is a basic schedule of events: TUESDAY, JULY 5 8:30 a.m.”“4:30 p.m.: Restoration Heritage Tour (includes lunch) 8:30 a.m.”“4:30 p.m.: Creation Museum Tour (includes lunch) Noon: Standard Publishing Luncheon 2:00 p.m.: UNLEASHED Web Site Seminar 3:00 p.m.: Exhibit Hall opens 7:00 p.m.: Evening Main Session with Dudley C. Rutherford 8:30 p.m.: NACC President”s Opening Night Reception (immediately following the Main Session) 8:30 p.m.: College Showcase 10:00 p.m.: Exhibit Hall closes WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 7:30 a.m.: NACC Ministry Networking Breakfast
September 22, 2010
2010 NACC: We Can”t Say We Weren”t Warned
By Darrel Rowland First night, first message at this year”s North American Christian Convention, President Ben Cachiaras let us know that the week would be more about “afflicting the comfortable” than comforting the afflicted. Many of us had thought those square pieces of netting on our chairs that opening night at the Indiana Convention Center were some weird Hoosier way to save seats. Instead, they were a visible reminder from Cachiaras of Jesus” radical call to the first disciples to drop their nets and follow him to a place “beyond”””the convention”s theme””and of our need to do the same today.
February 14, 2010
NACC: Jesus Calls Us to Go BEYOND
By Ben Cachiaras Here are some of the sessions planned for this summer’s North American Christian Convention in Indianapolis, July 6-9: “BEYOND the Great Omission” is about making more and better disciples””with Jesus-like passion for both. Instead of omitting one-half of the Great Commission, God wants to stir a passion in us for reaching those far from him””and an equal passion for growing mature disciples. “BEYOND Racial Zones” is about moving past our sectors of separation until our churches reflect the complexion we find in Christ”s church in Acts and Revelation. It is not about affirmative action or being politically
February 14, 2010
NACC: A Blend of the Fresh and Familiar
By Ben Cachiaras Special Guests A trademark of the convention will be great preaching at our main sessions, anchored by some of our movement”s strong speakers, like Brian Jones, Dick Alexander with Mary Kamau, George Ross, and Gene Appel. In addition, we will welcome some special friends as guests; Christian brothers we have invited to share with us, and from whom we can benefit, include Efrem Smith, Francis Chan, Rick Warren, and others. Added to that will be rich worship experiences led by Eric Olson and the team from Mountain Christian Church of Joppa, Mary-land; Bible studies led by John-ny
February 14, 2010
NACC: The Week’s Schedule
TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 6 Exhibit Hall Standard Publishing Lunch LOGOS Bible Software Training “The Zone,” Student Area TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 6 Exhibit Hall Evening Main Session with Ben Cachiaras NACC President”s Reception College Fair (for students and parents) WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 7 Exhibit Hall Ministers” Networking Breakfast Bible Study Exhibitor Workshops Morning Main Session with Brian Jones Student Main Session with Todd Clark Featured Guest Speaker, Efrem Smith WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 7 Exhibit Hall Seniors” Luncheon with Ben Merold Workshops Bible Studies WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 7 Exhibit Hall President”s Banquet””Open to All Evening Main Session with Dick Alexander THURSDAY MORNING,
February 14, 2010
The NACC Is for Students Too!
By Phyllis Fox Youth in Ministry (YiM) is excited to go BEYOND with the North American Christian Convention”s Student Convention in Indianapolis this summer. Our goal is to encourage students to go BEYOND ordinary worship and BEYOND radical discipleship. We have several familiar program elements plus new features that will excite students and their parents. What’s New We are encouraged by the many churches enjoying intergenerational worship, so we are trying something new in the 2010 Student Convention by having the students join the adults for the evening sessions. When students are in high school it is critical that they
January 3, 2010
Provoking Change: A Review of Catalyst Atlanta
By Brandon Smith ________ Read the Sidebar: “Three Incentives for Joining the Movement” ________ When thousands of vehicles converge on a single four-lane road, movement is bound to slow. This was the case driving north on Sugarloaf Parkway outside Atlanta the first week of October. But the occupants of these vehicles were gathering for a conference, and, contrary to the traffic, the passengers were preparing for a great movement. The conference is called Catalyst. A catalyst, by definition, is a force that provokes or speeds up significant change or action. While I don”t remember a lot from my science classes
