February 24, 2025
Our Daily Bread
Jesus said to pray, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11), and every part of that sentence has something to teach us.
Articles for tag: Acts 11
May 8, 2023
LGBTQ Group Pushes for Change at Milligan
A group is protesting Milligan University’s avowed biblical position on human sexuality by posting on a billboard near campus last month that “Trans is Holy,” “Drag is Holy,” “Queer is Holy,” and “You are Holy." . . .
April 3, 2023
Easter Meditation 1: Simon of Cyrene
In this first of six meditations in the week leading up to Easter, former editor Mark A. Taylor shares thoughts about Simon of Cyrene . . . "Burdened by the Cross" (Mark 15:16-22).
March 13, 2023
March 19 | Mend My Brokenness
How severe was Israel's brokenness? Very! The people had majored in minors (Amos 5:21-24) and were experiencing the worst kind of famine—one from the Word of God (8:11). They would not be able to escape judgment from the Lord of Hosts. . . .
September 14, 2020
Does It Really Help to ‘Send Thoughts and Prayers’? (Sept. 20 Lesson Application)
This “Application“ column goes with the Bible Lesson for Sept. 20, 2020: Pray (1 Timothy 2:1-8) ________ By David Faust Prayer gets a lot of lip service, but not a lot of respect. Do you see prayer as a last resort or your first response? Many treat God the way a pilot treats his parachute: He’s glad it’s there for emergencies, but he hopes he never has to use it. When a basketball player heaves a long shot that has little chance of hitting the basket, announcers say, “He threw up a prayer.” In football when the quarterback desperately flings
July 8, 2019
Lesson for July 14, 2019: Speak Up by Giving (Philippians 4:10-20)
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. 5 (weeks 25-28; June 23–July 14, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Lesson Aim: Speak up by trusting Christ enough to give. ______ By Mark Scott Famous Methodist preacher Clovis Chappell said, “I love to preach on giving. I love to watch the generous smile and love to watch the stingy squirm.” We preach sermons by what we say, by how we live,
January 3, 2019
The Value of Another Person’s Story in Resolving Racial Conflict in the Church
“Jesus treated everyone as important, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or class. Are we not to do the same?” By Matthew McBirth As I see it, the relationship between two Jewish characters and their families in Chaim Potok’s novel The Chosen illustrates one of the primary causes of racial conflict in our communities. The plot (in short): Reuven and Danny grow up in different sects and communities, and Reuven strongly objects to how Danny’s father raises his son in virtual silence to prepare him to be his community’s next leader. When Danny and his father do speak, it’s
May 14, 2017
Teach Your Children to Be Critical Thinkers
By Tricia Johnson She was the professor of theology; my son was her student. He attended a secular university, and when he needed an extra elective, he thought theology would be a breeze, so he took the class. Her teaching was right on target most of the time, which was surprising since it was a secular university, but when she taught about Abraham and Lot, my son had to disagree with her summation of one particular scene. You may recall, Abraham and Lot were about to part ways, as Genesis 13:1-13 tells us. They traveled from Egypt to Bethel. They
June 27, 2016
Lesson for July 3, 2016: Needing More Than Law (Romans 2:17″“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 June 26 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott American Express had a commercial: “Membership has its privileges.” But if a member refuses to pay the balance, those privileges are revoked. With privilege comes responsibility. This is the thinking at this point in Romans. To help people appreciate the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16, 17), Paul first had to convince everyone how much they
April 9, 2016
WHAT’S NEXT?: Founded on Scripture
We asked several Christian leaders, “What should churches served by CHRISTIAN STANDARD strive to be or do or look like in the next decades?” ____ By John Derry Having served in the field of Christian higher education for my entire ministry, I have always appreciated the role CHRISTIAN STANDARD has played in emphasizing the importance of raising up the next generation of leaders for our churches. Visionary leadership is one of the most critical factors in any successful organization and requires one to be aware of changing trends and needs. In the coming decades it will be important that effective leaders are informed
October 19, 2015
Lesson for October 25, 2015: Peter Defends His Actions (Acts 11:1-18)
Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado. This lesson treatment is published in the October 18 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott Not everyone is happy with church growth. The wide embrace of the gospel can really mess with prejudice. When the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius”s house, God was turning a new page in the church”s history. The church would never be the same. Perhaps the
October 25, 2009
We Lead by Serving: A Band of Servants
 by Darryl Bolen In this article, Darryl Bolen, senior minister with First Christian Church, Greeneville, Illinois, discusses his ministry. Read the companion article written by Ronald G. Cook, an elder with the church.     At the conclusion of his career, prematurely ended by a debilitating disease, baseball legend Lou Gehrig spoke to a packed Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939. He said, “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.”1 Overlooking
April 27, 2008
Engaging the University
By Buzz Roberts What is going through the minds of today”s college students? What motivates them? What has been their experience with the church and fellow Christians? If we could hear their thoughts, what would they reveal? In recent conversations with collegians about God, Jesus, and Christianity, I heard the following: –Â “Jesus was a good person.” — “I don”t believe in God.” — “I”m not sure if God exists.” — “Christians are hypocrites.” — “I”ve had a bad church experience””I”m not going back.” David Kinnemen and Gabe Lyons share insight into the hearts and minds of students in their new
September 30, 2007
Preaching, Prayer, and Conflict
By Barney Wells The church is different from any other organization in that it is the body and the bride of Christ, the only organization designed and created by God. Therefore anything the church does is essentially theological. If we want to avoid conflict, our first question should be, “What does God want us to do?” Seeking God”s guidance begins in prayer. One may think it goes without saying that a congregation would pray about the decisions it makes, but unfortunately what goes without saying also often goes without doing. When Jesus had a decision to make, such as choosing
July 2, 2006
A Common Plea: From the New Book ‘Together Again’
By Rick Atchley and Bob Russell This is an excerpt from the book Together Again by Rick Atchley and Bob Russell. To order a copy from Standard Publishing, CLICK HERE. A preacher in our movement once spoke to a ministers” meeting where Bob was in attendance. The preacher dogmatically attempted to prove why all the ministers present were wrong on certain doctrines. When he was finished, there was an awkward silence. Bob finally said, “I get the impression that you believe if everyone would just put aside their preconceived ideas and take the Bible for what it is, we”d all
