July 1, 2021
Hannah: Grit and Grace in Desperate Circumstances
At a time when people were doing what was right in their own eyes, our hero courageously trusted and committed to what was righteous before God.
Articles for tag: Leigh Mackenzie
July 13, 2020
Discovery Questions for July 19, 2020
By Leigh Mackenzie 1. Who are you thankful for in your life? 2. What challenges did you face last week? • With whom did you share the message of God’s love for us last week? How did that go? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to each read Joshua 1 (preferably from different Bible versions). Then ask the third person to retell the story from this chapter as if telling it to a small group at a middle school camp. 3. How would you describe the general mood of this passage? Why? •
June 29, 2020
Discovery Questions for July 5, 2020
(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for July 5, 2020: “Perfect Love, Brotherly Love” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. Who are you grateful for right now? 2. This past week, what challenges did you have believing God’s truth? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to read 1 John 3:10-23 one after the other (preferably from different Bible versions). Repeat the process for 2 John 1:4-6. Ask the third person to summarize (not interpret) what these passages are saying as a
June 22, 2020
Discovery Questions for June 28, 2020
(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for June 28, 2020: “Perfect Love in Truth” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. What are you thankful for today? 2. What examples do you have of living as Jesus did this past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask two people to read 3 John 3-8 one after the other (preferably from different versions). Repeat this process for 1 John 2:20–3:1. Ask the third person to summarize what both passages are saying as a whole as if
June 15, 2020
Discovery Questions for June 21, 2020
(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for June 21, 2020: “Perfect Love in Light” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. Name one thing for which you are thankful right now. 2. What challenges did you have trusting in God’s absolute power and control over all things this past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to read 1 John 1:5–2:11 one after the other (preferably from different Bible versions). Ask the third person to summarize (not interpret) the passage. (About 60
May 25, 2020
Discovery Questions for May 31, 2020
(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for May 31, 2020: “The Look of Integrity” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. This past week, did you spend time with a friend, coworker, or family member who has been going through a dark time of suffering? If so, who, and how did that go? 2. What challenges did you face last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to read Job 27:1-6 one after the other (possibly from different Bible versions). Then ask
May 18, 2020
Discovery Questions for May 24, 2020
(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for May 24, 2020: “I Catch No Glimpse of Him!” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. What is one example of how you loved and obeyed God last week? 2. What was challenging for you this past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to each read Job 2:11-13 aloud, one after the other (possibly from different Bible versions). Then ask the same two readers to each read Job 23:1-17. Ask the third person to
May 10, 2020
Discovery Questions for May 17, 2020
(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for May 17, 2020: “His Beloved Ones.” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.) By Leigh Mackenzie 1. What “win” stories from this past week do you have about living out godliness? 2. What were your biggest challenges last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the two readers to each read Deuteronomy 30:4-6 in turn (possibly from different Bible versions) and then ask the group what they observe in the passage. What captured their attention? Then ask the same two readers to
March 29, 2020
Discovery Questions for April 5, 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
December 10, 2019
The Light of a New Day
By Leigh Mackenzie December 15 is the third Sunday in Advent. The winter solstice—the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere—occurs December 21. After the solstice, days will gradually lengthen. Spring will arrive in three months, along with the return of vibrant life. Summer will be in six months. By then, our days will be swathed in bright sunshine until late in the evening. Spring and summer are a time of growth and production. The prophet wrote, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light
January 29, 2019
One Thing
By L. Mackenzie As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Jesus commented that only God is good and then recited several commandments, to which the man replied, “All these I have kept since I was a boy” (v. 20). Jesus told that “rich young ruler” he still lacked one thing if he wanted a heavenly inheritance. Darn, that one thing! And it was a big thing. The man knew it. Romans 3 says no
July 20, 2018
Whatever It Takes
By L. Mackenzie I gawked at the preacher, raised my eyebrows, and asked, “You want a what onstage for the sermon?” He calmly looked at me, fingers interlaced, and replied, “A scapegoat. Oh, and a Passover lamb before Easter. See what you can find.” What was I to do at T-minus-four weeks? What rancher would be willing to lend us valuable and tame animals for a live broadcast in front of 10,000 people? So many things could go terribly wrong: the goat could dive into the crowd, the lamb might pee on power cords; things could explode. Do we have
