Articles for tag: Paul Williams

December 19, 2012

Christian Standard

We Still Can Celebrate

By Mark A. Taylor Some residents in the small, close-knit community of Newtown, Connecticut, took down and put away their Christmas decorations this weekend, and we probably can”t blame them. In the wake of Friday”s trauma and loss, many residents of that small town can”t face holiday festivity. Any of us, even those far from Connecticut, have trouble sorting out our feelings after nonstop news about the horror. The Muzak cycle of “Holly, Jolly Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” and “I”ll Be Home for Christmas” rings hollow””especially when we think about so many who will never again be home for Christmas. But

July 29, 2012

Christian Standard

Here”s What Monthly Means

By Mark A. Taylor As we announced earlier, Christian Standard, published weekly since 1866, will become a monthly publication in September. What does this change mean? Well, there are several things it does NOT mean. This change does NOT mean Christian Standard readers will get less than they received before. Instead of 16 pages 48 times a year, they”ll receive at least 64 pages (plus a four-page cover) every month. Meanwhile, Paul Williams and I will continue to write weekly””find our columns every week at ChristianStandard.com. The weekly Sunday school lesson will appear there too, along with weekly Communion meditations

June 14, 2012

Christian Standard

Rah-Rah for the Christian Standard

By J.K. Jones Jr. “Rah-Rah” for the CHRISTIAN STANDARD! This is so unlike me to want to lead a cheer for a 146-year-old magazine (founded in 1866 by Isaac Errett), but here I am acting the fool. Those who know me could attest that I prefer a quiet life outside of the public eye. I tend toward encouraging others to stand up and speak out, but at least in this one instance, I find myself uncontrollably vocal. I”d like to take a few minutes and tell you why I”m imitating King David who “was dancing before the Lord with all

April 25, 2012

Christian Standard

Either, or Both, or Neither?

By Mark A. Taylor This week we have offered readers a picture of four dynamic Christian churches. Maybe you, like me, will decide you”d be pleased to be a member of any of them. Each is committed to Scripture and preaching the gospel. Each is seeking to develop new believers into mature disciples. Each is looking beyond the walls of its building and to the needs and hurts and opportunities to serve all around them. And each of the four has a different take on the current debate about whether a church should be attractional or missional. Paul Williams commented

March 6, 2012

Christian Standard

NACC 2012: Speakers, Topics to Challenge and Refresh

  By Jennifer Taylor Some leaders attend conferences to hear just one or two of these speakers; at the 2012 NACC you can learn from them all! Mark Scott, exposition and leadership pastor at Mountainview Community Christian Church (Highlands Ranch, Colorado), will kick off the week with his Tuesday night message, “Come, Be Refreshed.” He is a popular author and speaker and former professor at Ozark Christian College (Joplin, Missouri). On Wednesday morning the main session will feature Jerry Taylor from Abilene (Texas) Christian University. Taylor teaches Bible classes at the university and is also one of the organizers of the

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Downloadable Resources You May Not Know About

By Mark A. Taylor Communication is always a challenging goal. So I guess I shouldn”t have been too surprised when Christian Standard”s contributing editors suggested we offer something we”ve had available for several months. I”m speaking of the downloadable digital version of our popular booklet, What Kind of Church Is This? This eight-page “minimagazine” has existed in a couple of different versions for many years. Churches have bought hundreds of thousands of copies to use with visitors and new members. It explains to them the unique place of Christian churches and churches of Christ in the religious world. It gives

June 2, 2010

Christian Standard

The Best Kind of Sermon

By Mark A. Taylor What sermons do you remember? I remember a sermon preached by Wayne Smith at a Talent Rally at Lincoln Christian College when I was just a teenager. God used that sermon to prod me toward vocational Christian service. I remember a sermon by Paul Jones preached at Cincinnati Bible College chapel that moved me and most who heard him to express appreciation to our parents. Another time in that same chapel building John Wilson preached about his daily prayer routine. And I”m still challenged to pray like he described. I”ve listened to sermons that have helped

December 2, 2009

Christian Standard

An Issue to Discuss, a Resource to Consider

By Mark A. Taylor We like to think every issue of Christian Standard is a winner, of course, but we believe this week”s content is especially useful. Church staffs, elders, evangelism committees, or anyone interested in reaching the lost will find help here. Read Kent Hunter”s strategies for evangelism and decide which of them is most urgent for your church to adopt. Look at the experience of Marcus Bigelow and Paul Williams and agree on the implications for your congregation and for your personal approach to non-Christians. Consider David Bycroft”s experience and approaches and how you could use them where

August 12, 2009

Christian Standard

Serving for a Lifetime

By Mark A. Taylor We began editing this issue the week I was celebrating my 36th wedding anniversary. And I couldn”t help thinking how the advice of Randy Gariss and Paul Williams apply to my marriage as well as my ministry. Stick with a ministry for the long haul? Difficult. Stick with a marriage for a lifetime? Some would say impossible. Indeed, this summer”s tabloids have been filled with news of failed marriages, with conservative politicians as well as reality show stars confessing affairs and vowing to move on to the next chapters in their lives. Time magazine took note

August 5, 2009

Christian Standard

More Than Technology, and Not Boring at All

By Mark A. Taylor Troy McMahon walked into his local Starbucks June 18 and was surprised his friend, the barista, mentioned Troy”s recent trip to San Francisco. “How did you know about that?” Troy asked. “I”ve been following you on Facebook,” came the answer. The coffee server doesn”t attend Restore Community Church where Troy preaches””yet! But he”s one of many people the church planter reaches by using the sometimes maligned Internet social networking site Facebook. Paul Williams struck a responsive chord with his curmudgeonly critique of Facebook May 31. “On Facebook it seems all of life has been trivialized and

March 25, 2009

Christian Standard

Highlighting the Beauty of Baptism

By Mark A. Taylor This week”s remarkable baptism story from San Dimas, California (see “CHRISTIAN STANDARD Interview: Jeff Vines”) would have fit well with baptism articles featured in our March 1 and 8 issues. But such stories are welcome anytime in CHRISTIAN STANDARD. Last fall, for example, both our weekly e-newsletter and blogger Arron Chambers reported on a similar story from Savannah (Georgia) Christian Church. Senior pastor Cam Huxford walked into a pool on the church platform October 5 and invited attendees to declare God”s “power as Lord and Savior through baptism””baptism on the spot, in the clothes people came

December 3, 2008

Christian Standard

Big Ideas for Smaller Churches

By Mark A. Taylor Barney Wells summarized the Energizing Smaller Churches Network challenge at an October ESCN conference. “Being where God wants you is more important than being where it looks good,” he told the crowd gathered for the event at Cincinnati Christian University. “You can”t get in a place so small that God can”t work there.” All of us who heard him left eager to seek God”s direction, even if it leads away from big cities, well-known congregations, or obvious opportunities. “Small” does not need to equal “unimportant” or “inconsequential,” especially where God is guiding. That”s the message of

October 8, 2008

Christian Standard

Church Health and Attendance Numbers”“How Do They Relate?

By Mark A. Taylor Is growing attendance a reliable indicator of church health? American Christians generally answer yes. Perhaps this is because we live with the effects of corporate pressure for quarter-by-quarter growth in sales and profits. For several decades now, the American mind-set has equated “bigger” with “better.” But not everyone accepts that conclusion any longer. Speaking at the Energizing Smaller Churches Network conference in Lincoln, Illinois, last month, Paul Williams listed 10 signs of a healthy smaller church. His first point: “Measure by relational growth as well as by numbers growth.” Many of the smaller church”s problems can

August 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Both Sides and a Strong Conclusion

By Mark A. Taylor Some readers will remember Paul Williams”s wry column (March 2 issue) that mentioned his friend who always saw both sides of an issue. “On the Other Hand” was Paul”s title and the mantra of the friend he mentioned. “I am drawn to reflective people,” Paul wrote. “They know what they don”t know and are not inclined to speak until they thoroughly understand an issue.” Actually, I would have been pleased for Paul to tell you I”m the friend he described. But maybe what followed the above sentences is the reason he didn”t mention my name. (It”s

July 2, 2008

Christian Standard

Let”s See More Stories Like This One

By Mark A. Taylor One angle unreported in this week”s lead story is the unusual cooperation that made it possible. The April Indianapolis AIDS conference was jointly sponsored by two ministries headquartered in the same town and seeking (competing for?) financial support from the same fellowship of Christian churches. I suspect offerings to both ministries will increase, however, because of their shared initiatives described this week. Not only did they cosponsor a conference; now they”re working together on continuing strategies to address the needs presented by the AIDS pandemic. Their combined voice receives more attention than either of them speaking

Help Keep Christian Standard Free & Accessible with a Tax Deductible Donation

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Does Your Church Want to Support Christian Standard?

Would your church consider including support for Christian Standard in its annual missions budget? Your support would help us not only continue the 160-year legacy of this unifying ministry, but also expand the free resources, cooperative opportunities, and practical guidance we provide to strengthen churches in the U.S. and around the world.

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Secret Link