July 10, 2023
July 16 | Discovery
Questions for group discussion for use with this week’s lesson titled “Hope in God's Loving-Kindness” (Jeremiah 31:1-17, 31-34).
Articles for tag: Revelation
December 22, 2022
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘The Telstar of God’ (1962)
Television audiences on the North American and European continents were treated to an added marvel of electronics on July 23, 1962, when live transmissions were beamed off the Telstar satellite. But as Solomon said, “There is no new thing under the sun.” God long ago placed in the sky His own Telstar, commonly called the “Star of Bethlehem.” . . .
October 24, 2022
What to Wear?
(We first ran this Communion meditation in January 2014.) By Ronald G. Davis “What to wear? What to wear?” Millions of Americans echo that question, as seasons change, as holidays and holy days loom. “Should it be the floral print?” “Perhaps little Susie would look good in pink?” “Is it a white shirt and tie day or maybe just a striped henley?” Whatever the answer, for many that is a significant issue. Christians need not ask the question. We have other, more significant truth to ponder and celebrate. Long ago, God answered the question through the pen of Isaiah. Isaiah
October 24, 2022
October 30 | Rooted in Worship
Worship is at the heart of Scripture. Worship was compromised in Eden (Genesis 3:1-19). What we worship is what we become (Hosea 9:10; Romans 1:23). The angel told John to “worship God” (Revelation 22:9). The Old Testament hymnal (the book of Psalms) called God’s people to worship. . . .
September 19, 2022
September 25 | God’s Glory Returns
In the Aug. 28 lesson, God’s glory departed from the people (left the temple) due to their sin. With the temple cleansed and restored (chapters 41-42), God's glory can return, and the people can enjoy the new Promised Land (chapters 43-48).
August 23, 2021
Aug. 29 | Application
Mary’s whiplashed emotions made it difficult for her mind to grasp history’s greatest miracle. In your own life, have there been times when the Lord was right there with you, but you didn’t recognize his presence?
July 19, 2021
July 25 | Application
Human achievements eventually melt to the ground, but God has in store for us “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:4).
September 14, 2020
‘Surely, You Don’t Mean Me?’
By Randy Ballinger When we read the Gospel accounts about the night before Jesus went to the cross, we see words about the institution of the Lord’s Supper: “Do this in remembrance of me”; we remember what Jesus did for us. “For the forgiveness of sins”; this is why Jesus did what he did for us. But we also see words that may trouble us, for they certainly troubled his disciples: “One of you will betray me.” When Jesus revealed that a betrayer was sitting at the table with him, it caused each one of his disciples to consider whether
Returning to Palestine
It can be fascinating to read an editorial from an old issue of Christian Standard and consider biblical history that preceded it and world history that has occurred since. Such is the case with this piece from 140 years ago. One important note: We don’t believe the editor’s reference to the Jewish people as “the hated race” was intended as a personal slur. Instead, we think he meant to describe the anti-Semitic opinion held by many in the world at that time in history. Sadly, some of these feelings and rhetoric remain today. _ _ _ Jews in Jerusalem An
August 14, 2019
Ozark Profs Share the Bible ‘On Demand’ Via NextLevel
By Jim Nieman In 2016, Ozark Christian College began producing free online teaching videos featuring professors such as Chad Ragsdale, Michael DeFazio, Shane Wood, and Mark Scott. Since that time, the project—known as NextLevel Online—has grown to include 25 different biblical teaching series and 198 free online videos that have been viewed more than 100,000 times by church classes, small groups, student ministries, and individuals in all 50 states and 35 countries. Ozark’s mission is to “train men and women for Christian service,” said Jim Dalrymple, Ozark’s vice president of advancement. “We do this in the classroom every day, and
June 22, 2019
Get Moving
By Stephen Brownlow I was new to the desert and didn’t know what to expect, other than what I’d always heard: “It’s a dry heat.” I parked my car at the base of the mountain and looked over my supplies: backpack (check); copious amounts of water (check); sunscreen (check). I opened the car door and stepped onto the scorching-hot pavement. I thought the soles of my boots might melt before I reached the trail. The climb was hot—very hot. I paused in the shade of a saguaro cactus, an unexpected but welcome relief. I drank water though I wasn’t thirsty.
September 18, 2018
Awaiting a Wedding Feast
By Mandy Smith First Corinthians 11:26 says: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” So simply by taking this bread and juice today, we remember and retell the story of Jesus’ death, every time, over and over again. We keep telling the story as we eat the bread and as we sip the juice. We tell it to ourselves as we taste it and we tell it to each other as we do it together. Christians have been doing this for thousands of years, and Christians will do this
September 6, 2018
‘Nothing to Offer Except the Book’
CS Archive from September 8, 1923 _ _ _ The lead article in the Sept. 8, 1923, Christian Standard—an issue from 95 years ago—was “The Mission of the Church,” and it carried the subhead, “The Annual ‘President’s Address’ Delivered before the International Convention of Disciples of Christ at Colorado Springs, Col., Sept. 4, 1923.” The article/speech was written and presented by Thomas W. Grafton, minister of Third Church, Indianapolis, Ind., who served as president of that convention. I can’t begin to recap Grafton’s presentation—which ran almost three pages—or to pinpoint nuanced wording that may (or may not) have troubled some
Weekly Offerings Increase after Pastor Threatens Dramatic Interpretation of Leviticus Unless All Members Tithe
By Caleb Kaltenbach LAWSON, OK—“It worked,” said Gene Moody, pastor of Diamond River Christian Church. “The approach took a little refining, but we got there.” After two weeks of preaching on generosity, the weekly offerings of Diamond River Christian Church still hadn’t changed. Members seemed unwilling to increase their giving. “I had enough,” Moody said. “So, last Sunday, I announced that unless they started giving more to the church, I would begin a verse-by-verse dramatic interpretation of Leviticus!” Several church members gasped when Moody announced this. “My husband and I were frantic,” reported Beth Gilmore, longtime member of Diamond River.
May 1, 2018
A Divine Springtime
By Rick Chromey Spring is a beautiful time of year. Flowers bloom. Trees bud. Babies are everywhere. Daylight saving time provides an extra hour of sun nightly. Barbecues, backyards, and baseball are back. Springtime is a testimony to God’s redemption. As temperatures warm, the snow and ice melt, the days lengthen, and a new world emerges from winter hibernation. What was dead now has life. What was brown now is green. What was dark now is light. It’s no wonder God used the spring of the year to release his final redemptive act to mankind. The Easter story is perfectly
Archaeologists Unearth the Centrality of the Table
By Jim Nieman The discovery of a floor to what might be the earliest-known Christian church seems to confirm that early Christ followers came together around a table to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. In 2005, prisoners unearthed a 580-square-foot mosaic floor with three inscriptions likely dating to the third century. One of the inscriptions speaks of a table “offered . . . to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.” The mosaic floor was discovered within a prison holding 1,200 Palestinian inmates, in Megiddo, on a hill overlooking the Valley of Jezreel—“the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16).
Signs of the Apocalypse?
Timothy W. Ross How did the presidential election turn out for you? How are you feeling about the realities of Washington in 2017? Regardless of our politics and preferences, we all have probably been bruised by the news of recent months. As they say in West Africa: “When elephants fight, all the grass suffers.” Whether your buttons are popping with pride at the success of the Trump Revolution, or whether you are still checking real estate prices in Canada, the Word of God has an apocalyptic message for us. Apocalyptic Scriptures are charged, vivid, sometimes hard-to-understand pronouncements that interpret the
April 7, 2017
“˜Faith Up” to Your Fears
Compiled by Doug Redford Feeling fearful these days? That”s not unusual. Throughout the Bible we find stories of God”s people who were afraid. And again and again, God, one of his angels, or Jesus himself told the frightened follower, “Fear not.” Here we”ve compiled a list of these fear-chasing challenges. You may want to look up some of these verses to see the whole story surrounding them. Or you may choose a couple to keep by your desk or on your mirror or in your pocket. Maybe memorizing one or two of these will remind you that God”s in control,
July 1, 2016
July Ministry Ideas
By Michael C. Mack Cheer Up the Lonely Day””July 11: This day “is an opportunity to make a lonely person happy,” says HolidayInsights.com. Plan to visit the people in your community who have few friends or loved ones or who see people infrequently. Examples include people who are elderly, shut-in, in nursing homes, or imprisoned. “When you visit, bring happy things to talk about,” say the writers of Holiday Insights. “Keep the conversation upbeat and lively. When you leave, give a big hug and let them know you enjoyed the stay.” National Hot Dog Day””July 23: Every dog gets its day,
March 25, 2016
Social Service
By Bill Belew The Christian”s mission in life is to make disciples of the nations. Social networks are an asset the Christian should use. On LinkedIn, I have more than 4,000 1st-degree connections. My reach on LinkedIn exceeds 30 million people (that is, somebody knows somebody I want to know). On Twitter, I have more than 50,000 followers. Each of them, on average, has 500 followers. That means I can potentially reach 25 million people (50,000 x 500). I run a private forum that includes more than 1,200 people from more than 50 countries. I can accurately predict1 that 1
