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 21, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for November 27, 2016: First and Last (Revelation 22:8-21)

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 the November 20 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  On this first day of Advent we consider the last passage of the Bible. God had the first word (Genesis 1:3), and he will get the last word (Revelation 22:20). Our lessons this month have gone to great length to describe the Holy City. Words fail us to describe its beauty. Sometimes the beauty of

November 14, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for November 20, 2016: Living Waters (Revelation 22:1-7)

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 13 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  So much of our environment and lives have to do with water. Think of how much of the earth is water. Think of how much of the human body is water. Israel is a dry land in the midst of various bodies of water. Our older son purchased a T-shirt in Israel for his oldest

November 7, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for November 13, 2016: New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-27)

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 6 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Jerusalem is a stunning city. When the sun hits this city of stone, it sparkles. But the New Jerusalem that John saw in his vision sparkled even more. John utilized vivid language to describe what he saw. Much of this may be literally what John saw. But because John had never seen anything like this, some

October 31, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for November 6, 2016: Brand New (Revelation 21:1-8)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the October 30 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  The New Testament has two different Greek words translated new (four times in our text). One is “chronos,” which refers to something new in time. The other is “kairos,” which refers to something new in quality. John uses the latter when describing Heaven. Our next four lessons describe Heaven in terms of a social reality that

October 28, 2016

Christian Standard

And When He Had Given Thanks

By Ron Davis One of the curious elements of the Passover Jesus shared with his apostles in the upper room, as recorded in Luke 22:14-20, is the comment, “he gave thanks.” Thanks? For what exactly? Jesus is hours away from being arrested, cruelly abused, and murdered in humiliation. And he knows it full well. Thanks! For what? For the material elements themselves? A simple “loaf” of unleavened bread, the commonest of food, better suited to fill a stomach than to nourish. The drinkable juice of a plant that grew clusters so large and plentiful and of which some shriveled on

October 24, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for October 30, 2016: Model of Endurance (Hebrews 12:1-13)

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 October 23 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  One of my college professors titled a chapel sermon, “Love.” We thought the text would be 1 Corinthians 13, or John 3, or even Hosea 11. Instead it was our text for today. Simply put, discipline is love, and Jesus modeled it. Our text today shows that Jesus is the model of endurance, and it is

October 17, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for October 23, 2016: The High Priest Forever (Hebrews 7)

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 16 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  How long is forever? On this side of eternity, forever is difficult to define. Sometimes in the Bible forever just means a long time (Nehemiah 2:3; Psalm 13:1). Sometimes in the Bible forever means time unending (Psalm 29:10; 115:18). The Old Testament predicted several aspects of the Messiah. At the very least he was to be

October 10, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for October 16, 2016: The Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14″“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. This lesson treatment is published in the October 9 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  The Bible is full of priests. There is a sense in which all of God”s people are priests (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). But there is another sense in which certain people were called especially to represent God to the people and to represent the people to God. Some of these priests were exemplary

October 3, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for October 9, 2016: Builder of the House (Hebrews 3:1-6; Matthew 7:19-29)

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 2 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Our grandkids enjoyed watching a television show called Bob the Builder. The refrain in the theme song went, “Can we fix it? Yes, we can!” Our lesson text today deals with two builders. Jesus the Builder | Hebrews 3:1-6 The Hebrew Christians were tempted to compromise Jesus. Some of the people were mesmerized by angels (Hebrews

September 26, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for October 2, 2016: The Radiance of God’s Glory (Hebrews 1)

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 September 25 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  Dennis Kinlaw wrote a book entitled Let”s Start with Jesus. It”s a book on our triune God. Instead of starting with the Father or the Spirit (mentioned chronologically first in the Bible””Genesis 1:1, 2), Kinlaw suggests that the best way to understand the Trinity is to actually start with Jesus. Then we will understand our triune

September 23, 2016

Christian Standard

“˜When They Had Sung a Hymn”

By C. Robert Wetzel We often look to the Gospel of Matthew for an account of the institution of the Lord”s Supper. It is here that we read, While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”Â Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28).

September 19, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for September 25, 2016: Everlasting Covenant (Isaiah 61)

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 September 18 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  God likes covenants because he dislikes misunderstandings. He likes agreements, pacts, and contracts. Because he is God he sets the terms of these covenants. Because he is God he makes the covenants out of his own character (i.e. faithfulness). Our text today says that the everlasting covenant is a relationship between God and his people, and

September 16, 2016

Christian Standard

A Memorable Communion

By C. Robert Wetzel On his third missionary journey, Paul had arranged to rendezvous with some of his coworkers at Troas. Arriving there, he stayed for several days so he could meet with the church. He knew they would be meeting on the first day of the week to observe the Lord”s Supper. The meeting proved to be surprisingly eventful (Acts 20:7-12). I wonder how the people at Troas remembered Paul”s visit? “That was the longest sermon I ever heard,” recalled one man. “Far too long,” said the mother of Eutychus. “I know the boy should not have gone to

September 15, 2016

Christian Standard

The Flip Side of Spiritual Gifts

By T.R. Robertson Spiritual gifts aren”t always predictable. They don”t necessarily show up on a survey of interests and tendencies. Sometimes they”re best seen in the weaknesses or temptations that often accompany them. I met Jane in prison, where she is serving a life sentence. Her lifestyle of self-absorption had led her on a downward spiral of unspeakable cruelty and violence. In prison, she was led to Christ. Soon she developed the Spirit-driven gift of encouraging other people, much to the surprise of people who knew her before. What surprised her, though, was the unexpected flip side that came with the

September 13, 2016

Mark A. Taylor

Two Questions about the Gifts in Your Church

By Mark A. Taylor You might say the idea for posts at our site this month began with a blog entry that appeared in December 2014. Sandra Crawford Williamson asked, “Why Are Working Women Starting to Unplug from Their Churches?” in a piece posted at the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics.* One of her answers centered on the contrast between the work responsibilities of many women and the service opportunities the church offers them. A woman “may run a multibillion-dollar firm, argue a legal case, or manage a $500 million investment portfolio,” Williams said. But at church, women “are

September 12, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for September 18, 2016: Foundations of the Earth (Isaiah 40:21-31)

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 September 11 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  There are such things as primal realities. Examples include the law of gravity, DNA, and math formulas such as 2 + 2 = 4. Primal realities are things that are original or primitive. They are of first importance, fundamental, and foundational. We have some of these in our text today. As we turn the corner in the

September 9, 2016

Christian Standard

The Vertical and the Horizontal

By C. Robert Wetzel There is both a vertical and a horizontal dimension to the Lord Supper. In a spiritual sense, we are looking up as we once again focus our thoughts on the gift of God in the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we eat the bread we remember his words, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). And as we drink from the cup we hear his words, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it in remembrance

September 8, 2016

Christian Standard

Spiritual Gifts Today

By Mark S. Krause Emily and Michael’s Story Newlyweds Emily and Michael have decided to begin their life together by choosing a “neutral” church to attend. Michael, raised Catholic, has had little interest in church since his confirmation 15 years ago, but he is committed to church involvement with his new wife. Emily”s family moved frequently when she was growing up, exposing her to a wide variety of Evangelical-flavored churches, small and large. Finding a new church seems easy to her, but she has never had a church where she felt grounded and committed. The couple agreed to attend a

September 5, 2016

Christian Standard

Lesson for September 11, 2016: The Mountain of God (Isaiah 25:6-10a)

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 September 4 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott  God does some of his most important work on mountains. God”s wrath against humankind”s evil was averted when the ark rested on Mount Ararat (Genesis 8:4). God”s test of Abraham”s faith took place on the mount he named The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14). God”s law was given to his people on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19,

September 2, 2016

Christian Standard

Wordless Groans at the Lord”s Table

By C. Robert Wetzel “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26). We often find our congregations preparing for the Lord”s Supper with an appropriate Communion hymn followed by a meditation that helps us focus on the meaning of this sacred event. This is followed by what some call the “words of institution,” such as the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. The presiding elder then offers a prayer of blessing over the bread and cup. As we partake, we focus our thoughts

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