March 11, 2024
March 17 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, "Selfless Liberty" (1 Corinthians 8:9-13; 9:19-23; 10:23-33), by Mark Scott.
Articles for tag: Love Your Neighbor
April 25, 2022
May 1 | Discovery
The expert in the law tried to justify himself before Jesus. Why is that a bad idea?
August 16, 2021
Aug. 22 | Discovery
What significance do you see in the contrast of being “born according to the flesh” and being “born as a result of a divine promise”?
May 28, 2021
Churches Need to Hit ‘Play’
Every church with which I’m acquainted pushed PAUSE at the start of the pandemic in hopes of hitting PLAY after the pandemic. Sadly, many have yet to hit PLAY. Here are three steps every church can take.
May 1, 2021
We Were Made for This
How your church can build on your pandemic compassion with both spiritual justice and social justice.
February 8, 2021
Feb 14 | Mercy and Judgment
Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. He also serves as minister with Park Plaza Christian Church in Joplin. This lesson treatment is published in the February 2021 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. ________ Lesson Aim: Follow God’s law of love by showing mercy to the poor. ________ Playing favorites might be harmless in elementary school on Valentine’s Day, but it stinks in the church. The first major teaching of the Epistle of James after the long introductory first chapter concerns
February 8, 2021
Feb 14 | Application
According to Jesus’ younger brother James, authentic faith impacts our actions and attitudes. Let’s consider how James 2:1-13 applies to us today. Be servants, not snobs. Jesus didn’t focus on others’ looks, popularity, or socioeconomic status. He rubbed shoulders with a rough crowd at dinner parties, engaging in conversation with low-reputation guests. He blessed children others tried to shoo away. He sought out the sick and befriended the despised. Believers in Jesus “must not show favoritism” (James 2:1). Instead, we should recognize and repent of our prejudices. Snobbery is robbery. It robs people of dignity and prevents us from discovering
August 3, 2020
You Have a Choice (Aug. 9 Lesson Application)
By David Faust It’s unfortunate that expressions like “pro-choice” and “the right to choose” have been co-opted by abortion advocates. When properly understood, the ability to choose is one of God’s greatest gifts. We don’t get to choose our birthdays, our height, or the color of our skin. But we decide what we believe, what we value, and who our friends will be. Faith, hope, and love are choices more than feelings. At age 20, I decided to ask a young woman named Candy to marry me, and I remain grateful she chose to say yes. ROCK OR SAND? What
January 2, 2020
Matthew 25 and the Role of Christ's Church
By Michael C. Mack We’re trying something a little different this month. We have provided what amounts to a 54-page Bible study of 16 verses: Matthew 25:31-46. We begin with exposition; Jon Weatherly skillfully provides context and commentary for this passage. Of course, effectual Bible study begins with careful observation and accurate interpretation, but it means nothing without application. We must “do what it says.” And so we tell the stories of churches and other Christian organizations living out Matthew 25:34-40. They demonstrate what it looks like to feed the hungry, welcome strangers, clothe those in need, look after sick
Changing Lives and Communities By Loving Our Neighbors (BLOC Ministries, Cincinnati)
By Russ Howard Of the countless strategies we have to reach and restore people to Christ, none are as simple, profound, or powerful as Jesus’ simple command to “love your neighbor” (Mark 12:31). For more than 20 years BLOC Ministries, an inner-city ministry on the west side of Cincinnati, has done just that. The people live where they serve. BLOC’s roots reach to the hollers of Kentucky where Dwight Young was born and raised. Dwight met his wife, Stephanie, at Johnson Bible College. Together they served churches by working with teenagers in Louisville, Knoxville, and eventually Cincinnati. Early on, Michael,
May 28, 2019
More Than Enough
By Jon Wren Many Christ followers observe Communion as a reminder of God’s grace and goodness and as a gift we receive rather than a prize we must earn. But for many Christians and churches, the desire to show others God’s goodness in action can drift into a need to show others our own goodness. And if we are not careful, we can begin to drift toward a well-intentioned but incredibly destructive life in which we are consumed by the need to be busy or at least seem busy on behalf of Christ. Christian author Barbara Brown Taylor wrote of
August 22, 2017
No Room for Racism
By Jerry Harris In our most recent Christian Standard digital newsletter (dated August 16), we shared a story reported in the Des Moines Register about a Glenwood, Iowa, church”s reaction to the appalling events in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12. (As you will recall, white supremacists demonstrated, there were counter-protests and violent clashes, and then a man drove his car into a crowd of counter-protestors, killing one and injuring several others.) In response, the Iowa church changed the message on its sign to read, “White supremacy is sin. Say it.” After sending out the newsletter, we received a comment back
August 22, 2016
Lesson for August 28, 2016: Love Fulfills the Law (Romans 12:1, 2; 13:8″“10)
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 August 21 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott The most outstanding attribute of God is love (1 John 4:8). The greatest commandment is to love God (Mark 12:30). The second greatest commandment is to love one”s neighbor (v. 31). The first listed fruit of the Holy Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). All the commandments of God are swallowed up in love. This is why
In All Things Love
By Jim Tune There”s a scene in Mark Twain”s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I will never forget. Huck Finn has helped hide Miss Watson”s runaway slave, Jim. But Huck was sure he was committing a grave sin in helping the fugitive. Huck had learned in Sunday school, “People that acts as I”d been acting . . . goes to everlasting fire.” Eventually Huck writes a note to Miss Watson as an act of repentance. Desperate to save his soul, he tells her where to find her runaway slave. Huck prays the “sinner”s prayer” and “gets saved.” Even though he
February 2, 2015
Lesson for February 8, 2015: Serving Neighbors, Serving God (Luke 10:25-37)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the February 1 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone After Jesus concluded his Galilean ministry, he began to make his way to Jerusalem. En route he told one of his best-known and most widely loved parables””the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is recorded only by Luke. The man who initiated the discussion is called an expert in the law. Some translations call him a “scribe” or “lawyer.” H. Lynn
Loving God Wholeheartedly
By Indu Lall (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) “God has made us relational beings. He has given us the commandments for our best. When it comes to living a Christian life, “˜love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.”” I received this “best advice“ from my Heavenly Father and my earthly parents. My parents were committed servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. They sacrificially served lepers all of their lives in a very remote village of India. If God wanted them to have an easy, comfortable, happy, luxurious life””and if
December 16, 2013
Making Disciples
By Jeremy Brown Standing on the platform at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Phil Robertson spoke with conviction as the crowd hung on every word. “I”m not an ordained preacher in the way that you”re thinking””I”m just a guy who makes duck calls.” Much of the world is interested in the thoughts of the “Duck Commander” because this everyday man from the woods has chosen to use every platform afforded him over the last 30 years to introduce people to Jesus Christ””and God has allowed him a significant platform! “I”m just trying to get America and the rest of
Liberty & Love
By Troy Jackson Sadly I”ve discovered that our country”s heart and the church”s compassion for the immigrant are much smaller than I would have imagined. Twenty years ago, I set out on an East Coast road trip to look at potential seminaries and graduate schools. Reared in Indiana, I had never been to New York City, Philadelphia, or Boston. I was excited to see those great American cities and some of the iconic landmarks of our nation. As I rambled down the New Jersey Turnpike, approaching New York, I caught the city”s famous skyline in the distance. As the traffic
June 4, 2012
Lesson for June 10, 2012: Live as God’s Just People (Leviticus 19)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Compassion is a key part of justice. In the Lord”s directions for how the people of Israel should live, justice is clearly an inherent ingredient. This is emphasized in the first five books of the Old Testament, known as “the Law.” An interesting literary device in today”s text is the repetition of the phrases “I am the Lord” and “I am the Lord your God.” In the 37 verses of Leviticus 19, the two expressions occur
May 9, 2007
The Problem of Poverty Needs More Than Prayer
A reminder that God guides moving people: as Christians respond to poverty, prayer must be joined with action. Practical steps—serving, giving, and volunteering—can meet real needs while we seek God’s direction.
