Articles for tag: Hebrews 11

June 24, 2013

Christian Standard

The “˜Up-frontness” of Eldership

By Chuck Sackett Sam compassionately shepherded a congregation I”ll call Countryside Church, but a massive heart attack cut short his ministry, forcing him into an extended rehabilitation, and ultimately, retirement. The elders, assessing the situation, determined that Sam”s wife could live in the parsonage until he was released from the hospital. However, the church would begin searching for a minister immediately, so she needed to vacate the parsonage upon his release. On the other side of the state, Doris served the children of a congregation I”ll call Community Fellowship. Her ministry was exploding with children. Tragically, her husband found her

April 20, 2013

Christian Standard

Lessons from a Fat Wallet

By Eddie Lowen Not long ago, removing my wallet from my pants pocket became difficult. That”s a good thing, right? On Subway restaurants” TV commercial, a thick wallet is evidence of frugal spending and increasing net worth. Dave Ramsey likes fat wallets. However, my wallet was gaining girth from items other than legal tender and dead presidents. Membership cards were to blame. Multiple membership cards. Some were plastic, others card stock. I emptied my wallet and discovered nearly a dozen membership cards to seemingly every organization in our city and beyond. A sampling of my memberships includes: Sam”s Club, which

April 12, 2013

Christian Standard

Remembering or Participating?

By Tom Lawson “Do this in remembrance of me.” Perhaps no words are more closely associated with Communion. Communion is, if nothing else, a time of remembering Jesus Christ. Many people are surprised, or at least confused, by Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17. Here he teaches that the cup is a participation or sharing in the blood of Christ and the bread is a participation or sharing in the body of Christ. To some, this sounds too close to medieval ideas that had the cup and loaf actually changing into the blood and body of Christ. On the

September 3, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for September 9, 2012: Faith Gives Assurance (Hebrews 11; Psalm 46)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone The original recipients of the letter to the Hebrews were evidently Jewish Christians. Some of these believers were slacking in their service, even turning back to the Old Covenant under which they had been raised. This book was designed to show the superiority of the New Covenant, and to motivate faithfulness (Hebrews 10:19-25). Old Testament heroes are used as examples for the readers in Hebrews 11, often called the “faith chapter” of the Bible. The other

December 12, 2011

Christian Standard

Lesson for Dec. 18, 2011: The Lord Provides (Genesis 22:1-19)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for December 18) is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ________ The Lord Provides (Genesis 22:1-19) By Sam E. Stone In last week”s lesson God assured Abram that he would actually have a son who would serve as his heir. Abram believed God. In the chapters that follow (Genesis 15:18″“22:1), we read about Hagar and Ishmael, the covenant of circumcision, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot, and Abimelech. Abram”s name was changed to Abraham (Genesis 17:5), literally “a father of many nations.” Finally Sarah gave birth to

August 23, 2011

Christian Standard

Growth for ANY Church

By Steve Hinton It happened again. This past week I read yet another story of a dwindling congregation confronted with the harsh realities of years of negative growth. After some hard discussions, the congregation took the path of a growing number of churches in America and simply decided to close its doors, sell its property, and join with another struggling congregation. But I firmly believe things could have been very different for that congregation. I really believe any church can grow. This was impressed on me when my family moved to the northwest Houston area more than a year ago

November 15, 2010

Christian Standard

Lesson for Nov. 21, 2010: God Is Protector (Psalm 91:1-6, 9-16)

This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for November 21) is written by Don Hamilton who serves with Capital Area Christian Church in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. God Is Protector (Psalm 91:1-6, 9-16) By Don Hamilton I grew up in an Ozzie and Harriet kind of family. For those of you too young to remember, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson were parents in a television series that ran from 1952 to 1966. The program presented a wonderful, well-adjusted suburban family who thrived under the leadership of a good father. My family was kind of like that. I had a really good

March 21, 2010

Christian Standard

Building Bonds Between Elders and Ministers (Part 1)

By Bob Russell One of the most intense topics in church leadership seminars these days is elder/preacher relationships. One minister said, “In our church I get the impression that it”s the preacher”s job to cast vision and the elder”s job to prevent it from happening.” But it”s not always the elders who are to blame for conflicts with the minister. Many times the problem lies with a preacher or staff member who is lazy, unethical, controlling, defiant, or spiritually immature. I”ve observed four ministries recently that looked impressive from the outside, but suddenly the preacher was asked to resign. People

December 23, 2007

Alan Ahlgrim

peace at Christmas

The Sign of Peace

Christmas can be filled with conflict and strain, but Scripture points to true peace through Christ. Pursue peace with others as you’re able, and rest in God’s presence even when circumstances don’t quickly change.

August 14, 2005

Christian Standard

You Are Not Your Own

By C. Robert Wetzel Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). The Vernon Newland family spent the duration of World War II in a Japanese concentration camp in the Philippines. They had planned to serve in China when the war broke out. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1942 they, along with many foreign nationals, were interred in cruel and miserable conditions. Many people did not survive

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