Articles : Muriel T. Stackley
Aug. 16, 2010 issue
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Stackley
Staying committed
At this final lesson of the summer quarter it is appropriate to look around for some harvest. “Keeping commitment” is an expected harvest from the previous 12 weeks. You may recall the three divisions: the nature of Christian commitment, the foundations of Christian commitment and the marks of Christian commitment.
In the course of the summer we have done a lot of living. We have read the text, and we have let the text read us. The apostle has been our guide, clearly articulating his commitment first to Jesus and, second, to his commitment to telling people about Jesus. Paul encourages his readers — us — to be committed first to Jesus and second to talking about Jesus.
Aug. 9, 2010 issue
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Two kinds of peace
Earlier this summer we talked about commitment issues. “Finding Peace,” the focus for this week, is couched in the commitment of following Jesus: It is in commitment to Jesus that we find peace. Inner peace? Yes. Outer peace? Yes, although that may not be obvious
Aug. 2, 2010 issue
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A focus for life
Watchers of Oprah Winfrey’s show may remember the day a family of four came on the program, desperately needing focus for their life together. Their relationships were in shambles. Their finances were a disaster: too much money spent on unneeded purchases. They ate no meals together. Worship together? What on Earth did that mean?
July 26, 2010 issue
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Serving others
The best mission work, the best cross-cultural work, happens when the speaker identifies with the hearers.
July 19, 2010 issue
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Facing obstacles
Paul’s letter to the believers at Philippi has been called joyful, but it starts with a lament about the obstacles we face. Paul had the confidence that as he submitted his life to the will of God, God would be honored, even in adversity.
July 12, 2010 issue
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Journey together
In these 15 verses, the Apostle Paul moves from complimenting to commanding, from commendation to stern warning. “Follow our example,” he writes, and we have heard these words in previous lessons from the Thessalonian letter.
July 5, 2010 issue
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Standing firm
What shall we take from these terse verses? Curriculum writer Aimee Reed suggests a fine response: take these words, take them seriously, and bring what we are to the altar — to God. Stand firm.
June 28, 2010 issue
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New purpose in life
The woman had barely any purpose in life.
June 21, 2010 issue
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Prisoner of hope
It was hopeless. White South Africa was armed to the teeth. Black South Africa was roiling with resentment. It was the 1990s.
June 14, 2010 issue
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Motive for action
Young Carl Dean stood with his sixth-grade classmates outside the principal’s office. The teacher was speaking. The children were unusually quiet. There had been a bullying incident. The offenders knew. They had bullied a smaller-than-average boy, and not just once. Hearing about it, the teacher asked the principal to get involved.
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