July 22, 2024
July 28 Study | She Brought Joy
The Jews thwarted their enemies, and the events that Purim celebrates also propelled Esther and Mordecai into even more significant positions of authority . . .
Articles for tag: Writing
April 15, 2024
April 21 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Love” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13), by Mark Scott.
October 2, 2023
October 8 | Discovery
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Sharing and Pretending” (Acts 4:32—5:16), by Mark Scott.
March 1, 2023
Reprioritize God’s Word
By Megan Rawlings Question: What is black and white and re(a)d all over? Answer: Not the Bible. This may seem like a trivial schoolyard joke, but I wanted to get your attention. The American Bible Society (ABS) reported alarming statistics in its 2022 State of the Bible survey. Based on their findings, I fear Christians are moving away from the Bible in the hopes of finding something that makes them feel better. I have seen an influx of “do what’s best for you,” “what you put out into the world will come back to you,” and other well-intentioned pieces of
November 21, 2022
November 27 | Discovery
What would you need to change in your life to give more glory and praise to God?
April 19, 2021
Stories
By taking these symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, we announce we believe there really was a Jesus, and he really did die for us and carried all our sins down to a grave . . .
August 17, 2020
Discovery Questions for August 23, 2020
Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What struggles have you faced over the last week? 2. What actions did you take this past week to pass on your faith to the next generation? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Judges 4:1-16 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to retell the story in their own words. Remind them to keep it simple. 3. Imagine we as a group are writing a sermon on this passage. Let’s brainstorm a title for the message! 4. Let’s
June 29, 2020
Declaration
By Stuart Powell In the late 18th century, a colonist began writing a manuscript that summarized the political unrest of his time. He produced a startling declaration read aloud in a political hall in Philadelphia: When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes
June 15, 2016
Number 100!
By Jim Tune Just over two years ago Mark Taylor asked if I would write for Christian Standard regularly. He offered me the back page and the opportunity to write on a weekly basis online and once a month for the print edition. That”s 450 words, 52 times a year. Occasionally I sail up over the 500-word mark. Brevity is always a tough challenge for me. Mark and I kicked around a couple of possible titles for my column. I submitted four or five suggestions, but we ended up going with Mark”s title: “A Different Tune.” It really is a
December 13, 2015
Working Together
By Jennifer Johnson We all need a community of some kind””a place to be accepted and loved for who we are and challenged to grow into who we might be. Churches at their best have always been a place for people to find these connections by serving, worshipping, and studying together. Forefront Church in New York City encourages all of these expressions of community life, but the church is also developing new opportunities to support, nurture, and encourage artists and entrepreneurs through a program called “Creative Guilds.” The concept of a guild developed hundreds of years ago to encourage artisans
September 21, 2015
Rethinking What I”m Doing
By Jennifer Johnson I don”t know what it”s like to grow from boyhood to manhood or, for that matter, to spend four days wandering through Angeles National Forest. However, one part of my conversation with Dane Johnson about Christ”s Church of the Valley“s new Leadership USA program did resonate with me. (Read the related article.) “The guys explore whether they are a doer, a thinker, or a feeler,” he told me, “and they learn that each one is valuable. If you don”t fill your role, the team suffers.” I agree with the idea that each type is important, but after
Dave’s Gone–Now What?
By Joe Boyd Popular culture shows us who we are. It”s a mirror that reflects what we are becoming. So what do we make of Fallon”s rise in the wake of Letterman”s departure? Regardless of how we feel about it, popular culture is a dynamic force that shapes the lives of most Americans. Music, sports, and entertainment are power players that inform the worldview of millions of people both inside and outside the church. It”s simply the reality of the world we live in. The job of the Christian, in my opinion, is to know the culture while understanding that
March 24, 2015
Bookin” It
By Mark A. Taylor I remember a conversation 30 years or more ago about book publishing by writers in the Christian church and church of Christ. “Evangelical publishers won”t publish books by Christian church writers,” a Standard Publishing salesman said. “And if Standard Publishing publishes books by Christian church writers, Christian bookstores won”t sell them.” I don”t know if that was true then, but I can promise you it”s not true today. Last year we published essays about book writing by Mark Atteberry, Arron Chambers, Dave Ferguson, Anne Milam, Daniel Overdorf, and Jamie Snyder. Each of them is a leader among Restoration Movement churches.
October 20, 2014
So You Want to Write a Book: Writing a Book Takes Discipline and Drive
By Robert Rea Believe in the project because of its importance for the kingdom. This will sustain you over hurdles and discouragements. Consider taking your proposal to publishers who market best to your target audience. Be clear about the book”s thesis, chapter contents, and conclusions. Explain your book”s unique approach and contribution””how your book supplements others already published in your area, how it is similar to others, and how it is distinctive (do not say there is nothing like it if that isn”t true). If a publisher shows interest, answer the company”s follow-up questions, and be flexible on length, style,
October 20, 2014
So You Want to Write a Book: Four Good Reasons to Self-Publish!
By Anne Milam The words self-published have carried a stigma that has long implied, “You weren”t really good enough to get an actual book company to publish you.” But I am here to debunk that myth. Self-publishing isn”t a dirty word anymore. Let me give you four good reasons to self-publish: “¢ First of all, if God has put a message in your heart to deliver, then you must share it. Plain and simple. No matter what size the audience. Let the public decide whether or not your work is worthy or valid or enjoyed. When I birthed my first
October 20, 2014
So You Want to Write a Book: What Matters Most
By Jamie Snyder If you want to publish your work, the first decision to make is whether to self-publish or to pursue an agreement with a publishing company. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. If you have a smaller platform of influence, self-publishing will likely be your best option. Numerous self-publishing companies have websites; first, review their information, and then contact one (or more) to begin a conversation. If you decide to pursue an agreement with a publishing company, do not be afraid of rejection. Even the most successful authors have been told no more often then yes. If you
October 19, 2014
So You Want to Write a Book: A Strange Blend
By Daniel Overdorf The heights of delight and vulnerability come when you tear open the cardboard box that holds your first book. For those who wish to pursue this strange mix of glee and embarrassment, I offer seven bits of advice. 1. Check your motives. Many want to have written; few want to write. Unless you relish the process””from the monotony of research to the tedium of rewriting and editing””you will never endure the meticulous work required to author a book and to convince a publisher it”s worth their investment. 2. Read good writers. Whether you connect best with Shakespeare,
October 19, 2014
So You Want to Write a Book: Three Essential Ingredients
By Dave Ferguson Since I had never written a book, I was flattered when I received an e-mail from a representative of a big publisher asking to meet me. I agreed to meet, and over coffee, we talked about me authoring a book. I was very excited about the possibilities! However, within minutes I could tell this rep had made a huge mistake. He thought he was meeting with Dr. David Ferguson, the counselor and Oxford scholar. Instead he was meeting with Dave Ferguson, the church planter. Oops! We had a good laugh, finished our coffee, and I left thinking,
October 19, 2014
So You Want to Write a Book: Top Ten Ways to Writing a Book (That Gets Published)
By Arron Chambers 1. Write . . . like the wind! Practice makes perfect. If you want to be a good writer, you must practice writing. 2. Prepare for rejection. Every author I know has been rejected””many times. One of my best friends was rejected for 18 years, but he refused to quit, and he is now on his sixth book with a major publisher, which leads me to my next bit of advice . . . 3. Don”t quit. If you are serious about writing, if you have something to say, and if you have even basic writing talent,
October 18, 2014
So You Want to Write a Book: My Read on the Question
By Mark Atteberry If you want to write a book, you should give it a try. But here are some things you should know going in. First, if you haven”t read lots and lots and lots of books, you”re not going to be successful. There”s no such thing as a successful author who isn”t also a reader. In my opinion, reading 20 books is more helpful to an aspiring writer than flying across the country to attend the most highfalutin writer”s conference. And cheaper too. Second, the competition is fierce. Millions and millions of people want to write a book,
