Brown Called as President of DCHS
Dr. Joel Brown has been called to serve as president of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. He will begin his new role with DCHS on Sept. 1. He is replacing Rick Lowery, who is retiring.
Articles for tag: Theology
Estep Named Dean of Lincoln Christian Institute
Dr. James Riley Estep Jr. was announced as founding dean of Lincoln Christian Institute last week by Lincoln (Ill.) Christian University president Silas McCormick.
March 21, 2022
March 27 | Living and Holy Sacrifice
After 11 chapters of doctrine in Romans, Paul shifted his focus to duty in this chapter. . . .
March 1, 2022
Authentic Disciple-Making: 5 Essentials
By Bobby Harrington Fifteen years ago, I started waking up every day focused on disciple-making. In my roles as a pastor, trainer of church planters, network leader, and coach, it became my obsession. I did this because I came to believe disciple-making is the core mission of the church. Just as importantly: I came to believe disciple-making is the key to Christian faithfulness in this cultural moment. Disciple-making has become such a passion that I have now published over 10 books on the topic, initiated and led multiple national conferences on the topic, and cofounded three national networks for church
March 1, 2022
Authentic Gospel
By Mark E. Moore Words get tossed about recklessly. We use love for a sweater and a spouse. Few things are actually awesome. And like has been functionally reduced to a comma in common vernacular. Most of the time this loose language matters little. But when it comes to the bedrock of our faith, we might want to be a little more faithful to the meaning of our words. So, let’s start with this question: What precisely is “the gospel”? THE GOSPELS OF THE GREEKS AND THE ROMANS The term gospel, which literally means “good news,” was not originally a
January 20, 2022
Throwback Thursday: My Theology and My Approach to Aging (2016)
Here is a column about aging by our friend Dr. Robert F. Hull Jr., a longtime seminary professor who passed away on Saturday. Hull wrote: "It is more important to live wisely than to live long."
November 1, 2021
Your Sermon This Week Matters!
A Letter from a Fellow Preacher
September 1, 2021
The Equality Act: Its Impact on Churches and How We Should Respond
On May 14, 1974, a spunky U.S. representative from New York named Bella Abzug introduced the first version of what we now know as the Equality Act. Even though the bill was co-sponsored by another New York representative and was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, the bill had little support and never saw the light of day. For the next 45 years, the Equality Act, in one form or another, found its way back in front of Congress. In 2019, the Equality Act passed the House for the first time. Even though it died in the Senate,
September 1, 2021
The Faith Practices Churches Emphasize
What people believe really matters, according to a 2017 Canadian study of 22 churches and more than 2,000 churchgoers. Churches that adhere to conservative theology are more likely to grow than those that do not, and people who attend growing churches reported praying more often and reading their Bibles more often than those who attend declining churches, the study showed. What churches teach impacts the spiritual practices of their attendees and, in turn, the health of the church. Our 2020 annual church survey asked church leaders this question: How much does your church emphasize the following personal and family faith
Women’s Roles in the Church
What ARE the roles of women in the church . . . and what ARE NOT their roles?
KCU Worship Professor Jamie Coates Passes Away (Plus News Briefs)
Dr. Jamie Coates, 52, assistant professor of worship at Kentucky Christian University and director of the KCU Worship Collective, died Feb. 20 at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky.
December 29, 2020
CCLF Concluding Strong First Year in Greater Cincinnati
In its first full year, the Christian Church Leadership Foundation has accomplished much to ensure Christian education and resources would continue to be available to people in the Greater Cincinnati area.
October 24, 2020
Remembering Ravi Zacharias (1946–2020)
Zacharias began a movement that helped thinkers to believe while also challenging believers to think. By Brett A. Seybold For many people, Ravi Zacharias’s use of lofty words and concepts could cause blisters on the brain. After all, how many Christians have actually delved into such disciplines as literature, philosophy, world religions, theology, and the history of human thought, let alone incorporated them into their messages and daily walk in such palpable ways as he did? Still, for others, his academic accolades were not prestigious enough. Some faulted his credentials, pointing out that honorary doctorates do not equate to actual
October 14, 2020
Central Christian Gives Day of Service Another Try (Plus News Briefs)
Central Christian Church of Mount Vernon, Ill., was disappointed when they had to postpone their annual Day of Service back in May due to the coronavirus. They gave it another try on Saturday, and more than 300 volunteers spread out across Jefferson County to put others first. “We know that we grow best as people when we’re serving other people,” connections pastor Jared LeCrone told WSILTV.com. “This is a church family that has come together from this community to put back into the community.” Serve Day activities included a neighborhood block party, free oil changes for anyone in need, a free
Retired Prof Takes Theological Expertise to the Local Church
By Chris Moon Joe Grana is staying active in retirement. The former longtime professor and administrator at Hope International University in Fullerton, Calif.—who retired June 1—has taken his expansive biblical knowledge to the local church. Grana has signed on as an associate pastor at Refinery Christian Church in Goodyear, Ariz., near Phoenix. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grana has been producing three-minute videos for the church teaching basic theological concepts, from baptism to the inspiration of Scripture. The idea for these “3-Minute Theology” videos is to better equip the Refinery church with theological truth, something Grana senses many Christians need today.
January 29, 2020
Dedicated Indiana Youth Minister, 36, Dies of Flu (Plus News Briefs)
Compiled by Jim Nieman and Chris Moon Allison Williams, 36, who had served as youth minister with Reddington Christian Church in Seymour, Ind., for just over a decade, died Jan. 20 after suffering from the flu for a few days. A funeral was conducted at the church on Thursday. “In my 34 years in the ministry, she is the best youth minister I’ve worked with,” senior minister Scott A. Brown told Fox 59. During Williams’s time as youth minister, the group grew from about a dozen to nearly 100. Brown told the TV station that Williams dedicated herself to the
November 2, 2019
Children’s Ministry Curriculum Decisions
Our Recent Survey Reveals What Christian Churches Are Using Today to Teach Our Children . . . and How They Are Adapting Them By Kelly Carr Caring for the youngest in our churches is no small feat. There are many moving parts to manage: volunteers, lesson plans, parent communication, volunteers, safety strategies, worship services, volunteers, engaging activities, biblical instruction. And did we mention volunteers? To equip those volunteers and provide for your young churchgoers, you need the right curriculum. Yet finding resources for your children’s ministry can be a series of trial and error decisions as you seek the most
Eisegesis for Everyone
From After Class Podcast Do you struggle to apply the Bible to your life? Does the Bible sometimes feel old and outdated? This new resource might be just what you need to jump-start your faith. Sonbeam Publishing is proud to bring you Eisegesis for Everyone. This empowering book employs the familiar technique of eisegesis so you can read your own brilliant insights into the Bible. Free from the shackles of original context, anyone can see any passage talking about—well—anything. No Bible training, no cultural background, and no historical awareness required. Now you can find your ideas all over the pages
May 22, 2019
We Believe the Bible Is True
By Johnny Pressley The B-I-B-L-E Yes, that’s the book for me I stand alone on the Word of God The B-I-B-L-E The apostle Paul encouraged his associate Timothy with a reminder of the strong faith passed on to him by his grandmother Lois and his mother, Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). “From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures” (2 Timothy 3:15). Many of us surely appreciate the godly men and women who nurtured us in the faith. They not only taught us Scripture, they inspired us with respect and trust for the Bible as the Word of God, even in
May 22, 2019
Misfitbit
From After Class Podcast It’s time Christians stop obsessing about fitness and start focusing on more important things in life—like sin. This is why we’ve developed an innovative, always-on-call spiritual healthcare consultant. The Misfitbit Sinful Activity Tracker is a technologically advanced wristband that monitors your morality 24/7. Its advanced voice-recognition software detects all verbal indiscretions, including, but not limited to, swearing, yelling in anger, and taking the Lord’s name in vain. The “Super Saint Setting” can also sense white lies and white curses like “darn,” “shoot,” and “heck.” Its übersensitive microphone detects when you are listening to inappropriate music, hanging
