March 13, 2026
Rob O’Lynn helps readers “set the table” for John 15:9-17 by attending to context, structure, and translation choices. In the Passion Narrative, Jesus defines friendship through abiding, sacrificial love, and mission.
February 12, 2024
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 5, 2024
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
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.
December 11, 2023
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “The Water that Gives Live” (John 4:4-26), by Mark Scott.
November 20, 2023
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Rome” (Acts 28:11-31), by Mark Scott.
April 6, 2023
In his fourth of six devotions in the week leading up to Easter, former editor Mark A. Taylor shares thoughts about the anguish that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, suffered . . . "Overwhelmed by Grief" (John 19:25-27).
January 1, 2023
A word study traces the Bible’s primary terms for truth—emet in the Old Testament and aletheia in the New—showing truth as lived faithfulness and embodied in Christ, with a call to “don’t adjust it; trust it.”
August 1, 2022
The most honored seat for the most respected guest was to Jesus’ immediate left. On this night, Judas sat in that honored position. . . .
June 15, 2020
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 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES: Application: “This Little Light of Yours,” by David Faust Discovery Questions ________ Lesson Aim: Love your brother and live in the light. ________ By Mark Scott More than one person has overlaid Paul’s triad of Christian virtues (faith, hope, and love) on the writings of John in the New Testament. If the
April 6, 2020
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 April 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: Triumph with Jesus, who has broken the power of death. ________ By Mark Scott Easter is all about life swallowing death (1 Corinthians 15:54; Isaiah 25:8). Both Old and New Testaments gave us some “warm-up resurrections” so people could anticipate and appreciate the resurrection of Jesus. Some of those are Isaac’s (in
March 29, 2020
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 April 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: Let Jesus provide for your personal and spiritual needs. ________ By Mark Scott All four Gospels record the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. It was Passover time when Jesus performed it. This was one Passover when Jesus did not go to Jerusalem; he had his own Passover meal in the
March 29, 2020
(Click here for a detailed explanation of how to use the Discovery Bible Study.) By Leigh Mackenzie Study Questions for Groups 1. In what ways did you see Jesus’ power work in and through you over the past week? What else are you thankful for from the past week? Ask three people—two readers and one —for their help. Ask the first reader to read John 6:1-15, 25-29 aloud. Then ask the second person to read it again, perhaps from a different version. Ask the third person to retell (not interpret, just paraphrase) the narrative in about 60 seconds (as if
March 15, 2020
By Vince Antonucci Researchers tell us our identity drives our behavior. We think we make decisions based on a rational analysis of pros and cons. But far more often we make choices based on what James March called the “identity model.” March, a Stanford University professor who died in 2018, said when making a decision we essentially (and mostly subconsciously) ask ourselves three questions: Who am I? What kind of situation is this? What would someone like me do in this situation? What you do is determined by what you think of yourself. Growing up, I was quickly and consistently
February 22, 2020
By Megan Rawlings Do you know how to study the Bible? Studying is very different from simply reading; to study requires more effort. We study Scripture to gain understanding, and understanding entails more than merely skimming through a passage and letting that be enough. For example, in Acts 8:26-40, the Ethiopian eunuch was in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah. After the Holy Spirit directed Philip to go over to the man, Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” Philip then explained the Old Testament passage
February 2, 2020
By Megan Rawlings Do you know how to study the Bible? Studying is very different from simply reading; to study requires more effort. We study Scripture to gain understanding, and understanding entails more than merely skimming through a passage and letting that be enough. For example, in Acts 8:26-40, the Ethiopian eunuch was in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah. After the Holy Spirit directed Philip to go over to the man, Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” Philip then explained the Old Testament passage
December 25, 2019
Reviewed by Caleb Kaltenbach Tim Harlow excels in ministry leadership. He serves a growing church—Parkview Christian in Chicagoland has gone from 150 to 10,000-plus—mentors countless people, and encourages fellow senior ministers. He has served as president of the North American Christian Convention and authored Life on Mission: God’s People Finding God’s Heart for the World. And he’s done all of this—plus earned a doctorate—while loving his family and displaying courage, humility, and a sense of humor. However, if Harlow were asked what he’s most proud of in his ministry (besides his family), my guess is he’d say, “Leading a church
June 4, 2019
By Stuart Powell Suffering and sorrow stink! Pain—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—is seemingly ever present in our lives, and there often is no good way to deal with it. It never passes quickly enough. Some pain never diminishes. The death of a loved one gives birth to intense and enduring pain. Philip Yancey explained that God gave us memories of those who are absent from this life as a gift to help with the pain. The weakness of our memories is the best weapon we have to combat the pain of loss. Memory is limited, but memory also is a
March 26, 2019
By Halee Wood During Jesus’ early ministry, many of his followers were ecstatic. Who wouldn’t have been? The vibe, the miracles, the fact that he was hanging out with sinners. Some of these people had been made to feel like complete failures by the legalistic Pharisees, yet Jesus was loving, healing, and spending time with them! Jesus eventually began to say radical things that made many people feel seriously uncomfortable. In John 6, he said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. . . . For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real
September 25, 2018
By Mandy Smith Outsiders watching Christians take part in the Lord’s Supper over and over might feel sorry for us. We take a tiny piece of bread and a tiny sip of juice and remember someone who had a real meal with his friends a long time ago. It might seem foolish or sad that we keep doing this. “Jesus is gone,” they might say. “Move on.” But they don’t know what we know. We know that when Jesus left, he promised he would never leave. It’s a strange truth, but it’s what he said. Although he stopped walking around
April 7, 2026
John B. Penrose Jr
April 7, 2026
David Faust
March 27, 2026
Rick Cherok