July 7, 2025
The God Who Sees and Hears
At Communion, we remember that the God who sees and hears became flesh, with a body and blood that we partake of through these emblems.
Articles for tag: Genesis 12
September 1, 2023
What Does the Bible Say About Everything?
By Chris Philbeck As I write this column, I’m in the middle of a message series called, “Truth Over Trend” (series title not original to me). The specific topics are gender identity, same-sex relationships, deconstruction of the Christian faith, and having the courage to speak up for biblical truth. You’d have to have your head buried in the sand not to realize the seriousness of these issues in our world and culture, and the impact they have on our local communities and families. Writing the first two messages on gender identity and same-sex relationships reminded me of an important truth
June 28, 2021
JULY 4 | APPLICATION
Why does evening come before morning in the Genesis narrative? Maybe, in part, to remind us that God is always a step ahead.
May 31, 2021
June 6 | House of David Established
The Jerusalem temple was just one part of God establishing his kingdom. The temple would not last forever, but what God was establishing through David’s family would be eternal.
January 21, 2019
Lesson for January 27, 2019: God Is Pleased with Faithful Obedience (Abraham—Genesis 12:1-7; 22:15-19)
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 6–27, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Lesson Aim: Faithfully obey the Lord and experience his rich blessings. ______ By Mark Scott Faith in God is like a muscle in the body. It has to be stretched to be strong. Each of the Old Testament people we have studied this month had their faith stretched. Abel stretched his faith with his sacrifice.
June 20, 2017
3 Things that Make a Worship Leader Great
By Chuck Dennie It was a beautiful spring day when I pulled into the long driveway of a church that had a large property. The pastor had asked me to spend time with the church”s worship leader. As I approached the building, I saw beautiful landscaping, a well-manicured pond, and someone mowing the grass. I was about an hour early, and the pastor greeted me at the offices. I asked if we could get started early and if he would introduce me to his worship leader. He pointed outside to the guy mowing the grass and said, “There is my worship
September 30, 2013
Lesson for October 6, 2013: The Promise of a Future (Genesis 12:1-7; 13; 15; 17:8)
By Sam E. Stone For the past four weeks we have noted highlights from the opening chapters of Genesis, considering the creation, the fall, the flood, and the Tower of Babel. Today our focus centers on Abraham as we see God”s plan for man”s redemption begin to unfold. His initial call from God came while he was still in Mesopotamia (Genesis 12:1-3; see Acts 7:2). After moving to Canaan he and his family then had a sojourn in Egypt, and later separated from Lot. In Genesis 15 Abram (as he was then known) asked God if his servant Eliezer would
November 28, 2011
Lesson for Dec. 4, 2011: The Lord Calls Abram (Genesis 11:27″“12:9)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for December 4) is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ________ The Lord Calls Abram (Genesis 11:27″“12:9) By Sam E. Stone “God”s Covenant” is the general theme of our lessons this month highlighting several events in the life of Abraham. He is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. He is first mentioned in Genesis 11:26, in the section before today”s printed text. There he is called Abram. It was not until many years later that the Lord changed his name to Abraham (Genesis 17:5).
October 17, 2011
Lesson for Oct. 23, 2011: Finding True Love (Song of Solomon 4:1″“5:1)
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for October 23) is written by Mandy Smith, associate pastor at University Christian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, and author of Making a Mess and Meeting God: Unruly Ideas and Everyday Experiments for Worship, available at www.standardpub.com/makingamess. ____________ Finding True Love (Song of Solomon 4:1–5:1) By Mandy Smith At first reading, the fourth chapter of Song of Solomon seems a little ridiculous to modern ears. In fact, when my Old Testament professor in college heard I like to draw, he asked me to create a literal depiction of these metaphors, and I ended
March 8, 2011
The Earth: Handle with Prayer
By Jan Johnson As the plane descended that Saturday evening, I watched forest fires raging over my special place on the planet: Southern California. Fire after fire lined the eastern corridor to Los Angeles. Once home, I could see the sky lit up and the hills above us on fire. The next morning as the winds picked up, firefighters knocked on our door and told us to pack up to be ready to leave. But the fire receded and they didn”t come back, so we went wandering toward the hills to gaze at the fire. That”s when I did something
