Articles for tag: Spiritual Disciplines

November 5, 2010

Christian Standard

Marks of a Successful Discipler

By Rick Lowry Personal Life “¢ Models servanthood before group members. “¢ Is in the Word daily, along with being in prayer and practicing other spiritual disciplines. “¢ Feels a sense of personal spiritual growth and passes on that challenge toward growth to members of group. “¢ A spiritual leader outside the group meeting. “¢ Accountable in life to another spiritual leader outside the group. Passing on the Faith “¢ Prays for individuals in the group. “¢ Places a high priority on the group and the people in it. “¢ Is spiritually, emotionally, and relationally open to group members. “¢

September 3, 2010

Christian Standard

Letters to the Editor (archived)

We always appreciate hearing from our readers. In the future, we would like to encourage readers to respond in the comment boxes after the articles. We are looking forward to reading your comments! ‘I Find His Comment Offensive’ (posted 8-31-10) I really appreciated the August 1 edition of your magazine, but a big red flag did pop up when I read Ryan Connor”s article (“Burnout in Ministry”). He said, “Ministers often enter the ministry with a need to compensate for personal hang-ups” (p. 5). Thankfully, the ministers I have known over the years chose ministry because they wanted to serve and

September 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Growing Like Jesus: Hearing God Through People

By Glen Elliott (Glen Elliott was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Elliott serves as lead pastor with Pantano Christian Church, Tucson, Arizona and as a CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor.) ___________________ Years ago I was working as the dean of students at Pacific Christian College (now Hope International University). At the same time, I had the joy of leading the junior high ministry at my church. (It was natural. Both junior high kids and college students are just crazy enough to be fun!) I poured my life into my work and

July 18, 2010

Christian Standard

NACC “˜Beyond”: Beyond the Misguided Spiritual Disciplines

By Brian Jones Whenever people talk about moving beyond facilitating conversions to making disciples, someone will inevitably say that teaching and practicing the spiritual disciplines will be vital to making this happen. I couldn”t disagree more. Years ago Richard Foster released a perennially best-selling book called Celebration of Discipline. In it he outlined 12 disciplines Christians have engaged in over the last 2,000 years to help them live more spiritually abundant lives””meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration. The church should be profoundly grateful for that book, and profoundly ticked off. Someone said a person”s greatest

January 31, 2010

Christian Standard

Forgiving Ourselves

By John Mark Hicks “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:19, 20). Self-forgiveness is a controversial topic. Many believe it is so tied to self-help and self-esteem pop psychology that it actually is a reflection of pride and lack of faith. There is no text in Scripture that explicitly commands self-forgiveness, it is said, and only God can forgive. Others, however, genuinely punish themselves by

November 15, 2009

Christian Standard

Growing Leaders in a Young Church: Interior and Exterior

By Steve Cuss I used to believe that a good-hearted pastor with a strong work ethic and a vision from God could lead a thriving local church. Four years into my own journey, four churches around us have closed their doors. In order to thrive, I”ve learned to focus on the interior life of the leader and the exterior structure of the church. Your Interior Life Baptize your calendar!“”I”m convinced my calendar is a pagan””possibly even a devil worshiper. It can run my life ragged if I”m not careful, keeping me so consumed with details that I neglect my fundamental

August 12, 2009

Christian Standard

Interview with John Caldwell

By Brad Dupray Now in his 36th year at Kingsway Christian Church (Avon, Indiana), John Caldwell has baptized hundreds, married couples and then later married their children, buried more than his fair share of faithful church members, and preached hundreds of sermons strategically designed to manage the growth of the Christians who make up Kingsway. John was president of the 1996 North American Christian Convention and will serve as president of the 2012 National Missionary Convention after his retirement from Kingsway. John and his wife, Jan, have been married 44 years and have two children and two grandchildren. Has it

March 15, 2009

Christian Standard

Spiritual Formation as Leadership Development

By Bill Weber Bible colleges and seminaries are charged with preparing leaders for the church in an increasingly sophisticated and complex world. An institution”s value is determined by the success or failure of its graduates. A school”s visibility may be enhanced by special programs or presentations, new buildings, faculty publications, or successful sports teams, but the effectiveness of the graduates indicates whether or not a school is fulfilling its mission. These schools are expected to serve the educational and developmental needs of students. The first goal is to provide a knowledge base in important areas: Scripture, theological concepts, leadership theories,

February 22, 2009

Christian Standard

Just What Is Christian Spirituality?

by Neal Windham In 1993, while returning from a Society of Biblical Literature meeting in San Francisco, I had a deep encounter with the living God. Having picked up Henri Nouwen”s In the Name of Jesus, I was confronted very directly with a question of terrifying significance: Had my life and work counted for anything, anything at all, or was I just playing games? That night, somewhere around 35,000 feet, God used one of the truly great Christian spirituality writers of the 20th century to begin stripping away layer upon layer of my selfishness and conceit. Since then I have

February 22, 2009

Christian Standard

What the Monks Can Teach Us

By J.K. Jones I acknowledge the title of this article is strange, perhaps even offensive to some. Our Christian church and church of Christ ears are not accustomed to such unusual language.  I also admit that the title sounds very Catholic. Of course, this may cause some to react negatively and stop reading. I hope not. I am a Christian whose heritage is found in and among Restoration churches. I am an immersed believer who holds no creed but Christ and has no book but the Bible. I don”t claim to be the only Christian, but I simply seek to

November 9, 2008

Christian Standard

FROM MY BOOKSHELF: Returning from the Dark Side

By LeRoy Lawson Both of these books are written by pastors who have been to the dark side””and came back to tell their stories. Gordon MacDonald, The Life God Blesses (Thomas Nelson, 1994). Gordon MacDonald is one of evangelicalism”s most respected leaders. Chairman of this and editor of that, he frequently speaks for conferences around the globe and, when he has nothing else to do, keeps on cranking out his helpful columns and books. The Life God Blesses is not his latest and may not be rated as his best (Ordering Your Private World usually is), but when Ben Cachiaras

September 10, 2006

Name Withheld

church conflict

When It Was Better Not to Fight

A minister recounts a painful season of church conflict triggered by leadership burnout and false accusations. He shares hard-won strategies—silence, Scripture, trusted support, counseling, and perseverance—that helped him endure and ultimately move toward healing.

December 14, 2005

Christian Standard

daily devotions

Their Joy Can Be Ours

Daily devotions that move from duty to delight To read the 23 testimonies shared in this week’s issue is at once to be humbled and encouraged. The examples show everyday believers pursuing prayer and Scripture in practical, disciplined ways. The point is not a regimen driven by guilt, but a relationship that shapes daily life. Everyday people develop creative, disciplined habits for prayer and Bible intake. Guilt-driven devotion tends to fade, but relationship-driven devotion grows. Mary’s lifelong familiarity with God’s Word shaped her faith and praise. By Mark A. Taylor To read the 23 testimonies shared in this week’s issue

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