November 4, 2025
Ending Your Search … For Significance (Psalm 8)
Your search for significance will never be completely realized here on earth unless it is realized in Jesus Christ. You can never earn what God wants to give you.
Articles for tag: Image of God
November 4, 2025
Wake Up!
This is the fifth in a series of weekly articles based on Christ’s letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. This week’s church is Sardis.
February 6, 2023
The Heart of the Matter
Jesus was the sinless sacrifice that provided the solution to humanity’s heart condition.
November 7, 2022
November 13 | Application (‘Learning the Art of One-Downmanship’)
Do you ever try to one-up someone and make yourself feel superior? Have you ever engaged in a competitive conversation where, instead of listening well, everyone tried to outdo each other by telling more impressive stories of their own?
October 31, 2022
November 6 | Application (‘Seeking God’)
The pursuit of happiness moves us to seek comfort and convenience, treasure and pleasure, recognition and admiration. But how intense is our desire to know God?
February 1, 2021
In Love and Truth
If everyone is created equal in the eyes of God, why doesn’t it feel that way? The truth is, we do not look at our brothers and sisters the way God intended. We are corrupted by sin and too often care about the opinions of others more than God. We lean toward what’s popular instead of what’s right. Sadly, many Christians have stood on the wrong side of history. I found this to be true of one of the Restoration Movement’s founding fathers while reading The Stone-Campbell Movement by Leroy Garrett A couple of decades after the Restoration Movement took
August 10, 2020
Halting the Downward Cycle (Aug. 16 Lesson Application)
By David Faust “Sin blinds you, then it binds you, then it grinds you.” I don’t know who first said those words, but they ring true. Disobedience to God leads to a downward cycle. “After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:15)—and that’s true on both a personal level and a societal level. Someone observed, “First we overlook evil. Then we permit evil. Then we legalize evil. Then we promote evil. Then we celebrate evil. Then we persecute anyone who still calls it evil.” There are two
August 27, 2018
Lesson for September 2, 2018: The ‘Not’ in the Serpent’s Tale (Genesis 3:1-15)
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. 9 (weeks 33–36; August 19—September 9, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Beginning with this batch of four lessons, the weekly Bible lessons are based on a scope and sequence prepared by Christian Standard Media. For more information, click here. ______ By Mark Scott Sin is a “knotty” problem. The word not appears three times in our lesson text (Genesis 3:1, 3, and 4). The
September 3, 2015
Working for the Glory of God
Book review by Bob Mink Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor Ben Witherington III Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2011 Ben Witherington doesn”t merely suggest that modern American Christians know little of what the Bible says about work, and that theologians have seldom addressed the topic. In Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor, he offers solutions to both deficiencies. And in the course of his short book (166 pages), this professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary relays quite a bit of what the Bible says about work. Foundational to a biblical and Christian view of work is that
July 29, 2015
Teresa Welch’s Thought Leaders
We asked 35 Christian leaders, “Who is the influencer with the biggest impact on your life and ministry?” Most of these leaders listed several influential thinkers, writers, innovators, and leaders more of us should get to know. This response is from Teresa Welch, professor of Christian education and ministry, Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. ________ My list will unfortunately leave out many who influence me through their pursuit of knowing and following God every single day. However, in an effort to be comprehensive, I have selected a mentor, a colleague, and an author. My mentor, Eleanor Daniel, retired academic dean and professor
April 29, 2015
Human
By Jim Tune In C.S. Lewis”s book The Magician”s Nephew, readers meet an unsavory character named Uncle Andrew, who consistently displays an arrogance that causes him to distance himself from others, view them with contempt, and attempt to use them for his own purposes. Near the end of the book, when Uncle Andrew encounters things he can”t fathom or explain (like talking animals) he descends into insanity. Aslan and the other animals are speaking to him in plain English, but he can”t understand a word. All he hears are roars and growls, and he is terrified. Finally, he loses his
March 11, 2015
Let”s Meet for Dinner
By Jim Tune Let”s meet for dinner. I”d be willing to host. Jesus himself said, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking” (Luke 7:34). Eating and drinking a lot. New Testament scholar Robert Karris says, “In Luke”s Gospel, Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.” Interesting. What is the Son of Man doing when he comes to earth? The Jews expected him to come with a vengeance, defeating God”s enemies and vindicating his people. Instead he shares a meal. Meals are a powerful expression of welcome and friendship in every culture.
December 13, 2013
Like Us, With Us
What are we to think of ourselves, to make of ourselves, because God became a man in Jesus? How does Jesus help us understand and define our own humanity? By Jon Weatherly What is a human? The story is told of two medieval philosophers discussing that question. One said, “A human is a featherless, two-legged creature.” The second excused himself, then returned an hour later with a plucked chicken. We need a better definition. Or perhaps we humans are better off describing our experience rather than formulating a definition. So what is our experience? We are like and unlike other
September 2, 2013
Lesson for September 8, 2013: God”s Image””Male and Female (Genesis 1, 2; 5:1, 2)
By Sam E. Stone “First Things” is the theme that ties this quarter”s lessons together, using excerpts from both Genesis and Exodus. We will see not only the first days of creation, but also how God formed his people Israel as the first nation, and then how their first freedom came about. Moses wrote Genesis. Inspired by God, he recorded things that only the Creator could know. Because of this, Scripture gives the only definitive account of creation. Each day is described in Genesis 1. Today”s text provides more details about what happened on the sixth day, when the Lord
Immigration: What Does the Bible Say?
By M. Daniel Carroll R. The immensity of this human dilemma should drive Christians to the Scriptures to see what God might have to say about engaging the stranger. Immigration has been a hot political issue in this country for the last several years. Some in the media can be a bit shrill, labeling newcomers as part of a “tidal wave” or an “invasion” of foreigners. Heated and exaggerated rhetoric, of whatever persuasion, is not helpful and is not becoming for Christians. What might a self-consciously Christian position on the topic look like, one that doesn”t consist simply of a
April 15, 2012
Why Should Christians Care About Bioethics?
By Robert C. Kurka and Nathan Babcock Christians are concerned about life, health, and death. Christians are called to understand and experience life, health, and death in the context of the lordship of Jesus Christ and their discipleship to him. That”s why Christians should care about bioethics. Dean Leuking once described a scene of congregational worship, variations of which are played out every Sunday in every Christian congregation: It is the Sabbath. People are gathering for worship. A family files into the sanctuary. They are much at home there, but this time it is different. The mother is absent. She
November 8, 2010
Lesson for Nov. 14, 2010: God Is Forever (Psalm 90:1-12)
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for November 14) is written by Phyllis Fox who serves as director of church relations and Youth in Ministry at Milligan College in Tennessee. God Is Forever (Psalm 90:1-12) By Phyllis Fox Stephen R. Covey”s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was a best-selling self-help book in the late 1980s and early “90s. Principle 2 says to “begin with the end in mind.” Perhaps Covey was thinking of Psalm 90 when he wrote, “How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and, keeping
September 27, 2010
Lesson for Oct. 3, 2010: God”s Majesty and Human Dignity (Psalm 8)
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for October 3) is written by Dave Butts who serves as president of Harvest Prayer Ministries in Terre Haute, Indiana. _________________________________________________________ God’s Majesty and Human Dignity ( Psalm 8 ) By Dave Butts How much do we really know about God? How can we learn more of who God really is? God certainly has revealed some of his nature in his Word. A careful examination of the life of Jesus shows us even more. For the Lord said if we have seen him, we have seen the Father. Psalm 8 gives us
