Articles for tag: Philippians

September 28, 2020

David Faust

Are We Making Progress? (Oct. 4 Lesson Application)

This “Application” column goes with the Bible Lesson for Oct. 4, 2020: Teach (1 Timothy 4:6-16) ________ By David Faust Ronald Reagan quipped, “Status quo is Latin for ‘the mess we’re in.’” We won’t get out of this mess without God’s help. That’s why we need teachers who communicate God’s grace and truth with reverence and relevance. Progress Requires Intentional EffortPaul urged Timothy to carry out his ministry “so that everyone may see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15). That verse compels me to ask, Would others say I’m communicating God’s Word more effectively today than I did five years ago?

February 22, 2020

Jon Weatherly

How Paul Used the Social Media of His Time

By Jon Weatherly Would the apostle Paul use today’s social media? After all, it is filled with triviality, gossip, cruelty, divisiveness, indecency, blasphemy, and “fake news.” When videos of cats wearing shark suits and riding Roombas may be the least evil thing on social media, how can we imagine Christ’s apostle engaging in such an environment? When a person uses social media for what they consider a noble purpose, still it can backfire. Consider the case of Adam Smith in 2012 in Tucson, Arizona. One particular day, Smith filmed his interaction with a fast-food employee. Smith wanted to make a

July 15, 2019

Mark Scott

Lesson for July 21, 2019: Mature Enough? (Colossians 1:24–2:5)

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. 8 (weeks 29-31; July 21–August 11, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Keep on growing and progressing with wisdom from God to become more and more like Christ. _______ By Mark Scott Some believers simply grow old in Jesus instead of growing up in Jesus. The epistles are intended to help us grow up in Christ. They function as the biblical

July 8, 2019

Mark Scott

Lesson for July 14, 2019: Speak Up by Giving (Philippians 4:10-20)

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 25-28; June 23–July 14, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Lesson Aim: Speak up by trusting Christ enough to give. ______ By Mark Scott Famous Methodist preacher Clovis Chappell said, “I love to preach on giving. I love to watch the generous smile and love to watch the stingy squirm.” We preach sermons by what we say, by how we live,

August 28, 2016

Christian Standard

Growing Elders to Lead

By Jim Estep The leaders you want won”t sprout overnight, like weeds in a garden. Here”s how to develop strategies to nurture the crop of new leaders you need. The phone call is all too familiar. An elder begins the conversation stating the obvious, “We need new elders! All our elders are getting older, and no one is stepping up to serve.” I listen, perhaps ask about the church and the strengths of the current leadership; but eventually the inescapable question must be asked, “What have you been intentionally doing to bring up the next generation of leaders in your church?”

January 16, 2014

Christian Standard

Consumer Christianity: Idol for Destruction

By J.K. Jones It is a plague that seeks to devour our churches, a spiritual disease as old as Adam and Eve. It is a sickness of the soul. It is a sleight of hand, a slick replacement of God with something that resembles him but is not him. Consumerism of the Christian kind is a making of God into our own likeness, wanting him on our own terms. At its most crass level, clearly evident in the North American Christian landscape, consumer Christianity is taking and never giving in return. It is a worldview, a way of living out

July 26, 2013

Christian Standard

We Carry a Heavy Load

Healthy, active churches need healthy, active leaders. Only a balanced life equips a person to handle the burdens of leadership. By Aaron Wymer “I don”t think so, Elzie. It”s just easier to be a Christian when I”m not an elder.” With these words, or words very much like them, Wayne told my father he wasn”t willing to become an elder at my home church. My dad”s eyes twinkled a little when he told me what Wayne said, but the rest of his face frowned. I could tell dad agreed with him, but couldn”t bring himself to refuse his call to be

January 7, 2013

Christian Standard

Lesson for January 13, 2013: Imitating Christ (Philippians 2)

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 epistle to the Philippians reads more like a personal letter than a theological treatise. Today”s text (chapter 2), however, ranks as one of the most significant passages in all the New Testament regarding the coming of God”s Son to earth. It is filled with practical lessons for us as well.   Humility Required Philippians 2:1-4 When the apostle says, “If you have . . . these qualities,” he is not questioning whether or not the

September 22, 2012

Christian Standard

The Culture of Celebrity Pastors

By Brian Mavis Joel Osteen, Rob Bell, Francis Chan, John Piper, T.D. Jakes, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Billy Graham, Dwight L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield, John Wesley, John Calvin, Martin Luther, Augustine, Origen, Polycarp. Celebrity pastors are nothing new. So what”s new and what”s next? Putting ourselves first is as old as day one (I mean, day six). The difference today is that the ability to reach the fruit, feed that temptation, and be applauded for it has never been easier. Just consider these low-hanging branches: YouTube, MySpace, iTunes, iMac, iPod, iPad, and iPhone. “I, me, mine . .

October 24, 2011

Christian Standard

Getting the Most from the Epistles (Part Two)

By Matt Proctor   We have seen that the New Testament Epistles are published apostolic sermons intended to be read publicly to the recipient churches””with rich theological content, skillful rhetorical crafting, and deeply personal emotion. Now let me suggest five questions that can help you understand these sometimes-difficult books.   Have I Read the Entire Letter? Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart give this challenge: “You need to develop the habit of reading the whole letter through in one sitting. You will need to block out an hour or so to do this, but nothing can ever substitute for this exercise. It is the

November 19, 2008

Christian Standard

Thankful for Our Riches

By Mark A. Taylor When Sam Stone wrote this week”s “Reflections” column earlier this fall, he couldn”t have known a cataclysmic financial crisis and stock market roller coaster would become headlines. But his advice rings true as we finish this issue and the country remains in the throes of economic uncertainty. No one in October is predicting what the state of the economy will be by the Thanksgiving holiday. (Except, that is, to say that retailers are bracing for less than usual consumer spending in December.) If the situation has righted itself by the time you read this, we”ll all

December 2, 2007

Christian Standard

Older and Wiser: Strutting or Striving7

By Gary Weedman Let”s face it. We live in a culture that exalts youth. Just look at the ads on TV. The only time you see an old person is when he or she is advertising another colored pill that will actually help you “feel young again.” Or, if you use this product, you”ll “look years younger.” Yet, there”s a certain irony, because the population in our nation is aging. The number of Americans 65 and older will double in the next 25 years. By the year 2030 there will be 71 million of us “senior citizens.” That”s one out

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