February 26, 2024
March 3 Application | ‘Unity and You’
Are we willing to make Christian unity a personal goal? Practically speaking, how can we encourage the unity of God’s people? . . .
Church & Ministry
Church & Ministry equips leaders and everyday believers to build healthy, gospel-centered congregations. Explore biblically grounded articles on church leadership, preaching and teaching, eldership, staff and volunteer development, discipleship systems, small groups, church planting, church growth, and ministry strategy. You’ll also find practical guidance for navigating transitions, cultivating congregational health, and serving your community with wisdom and compassion. Whether you’re a pastor, elder, ministry staff member, volunteer leader, or church member who wants to help your church thrive, this hub brings together resources to strengthen the local church and advance Christ’s mission.
February 26, 2024
March 3 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, "Unity" (1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 12:12-20), by Mark Scott.
February 21, 2024
Hundreds of Guests Blessed at Ohio Church’s ‘Night to Shine’
Christ's Church in Mason, Ohio, hosted "Night to Shine" for the 10th consecutive year on Feb. 9. Story pastor Dale Reeves writes, “After Christmas Eve, this is my second favorite night of the year!” Among the special guests this year were Tim Tebow and his wife, Demi. . . .
February 19, 2024
Feb. 25 Lesson | Seeing and Believing
People in Jesus’ day saw the miracles, heard him teach, and watched him interact with people high and low. Still, many of them refused to believe. But for the Jesus followers of John 20, seeing was believing. . . .
February 19, 2024
Feb. 25 Application | ‘Thomas’s Twin’
Thomas is known for his wavering faith, but he wasn’t alone in his skepticism. At first, the other apostles considered the initial reports of Jesus’ resurrection nonsense until they saw him with their own eyes . . .
February 19, 2024
Feb. 25 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Seeing and Believing” (John 20:19-31), by Mark Scott.
February 12, 2024
Feb. 18 Lesson | The Unbelief of the Pharisees
The secular proverb, “There are none so blind as those who will not see,” is certainly true. That proverb would describe many of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. . . .
February 12, 2024
Feb. 18 Application | ‘Blind Spots’
How could they miss it? How could the Pharisees interact so closely with Jesus but fail to recognize him as God’s Son? His miracles weren’t done in a corner. . . .
February 12, 2024
Feb. 18 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “The Unbelief of the Pharisees” (John 9:1-7, 13-16, 24-38), by Mark Scott.
February 5, 2024
Feb. 11 Lesson | Signs and Wonders
The Bible has a love/hate relationship with signs or miracles. On the one hand they can engender faith (John 10:25). On the other hand they can derail faith in the miracle worker (John 6:26). . . .
February 5, 2024
Feb. 11 Application | ‘Previews of Coming Attractions’
My friend Mark Scott, who writes the Bible study column for Christian Standard each week, introduced me to an intriguing thought. He views Jesus’ miracles as previews of coming attractions—signs of things to come. . . .
February 5, 2024
Feb. 11 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Signs and Wonders” (John 4:43-54; 5:1-14), by Mark Scott.
January 29, 2024
An Exciting Church Plant in Eugene, Ore.
Despite adverse weather conditions, 485 people showed up for the first public worship service of Generations Church in Eugene, Ore. The church is multi-generational, though largely made up of University of Oregon students. A campus ministry veteran and Eugene native is helping lead this effort. . . .
January 29, 2024
Feb. 4 Lesson | The Disciples Believe
After Jesus’ baptism, he stayed near where John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing. At this point he gave a “preliminary” call to Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael. . . .
January 29, 2024
Feb. 4 Application | ‘The First Thing’
After Andrew met Jesus, the first thing he did was tell someone else about the Lord. Unfortunately, for many Christians that’s the last thing we do. How can we put disciple making at the top of our priority list?
January 29, 2024
Feb. 4 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “The Disciples Believe” (John 1:35, 40-50; 2:1-11), by Mark Scott.
January 22, 2024
Jan. 28 Lesson | I AM the Vine
As Jesus continued his Upper Room Discourse in John 15, he moved beyond metaphor by claiming to be the true vine of Israel. Then he connected the dots between the vine and himself, the gardener and his Father, and the branches and the disciples. . . .
January 22, 2024
Jan. 28 Application | ‘No Pruning, No Progress’
"My wife took the pruning shears to an overgrown houseplant and chopped it down to a stub," David Faust writes. "I was sure she had killed it, but the remarkably resilient plant now thrives in a corner of our kitchen. . . . I’m not sure why God designed things this way, but sometimes cutbacks lead to growth spurts. . . ."
January 22, 2024
Jan. 28 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “I AM the Vine” (John 15:1-20, 26-27), by Mark Scott.
January 15, 2024
Jan. 21 Lesson | I AM the Way
The exclusivity of Jesus is a problem in a pluralistic country like the United States. There is immediate pushback when anyone says, “This is the only way.” . . . But what else are Christians to believe and say when Jesus said that he is the gate (John 10:9)? . . .
