Theology & Bible

Theology & Bible helps Christians understand Scripture and the core teachings of the Christian faith. Explore Bible-based articles on biblical interpretation, doctrine, salvation, the Holy Spirit, baptism, communion, creation, and key themes across the Old and New Testaments. You’ll find thoughtful guidance for studying the Bible faithfully, applying God’s Word to life and ministry, and growing in theological clarity rooted in the gospel. Whether you’re a church leader, teacher, student, or everyday disciple, this hub equips you to know God through Scripture and live with conviction and hope.

November 23, 2020

Michael C. Mack

Discovery Questions for November 29, 2020

COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Nov. 29, 2020: Seek Reconciliation (Philemon 8-21) “I Missed You” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What challenges did you face last week at work, with family, or in other circumstances? 2. What good did you do this past week, especially to show someone else that God is good? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Philemon 8-21 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to take about one minute to summarize the passage. 3.

November 22, 2020

Jerry Harris

10 Foundation Stones of the Church—No. 8: Spiritual Gifts

A few years ago I had the chance to take my ministry team to the University of Notre Dame. We toured the stadium, but the highlight was going into the locker room, slapping the “PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY” sign, and running out of the tunnel and onto the field. It was all make-believe, but it pointed up man’s desire to be part of the game. Watching from the bleachers can be fun, but it’s nothing like actually playing in the game. Think about it—from the time we were young, we didn’t merely want to attend games or concerts, we

November 22, 2020

Rudy Hagood

‘Let Faith Do Its Work’ (A Study of James 1:1-12)

The Battle between What We Want and What Our Faith Wants At the start of his Epistle, James, the brother of Jesus, shared his curious idea about faith. A war is going on within us between what we want and what our faith wants. And so, he said, we have to let faith do its work. As individuals, we want things that get in the way of what our faith wants. We want convenience, familiarity, and the good life—but these things are at war with faith . . . and faith has its own goal. Religious leaders (like me) have

November 22, 2020

Arron Chambers

Our Powerful, Eternal Prince of Peace (A Study of Isaiah 9)

Three Timely Truths We Desperately Need Today I love Hallmark Christmas movies. I can imagine that, this year, Hallmark might air A Very COVID Christmas, where a newly single woman—who used to live in the big city and work for a huge company—moves back to her small hometown to sell the house she grew up in after the recent death of her mother . . . and then the pandemic hits! While quarantined in her childhood home, she has meals delivered from her favorite local diner by a food delivery service. The delivery guy—a recently widowed and now single father

November 16, 2020

Michael C. Mack

Eternal Thanksgiving—Eucharist

By Michael C. Mack Thanksgiving is more than an annual holiday. For Christ followers, it’s a vital spiritual discipline. Jesus often modeled giving thanks for us. When he raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus thanked his Father for hearing him (John 11:41-42). Before he fed the 4,000, he gave thanks for what was available to him—seven loaves and a few small fish (Mark 8:6-7). Jesus lived a life of thanksgiving for the big as well as the small blessings. And the early church followed Jesus’ example. The apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,

November 16, 2020

Mark Scott

Lesson for Nov. 22, 2020: Be Devoted to Doing Good (Titus 3:1-11)

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 November 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES “Good for You” by David Faust (Lesson Application) Discovery Questions for Nov. 22, 2020 ________ Lesson Aim: Understand that we are saved to do good for others, not merely for personal benefit. ________ By Mark Scott Thanksgiving is not just a national holiday observed this coming Thursday. It’s an acknowledgment of the

November 16, 2020

David Faust

Good for You (Nov. 22 Lesson Application)

This “Application” column goes with the Bible Lesson for Nov. 22, 2020: Be Devoted to Doing Good (Titus 3:1-11) ________ By David Faust Three times in Titus 3, Paul emphasizes that believers ought to “do whatever is good” (vv. 1, 8, 14). What does goodness look like on a practical level? Goodness often has a hard edge. Something can be good even when it doesn’t feel good. A mother tells her children, “Eat your vegetables. They’re good for you.” A football coach makes his players run laps around the field when they’re already tired from a long practice session. “The

November 16, 2020

Michael C. Mack

Discovery Questions for November 22, 2020

COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Nov. 22, 2020: Be Devoted to Doing Good (Titus 3:1-11) “Good for You” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What struggle or trial did you face over the past week? 2. As you interacted with people in your spheres of influence last week, how did you make the gospel “attractive”? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Titus 3:1-11 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the passage as if sharing the teaching

November 9, 2020

Mark Scott

Lesson for Nov. 15, 2020: Teach What Is Appropriate (Titus 2:1-15)

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 November 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES “How Do We Treat Those Student Drivers?” by David Faust (Lesson Application) Discovery Questions for Nov. 15, 2020 ________ Lesson Aim: Commit to proper application of biblical teaching to every demographic in the church. ________ By Mark Scott Seth Wilson said, “All of our efforts to control people show our failure to

November 9, 2020

David Faust

How Do We Treat Those Student Drivers? (Nov. 15 Lesson Application)

This “Application” column goes with the Bible Lesson for Nov. 15, 2020: Teach What Is Appropriate (Titus 2:1-15) ________ By David Faust My 16-year-old granddaughter is learning how to drive. On a recent Sunday afternoon, I tossed Kayla the car keys and sat next to her in the passenger seat while she drove around our church’s empty parking lot. She practiced parallel parking, inching the car between the painted lines. At one point she accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake pedal and we sped toward the curb. As we jerked to a stop she exclaimed, “I’m sorry, Papa!”

November 9, 2020

Michael C. Mack

Discovery Questions for November 15, 2020

COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Nov. 15, 2020: Teach What Is Appropriate (Titus 2:1-15) “How Do We Treat Those Student Drivers?” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What challenge did you face over the past week? 2. In what ways were you hospitable to someone last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Titus 2 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the passage in 60 seconds or less. 3. What would you add to what our

November 1, 2020

Mark Scott

Lesson for Nov. 8, 2020: Appoint Godly Leaders (Titus 1:5-11)

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 November 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES “Blame the Leaders?” by David Faust (Lesson Application) Discovery Questions for Nov. 8, 2020 ________ Lesson Aim: Consider the importance of godly leadership in the church. ________ By Mark Scott Traditionally, this past Tuesday has been the day Americans would go to the polls to vote for national and local leaders. By

November 1, 2020

David Faust

Blame the Leaders? (Nov. 8 Lesson Application)

This “Application” column goes with the Bible Lesson for Nov. 8, 2020: Appoint Godly Leaders (Titus 1:5-11) ________ By David Faust In an episode of the TV comedy The Office, regional manager Michael Scott makes his priorities clear. He tells his boss from the Dunder Mifflin corporate office, “I want the credit without any of the blame.” Blameless appears twice in Paul’s description of godly elders (Titus 1:6-7). If being blameless requires moral perfection and flawless decision-making, no one qualifies except Jesus. Noah was “blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God,” yet he had some less-than-stellar moments

November 1, 2020

Michael C. Mack

Discovery Questions for November 8, 2020

COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Nov. 8, 2020: Appoint Godly Leaders (Titus 1:5-11) “Blame the Leaders?” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What new challenge did you face last week? 2. In what specific ways did the Lord give you strength this past week so that through you his message could be proclaimed? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Titus 1:5-11 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize what this passage is about. 3. If you were

October 29, 2020

Christian Standard

An Examination of Miracles

Early in his ministry career—before his long years of service as senior editor with Standard Publishing (1981 to 2014)—Jon Underwood had a brief stint as director of publications with Christ In Youth. It was during that time that he wrote this concise examination of miracles. _ _ _ IT’S A MIRACLE! By Jon UnderwoodOct. 26, 1980; p. 9 “It’s a miracle!” So easily we say it—and often so carelessly. In our quest for restoring New Testament Christianity and calling Bible things by Bible names, this word “miracle” deserves careful attention. What is a miracle? In Scripture there are three ideas

October 26, 2020

Mark Scott

Lesson for Nov. 1, 2020: God Is Faithful (2 Timothy 2:11-13; 4:6-8, 16-18)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the November 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: Give thanks that God faithfully helps you to serve Christ. ________ COMPANION RESOURCES “Trimming Around the Edges” by David Faust (Lesson Application) Discovery Questions for Nov. 1, 2020 ________ By Mark Scott The United States Marine Corps was formed before the Declaration of Independence. Their origin goes back to November 10, 1775.

October 26, 2020

David Faust

Trimming Around the Edges (Nov. 1 Lesson Application)

This “Application” column goes with the Bible Lesson for Nov. 1, 2020: God Is Faithful (2 Timothy 2:11-13; 4:6-8, 16-18) ________ By David Faust I learned a lot of practical lessons on the farm where I grew up. Dad was good at fixing things. I wasn’t. He didn’t have a college degree, but he deserved an honorary doctorate in the school of hard knocks. He knew how to weld metal, mend fences, install electrical wiring, fix leaky water pipes, help a cow give birth, and grow a flourishing garden. He knew his Bible well. Neighbors and church members respected his

October 26, 2020

Michael C. Mack

Discovery Questions for November 1, 2020

COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Nov. 1, 2020: God Is Faithful (2 Timothy 2:11-13; 4:6-8, 16-18) “Trimming Around the Edges” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What big challenge did you face last week? 2. With whom did you share your faith in and love for Christ since we last met? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read 2 Timothy 2:11-13; 4:6-8, 16-18 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the main themes and subject matters from these

October 19, 2020

Mark Scott

Lesson for Oct. 25, 2020: You’re Next (2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:1-2; 3:10-17)

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 the October 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES “From Whom You Learned It” by David Faust (Lesson Application) Discovery Questions for Oct. 25, 2020 ________ Lesson Aim: Take up from others the responsibilities of serving Christ. ________ By Mark Scott Hans Finzel said, “There is no success without a successor” (The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make). Wise Christian leaders are

October 19, 2020

Michael C. Mack

Discovery Questions for October 25, 2020

COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Oct. 25, 2020: You’re Next (2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:1-2; 3:10-17) “From Whom You Learned It” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What’s the biggest challenge you faced last week? 2. In what way did you represent Christ well over the past week . . . in your workplace, in this class/small group, or on social media? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:1-2; and 3:10-17 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third

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