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
January 29, 2019
By Jack Cottrell Several years ago Ravi Zacharias and I were on the same program. Ravi accepted an invitation to speak at Cincinnati Christian University on April 29, 2014. He spoke twice, once in morning chapel and once for an evening banquet. About three weeks before the event, the school president, David Faust, sent me a request that said, in part, “As part of the program prior to Ravi’s speech in the evening, I would like to interview you briefly about the ongoing relevance of apologetics, especially as it relates to our work at CCU. . . . If you
January 29, 2016
By Jack Cottrell This is one of four views of contraception written by Bible college professors. Other views are written by Phil Kenneson, Mark Weedman, and Robert Pate. Is it moral for a married couple to use contraceptive devices to prevent pregnancy? By contraception we mean the prevention of conception, which is the fertilization of the ovum by the sperm. We do NOT mean the prevention of the implantation of a fertilized ovum””a newly formed baby””in the wall of the womb. This clarification is important because some so-called “contraceptives” do not necessarily prevent conception. Rather, they can allow the new baby to form, but then
September 7, 2015
By Darrel Rowland “I did not set out to do radical stuff,” says this year”s NACC president, Mike Baker. But he knew “it was going to be a bit of a risk to our tradition” to schedule a woman to preach at a main session, for one of the very few times in convention history. “There”s two things about me,” Baker said. “I”m an old-school Christian churcher, so I know full well that both my dad and my grandfather, who have passed on, would not approve of me having a woman speaker. But I”m also a word guy, and I”m
We asked 35 Christian leaders, “Who is the influencer with the biggest impact on your life and ministry?” Most of these leaders listed several influential thinkers, writers, innovators, and leaders more of us should get to know. This response is from Tom Ellsworth, senior minister with Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, Bloomington, Indiana. ________ Theology: Jack Cottrell Devotional study: Max Lucado, Ken Gire, Mark Atteberry A deeper challenge: N.T. Wright, Dallas Willard Cultural study: Thom Rainer Inspiration and perhaps my all-around favorite: John Ortberg
By Jack Cottrell (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) As early as junior high school I had decided I wanted to be a preacher, but well-meaning high school teachers pressured me in other directions. I grew up on a farm and was active in vocational agriculture during high school, and was awarded a nice scholarship by our county farm bureau. Thus, by the time I was a senior, I had changed my mind and decided to enroll in the University of Kentucky to study agriculture. Either in the summer of 1954 or 1955, during senior
By Mark A. Taylor Some of the best advice I ever received was from Roy Lawson, longtime member of Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee, and one of this magazine”s original contributing editors. “Emphasize people,” he told me when I asked for ways to make CHRISTIAN STANDARD more effective. “Highlight what people are doing. Promote their ministries and their accomplishments.” Through the years I”ve followed that advice in more ways than one, including a series of special posts you”ll be seeing at this site starting today, all of them from our July print edition”s central feature, “The Best (or Worst!) Advice I
By Mark A. Taylor Some of the best advice I ever received was from Roy Lawson, longtime member of Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee, and one of this magazine”s original contributing editors. “Emphasize people,” he told me when I asked for ways to make CHRISTIAN STANDARD more effective. “Highlight what people are doing. Promote their ministries and their accomplishments.” Through the years I”ve followed that advice in more ways than one, none of them more engaging than the major feature of this month”s issue. I love our “Best (or Worst!) Advice” pieces for several reasons. First, of course, is the advice
February 10, 2014
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Some Bible teachers suggest that Paul and James disagree with each other about the place of faith and works in a person”s salvation. They don”t, however. In today”s text James did not attack Paul”s teaching that a Christian is saved by God”s grace. Instead he corrected what A. T. Robertson called “the ceremonial ritualism of the Pharisees.” Evaluating Genuine Faith James 2:14-19 Real faith isn”t something you just talk about. Biblical faith includes trust and
July 18, 2012
David Faust’s Honest Questions, Honest Answers equips Christians to welcome honest doubts and respond thoughtfully to questions about Christian faith with practical, understandable answers.
August 4, 2011
Explore downloadable resources for new members, church leaders, and everyday believers covering the Restoration Movement, hiring ministers, baptism, Communion, Calvinism, skeptics, and practical Christian living.
July 19, 2011
Jack Cottrell examines four kinds of gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit and explains why the Spirit’s salvation gifts—regeneration, sanctification, and his indwelling presence—are central to Pentecost.
September 3, 2010
Readers respond to recent Christian Standard articles on ministry, spiritual disciplines, baptism, Calvinism, church practices, paradigms, and practical Christian living.
Jon and Kathy Underwood created La Palabra de Cristo to translate and publish Spanish Bible training resources for missionaries, churches, and leaders connected with Colombian Christian Mission.
August 8, 2010
Jeff Faull responds to questions about children, baptism, and accountability, urging Christian parents and leaders to teach the gospel carefully while trusting God with each individual situation.
Jack Cottrell examines the “tyranny of the paradigm,” showing how controlling assumptions can shape scientific claims and theological interpretation alike.
May 30, 2010
Jack Cottrell examines Law vs. Grace, arguing that Christians become and remain justified by grace through faith while rethinking common Restoration Movement teachings about salvation and baptism.
April 11, 2010
LeRoy Lawson reviews four Christian books on ministry friendship, grace, small group leadership, and long-haul leadership, offering a mixed but thoughtful guide for ministers and church leaders.
April 11, 2010
Jeff Faull reflects on the New Testament’s repeated calls to unity and love while challenging the church not to abandon its responsibility to recognize and resist false doctrine.
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October 6, 2026
Rick Cherok
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