Bible Study

Application for April 5: The Feeding of the Five

(This “Application“ column goes with the Bible study for April 5, 2020: “Power to Sustain.”) By David Faust The feeding of the 5,000 is one of my favorite biblical miracles. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were fond of it, too. Other than the Lord’s resurrection, it’s the only miracle described in all four Gospels. The multiplying of the bread and fish simultaneously demonstrates both Jesus’ creativity and his compassion—his amazing power over material objects and his concern for hungry souls. John says of the Living Word, “Without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3). The all-powerful Lord

March 29, 2020

Discovery Questions for April 5, 2020

(Click here for a detailed explanation of how to use the Discovery Bible Study.) By Leigh Mackenzie Study Questions for Groups 1. In what ways did you see Jesus’ power work in and through you over the past week? What else are you thankful for from the past week? Ask three people—two readers and one —for their help. Ask the first reader to read John 6:1-15, 25-29 aloud. Then ask the second person to read it again, perhaps from a different version. Ask the third person to retell (not interpret, just paraphrase) the narrative in about 60 seconds (as if

March 23, 2020

Mark Scott

Lesson for March 29, 2020: Power Over Evil (Mark 5:1-20)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the April 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. ________ Lesson Aim: Contend with evil in this world and overcome through Jesus’ power. ________ By Mark Scott The miracles of Jesus have their own “power” vocabulary. Jesus’ power is explosive (the Greek word translated “miracle” is the English word “dynamite”). Jesus’ power creates wonder (the Greek word means something that shocks and terrifies). Jesus’ power points to him (the

March 23, 2020

David Faust

Application for March 29: In Our Right Minds

(This “Application“ column goes with the Bible study for March 29, 2020: “Power Over Evil.”) By David Faust Jesus’ encounter with the man possessed by demons known as Legion is a strange-sounding story, but here are three practical lessons we can learn from it. Satan is real; evil is devastating. The prince of darkness isn’t a childish myth. We struggle “against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12). Demonic forces nearly destroyed the man. He was violent, self-destructive, and anti-social, and he lived in a cemetery. It’s naïve to deny Satan’s influence.

March 23, 2020

Discovery Questions for March 29, 2020

(Click here for a detailed explanation of how to use the Discovery Bible Study.) By Leigh Mackenzie Study Questions for Groups 1. What was challenging for you this past week? (Be as specific as possible.) Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—for their help. Ask the first reader to read Mark 5:1-20 aloud. Then ask the second person to read it aloud again (it may be useful to read it from a different Bible version). Then ask everyone except the reteller to set aside their Bibles and simply listen. Ask the third person to retell (not interpret) the narrative in

March 16, 2020

Lesson for March 22, 2020: Set Free (Luke 13:10-17, 31-35)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 3 (weeks 9-12; March 1-22, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Don’t be held captive by sin anymore because Christ has set you free! ________ By Mark Scott Jesus is all about freedom (Isaiah 61:1; John 8:34-36; Romans 8:1, 2; Galatians 5:1). His ordination sermon in the Nazareth synagogue (Luke 4:16-30) made that very clear. He will not be dissuaded or

March 15, 2020

God’s Word Achieves Its Purpose

By Michael C. Mack We believe God’s Word “is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12). We believe it goes out from God’s mouth and will not return to him empty but will accomplish what he desires and achieve the purpose for which he sent it (Isaiah 55:11). We also believe it is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). We are a people devoted to God’s Word. We stand on the Bible alone, and not on human creeds, human opinions, or

March 9, 2020

Lesson for March 15, 2020: An End to Mourning (Luke 8:40-56)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 3 (weeks 9-12; March 1-22, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Allow hope in Jesus to temper your grief and suffering in this world. ________ By Mark Scott The Bible affirms that there is a place for mourning (Matthew 5:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). But the Bible also affirms that God desires to remove mourning (Isaiah 35:10; Revelation 21:4). In our text

March 2, 2020

Lesson for March 8, 2020: Good News of Forgiveness (Luke 5:17-32)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 3 (weeks 9-12; March 1-22, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Trust God’s Word that your sins are forgiven through Christ. ________ By Mark Scott “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” What do we need to hear more than that? Peoples’ greatest need is to be forgiven of their sins and therefore be right with God. The two gospel narratives in our

February 24, 2020

Lesson for March 1, 2020: Anointed to Heal (Luke 4:14-20, 31-44)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 3 (weeks 9-12; March 1-22, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Bring your heartaches and brokenness to Jesus for his healing. ________ By Mark Scott Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35). Jesus was ordained by the Holy Spirit at his baptism (Luke 3:22). Jesus returned from his wilderness temptations by the devil in the power of

February 17, 2020

Lesson for Feb. 23, 2020: Building the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:1-8, 17-33)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 2 (weeks 5-8; February 2-23, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Appreciate the tabernacle as a type of the redemption and sanctification available in Christ alone. ________ By Mark Scott How should we speak of “sacred space?” On the one hand, all space belongs to God, and therefore it is all sacred. Since God is infinite, what house could be built

February 10, 2020

Lesson for Feb. 16, 2020: The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 2 (weeks 5-8; February 2-23, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Commit to showing love to God and to others through observing God’s commandments. ________ By Mark Scott “They (the Ten Commandments) won’t go away. They continue to sit in silent judgment on generation after erring generation. They remain the great moral touchstone for the nations. We don’t obey them but

February 3, 2020

Lesson for Feb. 9, 2020: Miraculous Provisions (Exodus 16:11-32)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 2 (weeks 5-8; February 2-23, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Trust the Lord to provide for your needs. ________ By Mark Scott Bread is a staple of life. Sometimes it is a metonymy for “food” in general. It is part of the fourth petition of the model prayer (Matthew 6:11). It was the content of the first temptation of Jesus

January 27, 2020

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 2 (weeks 5-8; February 2-23, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Trust the Lord to honor his promises in spite of what appear to be overwhelming obstacles. ________ By Mark Scott Abraham Lincoln will be remembered this month. He delivered his powerful 271-word address at the Gettysburg Battlefield/Cemetery on November 19, 1863. One line from it is, “That these dead shall

January 22, 2020

Don't Lessen "the Least of These" (Matthew 25:31-46)

By Jon Weatherly _ _ _ “The impious Galilaeans support not only their own poor but ours as well.”Julian, Letters, 22 _ _ _ The scene is dramatic. The language is poetic. The effect is chilling. The Son of Man sits on the divine throne, surrounded by angels. Before him are the peoples of the world. He sorts them like a shepherd separating the more valuable sheep from the less valuable goats. But they are sorted for blessing and punishment, for a reason none quite expects. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did [or ‘did not do’] for one of

January 20, 2020

Lesson for Jan. 26, 2020: The Lord Delivers His People (Exodus 12:21-23, 29-42)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 1 (weeks 1-4; January 5-26, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Celebrate the Lord’s deliverance. ________ By Mark Scott It has been said that the Lord is rarely early, but never late. At just the right time he sent his Son (Galatians 4:4). And at just the right time God brought his people out of Egyptian slavery. The message of this

January 13, 2020

Lesson for Jan. 19, 2020: The Deliverer Rebuffed (Exodus 5:1-14, 19-21)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 1 (weeks 1-4; January 5-26, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Persevere through trials and setbacks. ________ By Mark Scott Christian leadership is not for the faint of heart. No wonder more than one ministry leadership guru has said, “To lead God’s people you have to have the heart of a lamb but the skin of a rhinoceros.” Christian leadership is

January 6, 2020

Lesson for Jan. 12, 2020: The Deliverer Called (Exodus 3:1-17)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 1 (weeks 1-4; January 5-26, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Answer the call of God to serve his people. ________ By Mark Scott The lyrics to a silly old quartet number went, “Excuses, excuses, you’ll hear them every day. And the Devil he’ll supply them if the church you stay away.” More than once Jesus told parables about people using

January 2, 2020

Matthew 25 and the Role of Christ's Church

By Michael C. Mack We’re trying something a little different this month. We have provided what amounts to a 54-page Bible study of 16 verses: Matthew 25:31-46. We begin with exposition; Jon Weatherly skillfully provides context and commentary for this passage. Of course, effectual Bible study begins with careful observation and accurate interpretation, but it means nothing without application. We must “do what it says.” And so we tell the stories of churches and other Christian organizations living out Matthew 25:34-40. They demonstrate what it looks like to feed the hungry, welcome strangers, clothe those in need, look after sick

December 29, 2019

Mark Scott