Articles for tag: Tom Ellsworth

August 20, 2011

Christian Standard

My Favorite Passage

By Tom Ellsworth My favorite passage of Scripture? I hem and haw and generally fumble trying to find the right answer. What about John 3:16? Naw, everyone picks that one””be more original. All right, how about Philippians 4:13? Overused. OK, let”s try the Old Testament””Psalm 23? Did somebody die? That”s a funeral text. Sorry, I”ll say Revelation 3:20. Are you serious? You”re going to pick prophecy as your favorite? The inner deliberation rages while on the outside I try to appear thoughtful and decisive. How does one choose a favorite passage? That”s like asking me to identify which of my

February 27, 2011

Christian Standard

Unconditional Compassion

From Inverted, by Tom Ellsworth We love the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). It”s filled with a sense of adventure and intrigue, unexpected responses, good guys versus bad guys, and a happy ending. There”s another reason we love this story. It isn”t personal””we don”t have issues with Samaritans. Most of us have never even met a Samaritan. Jesus” audience, however, certainly had! This story wasn”t called the Parable of the Good Samaritan when Jesus first told it””in the minds of his Jewish audience there was no such thing. Those in attendance at the parable”s premier weren”t oohing and aahing with

November 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Fun and Games

By Jennifer Taylor Sherwood Oaks Christian Church (Bloomington, Indiana) doesn”t usually offer midweek programming during the summer, but this year it tried something new””and discovered a program adaptable to any church at any time of the year. SOCC developed the approach around Tom Ellsworth”s new It”s Your Move books, which connect the fun of popular board games to Bible study and real-life application. Ellsworth, senior minister at the church, wrote the books for small group use but found the material translated well to a larger gathering. “We spent the first half hour or so playing the game together around tables;

December 3, 2008

Christian Standard

Big Ideas for Smaller Churches

By Mark A. Taylor Barney Wells summarized the Energizing Smaller Churches Network challenge at an October ESCN conference. “Being where God wants you is more important than being where it looks good,” he told the crowd gathered for the event at Cincinnati Christian University. “You can”t get in a place so small that God can”t work there.” All of us who heard him left eager to seek God”s direction, even if it leads away from big cities, well-known congregations, or obvious opportunities. “Small” does not need to equal “unimportant” or “inconsequential,” especially where God is guiding. That”s the message of

February 27, 2008

Christian Standard

Interview with Tom Ellsworth

By Brad Dupray Standard Publishing”s Vacation Bible School has provided concentrated, “true-to-the-Bible” Christian education for young people for more than 80 years. VBS is not limited to young people, however. Standard provides correlated study for adults, as well. This year”s theme, “God”s Big Backyard,” is coupled with Tom Ellsworth”s new book, Beyond Your Backyard. Tom recently celebrated his 27th anniversary as senior pastor at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington, Indiana. He is a graduate of St. Louis Christian College and holds a MMin from Cincinnati Bible Seminary. Tom and his wife, Elsie, have been married for 30 years and

January 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Standard”s VBS: More Than Learning, Beyond Fun

By Joni Baker “The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.” “”Billy Graham, as quoted in Beyond Your Backyard, by Tom Ellsworth (Standard Publishing)     Churches today are rediscovering the world outside their four walls. In fact, a movement of “externally focused” churches reaches out to show love in practical service to schools, parks, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in their communities. Within these churches, all ages can serve together. Even small children learn the joy of helping others. But even though the value of service in Christ”s name has been

April 18, 2007

Mark A. Taylor

Leading Through Change

Change Is

Tom Ellsworth urges patient, listening-first leadership when guiding change in smaller churches. Mark A. Taylor introduces a book excerpt on helping town and country congregations respond faithfully to demographic shifts and unchosen change.

July 24, 2005

Tom Ellsworth

wisdom

Wisdom Is a Good Thing

Reflecting on Ecclesiastes and James, Tom Ellsworth shares how God teaches wisdom through life experiences, relationships, and hard seasons—inviting believers to hold on loosely to this life and keep eternity in view.

June 19, 2005

Tom Ellsworth

Experiencing the Awe of God

‘Awe’ Moments

From ocean waves to a helicopter view of the Grand Canyon, Tom Ellsworth explores “awe” moments that point to God’s majesty—and to the greatest awe of all: Christ’s total sacrifice for us.

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