December 31, 2024
Thoughts on Leadership
There's no shortage of people wearing the leadership badge, but are they true leaders? Without a leader casting a vision, a church can find itself in turbulent waters.
Articles for tag: Proverbs 21
March 1, 2022
The Power of Authenticity
When I was about 10 years old, I made friends with two brothers in my neighborhood, Tim and Jeff Ward. Perhaps because I didn’t have a brother living at home, or just for fun, I told them I had a twin brother named Mark. We would be playing Wiffleball, and I’d go home, change clothes, and come back as Mark. To help the ruse, I batted right-handed as Mike and left-handed as Mark. At first Mike was a better batter, but Mark steadily improved (which is how I became a decent switch-hitter). After several weeks, Tim and Jeff started getting
September 1, 2021
The Pastor’s Most Rewarding Ministry
As I look back over 50 years in ministry, my wife and I have been blessed in so many ways. We have had the opportunity to serve in churches of all sizes with staff members and elders who love God. We’ve had some difficult situations and struggles, but most of our experiences have been positive. Watching lives change as people accept Jesus has been a great joy. By far, my greatest reward in ministry has been seeing all of my children and grandchildren become Christ followers. All three of my children are in full-time ministry and several of my grandchildren
March 1, 2021
Mar 7 | The Source of Wisdom
Proverbs are succinct, abrupt, and curt. They do not debate. They assert. They are short, pithy statements of “general” truth. They are always true but only in the intended context. . . .
March 1, 2021
Mar 7 | Discovery
Let’s dig deeper into these passages: What do Proverbs 1:7 with Proverbs 9:10 reveal to you about wisdom, instruction, knowledge, and understanding?
January 2, 2020
'Fire and Rain': The Power of a Praying Wife
By Megan Rawlings The lyrics of James Taylor’s song “Fire and Rain” (and this verse, in particular, “I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend . . .”) echoed in my mind as I thought about the past year. I’ve received an unbelievable number of calls from disheartened wives during the past 12 months. Many of these ladies live with men who struggle with porn, constantly threaten divorce, have affairs, and/or battle alcoholism. All of these women are Christians who are married to nonbelieving husbands; they all need reassurance they are not alone. I needed a success
February 18, 2016
My Theology and My Grandparenting
By Tom Ellsworth I broke a promise. I don”t take that lightly, but thankfully, it was a promise to me alone. Years ago I vowed that when I became a grandfather I would not get all “twitterpated” (defined as infatuated; giddy; in a state of anxious excitement“”as used in the Disney movie Bambi, which I”ve seen again and again as a casualty of being a grandparent). My silly promise melted two seconds after holding my granddaughter for the first time. With the birth of each subsequent grandchild, the memory of such an absurd vow fades farther into my subconscious. And
August 10, 2015
Lesson for August 16, 2015: A Call for Repentance (Ezekiel 18; Proverbs 21:2-15)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the August 9 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone Even before Jerusalem fell in 586 BC, many of her finest people were taken captive to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel was among some 10,000 people who had been carried away (1:1). He had been selected by God to be “a watchman for the house of Israel” (3:17). The great eighteenth chapter of the book that bears his name underlines the
October 25, 2009
We Lead by Serving: A Band of Servants
 by Darryl Bolen In this article, Darryl Bolen, senior minister with First Christian Church, Greeneville, Illinois, discusses his ministry. Read the companion article written by Ronald G. Cook, an elder with the church.     At the conclusion of his career, prematurely ended by a debilitating disease, baseball legend Lou Gehrig spoke to a packed Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939. He said, “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.”1 Overlooking
