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!