August 11, 2025
IT IS FINISHED
As we take the bread and the cup today, let’s hold onto this: “It is finished.” The debt is settled. The slate is clean.
August 11, 2025
As we take the bread and the cup today, let’s hold onto this: “It is finished.” The debt is settled. The slate is clean.
Satan and his demons are real, active, powerful, and dangerous; but they are no match for our divine and almighty Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
May 28, 2024
One year ago, Metamora Church of Christ decided to shut its doors. Metamora's leaders approached Jeff Stone and the elders in Batesville Christian Church. Would they help the church sell its building and make sure something good came out of a difficult situation? . . .
March 22, 2024
Dr. Jack Cottrell’s legacy as a great Bible teacher and writer was recently commemorated at Mid-Atlantic Christian University through their hosting the inaugural Jack W. Cottrell Lectureship and dedication of the Jack W. Cottrell Memorial Library. . . .
February 7, 2024
Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing, Mich., has announced the impending retirement of one vice president and the promotion of another. . . . Also, the inaugural Jack W. Cottrell Lectureship and opening of the Jack Cottrell Memorial Library will take place on March 8 at Mid-Atlantic Christian University. . . .
January 26, 2024
Ready to Harvest, which conducts denominational research, has released a 27-minute video via YouTube profiling and explaining Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. “What Are Independent Christian Churches?” was posted early this week and is being generally well received. . . .
March 1, 2023
By Michael C. Mack One of my favorite classes in seminary was Doctrine of Grace, taught by Jack Cottrell. It was an introduction for me in my relatively newfound faith to the nature of God, the essence of salvation, and the call of the Christian life. Thirty-five years later, I’m still learning about grace. I see it everywhere, as God’s Spirit opens my eyes and heart to it. It’s found, for example, in Paul’s instructions to husbands on how to love their wives “just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Paul then described
March 1, 2023
By James Estep “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” Penned in 1772 by John Newton, the message of “Amazing Grace” resounds into the 21st century. The tune as originally written is a favorite of many believers. In 2007 Christian musician Chris Tomlin updated the words to say, “my chains are gone, I’ve been set free” . . . but the message remained the same. Grace is amazing! My home church for a while described itself as “An Amazing Grace Place,” which represented them well. But why is grace so amazing? Paul explained why in
January 30, 2023
Jack Cottrell wrote, “The ultimate test of Christian faith and love is the willingness to obey regardless of the consequences” . . .
January 1, 2023
Jack Cottrell (April 30, 1938—September 16, 2022) wrote many articles for Christian Standard over the years, and one of his favorite topics was truth. While we do not have space to include all his articles on different aspects of this important topic, we have excerpted from several of them here. We’ll let Dr. Cottrell introduce himself. In “What I Have Learned in 50 Years as a Theologian (Part 1),” published in our February 7, 2010, issue, he wrote, Since receiving my AB degree from Cincinnati Bible Seminary in 1959, I have been either preparing to teach or teaching theology (Bible
January 1, 2023
After a long battle with cancer, Jack Cottrell, 84, passed from earth to heaven September 16, 2022. Dr. Cottrell was a respected professor of theology at Cincinnati Christian University for 48 years, from September 1967 to December 2015. He wrote more than 40 popular theological books and countless magazine articles. Several days after Dr. Cottrell’s passing, Tom Claibourne wrote the following tribute, which appeared on our website. This version, adapted with minor edits, appears in our January/February 2023 print edition. _ _ _ By Tom Claibourne During my final time around a table with Dr. Jack Cottrell at the Christian
December 21, 2022
Harvey Bacus, who led Ozark Christian College's Missions Department for 33 years, died on Friday. Also, Jack Cottrell's library collection is headed to Mid-Atlantic Christian University. And more . . .
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.
September 20, 2022
Tom Claibourne writes: "Since Dr. Jack Cottrell's passing last Friday, I’m sure some have expressed dismay that we have lost not only a good man of God, but a strong, biblical voice still so desperately needed in the Restoration Movement and the wider church world. But is the voice of a truly great teacher ever completely silenced? I think not . . ."
September 19, 2022
A Christian editor shares how his life changed forever when he attended a once-a-week class on the Holy Spirit that Jack Cottrell offered at his church during a six-week span in the early 1980s. (Dr. Cottrell died Sept. 16 after a long battle with cancer.)
September 17, 2022
On Friday evening, after a long battle with cancer, Jack Cottrell, 84, passed from earth to heaven. Dr. Cottrell was professor of theology at Cincinnati Christian University for 48 years. Throughout his life, Dr. Cottrell enjoyed helping others come to a clearer and more specific understanding of biblical and doctrinal issues . . .
e2: effective elders is marking 10 years as a nonprofit parachurch ministry. During that time, e2 has trained more than 9,600 elders and church leaders. Also briefs about the Church of Christ on Lewis Street (in Little Rock), Tony Darling, Jack Cottrell, and more.
August 18, 2021
The Midwest Ministers' Retreat & Summit is set for Oct. 25-26, and the National Preaching Summit is scheduled for March 7-8, 2022. Also items about Jack Cottrell battling cancer, Fortville (Ind.) Christian Church's 150th anniversary, and more.
April 28, 2021
First Christian Church in Lamar, Mo.—which just celebrated its 150th anniversary—is planning a $2 million Family Life Center. Also briefs about Point University, City Church OTR, Chuck Terrill, Southeast Christian (Louisville), and more.
May 1, 2020
By Michael D. McCann When consumed, it hydrates. When boiled, it disinfects. When we bathe in it, our body is cleansed. This simple combination of hydrogen and oxygen, water truly is a precious, versatile commodity. Similarly, the waters of baptism provide the participant with unimaginable benefits. Baptism floods the spirit with divine blessings. And yet baptism is distinct from our daily uses of water that require no special qualification. Atheist and Christian, male and female, king and servant—we all receive the same benefit when water is consumed. But in baptism, the water produces powerful effects promised only to those who