Theology &amp; Bible

Ruth’s Exemplary Loyalty (Sept. 6 Lesson Application)

This “Application“ column goes with the Bible lesson for Sept. 6, 2020: “Serve Devotedly” (Ruth 1:3-5, 8-11, 14-18) ________ By David Faust Brand loyalty keeps us buying Coke or Pepsi, Fords or Toyotas, and cheering for our favorite sports teams. Loyalty can be misplaced, though. Have you been burned by an unscrupulous salesperson who cheated you, an unfaithful friend who betrayed you, or a church leader who wounded you? Jesus urged us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, refusing to follow untrustworthy preachers, priests, or politicians who would lead us astray. Loyalty is rare. “Many claim to

August 31, 2020

Discovery Questions for September 6, 2020

COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Sept. 6, 2020: “Serve Devotedly” (Ruth 1:3-5, 8-11, 14-18) “Ruth’s Exemplary Loyalty,” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What was the biggest challenge you faced last week? 2. What did you do last week, as empowered by God’s Spirit, to share the love of Jesus with someone? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Ruth 1:3-5, 8-11, and 14-18 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to retell the story as if telling it to

August 24, 2020

Lesson for August 30, 2020: Stand Boldly (Judges 6:11-16, 25-40)

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 August 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: Follow God boldly. ________ By Mark Scott The fifth judge of Israel was hardly bold when God called him. Gideon (“hewer”) was more on the order of Barney Fife than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. But he became bold, and he ultimately was mentioned in the faith chapter of the Bible (Hebrews 11:32).

August 24, 2020

A Time for Boldness (Aug. 30 Lesson Application)

By David Faust When astronauts take untethered space walks, they float in outer space without anything attaching them to the space station. What a feeling of complete freedom! They are untethered and free from all restraints—but in grave danger. I’m sure those astronauts feel relieved when they scramble safely back into the spaceship. They couldn’t survive out there alone. Do you want to be untethered and free from any restraint? Consider what it was like during the raucous era of the Judges. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 17:6, 21:25)—and that remains

August 24, 2020

Discovery Questions for August 30, 2020

Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What challenge did you face last week? 2. In what ways did you see the Lord going before you over the past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Judges 6:11-16, 25-40 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to retell the story in four acts: Act 1: A Mighty Message; Act 2: “Altering” the Altar; Act 3: Dad’s Defense; Act 4: A Trumpet and a Test. 3. What stands out to you in this passage? 4. Let’s

August 17, 2020

Lesson for August 23, 2020: Lead Courageously (Judges 4:1-16)

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 August 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: When God leads, follow. ________ By Mark Scott Deborah (“honeybee”) was the fourth judge of Israel and the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. Before her came Othniel, who helped Israel achieve peace for 40 years (Judges 3:7-11); followed by Ehud, who was left-handed and killed chubby Eglon (3:12-30); and Shamgar,

August 17, 2020

Discovery Questions for August 23, 2020

Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What struggles have you faced over the last week? 2. What actions did you take this past week to pass on your faith to the next generation? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Judges 4:1-16 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to retell the story in their own words. Remind them to keep it simple. 3. Imagine we as a group are writing a sermon on this passage. Let’s brainstorm a title for the message! 4. Let’s

August 10, 2020

Lesson for August 16, 2020: Stop the Spiral (Judges 2:10-19)

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 August 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: When God disciplines, repent. ________ By Mark Scott Judges may well be the ugliest book in the Bible. Perpetual sin was creating a union with death among God’s people. “There was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25, English Standard Version; cf. 17:6; 18:1;

August 10, 2020

Halting the Downward Cycle (Aug. 16 Lesson Application)

By David Faust “Sin blinds you, then it binds you, then it grinds you.” I don’t know who first said those words, but they ring true. Disobedience to God leads to a downward cycle. “After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:15)—and that’s true on both a personal level and a societal level. Someone observed, “First we overlook evil. Then we permit evil. Then we legalize evil. Then we promote evil. Then we celebrate evil. Then we persecute anyone who still calls it evil.” There are two

August 10, 2020

Discovery Questions for August 16, 2020

Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What struggles have you faced over the last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the first two people to read Judges 2:10-19 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third helper to retell the story in their own words. Remind them to keep it simple. 2. What one word would you use to describe this summary of the Israelites during the time of the judges? (Give participants a few moments to think.) 3. Let’s look more closely at a few details: • Why

August 3, 2020

Lesson for August 9, 2020: Serve the Lord (Joshua 24:1, 14-28, 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. This lesson treatment is published in the August 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: Be strong and courageous; serve the Lord faithfully. ________ By Mark Scott T.S. Eliot wrote, “For those who serve the greater cause may make the cause serve them.” A remarkable deception of the enemy is in duping believers into thinking they deserve God to serve them (cf. Luke 17:10). But everything good

August 3, 2020

You Have a Choice (Aug. 9 Lesson Application)

By David Faust It’s unfortunate that expressions like “pro-choice” and “the right to choose” have been co-opted by abortion advocates. When properly understood, the ability to choose is one of God’s greatest gifts. We don’t get to choose our birthdays, our height, or the color of our skin. But we decide what we believe, what we value, and who our friends will be. Faith, hope, and love are choices more than feelings. At age 20, I decided to ask a young woman named Candy to marry me, and I remain grateful she chose to say yes. ROCK OR SAND? What

August 3, 2020

Discovery Questions for August 9, 2020

Study Questions for Groups 1. How did you show kindness to someone this past week? 2. What struggles have you faced over the last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Joshua 24:1, 14-28, 31 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. (Option: Read Joshua 24:1-31.) Ask the third person to retell the story in their own words as if telling it to a group of kids at Vacation Bible School. 3. What key terms do you see in this passage? 4. Let’s look more closely at some of the details:

July 27, 2020

Lesson for August 2, 2020: Rahab Saved (Joshua 2:1-16; 6:15-25)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the August 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: Be strong and courageous; our God is a God who saves. ________ By Mark Scott Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Rahab the prostitute did that. Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around

July 27, 2020

The Rahab Rehab (Aug. 2 Lesson Application)

By David Faust Most family trees contain some bad apples. My parents proudly informed me that our ancestors include notable figures such as Johnny Appleseed, William Penn, and General George Patton. However, in German my last name means “fist,” so I suspect my family tree also includes some horse thieves and barroom brawlers. Jesus’ family tree in Matthew 1 includes some shady characters. Names that appear on the first page of the New Testament remind us of Jacob’s conniving, David and Bathsheba’s adultery, Solomon’s hundreds of marriages, and the wickedness of King Ahaz and King Manasseh. These ragged-edged stories remind

July 27, 2020

Discovery Questions for August 2, 2020

Study Questions for Groups 1. What answers to prayer did you receive over the last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Joshua 2:1-16 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask the same two readers to each read Joshua 6:15-25. Ask the third person to retell the story in their own words as if telling it to a group of adolescents. 2. What, if anything, surprises you from these passages? 3. Let’s look more closely at some of the details: • In what parts of this narrative do you

July 20, 2020

Lesson for July 26, 2020: The Promised Land (Joshua 3:7-17; 21:43-45; 23:1-5)

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 July 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: Be strong and courageous; God is faithful to keep all his promises. ________ By Mark Scott Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (English Standard Version). Israel had longed for the Promised Land for years. Their hearts were sick for their

July 20, 2020

How Far Can You See? (July 26 Lesson Application)

By David Faust How far can you see into the distance? With 20/20 vision you can read the optometrist’s eye chart accurately at a distance of 20 feet, but healthy human eyes can see a lot farther than that. Those fluffy white cumulus clouds floating overhead are probably more than 2,000 feet away, and you can see the moon though it’s 238,855 miles from Earth and the sun though it’s 93 million miles away. How far can you see into the future? Maybe you’ve heard the advice, “Dream 20 years ahead, think 10 years ahead, plan five years ahead.” The

July 20, 2020