New Testament

New Testament features Bible-based articles that help readers understand the message of Jesus, the early church, and the teaching of the apostles. Explore resources on the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation—covering historical context, key themes, doctrine, and practical application for discipleship and ministry. You’ll find guidance for studying passages faithfully, tracing the gospel story, and applying New Testament teaching to church life, ethics, and everyday following of Christ. This hub supports readers who want to grow in Scripture and live out the truth of the New Testament.

April 25, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for May 1, 2016: Increased Faith (Luke 17:1-10)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the April 24 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Jesus” teachings often overwhelmed the disciples. When he taught that he was the bread of life, his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching”Âť (John 6:60). When he taught about what truly defiles a person, his disciples asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended

April 18, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 24, 2016: Tested Faith (Luke 15:11-24)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the April 17 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  This parable is the most familiar of Jesus” 40 parables. Jesus” teaching on discipleship ended with the words, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear”Âť (Luke 14:35). The most unlikely people, namely tax collectors and sinners, drew near to hear him (15:1). To justify

April 11, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 17, 2016: Recovered Faith (Luke 8:26″“36)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the April 10 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Three of the Gospels record this story (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; and our text today from Luke). The Synoptics place this story following the calming of the storm and prior to the healing of the woman with the flow of blood and the raising of

April 4, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 10, 2016: Shameless Faith (Luke 7:36-50)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the April 3 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Love and forgiveness are inextricably linked. The reason that God forgives so well is because his love is ginormous. Love without forgiveness is only academic. Forgiveness without love is hypocritical. In Luke 7 we move from the amazing faith of the centurion (vv. 1-10) to

March 28, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 3, 2016: Renewed Health (Luke 7:1-10)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the March 27 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  How can an all-knowing God be amazed at anything? Scripture affirms that Jesus was amazed””we are told of two examples in his ministry. Once he was amazed at belief (today”s passage and the parallel text in Matthew 8:10), and once he was amazed at unbelief

March 27, 2016

Christian Standard

Facing the Future

By Joe Boyd What did the resurrection mean to the readers of the oldest Gospel? And how does that help us in our own confusing lives and complicated age?  Most followers of Jesus are aware that there are four Gospels in the Christian Scriptures: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. All four of these accounts tell the story of Jesus, but, at times, from different perspectives. Most New Testament scholars agree that Mark”s Gospel is likely the oldest, dating a few decades after the life and death of Jesus. Looking at Mark”s story of the resurrection, one realizes it is brief

March 21, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for March 27, 2016: Resurrection Faith (Mark 16:1-8)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the March 20 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Our celebrations of Easter can be pretty bland. Easter eggs, chocolate, and lilies are not very threatening. But the first Easter was scary. If Jesus was alive, then life could not continue as usual. The resurrection is a historical fact. Faith in the resurrected Jesus begins

March 14, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for March 20, 2016: Struggling Faith (Mark 14:26-31, 66-72)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the March 13 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  A common struggle we face is consistent faith. On Palm Sunday the people shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”Âť (Mark 11:9). But by Friday they shouted, “Crucify him”Âť (Mark 15:14). Peter (and the other disciples) had that same

February 5, 2016

Christian Standard

Praiseworthy Parable Continues to Inspire

By Jennifer Johnson As a professor of Greek and New Testament at Milligan College in Tennessee, Lee Magness taught about the exegesis and theology of the parable of the prodigal son for decades. But a few years ago he taught a class on “Jesus and the Arts”Âť with his wife, Patricia Magness, and began noticing the great works of art this parable has inspired through the years. “It sparked an idea””to teach a course that approached the parable from both an exegetical and artistic perspective,”Âť he says. “I also added in some work on the sociological background of the story

December 4, 2015

Christian Standard

Away in a Manger

By Lee Magness Luke tells us three things about the location of Jesus” birth: the town, the building, and the furniture. First, Luke emphasizes that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, mentioning the town four times (2:4, 6, 11, and 15). Bethlehem was a farming village, insignificant except for one thing””being the birthplace of King David. No, make that two things””Bethlehem means “house of bread.”Âť Jesus, the “bread of life,”Âť was born in the “house of bread.”Âť Second, Luke tells us there was no guest room for Mary and Joseph when it was time for Jesus to be born (Luke 2:7).

October 26, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for November 1, 2015: God Rescues Peter (Acts 12:1-24)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the October 25 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Rescue is at the heart of the gospel. Germane to the meaning of the word salvation is deliverance or rescue. The Bible often uses salvation in its most spiritual sense””redemption, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life (Colossians 1:13). But since salvation also includes the healing

October 19, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for October 25, 2015: Peter Defends His Actions (Acts 11:1-18)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the October 18 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Not everyone is happy with church growth. The wide embrace of the gospel can really mess with prejudice. When the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius”s house, God was turning a new page in the church”s history. The church would never be the same. Perhaps the

October 12, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for October 18, 2015: Peter Preached to Gentiles (Acts 10:1-44)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the October 11 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Reading the book of Acts is like throwing a pebble in a pool of water and watching the ripple effect. The circles keep getting wider. When Peter preached to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) that was the first ripple. When Peter confirmed

October 5, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for October 11, 2015: Saul Begins to Preach (Acts 9:19b-31)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the October 4 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  It is hard not to overstate the significance of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. His conversion story is told three times in Acts (9:1-19a; 22:6-11; 26:12-18). God used Peter to open the door of faith to Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. But God would need a

September 28, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for October 4, 2015: Simon Is Rebuked (Acts 8:9-25)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the September 27 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  The four lessons of October focus on the two most famous apostles (Peter and Paul) giving bold testimony. Three of the lessons focus on Peter”s bold testimony. Peter used Jesus” “keys”Âť (Matthew 16:19) to open the door of faith to the Jews (Acts 2:1-47). Now

September 21, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for September 27, 2015: Standing Firm Against Opposition (Acts 7:1-53)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the September 20 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Opposition always hurts. It especially hurts when it comes from kin. Stephen found that out. The second internal challenge that the church faced (certain widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food) caused the church to select seven men to handle this oversight (Acts

September 14, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for September 20, 2015: Speaking Up for God (Acts 5:27-29, 33-42)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the September 13 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  The first internal challenge to the church had been put to rest (literally) through the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). Interestingly enough though, the apostles were revered for their miracles, and the church grew (5:12-16). Luke continues the account of the early church by

September 7, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for September 13, 2015: Sharing with Sincerity (Acts 4:34″”5:10)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the September 6 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  In Luke”s summaries of the earliest church, we see it at its best (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37). The gospel was being preached, people were being saved, a congregation was being planted, Communion was being celebrated, and giving was off the charts. Who would not want to

August 31, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for September 6, 2015: Praying for Boldness (Acts 4:23-31)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Dr. Mark Scott, who teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. Scott has also held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This treatment is published in the August 30 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Lots of things qualify as “acts”Âť in the Book of Acts””miracles, speeches, encounters, persecutions, and even prayers. Prayer is an act. Persecution against the earliest church made prayer a red-hot act. This is the second prayer in Acts in which we are told the

May 28, 2015

Christian Standard

By Christians, for Christians

By Scott Caulley How long has it been since you really read the Gospels? Maybe, like I, you remember stories about Jesus brought to “life”Âť with flannelgraph figures in Sunday school classes. Because of my upbringing, I am blessed with wonderful memories of Jesus with the lost sheep, Jesus with the man born blind, Jesus and the lame man lowered through the roof by his faithful friends. And maybe you, like I, have heard many sermons taken from these Gospel stories. For us, as well as for children, these stories are brief, action filled, and work well as freestanding units.

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