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.

March 15, 2020

Kent E. Fillinger

Kent E. Fillinger

The Role of Women from the Resurrection to Today

By Kent E. Fillinger The greatest and most important event in the history of the world—Jesus’ resurrection—was announced first to a small group of women who had loved and followed Jesus. These women then communicated the news to the rest of Jesus’ disciples. In subsequent years, as the young church grew, women like Lydia, Phoebe, and Priscilla played notable roles. Fast-forward to today. Where do we find women serving in the church? The short answer is—it depends on the church! Our 2018 annual church survey sought to determine how women are serving in ministry leadership today. Please note: My intent

March 15, 2020

Bob Russell

Judas: The Traitor’s Biggest Mistake

By Bob Russell Judas was greedy. That’s a common temptation for most of us, but it’s especially enticing for those with easy access to money that doesn’t belong to them. When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, Judas protested the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. A fellow disciple observed, “He [Judas] did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it” (John 12:6). Judas was the treasurer for Jesus’

March 15, 2020

John Whittaker

Thomas: Testimony . . . and Why Seeing Doesn’t Contradict Believing

By John Whittaker It was evening of the Sunday Jesus rose from the dead, and the frightened disciples were holed up behind locked doors. Emotions, excitement, and tensions soared. Suddenly, though the doors were locked, Jesus stood among them. “Shalom,” he greeted them. And then he showed them his hands and his side, scars and all, evidence that it was indeed him. After that encounter, the euphoric disciples couldn’t wait to tell Thomas, who wasn’t with them that night. But upon hearing the news, Thomas was hesitant, uncertain. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to believe. He just needed more

March 9, 2020

Christian Standard

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

Christian Standard

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

Christian Standard

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

Christian Standard

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

Christian Standard

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

Christian Standard

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 30, 2020

Christian Standard

Of Pageantry, Baptism, and the Catholic Church

A lively editorial page from January 26, 1935, touched on such topics as the activity of the Holy Spirit, the Roosevelts planning to serve wine at the White House (Prohibition had been repealed in 1933), and reaction to a Robert Benchley essay called “The Sunday Menace” (the humor author had suggested outrageous acts “to get rid of the dullness of midafternoon on Sunday”). But the editorial we share today is a measured, almost melancholy observation about how baptism is practiced in the Roman Catholic Church. _ _ _ THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS MISSING SOMETHING Editorial; January 26, 1935; p. 4

January 29, 2020

Jerry Harris

Healing the Brokenhearted

By Jerry Harris He was absolutely convinced he was doing the right thing. His indoctrination into the rightness of his position came about over many years; it was painstakingly produced through study and a network of key relationships. His animosity toward this new sect was fueled by an urgency to stamp it out quickly, before it irreparably damaged the true faith forged in a 1,500-year fire of trial and adversity. Followers of this cult didn’t deserve mercy, pity, or the benefit of due process; they didn’t deserve even a second thought because of their perversion of all things good and

January 27, 2020

Christian Standard

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

Christian Standard

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 21, 2020

Stuart Powell

Do You Understand?

By Stuart Powell John 13 describes the interaction between Jesus and his followers on the night he was betrayed. As the meal progressed, Jesus got up from the table, removed his outer clothing, tied a towel around himself, and began washing their dusty feet as a servant would do. “So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them,’Do you understand what I have done for you?'” (John 13:12, New English Translation). Peter didn’t understand. He thought it might be Jesus’ way of elevating

January 20, 2020

Christian Standard

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 14, 2020

Stuart Powell

A Table for All People

By Stuart Powell Have you ever wondered if Jesus would eat a meal at your house? Have you ever imagined yourself living in a first-century village in Galilee the day Jesus came to visit? Would you have been bold enough to ask a miracle-working prophet to join you at your table? I think if I had the courage to ask, Jesus would have accepted the invitation. Why do I think that? Because Jesus had a reputation among the pious in Judea. The Gospel writer offered a glimpse of how the Jewish leaders summarized Jesus’ social standards: “Now the tax collectors

January 13, 2020

Christian Standard

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 7, 2020

Stuart Powell

The Bond of Believers

By Stuart Powell When the apostle Paul wrote his first letter to the believers in Corinth, he wanted to correct some wrong practices that tarnished their gatherings. Among the many details he called out was their disrespect toward each other when they gathered together at the Lord’s table. Paul desired that they focus less on themselves and more on the other believers who gathered to partake. He wrote, For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and after he had given

January 6, 2020

Christian Standard

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

Michael C. Mack

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

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