Articles for tag: Matthew 1

Ruth’s Exemplary Loyalty (Sept. 6 Lesson Application)

This “Application“ column goes with the Bible lesson for Sept. 6, 2020: “Serve Devotedly” (Ruth 1:3-5, 8-11, 14-18) ________ By David Faust Brand loyalty keeps us buying Coke or Pepsi, Fords or Toyotas, and cheering for our favorite sports teams. Loyalty can be misplaced, though. Have you been burned by an unscrupulous salesperson who cheated you, an unfaithful friend who betrayed you, or a church leader who wounded you? Jesus urged us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, refusing to follow untrustworthy preachers, priests, or politicians who would lead us astray. Loyalty is rare. “Many claim to

October 29, 2019

Stuart Powell

The Inspiring Leader

By Stuart Powell After Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Messiah the Jews had long anticipated (Matthew 16:16), Jesus began explaining God’s plans for this long-promised deliverer: From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: “God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!” (Matthew 16:21, 22, New English Translation). Matthew didn’t record all of

April 1, 2019

Mark Scott

Lesson for April 7, 2019: Follow the Intriguing Teacher (Mark 4:24-34)

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. 4 (weeks 13-16; March 31–April 21, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Lesson Aim: Listen thoughtfully to Christ’s teaching and respond with growing faith. ______ Jesus really was a master teacher. Of course, it was his identity as the Son of God that made his words most important. But also outstanding was the variety of his supporting material. In the preaching of Jesus

August 11, 2018

Culture & Public Square Technology

Is Online Church Really Church? In a Word, No.

IN THE ARENA: In the arena of ideas and opinions, there needs to be a place for Christ-centered and Christ-honoring debate of nonessential issues. We will occasionally feature a debate like this in Christian Standard. Jon Weatherly’s article “How to Debate Debatable Issues” gives great insight on how to disagree in a godly way. We apply the principles Jon describes in our first debate between Jerry Harris (click here to read his article) and Barry Cameron. These two men are great friends who have differing views and opinions about online church. Read their articles and then tell us what you

June 4, 2018

Mark Scott

Lesson for June 10, 2018: Parables of God’s Just Kingdom (Matthew 13:24-33)

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. 5 (weeks 21–24; May 27—June 17, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott Parables are true-to-life comparisons that break forth into fictional analogies that seem upside down to us and often deceive us into truth by opening up the government of God. This is a homemade definition of parables, with the exception of the phrase “deceiving into truth,” which can be attributed to

February 21, 2018

Church & Ministry Church Leadership

A Road Map for Healthy Conflict Resolution

Use these 5 tips to create a church culture that handles conflict in a God-honoring way. By David Dummitt Churches are made up of broken, messy people. That statement won’t shock anyone reading this. Problems in churches are inevitable. Conflict can lead to division. Planning ahead for how to navigate through conflict is important to protecting the unity of our churches. Whether you’re planting a church or have been leading one for years, it is never too early (or late) to create a road map for dealing with conflict within your church in a way that honors God. Here

December 14, 2017

Doug Redford

Irreplaceable

By Doug Redford Every Christmas season a funeral home not far from where I live sets up a nativity scene in the front of its property. Live animals are part of the scene, and the people are represented by wax figurines made by the director of the funeral home. Each includes glass eyes and real hair, and a few (including the baby Jesus) have been sculpted after the likeness of the director”s family members. Just a few days after Christmas in 2002, someone vandalized the nativity set, stealing the Christ child figurine and replacing it with a stuffed monkey. The

December 10, 2016

Take a Look at the Family Photo Album of Jesus

By Matt Proctor One of my favorite Christmas pastimes is sitting with my kids and looking through family photo albums. Almost every picture sparks a story about their ancestors: “¢ “There”s your Great-Grandpa Weede. Oh, he loved to joke. One time, he painted faces on his two big farm-fuel tanks. One had a smiley face that said, “˜I”ve got diesel.” The other had a frowning face that said, “˜I”ve got gas!” “The whole county knew his laugh . . . and his faith. He prayed every day for every grandkid by name.” “¢ “And there”s your Granny Ruth. A strong,

January 11, 2016

Church & Ministry Youth & Children's Ministry

What Does God Say About Children?

By Teresa D. Welch It is no longer necessary to convince churches of the importance of children.Â Children”s ministries are front and center. Ministry resources are abundant. Attractive kids” spaces are the norm. Church ministry staff now includes a children”s minister (or more than one).Â Convincing people of the importanceÂ of children”s ministry is not an issue;Â rather the issue is whether or not ourÂ ministry to children is focused on whatÂ should be central. Before a children”s ministry switches curricular materials again, changes programs due to demographics, or hires a consultant to create an attractive environment, first consider what God says about childhood and

December 15, 2015

Meditating on Peace: December 15

By Becky Ahlberg Tuesday, December 15 Read Matthew 1:18-25.Â Joseph is almost a mystery player in the Christmas story. We barely get to know him, and yet he may be the best example we have of someone who put his trust fully in the Lord. He would have had to. In the midst of the shame culture of that day, the events that unfolded with his betrothed Mary would have been excruciating. Another angel said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife” (v. 20). In the movie The Nativity Story, there is a poignant scene in

February 24, 2014

Discipleship & Spiritual Formation

Lesson for March 2, 2014: An Eternal Kingdom (2 Samuel 7)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone God made covenants with various individuals in Old Testament times, as well as with the nation of Israel as a whole. Before Samuel died, he anointed David as king of Israel. Shortly after returning the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, David was troubled by how things looked. While he was living in a palace of cedar, the ark remained in a tent. King David decided this was not right. As we learn in today”s text,

December 24, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

We Follow Too

By Mark A. TaylorÂ “Where he leads me, I will follow.” That was Mary”s decision, finally, after she had expressed her confusion about the message the angel brought her. “I am the Lord”s servant,” she said. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). Joseph, with his own set of doubts, decided he would obey God, too. When God”s messenger explained to Joseph that his fiancÃ©e was pregnant by action of the Holy Spirit, “he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Matthew 1:24). Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, obeyed God”s will, too, although

April 12, 2013

Church & Ministry Church Leadership

It”s Hard to E-mail Your Way Through Matthew 18

By Jim Dalrymple It has been said, “Wherever two or more are gathered, there will be conflict.” In today”s digital world, conflict speaks a new language. Yet text tapped out on a screen comes with limitations and liabilities. Let”s face it””e-mails do not convey vocal inflection, and text messages do not allow for body language. It is too easy to fire off e-mails like cannonballs from a ship. All too often such exchanges between two people also bring others into the battle. In my experience with conflict, it is hard to e-mail your way through Matthew 18. In Matthew 18:15-20,

December 7, 2012

The Baby Bears an Apple

By Lee Magness It comes as a surprise in the painting of Jesus” birth by the great contemporary Chinese artist He Qi (pronounced “huh chi”). The baby bears an apple. Most of the features of the painting are to be expected, traditional if not biblical details common to many depictions of the nativity””Mary bending low, Joseph lifting his lantern, animals peering at the peculiar intruders, the manger with its golden straw, and the rosy-cheeked child staring straight into the onlookers” eyes. The painting doubles as an annunciation””an angel soars, shepherds gaze skyward, sheep frolic in the foreground. But there is

August 28, 2012

Ethics & Moral Issues Sexuality

Scripture and Homosexual Practice

By Robert A.J. Gagnon While many Christians are firm in their objection to homosexual activity, our culture continues its trend toward normalizing it. While many Christians are certain homosexual activity is wrong, fewer Christians can answer secular claims that the Bible doesn”t really forbid it. Here is a concise (although longer than usual for this magazine) treatment of five key issues raised by defenders of homosexual practice. You will hear, or have heard, some of these claims. Until now you may not have read the straightforward reasons to refute them. Issue: JESUS Claim:Â Jesus had no interest in maintaining a

August 20, 2012

Lesson for August 26, 2012: God Promised to Be with Us (Ezekiel 34)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Ezekiel”s prophetic ministry began while the Jews were in Babylonian captivity. He warned of the coming destruction of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 1-24). Later he delivered God”s judgment on various nations (Ezekiel 25-32). Our text today is taken from the latter period of Ezekiel”s preaching, as he brought hope for the exiles (Ezekiel 33-48). Although the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, even this city would be restored, the prophet told them. The name of the restored city

July 25, 2012

Church & Ministry Church Growth

Is Your Church Bloated?

By Brian Jones In all my years of following Christ, there are only two prayers I really regret praying. The first was a prayer asking God to direct me where he wanted me to serve as a missionary. “OK God,” I remember praying. “I”m going to lean back, close my eyes, and the first country that pops into my head””I promise you that I will move there and spend the rest of my life trying to reach those people.” With all the impulsive recklessness a newly converted 18-year-old with the gift of evangelism could muster, I leaned back, cleared my

July 2, 2012

Lesson for July 8, 2012: David Embodies God”s Justice (2 Samuel 22:1″“23:7; 1 Chronicles 18:14)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone God holds the leaders of a nation to a high standard. He expects them to model the justice he himself shows. David began life as a shepherd boy, but he was called to sit on the throne of Israel. Today”s text describes his role and the spirit that marked his reign. These references to his rule are significant because of the covenantal character of his kingship. The prophet Nathan had delivered God”s promise to him years

December 20, 2010