December 14, 2023
"The coming of Christ is breathtakingly good news for all who feel overwhelmed with any need," Alan Ahlgrim wrote in 2014. "Jesus didn't merely identify with us; he came to assume the crushing, overwhelming burden of our sin. . . ."
May 1, 2023
3 Christian Leaders Share Their Perspectives on a Crucial Topic for Today’s Church
February 16, 2022
Briefs about Farragut Christian Church's "Prom with the Stars," Mid-Atlantic Christian University having a naming contest for their new dining hall, Ozark's Preaching-Teaching Convention, and more.
February 9, 2022
Briefs about the National Preaching Summit (March 7-8), Men's Day (March 5) and Ladies' Day (April 2) at St. Louis Christian College, a historic college basketball match-up pitting GLCC's Richard Westerlund coaching against his twin brother, and more.
December 23, 2020
Compiled by Jim Nieman Victor Glover, an astronaut now serving a six-month mission on the International Space Station, recently was chosen as one of 18 members of NASA’s Artemis team, which the space agency said “will help pave the way for the next astronaut missions on and around the moon,” the Christian Chronicle reported. Glover is a member of a noninstrumental church of Christ in the Houston area. In an earlier article, the Chronicle wrote that Glover sent up Communion cups and a Bible to the space station before blasting off on his mission Nov. 15. _ _ _ In
October 16, 2019
Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch, Calif., provided shelter and food for some of the 100,000 people evacuated from the Saddleridge Fire in north Los Angeles late last week. “Shepherd Church is open for any residents who need a place to go,” the church announced on its Facebook page last week. “Join us in praying and lifting up our community and the valley in this dangerous time. Please help us lift up all first responders, firefighters and families directly affected by the fire.” The Saddleridge fire broke out in Sylmar on Thursday night and
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. Kevin Wise Kevin Wise was raised in the church but lived in the world. After two years in college, he left school to party and deal drugs for a couple of years. He then returned to college, where he took anatomy and physiology classes that made him more aware of a designer and creator. As he studied the Bible, his life totally changed. He became a minister and served with the North County Church of Christ in
December 28, 2015
By Jeff Walling Someone asked me why I like using hip-hop poetry, sometimes called “spoken word,” as sermon illustrations. I answered, simply, “Because God is a hip-hop artist.” Before you brand me a heretic, consider this: God is the original spoken word artist. From the first introduction of God in the Scriptures, the creator of all things seems to love using words to create art. He could have made the universe with a snap of his fingers or a nod of his head, but instead he spoke it into existence. And it”s not just any words he prefers, but poetic
July 28, 2015
By Mark A. Taylor How shall we react in times that seem to become more unsettled every week? In a society besieged by gun violence, in a culture increasingly fragmented by political division, in a world where peace seems impossible and conflict far away breeds pain and destruction close to home, what should be the Christian”s outlook? When the media celebrates and the government certifies rights we believe God forbids, and when Christian leaders struggle to find middle ground between the extremes of permissiveness and legalism, where will we take our stand? In blog posts and coffee shop conversations all
July 25, 2015
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 Jeff Walling, founding director of the Youth Leadership Initiative at Pepperdine University, Malibu, California. ________ The thoughts and writings of Tim Keller, John Ortberg, Bob Goff, Thomas Merton, and C.S. Lewis have all been recently impacting how I think about Scripture. While hardly a new name among Christian authors, C.S. Lewis”s words still vibrate with deep spirituality and practical wisdom. Lewis
September 1, 2014
By Darrel Rowland As with any North American Christian Convention, not all the action was on the main stage. You could mine golden nuggets at every turn. If you found Haydn Shaw”s workshop on the impact of generational differences in the church, you would have heard the sobering observation that people living 35 years longer, on average, is one of God”s most amazing blessings on our time””and millions will go to Hell because of it. Before people started living longer, the next generation would receive the leadership torch because the old folks simply died off. Now, people with power
March 7, 2014
By Jennifer Johnson In American Religion: Contemporary Trends, author Mark Chaves reports the percentage of people in the United States who say they “never” attend church has risen steadily over the last 30 years, and that if current trends continue, we will soon be a “Protestant-minority” country. Warren Bird, director of research for Leadership Network, recently blogged that 125 million Americans””more than 1 out of 3″”haven”t attended any religious services in the last year, and writes, “That number alone would be the 10th largest country in the world!” At this year”s North American Christian Convention, President Tim Harlow will challenge
July 18, 2012
By Mark A. Taylor It seems everyone who attended this year’s North American Christian Convention was happy about their experience. Many speak of the wonderful resort where the conference was held under just one roof July 10-13. They praise the preaching. They comment on the refreshing insights from special guests like Alan Hirsch and Reggie McNeal. They were engaged and inspired by the creative worship led by Tim Foot. They loved laughing with Chonda Pierce. And quite a few of them played golf and enjoyed the waterpark-like pools at Orlando’s World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center. And now that
July 26, 2011
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
February 18, 2011
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
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
By Jeff Walling “Now that was a great sermon!” Every preacher wants to hear that comment when the service is over on a Sunday. But what really makes a great sermon? How should we measure the success of the minutes a congregation gives to hearing us open up God”s Word for them? I”ve often told the old, borrowed preacher”s story of speaking at a revival for a small rural church. Standing at the door after the morning services the preacher was greeted by member after member who praised the lesson. But then one gentleman shook his hand and said, “That sermon
February 15, 2009
By Jeff Stone A few years ago I was returning with a carload of ministers from another minister”s funeral. We stopped for lunch at a Ponderosa. As I opened the back door to climb out of my friend”s car, I accidentally clipped the truck beside it. I surveyed the damage. The door had left a white mark on the gleaming pickup. I winced, in part, because I am a truck lover. I determined I needed to locate the truck”s owner and offer to pay to have it buffed out at a body shop. As we ate, from my window seat,
December 16, 2007
By Jeff Walling One of the delights of the Christmas season is receiving cards from friends across the country. My wife displays the prettiest ones and leaves the rest in a basket on our kitchen table so we can cruise the photos and say, “Oh! Look how BIG he”s gotten!” about our newest nephew or my largest brother-in-law. Many have the classic nativity scenes, with adoring shepherds, a smiling Mary, and a glowing baby Jesus. It is these that I used to love the most until I came across an uncomfortable truth: Those Christmas cards are completely unbiblical. And what”s
August 26, 2007
By Jeff Walling I have a confession: I don”t get the running thing at all. Sure, when I pass a tank-topped runner there is a moment of jealousy, I wish I was him. Or at least, I wish I looked like him. But when I see them puffing and wheezing after they”ve finally had enough, looking like they”ve been dragged through a field and dipped in a swamp, that feeling evaporates. But the runners who really puzzle me are the marathoners. Who would run 26.2 miles of their own freewill? Who in their right mind would push their muscles until
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