Articles for tag: Spiritual Gifts

March 1, 2023

Mark E. Moore

What Is Grace?

What Is Grace?

By Mark E. Moore  Question: What do we have to do to be saved?  Every religion has its own answer to this question. Some encourage sacrifice; others, service; others, rituals of purification or meditation. What all (but one) have in common is some human effort to achieve favor with God. This may include knocking on doors with pamphlets, giving away wealth, self-flagellation, or confession and restitution. The common thread, however, is human effort to reach God’s height.   Grace Is God’s Salvation  Christianity alone moves in the opposite direction. Rather than us climbing upward, Christianity asserts that God moved downward. Salvation

February 1, 2021

Jerry Harris

10 Foundation Stones of the Church No. 10: Praise

A few weeks before the pandemic’s arrival in early 2020, my wife and I drove to Grand Island, Nebraska, to speak to a conference of rural churches from across the state. We had the privilege of encouraging 125 leaders. That was a pretty long trip, even in a hybrid vehicle, so we needed to stop every so often to fill up with gas. If we were to run out of gas, it would be pretty silly to get mad at the car. It’s our responsibility to fuel up when needed. In a similar way, we need regular fuel stops to

October 5, 2020

Michael C. Mack

Discovery Questions for October 11, 2020

COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Oct. 11, 2020: The Cost (2 Timothy 1:8-12; 2:3-10; 4:14-15) “We’re All in Hospice” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What new challenge did you face last week? 2. In what way did you serve others this past week that utilized a spiritual gift from God? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read 2 Timothy 1:8-12 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Repeat the process for 2 Timothy 2:3-10 and then for 2 Timothy 4:14-15. Ask the third

September 28, 2020

Mark Scott

Lesson for Oct. 4, 2020: Teach (1 Timothy 4:6-16)

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 the October 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES “Are We Making Progress?” by David Faust (Lesson Application) Discovery Questions for Oct. 4, 2020 ________ Lesson Aim: Teach, by example and word, to save people. ________ By Mark Scott When public ministry and private life are out of sync, we call that hypocrisy. Paul called Timothy to make sure these two

September 28, 2020

Michael C. Mack

Discovery Questions for October 4, 2020

COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Oct. 4, 2020: Teach (1 Timothy 4:6-16) “Are We Making Progress?” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What was your biggest challenge last week? 2. In what specific way did you lead well or serve well this past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read 1 Timothy 4:6-16 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. (Option: As one of the “readers,” you can use a Bible app on a phone or other device to play the audio of

September 21, 2020

David Faust

Who Is Worthy to Lead? (Sept. 27 Lesson Application)

This “Application“ column goes with the Bible Lesson for Sept. 27, 2020: Lead (1 Timothy 3:1-16; 5:17-22) ________ By David Faust I don’t measure up. That feeling stirs in my heart when I read the daunting biblical qualifications for church leaders. From one perspective, what the Lord asks of leaders isn’t very different from what he asks of every Christian. Who shouldn’t be gentle and hospitable? Who shouldn’t avoid the love of money? But “above reproach” is a tall order. God has high expectations of church leaders, and “we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). Oversight of

May 17, 2020

Nate Ross

UNITY: When Our ‘It’ Is Misplaced

By Nate Ross In the quarter mile before I arrive at our church’s campus, I pass a Nazarene church, a United Methodist church, a church of Christ (noninstrumental), and then turn into our campus about 500 yards later. Competition, co-laborers in Christ, or critic are the three most common thoughts that come from my heart when I see another church. (I know, that’s really mature for a pastor.) The lens in which I see another church leads to how I love another church. It’s quite easy to quickly judge and criticize neighboring churches that have different biblical interpretations from ours

May 10, 2020

David Faust

Application for May 17: The Natural Response to Being Loved

(This “Application“ column goes with the Bible lesson for May 17, 2020: “His Beloved Ones.”) By David Faust What would you say if someone asked, “Is it difficult to be a Christian?” Might your answer be both yes and no? On the one hand, Christ already did the hardest part. He accomplished what we could never do for ourselves. He lived a perfect life and suffered for our transgressions on the cross. We sinners could never measure up to all the righteous standards of God, but his love overflows and his grace is sufficient in spite of our imperfections. “The

October 7, 2018

Michael C. Mack

You Do You

By Michael C. Mack   You do you. When managing editor Jim Nieman asked what I’ve learned over the last year and a half as Christian Standard editor, this is the first thing that came to mind. You do you. It’s a common catchphrase in today’s culture that means “Just be yourself.” (It can also be used as a sarcastic response to someone who is doing something simply because they want to. Pastor Jeremy: “My new 10-week sermon series is titled, ‘Spiritual Lessons from Paddington 2.’” Elder Frank: “You do you, pal.” Or . . . Student: “I’m having Declaration

September 24, 2018

Mark Scott

Lesson for September 30, 2018 | Sanctification: Christ Empowers Me (Ephesians 4:1-16)

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. 10 (weeks 37–40; September 16—October 7, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ The Bible lessons now follow a scope and sequence prepared by Christian Standard Media. For more information, click here. ______ Lesson Aim: Sanctified and empowered to serve and build up the body of Christ; serve in love. ______ By Mark Scott  According to Dr. James McHenry (Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787),

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