Articles for tag: Unity

May 30, 2010

Christian Standard

Leading People Toward Redemption and Restoration (Part 3)

By Ken Swatman “People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” “”Audrey Hepburn, American actress Everything about Jesus””his birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection””shouts redemption and restoration to a lost and broken world. Jesus” foundational purpose was, and still is, to seek and save the lost, to purchase back that which was bartered, sold, or stolen, and to reestablish and heal our relationship to his Father. As pastors and leaders, we are entrusted with the position and responsibility of helping people navigate the deep waters of sin, repentance, redemption, and

April 11, 2010

Christian Standard

Whatever Happened to False Doctrine?

By Jeff Faull OK, I might as well admit it. I”m a peacemaker by nature, an off-the-charts shower of mercy. A lover and not a fighter. I tend to look for commonality over differences””I despise legalism. Unity is not a bad word to me. I”m a Psalm 133/John 17 guy and glad to be one. Quickly skim over the New Testament with that mind-set. It only takes a few minutes. With a cursory glance at Acts 2 and beyond””you can see it. It”s beautiful to trace the harmony that existed when the church began. Christians were doctrinally aligned””all of one mind.

February 7, 2010

Christian Standard

Memoirs of a Young Preacher

By Dale Tinsley I am quietly staring at a computer screen at 3 in the morning. Almost five years have passed since my first encounter with the church I am writing about. These past few years have deeply matured my understanding of God, ministry, and life, and reflecting on this time has led me to new convictions. As I open my heart and tell this story, my hope and prayer is that you hear a calling to live and act according to Christ, and that you might gain insight into how the church should look. VITAL, BUT OVERLOOKED I never

October 25, 2009

Christian Standard

The Wide Road Is Still the Wrong Road

  by David Faust What do you get when you cross a Jehovah”s Witness with a universalist? A knock on the door for no apparent reason. Actually, universalism is no joke. It”s a widely accepted philosophy imbedded in the psyche of our generation. The idea that one must believe in Jesus Christ to be saved sounds antiquated, judgmental, and narrow beyond belief to postmodern ears. The church isn”t immune to this trend. In 1985 I wrote an article for Christian Standard called “Taking the Wide Road: The Subtle Menace of Universalism.” Nearly a quarter-century later my concern about this issue

October 4, 2009

Christian Standard

Still “˜Declaring” and “˜Addressing”: Thinking About Thomas Campbell 200 Years Later

  by Paul M. Blowers There are not a lot of ghost stories (that I know of) connected with the Stone-Campbell Movement. I am fairly certain, at any rate, that Thomas Campbell”s ghost won”t be attending the Great Communion on October 4 to celebrate the bicentennial of the movement and the legacies of its history and mission. Were we superstitious folks we might expect to see a “peeping Thomas” mysteriously haunting the numerous Communion services that are bringing together Stone-Campbell Christians in various locales across the world. Even so, we can be assured Campbell is one prominent spectator in the

September 30, 2009

Christian Standard

Interview with Terry Erwin

By Brad Dupray One hundred years ago, 25,000 Christians from around the United States gathered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for a convention celebrating the 100th anniversary of Thomas Campbell”s Declaration and Address, a formative document in Restoration Movement history. In this bicentennial year, as Christians gather around the world to celebrate a “Great Communion” today, another gathering will take place in Pittsburgh. Terry Erwin, minister with Norwin Christian Church, has worked with his associate, Ed Gratton, to plan festivities honoring the memory of Thomas Campbell, but most importantly, to serve as a remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ as those gathered

September 6, 2009

Christian Standard

FROM MY BOOKSHELF: Seeing Ourselves as Others See Us

By LeRoy Lawson Barry Hankins, Francis Schaeffer and the Shaping of Evangelical America (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008). Frank Schaeffer, Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back (Cambridge: Da Capo Press, 2007). If it hadn”t been for Francis and Frank Schaeffer, the car wouldn”t have hit me and I wouldn”t have gone to the hospital. If the elder Schaeffer hadn”t been such a prominent Christian leader in the 1970s, I wouldn”t have been crossing the street in front of the Indianapolis

August 19, 2009

Christian Standard

How Will You Celebrate Great Communion?

By Mark A. Taylor It”s not too late for your church to plan a Great Communion observance October 4. Let me review what we”ve said about this event before, and then give you some new information. Review: Great Communion is an international celebration of the Lord”s Supper to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Thomas Campbell”s Declaration and Address, considered by many as the catalyst for our Restoration Movement. In it Campbell lifted up unity based on faith in Christ and obedience to the Scriptures. He decried divisions among believers in Christ and described the Lord”s Supper as “that great ordinance

July 12, 2009

Christian Standard

The Lord”s Supper: The Great Ordinance of Unity and Love

  By Victor Knowles This article is no longer available online, but articles about the Lord’s Supper that appeared in the July 12/19, 2009, and June 10, 2007, issues of CHRISTIAN STANDARD–plus more–are available for purchase as a single, redisigned, easy-to-read and easy-to-use downloadable resource/pdf (a fuller explanation is below).          The Lord’s Supper: A Memory and More Item D021535209  “¢Â Â $2.99     If you keep doing something often enough, long enough, it will change you. Take, for example, the Lord”s Supper. If we practice the Lord”s Supper in a meaningful way, week after week, it will change us for the

July 5, 2009

Christian Standard

A History of Open Forum

  By John Mills  How does a brotherhood of some 5,000 autonomous congregations set goals and plan strategies for growth? Each congregation strives to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28, but are there ways to work together to accomplish this divine commission? For 26 years the Open Forum has worked to achieve this goal. Although several successes can be noted and great steps forward have been taken, Open Forum as an entity has decided to “fold its tent.” As it does so, it is appropriate to share what this unique effort has accomplished.   ENGAGING IN DIALOGUE At the

April 15, 2009

Christian Standard

Preview/Order “What Kind of Church Is This?”

                What Kind of Church Is This? This 8-page brochure for visitors and new members has sold hundreds of thousands of copies! Updated now with current information and a fresh, new look, it is the perfect addition to welcome packets, new member folders, or other outreach products. Explains history and philosophy of Restoration Movement churches in a winsome, colorful way. CLICK HERE TO ORDER PRINTED COPIES (sold in lots of 100; $30 per 100) CLICK HERE TO ORDER A DOWNLOADABLE PDF (post on your Web site; print unlimited copies for $9.99) READ LEROY

March 8, 2009

Christian Standard

WEB EXTRA: A Time of Cutbacks, But a Season of Opportunities

By Ben Cachiaras EDITOR’S NOTE: Contributing editor Ben Cachiaras wrote late in February to say Mountain Christian Church, where he ministers in Joppa, Maryland, was forced by the economy to initiate some cutbacks. “They were pervasive and widely felt,” he said. When he met with the church staff to explain the cuts, he challenged them by saying this crossroads was actually an exciting time for the church. “Matthew 28 does not say, “˜Go, and make disciples . . . as long as the Dow is up,”” he said. “While I would never wish economic disaster on anyone, I do know that

February 25, 2009

Christian Standard

Preventing Spiritual Desertion

By Mark A. Taylor Many would characterize the church”s work in the world as spiritual warfare. Our enemy is Satan, and our tools are “the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11-17). But not all soldiers in this war persevere until it”s won. Some grow weary of the enemy”s clever schemes and effective tactics. They wear out, give up, and decide to walk away. Why do some continue while others leave the battle? The Bible suggests several answers, one of them underscored by findings from contemporary students of American history. Heroes and Cowards, written by husband-and-wife team Dora L. Costa and

December 31, 2008

Christian Standard

Obituaries from 2008

(Listed alphabetically) Paul J. Banta, 80, of Holiday, FL, died Sept 7, 2008. He had Parkinson”s disease. He is survived by his widow, Jean; three children; Philip of Indianapolis, IN, Paula Hoelle of Ormond Beach, FL, and Rebecca Engel of Sylvania, OH; eight grandchildren; two stepgrandsons; four step-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Margie Fleenor of Washington, IN. He was a 1950 graduate of Cincinnati (OH) Christian University. He was ordained at First Christian Church, Washington, IN, in 1948 and retired in 1988. He served full-time ministries in Centerville, Scottsburg, and Indianapolis, IN; Lincoln Park, MI; Clearwater, FL; and with the Christian

November 9, 2008

Christian Standard

Keys to Teamwork (Part 4): Wise Decision Making

By Stephen Bond   Steve Bond and his wife, Pam, launched Summit Christian Church in March 1998. The church met in the Sparks YMCA for 3½ years before moving to a new permanent facility on a 36-acre site. Summit”s vision is to “Love God, Love People, and Serve Others.” Over the past 10 years the church has grown to more than 2,000 people in weekend worship attendance. Approximately 1,000 adults are also involved in life groups. One of the keys to this growth has been a high level of teamwork among Summit”s staff and elders. This is the fourth of

November 2, 2008

Christian Standard

Keys to Teamwork (Part 3): Conflict Resolution

By Stephen Bond Steve Bond and his wife, Pam, launched Summit Christian Church in March 1998. The church met in the Sparks YMCA for 3½ years before moving to a new permanent facility on a 36-acre site. Summit”s vision is to “Love God, Love People, and Serve Others.” Over the past 10 years the church has grown to more than 2,000 people in weekend worship attendance. Approximately 1,000 adults are also involved in life groups. One of the keys to this growth has been a high level of teamwork among Summit”s staff and elders. This is the third of four

October 1, 2008

Christian Standard

An Opportunity Too Important to Miss!

By Mark A. Taylor Someone wrote as we were planning this issue to ask, “Who”s in charge of the Great Communion service in our community?” She may not have been expecting the answer: “YOU are!” That”s the beauty””and the challenge””of the Great Communion idea. This Sunday next year it will happen in community after community as leaders in cities, towns, and villages plan and promote it. The ideas on page 7 this week can help you get started. They”re only a part of the Web site (greatcommunion.org) with resources for the Great Communion celebration you”ll lead. You”ll find the suggestions

August 10, 2008

Christian Standard

How Your Small & Midsized Church Can GROW

By Leonard Wymore Every congregation already has in place the leadership to stimulate growth””it just needs fine-tuning! Every church, no matter the size, has a staff of associates. These will relate and serve together as a TEAM (Together Everyone Accomplishes More). The preacher is the coach and the volunteers are the associates. A TEAM OF ASSOCIATES For example, even small churches usually have a leading elder whose role is shepherding the congregation, a Bible school superintendent, a youth coach, a music leader, a missions chairperson, and a preacher. Why not give associate status to all such leaders? Each could prepare

July 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Restoration Movement Q&A 2

Answers from Robert Lowery Does the Restoration Movement Matter? Answers from Robert Lowery. Robert Lowery is professor of New Testament and dean at Lincoln (Illinois) Christian Seminary. Do you feel as strongly about being a part of the Restoration Movement today as you did fifteen years ago?  What, if anything, has changed? I remain committed to the principles of the Restoration Movement, yet I am not impressed with our efforts to articulate clearly and implement boldly those principles today. I have heard some say: “We have arrived! We do exactly what the earliest Christians did, no more and no less,

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