June 14, 2023
The Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly Tuesday night to uphold the expulsions of Saddleback Church in California and Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., for having women pastors. Both churches had appealed those decisions, announced in February. . . .
September 29, 2022
Dr. Jack Cottrell, professor of theology at Cincinnati Christian University for 48 years, died Sept. 16, 2022. He was 84. In addition to writing 43 books, Dr. Cottrell also wrote numerous articles for Christian Standard. This one, titled "Inerrancy—Does It Really Matter?" was published nearly 40 years ago.
December 3, 2018
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 issue no. 13 (weeks 49–53; December 9–30, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. Image: This painting, Der Gang nach Emmaus (1837), by Austrian painter Joseph von Fuhrich, Is a depiction of Cleopas and another disciple encountering Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. ______ Lesson Aim: Look in the whole of Scripture for what God reveals about Jesus.. ______ By Mark Scott The basis for discerning the
February 8, 2017
By Jim Tune I wrote my message quickly and fired it off. Just seconds after clicking Send, it dawned on me with mortifying clarity that I had sent the text message to the wrong recipient. My message fortunately was not overly sensitive, rude, or confidential. Still, it left room for both misunderstanding and embarrassment. I”m guessing this experience is not unique to me. We”ve all been in a situation where someone reads a message intended for someone else that potentially could lead to misunderstanding and conflict. I was relieved when the unintended recipient responded graciously and with minimal offense. It
February 27, 2016
By Matt Johnson Everyday Theology, as its subtitle promises, tells us How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends. How does your faith speak to human rights, pop music, or designer funerals? Is there any benefit to buying a ticket for the latest Hollywood blockbuster? When should we embrace the hurry of modern American culture, and when should we slow down? What does the proliferation of the blogosphere mean to our culture and the church? Complicated questions have complicated answers, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something less than the gospel. So I appreciated Everyday Theology (Grand Rapids:
October 25, 2014
By Mark Matson If I had to choose just one Bible handbook to accompany solid Bible study, it would be How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Zondervan) by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, both well-known and respected biblical scholars. This book, now in its third edition, has proven itself over three decades. The first edition, which came out in 1981, is still valuable, and the latest edition is a real treat. I use this book for college and seminary classes, and I also recommend it to my church. Fee and Stuart”s book is not a handbook, as
March 6, 2014
By Matt Proctor In the book Children’s Letters to God, one young girl wrote: “Dear God, are boys better than girls? I know you are one, but try to be fair.” It’s an age-old question: what does God think about women and, specifically, women’s roles in the church? It’s also a controversial question. The April 2013 article “Women Preaching” generated more comments on CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s website than any other article last year. The article mentioned that Ozark Christian College offers a preaching class for women, and some readers wondered about the biblical rationale for such a class. (By the way,
November 23, 2011
By Mark Weedman The history of the Restoration Movement is diverse and complex, and summarizing it is necessarily difficult. But some general patterns do emerge, and we can use those patterns to gain an overview of how followers of the Restoration Movement have approached biblical interpretation. Three moments in that history stand out as especially important in shaping how Thomas and Alexander Campbell and their followers would interpret the Bible. The first was the appearance of Thomas Campbell”s Declaration and Address, a seminal document that established the movement”s governing plea. The second moment was a debate between Isaac Errett and
November 22, 2011
By Mark Scott “Good Bible interpretation is letting the text have its own voice.” “True interpretation is what the author intended to say.” “Always strive for the AIM (author”s intended meaning).” “A text cannot mean what it never meant.” “Meaning is singular; significance is plural.” I heard and/or read all of the above statements in my Bible college days. Each one made sense to me. I trusted their sources. I embraced them. They served me well. I was good to go on interpreting the Scriptures. But something happened along the way. The supposed plain talk of interpreting the Bible
November 21, 2011
By Daniel Overdorf I hiked a trail in the Smoky Mountains with some friends last spring. I was refreshed by the crisp air, mountain peaks, and conversation. All the fresh mountain air I”d inhaled came out in a single gasp, however, when we approached a 20-foot bridge that crosses a ravine. The term bridge may overstate the reality””a park ranger, with a devilish grin in place, positioned what looked like a long railroad tie across the canyon, strung a couple of wires to function as handrails, and invited weekend hikers to test their mettle. I prefer to leave my mettle
October 24, 2011
By Matt Proctor We have seen that the New Testament Epistles are published apostolic sermons intended to be read publicly to the recipient churches””with rich theological content, skillful rhetorical crafting, and deeply personal emotion. Now let me suggest five questions that can help you understand these sometimes-difficult books. Have I Read the Entire Letter? Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart give this challenge: “You need to develop the habit of reading the whole letter through in one sitting. You will need to block out an hour or so to do this, but nothing can ever substitute for this exercise. It is the
December 14, 2010
Read “The Tyranny of the Paradigm (Part 1)” Read “The Tyranny of the Paradigm (Part 3)” _________________ By Jack W. Cottrell Previously I noted that Michael Denton speaks of how modern science regards Darwinian evolution as the determinative paradigm or controlling interpretive principle to which all scientific data must be made to conform””even when the data are in conflict with the paradigm. He calls this faulty methodology the “priority of the paradigm” (Ã la Thomas Kuhn). In that earlier essay I applied this concept to certain faulty theological systems, which likewise are distorted by the tyranny of their respective paradigms.
March 15, 2009
By LeRoy Lawson Clinton J. Holloway, Lest We Forget: Meditations at the Meal of Remembrance (Cold Tree Press, 2008). August 2008 featured selections in Christian Standard from this collection by Clinton Holloway of meditations on the Lord”s Supper. This helpful book responds to a need many a presider feels when trying to offer a fresh thought before the worshipers partake. Some of Holloway”s offerings are refreshingly original, others more predictable, and yet others will spark your own imagination. Each focuses our attention on the reason for our worship. And, to one who has sat through””and even been guilty of presenting””sometimes
March 11, 2009
By Brad Dupray From an early age, Perry Stepp was captivated by the complexity of Scripture. “As a kid I would listen to my dad preach and I was fascinated with doctrine and how different parts of the Bible connected with each other.” He followed that path to a lifelong study of the Word culminating in the recent release of Reading Paul”s Letters to Individuals, a commentary on Philemon, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus (cowritten with Hulitt Gloer; Smyth & Helwys Publishing). Perry is an alumnus of Dallas (Texas) Christian College and holds a master”s degree from Lubbock (Texas)
December 16, 2007
By Paul E. Boatman The gathering crowd had a distinctive appearance. Many were young (20-something) and “non-chic”; not slovenly, but lacking the affected “coolness” offered by the latest fashions. This group reminded me of high school meetings of the National Honor Society””often not the most popular kids on campus, but the ones we knew to watch through the coming years. Several of the older members of the crowd were people I knew through academic collegiality or through their writing. My first venture into a conference sponsored by the Stone-Campbell Journal (SCJ) both stimulated and defied stereotyping. In collective IQ, the
April 1, 2007
Paul E. Boatman examines why Christian church-related colleges have not severed ties with their supporting churches, pointing to ecclesiology, hermeneutics, and a shared philosophy of education—while offering candid caveats for the future.
January 7, 2007
A curated reading list on worldview and postmodernism, featuring key evangelical resources that explain cultural shifts, challenges to absolute truth, and practical ministry engagement—from James Sire’s worldview primer to Leonard Sweet’s EPIC-culture approach.
June 25, 2006
James B. North argues the 1906 division grew from deeper tensions than organs or missionary societies. He points to relationships, trust, and liberty in opinion as keys that might have prevented separation.
November 30, 2005
Why do churches struggle to transcend culture? Rees Bryant reflects on “Christians only,” cultural baggage, and the humility of admitting God loves his imperfect people—Christians anyway.
Hiring church staff from within can bring big benefits, but it also raises concerns about experience and theological grounding. Chuck Sackett outlines practical safeguards to equip internal hires for faithful, biblically informed ministry.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
April 28, 2026
Rick Cherok
April 28, 2026
David Faust
April 28, 2026
Rick Cherok