May 9, 2022
May 15 | Application
At first glance, "waiting" implies little more than passive, quiet expectation. But the word also refers to being ready for action—prepared to serve or obey.
Articles for tag: Luke 13
May 2, 2022
May 8 | Discovery
Recognizing that we all must “make a living,” how do we strike a balance between earthly possessions and being rich toward God?
April 18, 2022
April 24 | Perfect Action
Many of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day failed to rejoice when the hurting were helped. The religion police were more interested in procedures than people.
March 16, 2020
Lesson for March 22, 2020: Set Free (Luke 13:10-17, 31-35)
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. 3 (weeks 9-12; March 1-22, 2020) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Don’t be held captive by sin anymore because Christ has set you free! ________ By Mark Scott Jesus is all about freedom (Isaiah 61:1; John 8:34-36; Romans 8:1, 2; Galatians 5:1). His ordination sermon in the Nazareth synagogue (Luke 4:16-30) made that very clear. He will not be dissuaded or
July 16, 2018
Lesson for July 22, 2018: Entering God’s Kingdom (Luke 13:22-30)
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. 7 (weeks 25–28; July 22—August 12, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott God is sovereign over his kingdom. He decides who gets in and who is put out. Still he invites, entices, and pleads with people to accept the invitation into his kingdom. It is his good pleasure to give his people the kingdom (Luke 12:32). But those who are invited must
December 14, 2015
Meditating on Peace: December 14
By Becky Ahlberg Monday, December 14 My first child was born on January 6. He wasn”t due until January 20, so I had insisted I could keep my music ministry running through the Christmas season. A full choral program, children”s program, soloist work in a local performance of Bach”s “Magnificat,” a Christmas Eve service, and all the family stuff of Christmas a week later, and well, let”s just say I overdid it a bit. A daunting 26 hours of labor later, I held my baby boy in my arms and the agony quickly became ecstasy. He was perfect. I just
March 13, 2015
The Dangers of Giving Your Life to Ministry
By Susan Lawrence The time and energy ministry takes can infect your family, friends, and, to be honest, just about every aspect of your life. You can burn out, get angry and resentful, and walk away from the faith that originally spurred you into ministry. Giving your life to ministry, whether it”s paid or unpaid, church or mission, home or overseas, is full of contradictions. You give your life to ministry and feel like you lose control. You agree to be set apart, then feel isolated. You”re overwhelmed, yet claim to trust a sovereign God. So, which is it? Are
The “˜Up-frontness” of Eldership
By Chuck Sackett Sam compassionately shepherded a congregation I”ll call Countryside Church, but a massive heart attack cut short his ministry, forcing him into an extended rehabilitation, and ultimately, retirement. The elders, assessing the situation, determined that Sam”s wife could live in the parsonage until he was released from the hospital. However, the church would begin searching for a minister immediately, so she needed to vacate the parsonage upon his release. On the other side of the state, Doris served the children of a congregation I”ll call Community Fellowship. Her ministry was exploding with children. Tragically, her husband found her
November 6, 2012
Unreached People Groups
By Doug Lucas In spite of tremendous strides forward in Bible translations, religious satellite broadcasts, and Internet-based evangelism, God”s good news still has not yet penetrated numerous pockets of the planet”s population. To make matters more complex, these pockets sometimes do not follow political boundaries. Rather, they often follow ethnic and/or linguistic boundaries that are much harder to document. Ralph Winter was among the first to articulate the concept of people groups back in 1974 at the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. (See Stephen Burris”s article for more on the origin, biblical roots, and history of the development of this
April 11, 2011
Lesson for April 17, 2011: Praise the Lord (Mark 11:1-11)
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for April 17) is written by Tim Turner who serves with Christ”s Church in Winterville, North Carolina. ____________ Praise the Lord (Mark 11:1-11) By Tim Turner Can you imagine the anticipation of knowing everything you”ve lived for and prepared for was just hours away? My wife and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary by going on our first cruise. I must confess my excitement as I anticipated the experience””and it lived up to its billing. I was eager for time alone with my wife and to see the exotic places we
January 31, 2010
One Man”s Changing View from an Ugly Couch
By Brandon Smith The epiphany occurred on an ugly couch in our ministry center””a couch that resembled one my grandmother had in her living room. I was leading our college students through the first verses of Philippians. As usual, the apostle Paul had begun his letter with a prayer: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best” (Philippians 1:9, 10). Wait a minute. “What is best“””not “what is good” or “what is helpful.” We must be able to
April 8, 2007
What”s the Debate About?
Is belief alone enough—and is a memorized sinner’s prayer the biblical pattern? Mark Atteberry points to five responses repeatedly seen in Scripture when people accepted Christ, including repentance, confession, baptism, and perseverance.
