Articles for tag: Revised Standard Version

He Stoops Down to Us

By Michael C. Mack A dad stops what he’s doing to bend down and intently listen to his child. This simple act conveys a powerful message: My child is important. I love this kid. I want to look into my child’s eyes and listen. This is a picture of our heavenly Father with each of us. The psalmist said, “Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:2, New Living Translation). Our Father loves us so much that he makes us his priority. He bends down. He cares. He listens. He acts. The

November 16, 2016

Christian Standard

You Are What You Want

By Jim Tune Jesus twice asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” It seems an odd question. The first time Jesus asks it, he”s talking to disciples James and John. Their answer isn”t good. They want prominent places in God”s kingdom. “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory,” they say (Mark 10:37*). Jesus knows they still don”t get it. I sigh, because I know I”m infected with the same desire sometimes. Who among us isn”t tempted by prominence and glory? A short time later, Jesus asks this

Could You Not Watch?

By Robert F. Hull Jr. In a powerful sermon, Fred Craddock points out that only the reader of Mark”s Gospel really sees Jesus in Gethsemane lying prostrate on the ground and hears him praying for the hour to pass from him (Mark 14:35, 36). Peter, James, and John are all asleep, and because we are awake and reading, we are tempted to be very hard on these three. How could they have fallen asleep, when all Jesus asked of them was to stay awake for a little time while he went away to pray? We can be unforgiving when we are

An Embarrassment of Riches (Part 2: Four Popular Translations)

By Mark S. Krause Last week we looked at five factors that shape an English translation of the Bible: interpretation, version genealogy, translation theory, audience, and gender-neutral language. This week and next week, we will take a quick look at eight translations.   Popular English Translations There are too many English translations of the Bible to write about each one, but we will focus on a few. In each case, we will look at the presuppositions behind the translation, its audience, and a couple of test verses: Psalm 8:4 and Matthew 16:18. Psalm 8:4 is well-known for its ringing question,

Breathtaking Servanthood

By Wynne Gillis It was a new church in a midsized Montana city””a seeker”s church””dedicated to taking the gospel to outsiders who have never heard it or who are not even sure they want to hear it. Like many such churches, it was meeting in temporary quarters””a school auditorium or a vacant storefront. But as it grew and strained the capacity of its meeting place, the church dreamed of a building all its own. A good deal of money had been carefully saved and dedicated toward that end. Then the community around the church got into a big fight. Most

Remember Your Baptism, Teach About Baptism

By Mark A. Taylor More than a year ago, Bruce Shields encouraged readers, “Remember Your Baptism” (March 1, 2009). His wonderful essay sheds light on our discussion of children and baptism published last week and finished in this issue. A few lines from the conclusion of his piece:   When life seems to be too hard for you to remain true to what you know is right, remember your baptism. When friends urge you to loosen up and go the way of the world, remember your baptism. When memories of guilt assail you in the night, remember your baptism. When the

How God’s Word Has Come to Us (Part 4): God’s Word Translated

By H. Lynn Gardner ABOUT THIS SERIES: January 20″”God”s Word Written. How did God communicate through prophets and Scripture writers? January 27″”God”s Word Collected. What is the canon and how can we be sure our Bibles contain the right books? Last Week””God”s Word Preserved. How close to the original are the Bible manuscripts we have today? Today””God”s Word Translated. How true to God”s Word are the English words available for us to read? After his conversion to Christ, Samuel I. J. Schereschewsky, a brilliant Lithuanian Jew, went as a missionary to China. A paralytic affliction occurred confining him to a

Secret Link