Theology &amp; Bible

Discovery Questions for June 7, 2020

Study Questions for Groups (These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for June 7, 2020: “The Look of True Friendship” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. In what ways were you like Job this past week, by being thankful and able to praise God through hard times? 2. What difficult or challenging circumstances did you or people around you encounter? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to read Job 16:1-5, 15-21 one after the other (preferably from different Bible versions). Then ask

May 25, 2020

Lesson for May 31, 2020: The Look of Integrity (Job 27:1-6; 31:5, 6, 16-23)

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 May 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES: Application: “Time to Adjust the Seat,” by David Faust Discovery Questions ________ Lesson Aim: Seek and embrace integrity through consistent acts of love. ________ By Mark Scott Integrity is a subject of much discussion today—perhaps because there is so little of it. It means living an undivided life. It means doing what

May 25, 2020

Application for May 31: Time to Adjust the Seat

(This “Application“ column goes with the Bible lesson for May 31, 2020: “The Look of Integrity”) By David Faust I am approximately six inches taller than my wife. Most of the time our height difference doesn’t matter, and it comes in handy when Candy asks me to reach the dishes she keeps on the top shelf of the kitchen cabinet. Our difference of height creates discomfort, though, when we drive each other’s cars. Candy adjusts the seat of her Honda Civic to fit her shorter frame, so when I get in, the steering wheel presses so close to my chest

May 25, 2020

Discovery Questions for May 31, 2020

(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for May 31, 2020: “The Look of Integrity” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. This past week, did you spend time with a friend, coworker, or family member who has been going through a dark time of suffering? If so, who, and how did that go? 2. What challenges did you face last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to read Job 27:1-6 one after the other (possibly from different Bible versions). Then ask

May 18, 2020

Lesson for May 24, 2020: I Catch No Glimpse of Him! (Job 2:11-13; 23:1-17)

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 the May 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES: Application: “If Only I Knew Where to Find Him,” by David Faust Discovery Questions ________ Lesson Aim: Don’t be silenced by the darkness. ________ By Mark Scott When we were young, we were taught about the patience of Job. Then as we matured and read the book of Job, many of us

May 18, 2020

Application for May 24: If Only I Knew Where to Find Him

(This “Application“ column goes with the Bible lesson for May 24, 2020: “I Catch No Glimpse of Him!“) By David Faust Certain things are rare, but you can find them if you know where to look. If you want to see polar bears, you can find them in countries that ring the Arctic Circle. Looking for penguins? Go to Antarctica. Redwood trees? They grow in California. Koalas? Go to Australia. Travel to the right location and you can find rare works of art. Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, and his Last Supper is on display

May 18, 2020

Doctrinal Issues & Debates Theology & Bible

Discovery Questions for May 24, 2020

(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for May 24, 2020: “I Catch No Glimpse of Him!” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. What is one example of how you loved and obeyed God last week? 2. What was challenging for you this past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to each read Job 2:11-13 aloud, one after the other (possibly from different Bible versions). Then ask the same two readers to each read Job 23:1-17. Ask the third person to

May 17, 2020

C. Robert Wetzel

Baptism Theology & Bible

The Boy with the Odd-Shaped Head

By C. Robert Wetzel Crew cuts were popular among boys in the late 1940s. What distinguished them from today’s short haircuts was that the closely cropped hair of the crew cut had to stand straight up. This necessitated at least two occasions of special care. It took a bit of thick hair gel to achieve vertical status, and a weekly trip to the barber to ensure the perfect shape. Hence all through high school, I made my Saturday visit to Charlie’s Barber Shop in Hugoton, Kansas, to nurture this dubious bit of fashion. I think I must have been about

May 17, 2020

Jerry Harris

10 Foundation Stones of the Church—No. 2: Authority

By Jerry Harris A 2019 Pew Research Center study reveals that Americans’ attitudes about institutional authority are dropping like a rock. People are losing their trust in government, elected officials, education, journalism, health care, business, law enforcement, science, the military, and yes, religion. The younger we are, the less trust in institutions we have. This lack of trust bleeds down into its most basic form . . . trust in each other. Interestingly, most everyone knows this needs to be reversed and believes it can be reversed—they just don’t know how. The thing is, authority is essential for anything to

May 11, 2020

Christian Standard

Communion & Lord's Supper Theology & Bible

Perspective

By Jon Wren One evening more than 2,000 years ago, Jesus and his followers huddled in a house in Jerusalem and shared a meal we now call Communion. We don’t have any details about what the house looked like or who owned it. But in that house that night, a small group of fishermen and outcasts huddled together for a meal while hiding out from the authorities. Today, untold numbers of tourists from around the world visit Jerusalem to visit places where scholars think that house might possibly have been. Think about that for a moment. When Jesus’ followers took

May 10, 2020

Lesson for May 17, 2020: His Beloved Ones (Dt 30:4-6, 11-14; Lev 26:40-42)

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 the May 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES: Application: ‘The Natural Response to Being Loved,” by David Faust Discovery Questions ________ Lesson Aim: Because he loves you, love him with all your heart! ________ By Mark Scott It is hard to improve the lyrics in the hymn “The Love of God” when verse 3 says, Could we with ink the

May 10, 2020

Application for May 17: The Natural Response to Being Loved

(This “Application“ column goes with the Bible lesson for May 17, 2020: “His Beloved Ones.”) By David Faust What would you say if someone asked, “Is it difficult to be a Christian?” Might your answer be both yes and no? On the one hand, Christ already did the hardest part. He accomplished what we could never do for ourselves. He lived a perfect life and suffered for our transgressions on the cross. We sinners could never measure up to all the righteous standards of God, but his love overflows and his grace is sufficient in spite of our imperfections. “The

May 10, 2020

Discovery Questions for May 17, 2020

(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for May 17, 2020: “His Beloved Ones.” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. What “win” stories from this past week do you have about living out godliness? 2. What were your biggest challenges last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to each read Deuteronomy 30:4-6 in turn (possibly from different Bible versions) and then ask the group what they observe in the passage. What captured their attention? Then ask the same two readers to

May 3, 2020

Lesson for May 10, 2020: His Treasured Possession (Dt 4:29-40; 26:17-19; Lev 20:26; 26:12, 13)

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 May 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: Because you are his, seek him and you will find him. ________ By Mark Scott God is good at only one part of hide-and-seek. He does not hide well. In fact, he wants to be found (Psalm 19:1-6; Acts 17:27; Romans 1:20; Matthew 7:8). But God is very good at the other

May 3, 2020

Application for May 10: It’s Never Quite Enough

(This “Application“ column goes with the Bible lesson for May 10, 2020: “His Treasured Possession.”) By David Faust At age 86, Jackie Long died from injuries sustained in a car accident—an abrupt end to a fruitful life. Jackie worked tirelessly on our church staff for four decades, and then after retiring in her sixties, she continued to serve cheerfully as a volunteer for another 20 years. She welcomed guests, cared for those in need, coordinated countless weddings and funerals, took meals to shut-ins, ministered with senior adults, and volunteered with benevolence agencies in our city. Hundreds gathered at the funeral

May 3, 2020

New Testament Theology & Bible

Discovery Questions for May 10, 2020

(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for May 10, 2020: “His Treasured Possession.” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. What challenges did you face this past week? 2. Over the last seven days, what impact on people around you did you make simply by living a holy life? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to each read Deuteronomy 4:29-40 in turn (possibly from different Bible versions) and then ask the group what they observe in the passage. What captured their attention?

May 1, 2020

Christian Standard

Baptism Theology & Bible

What’s in the Water?

By Michael D. McCann When consumed, it hydrates. When boiled, it disinfects. When we bathe in it, our body is cleansed. This simple combination of hydrogen and oxygen, water truly is a precious, versatile commodity. Similarly, the waters of baptism provide the participant with unimaginable benefits. Baptism floods the spirit with divine blessings. And yet baptism is distinct from our daily uses of water that require no special qualification. Atheist and Christian, male and female, king and servant—we all receive the same benefit when water is consumed. But in baptism, the water produces powerful effects promised only to those who

May 1, 2020

Christian Standard

A WARNING FROM EPHESUS . . . And Jesus’ Solution for When a Church Loses Its First Love

By Tyler McKenzie The Ephesian church was a first-century megachurch that had everything, and then, by all historical accounts, lost everything. Ephesus was the sort of city Paul liked to target: a hub of culture and a place of notoriety. He knew if he could plant the gospel in Ephesian “soil,” it would spread. Ephesus was a major commercial center—three trade highways ran through it—it was a port town, and it was tourist hub. One of the seven wonders of the world, the temple to the goddess Artemis, was located there. Some estimate the city’s population at a quarter-million people—massive

May 1, 2020

Jerry Harris

Baptism Theology & Bible

10 Foundation Stones of the Church—No. 1: Baptism

By Jerry Harris An American cultural phenomenon hit late in 2019. Kanye West released a gospel album and simultaneously declared he was dedicating himself to spreading the gospel message. The album, Jesus Is King, debuted at No. 1 and in its first week was streamed more than 200 million times and sold 109,000 copies! People were immediately skeptical, both of the music and the artist. There was no shortage of judgment upon West from the Christian community. The album includes some incredible worship songs, but one stood out, particularly because it addresses a disturbing trend within the church that leaders

April 27, 2020