Christian Standard, 2012

December 2012

How Much Do You Know About Christmas?

Have a Mary Christmas

Lesson for December 30, 2012: Christ’s Love for the Church (Ephesians 5:15–6:9)

The Other Side of the Angel Tree

A Clap-Clap-Clap-Clappity Christmas

A Second Coming

Examples of Collaboration, Sacrifice

Merger a Reunion of Mother, Daughter Churches

We Still Can Celebrate

Christianity—A Religion of Progress?

Merry Christmas

The Merry Makeover

Lesson for December 23, 2012: Alive in the Light of Christ (John 1:1-14; Ephesians 4:17–5:14)

Choosing to Love, Discovering the Enemy

Interview with Ron Payne

A Mirror in the Manger

Sticky Conversations: Eternal Security

The ‘Merry Christmas’ Flap

It’s Not Too Late to Turn Back Now

Spiritual Gifts

Rediscovering the Sacred Stones

Lesson for December 16, 2012: Part of One Body in Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16)

The Passion of Barton Stone

God’s Love on Display at Sex Show

Knowing Jesus and Why He Matters

Church’s Leaders Recast Gospels into 14 Chapters

The Baby Bears an Apple

Documentary Film about Joplin Tornado Premieres

Find a Baby This Christmas

So Much Safer to Think than Feel

A Past Mistake and Three Challenges for Elders

Four Verses for Four Purses: a Teaching Outline About Giving

Lesson for December 9, 2012: One in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2, 3)

How (Not) to Kill (or Split) a Small Group

ICOM 2012: Radical . . . Again

November 2012

Proclaim the Savior

The ‘New’ Revelation

Obituaries for 2012

Good Gifts After Black Friday

Coming Events

Personal Anniversaries

Hope in the Boundary Moments

Ezekiel’s Endless Summer

What’s Your ‘However?’

Lesson for December 2, 2012: Blessed in Christ (Ephesians 1)

Big Picture Questions about Small Groups

Sticky Conversations: Pornography in Ministry

See the Body

Reporting on Restoration Revolution

A People to Be Thankful for

How the Mighty Fall

Missionary Books, Missionary Enterprise, and Workings of the Mind

From Missionary Kids to Mission Veterans

Lesson for November 25, 2012: Paul Evangelizes in Rome (Acts 28:11-31)

Urban Ministry in Lansing

Urban Ministry: Not Just an Academic Concern

Signs of Hope Amid Urban Suffering

A Clear Conscience

What’s the Point of Pursuing Unity?

One Messy, Lovable Family

For the Love of a Child

Celebrating 200 Years of Mission

Lesson for November 18, 2012: Paul Ministers on Malta (Acts 28:1-10)

Seven Hours Ahead and Seven Meters Away

Perhaps a Little Guilt Can Be a Good Thing

Websites Help Foster Global Evangelism

Writing a New Ending

Very Good Indeed

You Have to Leave Home

Unreached People Groups

Where Are We Now?

Lesson for November 11, 2012: Paul Survives a Shipwreck (Acts 27)

Future Trends in Missions

Biblical Qualities of an Elder (Part 2)

Remember Me

Biblical Qualities of an Elder (Part 1)

Considering the One Who Truly Is in Control

October 2012

Big Trouble in the Northeast

Does Your Group Have the GUTS for Community?

A Building for ‘Outsiders’

Lesson for November 4, 2012: Paul Testifies Before King Agrippa (Acts 25, 26)

Welcoming the Newcomers

The 3 R’s to Launching & Landing in Ministry

A Mormon President— a Good Thing

“Teacher, Don’t You Care?” (Mark 4:38)

A Place to Stand

Say It Again, Ben!

The Church—a Dangerous Place to Serve

Interview with Kyle Idleman

Africa and Afghanistan, Ethics and Unity

Lesson for October 28, 2012: Philip Baptizes a Man from Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-39)

A Bible Study Program for Everyone

Google Is My Best Friend: Resources for Bible Teaching (Part 5)

Many Resources—Use Them Well!: Resources for Bible Teaching (Part 4)

YouTube for YouTeaching: Resources for Bible Teaching (Part 3)

My Two-Pronged Strategy: Resources for Bible Teaching (Part 2)

‘A Different Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 2:12, 13)

The Web World I Travel: Resources for Bible Teaching (Part 1)

Keeping it Christlike on Facebook

From Disorder, a Higher Order

Why Jesus Wouldn’t Work for Your Church

Sticky Conversations: Alcohol

Lesson for October 21, 2012: Simon Wants to Buy Power (Acts 8:2-24)

Hope, Despair in India: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 13)

Epic and Eternal: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 12)

All About Worship: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 11)

The Vitality of Christian Community: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 10)

Reading for Enrichment: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 9)

Exploring Authentic Manhood: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 8)

An Exciting Family Devotion Resource: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 7)

Settle In (Matthew 26:17-19)

Insights into the Underprivileged: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 6)

Leaders Are Readers

Ponder, Then Speak

An Aid to Cultural Context: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 5)

Learning from Trials: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 4)

When Faith Is a Struggle: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 3)

Explicit, Not Assumed: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 2)

The Power of Uncertainty: Find This Book and Read It! (Part 1)

Lesson for October 14, 2012: Stephen Is Faithful to Death (Acts 7:1–8:1)

Truth in Fiction

A Distant Engagement (Matthew 26:29)

Why I Write Books

A Day for Hope

You Can’t Fool Mom

Planting Churches, Sponsoring Children

One-Day Project or Sacrificial Service?

Lesson for October 7, 2012: Stephen Defends His Faith (Acts 6:1–7:53)

September 2012

Encouraging Healthy Controversy

Inspired by Nehemiah, Church Repaints the Walls

Let Me Tell You How You Should Vote

We Fear No More

Interview with Bridget Schnautz

Connected?

The Other Side of Failure

Facing the Facts about Debt

Don’t Ignore Your Debt, Eliminate It!

Changes in Ministry

What Would It Mean to Live Simply?

Lesson for September 30, 2012: Faith Instills Love (Hebrews 13; 1 Corinthians 13)

Gifts that Make God Smile

The Culture of Celebrity Pastors

Epic Love, Exorbitant Cost

Older? Younger? Both Are Good!

To Know the Truth

Have a Good Trip . . . I Mean, Meeting!

A Big Heart for Missions

Lesson for September 23, 2012: Faith Inspires Gratitude (Hebrews 12:14-29)

Why We Believe in Faith Promise

Facilitate so Your Group can Participate

When I Come to the Cross – Images of Sorrow and Joy

Shakespeare, Steve, Science, and Scripture

Learning to Change

Five Memories—Each a Milestone

Giving It Away

Generous Churches

Lesson for September 16, 2012: Faith Empowers Endurance (Hebrews 12:1-13)

Spreading the Gospel, Unleashing Compassion

Giving Up!

Despite?

STEWARDSHIP: What Have We Done to This Word?

Sad Good-byes, Fruitful Labor

Church Anniversaries

Change Is Good, Right?

The Whole in Our Gospel

A Call to 40 Days of Prayer

Cooking with Poo Book Turning Heads Worldwide

Lesson for September 9, 2012: Faith Gives Assurance (Hebrews 11; Psalm 46)

Demographic Darwinism and the Church

Both Approaches Can Be Successful

Cincinnati Church Starts Free Medical Clinic

August 2012

Bigger Issue than Same-Sex Attraction?

The Language of Loneliness

Arizona Church Hosts Services at Local Prison

The Beatitudes on the Courthouse Lawn

Surprise!

Refreshments Are Served

Time to Go Exploring

Painful Truth with Overwhelming Love

Church’s Reading Club Prepares Way for VBS

Scripture and Homosexual Practice

What’s the Point of Your Small Group?

A New Format for a New Day

How to Obey a Simple Command

Do We Believe What We Sing?

Milligan Mourns Death of Don Jeanes, Former President

Lesson for September 2, 2012: Faith Calls for Perseverance (Hebrews 10)

Calvinism: A Chronicle and a Warning

The Half-Inch Solution

Of Ants and Homo Sapiens

Something Stronger than Hate

Church Becomes Part of City’s Arts Community

Interview with John Craycraft

Mining for Diamonds

Ten Ways You Can Strengthen Campus Ministry

Called to Be Faithful

List of Campus Ministries for 2012

Here They Come . . . and There They Go

Lesson for August 26, 2012: God Promised to Be with Us (Ezekiel 34)

Pondering Religion, the Bible, and How to Grow a Church

A Voice from Long Ago

Blessed Thirst

Deployed

Is Modern Israel the Key to God’s Plan?

Just Stick with It

One Step Ahead?

Introducing Standard Lesson Resources

Lesson for August 19, 2012: God Promised a Righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:1-8; 33)

Churches Partner to Offer Hope to the Homeless

To Drink or Not to Drink?

Thousands Meet in Brazil for World Convention

Paul at the Table

Producing the Next Generation of Elders

Church Outreach Extends to Self-Service Laundries

The Ways of Wisdom

Confronting Burnout in the Ministry (Part 2)

10 Ways to Encourage Your Minister

Lesson for August 12, 2012: God Promised a Righteous Lord (Isaiah 9:1-7)

Hanging with Naughty Matt

It’s All About the Mission

Surviving Ministry Means Knowing Ourselves

Still His and Deeply Good

What to Wear?

What Do You Say about Church Music?

Ohio Prophetic Voices Promotes Biblical Justice

Learning to Trust

July 2012

Even a Leader Needs a Friend

First One Place, Then the Other

Confronting Burnout in the Ministry (Part 1)

He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need

Lesson for August 5, 2012: Praise for God’s Justice (Psalm 146; Exodus 21–23; Isaiah 58)

Here’s What Monthly Means

The Wisdom in Meat Loaf

Don’t Lead Alone!

Church ‘Blessing Teen Parents’ from Area Schools

TIME and TIMELESS

What Our Websites Say about Baptism

What Are They Saying about Baptism? (Samples from Church Websites We Visited)

Is Your Church Bloated?

Too Much Is at Stake to Forget

An Important Step Forward

A Procession of Deacons and Four-Count Time

Lesson for July 29, 2012: Jehoshaphat Makes Judicial Reforms (2 Chronicles 18, 19)

DCC Offers Scholarships to Family after Father Dies

The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life for His Sheep

Interview with Alicia Ellis Crumpton

Preaching, Prevailing, and Seeking

NACC Wrap-up: Numbers and More

Their Questions, Your Answers with These Two New Titles

Why Are Christians SO Intolerant?

The Biggest Factor Is Chance?

Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead

Lesson for July 22, 2012: A King Acts on a Widow’s Behalf (2 Kings 4:1-37; 8:1-6)

Megachurches: Storm Clouds Ahead?

Milligan to Begin Offering Political Science Major

Meeting Needs & Saving Souls

How Shall We Face the Future?

At Eye Level

A Widow’s Faith

Discussions Just Begun

Just One NACC Story

Barnabas Day

It’s All About the Connections

A Mission, Not Just a Mission Trip

The Start of a Refreshing Week

Externally Focused AND Evangelistic?

Willing to Lead

Christian Standard Is Becoming a Monthly!

Resentments by the Wayside

Lesson for July 15, 2012: Solomon Judges with Wisdom and Justice (1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 9:8)

How a Good Team Is Getting Better

The Mystery, the Meaning, the Love

Artists Contribute to Yearlong Bible Emphasis

The President & Immigration

Downloads

A Ministry to Immigrants in Canada

Miscellaneous News

You May Not Know You Know Me

The Immigrants, My Friends

What I’ve Learned, What I Believe About Immigration

Immigration: Our Position

Lesson for July 8, 2012: David Embodies God’s Justice (2 Samuel 22:1–23:7; 1 Chronicles 18:14)

The Other Side of the Fence

June 2012

Liberty & Love

A Shot Heard Throughout History

Immigration: What’s a Christian to Think?

Immigration: What Does the Bible Say?

Church Pounds Pavement with Positive Chalk Talk

Rather Die than Change?

Deep Change

My Thorn

Lesson for July 1, 2012: Samuel Administers Justice (1 Samuel 4–7)

What Would Bubba Do?

He Suffers with Us

Endless Summer

NACC Plans Live-Stream of Event This Summer

Strategies to De-stress Leadership

A Young Minister’s Heartbreak

What’s Happening with Wayne?

Playing Hurt

Interview with Kent Paris

Lesson for June 24, 2012: Love God; Love People (Deuteronomy 10:1-22; 16:18-20)

First Voice

Conflict Is a Constant, Encouragement Is a Fuel

Remembering Sacrifice, Celebrating Victory

‘Rooted in Love’ Partners for Foster Care, Adoption

Rah-Rah for the Christian Standard

Happy 77th Birthday, AA!

What About Workouts?

What About Exercise?

What About Diet?

From 90-Pound Weakling to Weight Lifter

Lesson for June 17, 2012: Celebrate Jubilee (Leviticus 25)

A Narrow Focus or a Broad Base?

Casual Conversation Grows into Citywide Event

A New Meaning to an Old Memorial

Difficult Questions

Seven Positive Trends for Megachurches

My Top 10 Reasons for Staying Put

What About Southeast?

More than Numbers?

An Exception to the Rule?

Better with Time?

Beware the Second Decade

Lesson for June 10, 2012: Live as God’s Just People (Leviticus 19)

How Long Should a Sermon Be?

Empty/Full

Leaders with Servant Hearts

Small Churches: Responding to Some Stereotypes

May 2012

Eight Vital Characteristics of a Life-Changing Small Group Leader

Woman Launches Mentoring Program for Teenage Girls

You Can Go Home Again

Cross Creek: Facing the Challenge of Change

MEDIUM-SIZED CHURCHES: The 2011 List

Consistency in Corinth

Lesson for June 3, 2012: Practice Justice (Exodus 22:1-23:9)

Mumbling in the Dark

Bring It to the Table

Money Matters

Beautiful

Elders: A Key to Growth in the New Church

A Church Anyone Can Come To

Impacting Canada

Center Creek: Serving Christ in the Heartland

LARGE-SIZED CHURCHES: The 2011 List

Central Brazil Mission Dedicates New Medical Boat

Pursuing God, the Cure for Narcissism

Lesson for May 27, 2012: The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14)

For the Children and the Tension

What Every Leader Needs

iChurch

Interview with Mike Baker

Multisites & Mergers

How Do We Reach People Who Don’t Trust Church?

How to Follow a Great Act

A Call for Passionate Commitment

Canyon Creek: Reaching Thousands

Don’t Look Away

CreekView: Moving to an Exciting Future

Megachurches: The 2011 List

Obituaries from 2011

Together and Thriving

Lesson for May 20, 2012: The Resurrection and the Life (John 11:1-44)

Seven Ways We Keep Church Hoppers from Staying at Our Church

Partnership Hoping to Start 200 Churches in LA

The Privilege I Anticipate

The Most Vital Small Group Principle

Elder Governance: Everybody’s Concern

The Right Framework for a Healthy Body

Policy Governance: Adapt, Don’t Adopt

Chicken Sandwiches and Glorifying God

Lesson for May 13, 2012: The Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18)

The Priority of Preaching

In the Beginning, a Multiverse?

TV Show Focusing on Love Films Worship at Church

Backward, Inward, and Forward

Elders, Submission, and the Rebel in Me!

Turning Around Our Middle School Ministry

April 2012

What I’ve Learned in 20-plus Years of Middle School Ministry

Finding Your Bearings

Lesson for May 6, 2012: The Bread of Life (John 6)

Fair-Trade Project Producing Prom Dresses

Born into His Family

Angels, Demons, and the Future of the Church

Interview with Mike Bowling

Either, or Both, or Neither?

Missional and Attractional

The Attractional Model: ‘Come and See’

The Missional Model: ‘Go and Make Disciples’

Church Hosts Special Services for ‘Transitionals’

Lesson for April 29, 2012: Blind Man Receives Sight (John 9)

Laughing Together

The Place of Victory

Filtering Criticism

The Unwanted Gift

Sacrifice and Balance in a Life of Ministry

Does Anybody Really Care?

Trends, Turns, and Trailblazing

Lesson for April 22, 2012: Samaritan Woman Finds Living Water (John 4:1-42)

Why Should Christians Care About Bioethics?

Forgiveness, Love, and Hope

What’s Missing?

Orchard Group Teaming Up to Plant Church in Ireland

Gen X Rising (Part 2)

Gen X Rising (Part 1)

A Solid Week of Playing Hard and Praying Hard

Lesson for April 15, 2012: Temple Is Cleansed (John 2:13-25)

Style Conscious

A New Church for Happy’s Inn

My Wish for the Irregulars

The Host of the Table

Breaking the Ice

‘I Will Save You’

Virginia Churches, Others Partner to ‘Change Who Waits’

A Poor Man’s Wish for His Christian Friends

A Room Called Remember

Unexpectedly Sweet

Lesson for April 8, 2012: Jesus Lives! (John 20:1-23)

March 2012

Missional or Attractional—Who Cares?

Delivering the Message

Warehouse Transformed into Athletic Complex

Is Seminary Worth It?

Considering the Question of ‘Them’ and ‘Us’ and ‘Ours’

We’re Not Alone

Lesson for April 1, 2012: Jesus Testifies to the Truth (John 18, 19)

How Colleges Are Coping

Christian Church Colleges?

Unwelcome at the Table

To Rest at Water’s Edge

To End, to Follow, to Believe

College News

Johnson Honors Alums Featured on TV Show

The Challenge Is for All of Us

Interview with Terry Stine

What Good Is a College Education These Days?

21st-Century Challenges to Biblical Higher Education

Lesson for March 25, 2012: Nicodemus Learns of New Birth (John 3:1-25; Numbers 21:4-9)

Christian Colleges, 2011-12 (Chart)

2012 College Reports: Building, Teaching, Serving, Growing!

The Family Reunion

The Power of Story

The Table

A Call to Courage

Film Festival Aims at Raising Water Awareness

The Landing

Love ’em into the Lord’s Work!

Ten Skills Every Leader Needs

We Know Leaders Like Those the World Is Seeking

Lesson for March 18, 2012: Water Turned to Wine (John 2:1-12)

A Longing to Be Fully Known

Creeds: A Slogan Reexamined

Calvary-Road Therapy

Emmanuel Offers Web-based Degree Completion

IDES Working to Help Tornado Victims

NACC 2012: Interview with the President

NACC 2012: Speakers, Topics to Challenge and Refresh

NACC 2012: Different, but the Same

Orlando in July? Can’t Wait!

Lesson for March 11, 2012: The Word Became Flesh (John 1:1-18)

The Marginalized

Now This Is Progress

Lead with Style!

Sitting Pretty

Media Matters – 2012

Lifeline, Southland Work Together for Haiti

February 2012

Disfigured

Sending and Supporting Missionary Kids

‘Commissioned’: NMC Becomes ICOM

An ‘Incredible Group’ for an Important Mission

Lesson for March 4, 2012: Wisdom’s Origin (Proverbs 8)

Provocative Approaches to Purity, Dementia, and the Afterlife

Just Begins to Live

How Should the Church Relate to Those with Same-Sex Attraction?

Just Ten Seconds

Sending, Serving, Reaching: Team Expansion

Sending, Serving, Reaching: TCM International Institute

Sending, Serving, Reaching: Pioneer Bible Translators

‘Promise Island’ VBS Earns Top Honors

Sending, Serving, Reaching: New Missions Systems International

Sending, Serving, Reaching: IDES

Sending, Serving, Reaching: Good News Productions International

Sending, Serving, Reaching: FAME

Sending, Serving, Reaching: Christian Missionary Fellowship

Lesson for Feb. 26, 2012: Bearing the Fruit of Redemption (Galatians 5:2–6:18)

Where Are the Churchmen Scholars?

Heritage Center Ready to Add to Collection

The Candidates and Causes We Worship

Speak the Truth—Even on the Internet

In the Garden

Our Journey with Grace

Works Without Grace Are Dead

What We Learned

Lesson for Feb. 19, 2012: Inheriting Abraham’s Promise (Galatians 3:15–5:1)

Celebrating the Restoration of a Broken-World Brother

His Church & Her Church

A Bit of a Situation Here

Our Elders May Function Differently Than Yours

Wonder Bread

The Lodge and the Lord’s Supper

More Than a Memorial

Lesson for Feb. 12, 2012: Blessed with Abraham (Galatians 3:1-14)

Meeting and Meaning at the Lord’s Supper

Church Continues with Katrina Recovery Efforts

Seasoned Saints, Deeply Good

What Are We Trying to Restore?

Sherman Interviews President Bush

Lipscomb University Adds Benefit to Prison Program

The Homes Where Preachers Live

January 2012

Personal Milestones

Seven Heavens

A Preacher’s Kid’s Hopes for His Own PKs

Lesson for Feb. 5, 2012: Justified by Faith in Christ (Galatians 1, 2)

How to Help a Preacher’s Kid

Crying for Calvary

Looking Upward, Outward, and Inward

Going Urban

Giving Plate Food Ministry Growing Exponentially

Come with Us to Brazil

Church Planting Organizations

So You Want to Plant a Church?

Lesson for Jan. 29, 2012: Israel Is Delivered from Egypt (Exodus 1-15)

Power Planting

From Despair to Hope

Flip-Flops and Such

The Multigenerational Church

Global Gospel Sets Out to Bridge Language Barriers

Condescension that Brought Redemption

Not Just Another Leadership Book

Cultivating Cultures that Help People Flourish

What’s a Leader to Do?

What Makes a Culture Good?

Lesson for Jan. 22, 2012: Joseph Transmits Abraham’s Promise (Genesis 50)

Nurturing Your Organization’s Culture

The Peninsula Mentality

Counting Sheep

Save Some Quarters, Ship Some Supplies

Reflecting on 40 Years in Ministry

In Just One Year: Love Your City

In Just One Year: I Pray I’m Wrong

Lesson for Jan. 15, 2012: God Preserves a Remnant (Genesis 42:1—46:7)

In Just One Year: Momentous Change and Possibility

The Old Has Gone, the New Has Come!

In Just One Year: Tell Me It’s Not Just a Dream!

In Just One Year: Pundit Predictions

Dozens Baptized after Bible Seminars at Prisons

BASH Program Offers After-school Help

In Just One Year: The Worst . . . and the Best

Strategies for a New Year

Interview with Don Hamilton

Aging, Dying, Disasters . . . and Joy

The First Step Toward Unity

Lesson for Jan. 8, 2012: Joseph Finds Favor (Genesis 41)

Other People’s Accomplishments