Articles for tag: Jerusalem Council

March 1, 2023

Mark E. Moore

What Is Grace?

What Is Grace?

By Mark E. Moore  Question: What do we have to do to be saved?  Every religion has its own answer to this question. Some encourage sacrifice; others, service; others, rituals of purification or meditation. What all (but one) have in common is some human effort to achieve favor with God. This may include knocking on doors with pamphlets, giving away wealth, self-flagellation, or confession and restitution. The common thread, however, is human effort to reach God’s height.   Grace Is God’s Salvation  Christianity alone moves in the opposite direction. Rather than us climbing upward, Christianity asserts that God moved downward. Salvation

February 1, 2021

Terry Allcorn

Differences by Divine Design

I have been in many conversations about race recently. I’m truly pleased we are having those conversations. For some, it has not been a regular topic of concern and discussion. In the context of those conversations, I’m writing to address a well-intended comment I have heard for several years. Some have said a version of, “I don’t see color; I just see people.” Others have said something like, “I just treat everyone equally because we are all the same.” It’s possible I’ve made similar statements upon occasion. I think I understand the motivation behind those statements, and I affirm the

November 9, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for November 15, 2015: From Derbe to Philippi (Acts 16:1-5, 8-15)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the November 8 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  The pioneer statement, “Go west, young man,” matches our text. Another way to say our title, “From Derbe to Philippi,” is “From Asia to Europe.” Those of us who live in the western hemisphere need to thank God for this text. Western civilization would have been

July 7, 2014

Christian Standard

Lesson for July 13, 2014: Exercise Freedom with Caution (1 Corinthians 8, 9)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Paul”s first letter to the church in Corinth was prompted by a letter from them. They evidently asked Paul”s advice on several issues. Last week we considered one such topic, sexual laxity (chapter 6). Today”s text focuses on another question: Is it permissible for Christians to eat meat that has been sacrificed to an idol? First-century Corinth was known for its worship of pagan deities. Their worship included immorality. When a pagan offered a sacrifice in

March 24, 2014

Christian Standard

The Spirituality of Shutting Up

By Casey Tygrett We may hear those who speak to us from different theological platforms. But have we really learned to listen to them? If not, we may be missing the most spiritual thing we can do when confronted by those with whom we disagree. The conductor steps to the platform. His back is firm and straight, posture perfect, and he lifts the baton gently into the air. The musicians with their instruments wait for the moment and the motion to begin the performance. The musician”s score contains different parts, but all the performers are pointed toward one pinnacle””the sweeping moment

April 22, 2013

Christian Standard

Consensus: What Is It and Is It Necessary?

By J. Michael Shannon I frequently hear of church boards and ministers that claim to do business and make decisions on the basis of consensus. Is this really what they do and is it really practical? It is interesting that people differ significantly on the meaning of the word consensus. The Random House Dictionary defines consensus as “general agreement or concord; harmony.” Interestingly, the dictionary”s second definition is “majority of opinion.” When I have heard the term consensus used, the person usually means “unanimity.” How much progress can be made if we depend on unanimity? If this were essential there

April 13, 2013

Christian Standard

Good Policies Can Prevent Conflict

By Don Green I can still remember the nugget of wisdom shared at a minister”s retreat I attended nearly 40 years ago. The speaker was Dr. Bruce Parmenter, a seminary counseling professor who mentored many of us. As he spoke of the challenges that confront ministers, he observed that in marriage and in ministry, one of the primary ways to prevent conflict is to have a carefully negotiated, mutually agreed upon, clearly defined set of expectations. That invaluable lesson has served me well through the years and gives impetus to working with leaders in developing a covenant of expectations that

January 30, 2012

Christian Standard

Lesson for Feb. 5, 2012: Justified by Faith in Christ (Galatians 1, 2)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone During the first two months of this quarter, we studied how God established an everlasting covenant with his people. Lessons from Genesis and Exodus showed the Lord protecting the Israelites, just as he had promised. This month we will study Paul”s letter to the Galatians, showing that Gentile Christians are now a full-fledged part of God”s family also. The Galatians had been led astray from the original gospel. A group known as the Judaizers were telling

February 8, 2009

Christian Standard

How Our Church Uses Elder Governance

By Gary L. Johnson The psalmist got it right when he wrote, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). God created our bodies in remarkable ways. For example, the average heart has a cardiac output (i.e., volume per minute) of 1.1 gallons of blood. That means the heart moves more than 1,500 gallons of blood each day””that”s roughly 30 million gallons in a lifetime. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.       When I play with my grandchildren, I am also reminded that God created us to grow. My grandchildren run faster and jump higher with every week that

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