Articles for tag: Ozark Christian College

News & Updates

Mason Worship Center to Be Named for Sam and Gwen Stone

By Jim Nieman A new worship center being planned at the Christian Village at Mason (CVM) in Ohio will be named for former Christian Standard editor Sam E. Stone and his late wife, Gwen. The Stone Worship Center and Auditorium is necessary, in part, because of increasing attendance at CVM worship services under senior chaplain Tom Moll, who has served four-plus years at the 85-acre senior living community in Mason, located north of Cincinnati. “I don’t know that anyone thought it was possible to have a vibrant church (in a retirement community),” said Larry D. Monroe, president and CEO of

October 22, 2018

Lesson for October 28, 2018: Paul’s (Saul’s) Ministry Begins (Acts 9:1-20)

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. 11 (weeks 41–44; October 14—November 4, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. Image: Ananias cures Saul’s blindness; a 1660 painting by Ciro Ferri, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. ______ Lesson Aim: Even when people are doing their very worst, God can mercifully intervene. ______ By Mark Scott Acts 9 is a bridge chapter. The gospel had spread to the Samaritans, and, through the Eunuch, to Ethiopia as well

October 1, 2018

Lesson for October 7, 2018: New Heavens, New Earth (Revelation 22:1-17)

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. 10 (weeks 37–40; September 16—October 7, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ The Bible lessons now follow a scope and sequence prepared by Christian Standard Media. For more information, click here. ______ Lesson Aim: Come and freely take from the waters of life. ______ By Mark Scott One of the warmest words in the English language is come. In the original language, the form of that

September 19, 2018

Stone Announces Retirement from Southeast

(Updated Sept. 24) Dave Stone, senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., has announced he will retire sometime in the next six to nine months. Teaching pastor Kyle Idleman will replace Stone in the lead role at the church. “This is a process that has been in the works for a number of years,” Stone said in a story published on the Southeast Christian Church website. “My wife, Beth, and I decided on this timing about five years ago. We felt that 2019 would be the wisest time for the transition to take place.” Stone made the announcement

September 14, 2018

Ken Idleman

Christian Living

Legacy

E2: Effective Elders Blog Editor’s Note: Each Friday we publish a new blog post from our partners in ministry, E2: Effective Elders. We publish it here simultaneous to E2’s posting on their site. The leaders of E2 write an article for our print and online magazine every month as well. Those articles are full of wisdom and practical help for elders. Please check them out! _____ By Ken Idleman My father lived a very full life of 94 years. He started out as the youngest of four boys—not an enviable place in the “pecking order.” He grew up in a two-bedroom,

September 5, 2018

Ozark Switches to Full Week of Classes (Plus News Briefs)

Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Mo., has departed from a longstanding tradition of not holding classes on Monday. Starting this semester, the Bible college is holding classes five days per week. “As an OCC student, I learned a proverb, ‘Methods are many, principles are few. Methods always change, principles never do,’” Ozark President Matt Proctor said in a post on the OCC website. “For over 75 years, Ozark has stayed true to one unchanging mission—training men and women for Christian service—but our methods have often changed.” Proctor said 98 percent of Ozark’s students are involved in some kind of ministry.

September 3, 2018

Lesson for September 9, 2018: Sin Is Lawlessness (1 John 3:4-18)

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 many things. It is missing the mark (original meaning of the New Testament term). It is rebellion against the

August 25, 2018

Christian Living

Freshmen Shocked: Bible College Nothing Like CIY

By Caleb Kaltenbach JOPLIN, MO—Record numbers of incoming freshmen are dismayed that Bible college isn’t another Christ in Youth experience. “There’s no morning encounter speaker at Hope International University,” reported Charlie Bowdrey. “I listen to my church history professor every morning, but he doesn’t help me encounter anything other than this angry dude named Martin Luther.” Bowdrey wasn’t the only surprised student this year. For Manhattan Christian College freshman Jessica West, the disappointment started almost immediately. “When I got to my dorm, I was ready to go to the evening session and stay up late, but the other students were

August 22, 2018

Fire Destroys Oklahoma Church (Plus News Briefs)

A fire likely started by lightning destroyed Guthrie (Okla.) Christian Church last week. The blaze started just before midnight on Aug. 14. No one was hurt. “We lost 49 years of books, pictures, sermons, memories and even my college books,” pastor Don Riepe told the Guthrie News Leader. Riepe is an alum of Ozark Christian College. Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow said the building was a “total loss.” The church was still smoldering the next morning—last Wednesday. Later that day, there was a special prayer meeting near the site, with many people offering support. “We want to thank everyone for

August 9, 2018

Ozark Christian College Receives $1 Million Gift

Ozark Christian College has received a $1 million gift from Rick Bronson, a longtime friend of the college, that will be used to begin renovation of its oldest residence hall. Bronson, his wife, Kat, and his son, Chad—a 2011 graduate of OCC—believe deeply in Ozark’s mission, and they trust that God will use their gift to inspire others to give. “This is just our five loaves and two fishes,” Bronson said. “Like that little boy with his lunch, we’re putting it in God’s hands to multiply it.” The Bronsons’ gift—the largest from a living donor in the Joplin, Mo., college’s

August 6, 2018

Lesson for August 12, 2018: Giving Justly (2 Corinthians 8:7-15)

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. 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 Three activities occupied center stage for the earliest church in the book of Acts. Those three activities were preaching the gospel, baptizing the converts, and planting the church. But running under the radar of those three was the collection for the saints. Jesus had taught his disciples to care for

August 1, 2018

Shawn McMullen

Hillsboro Family Camp: A Favorite Week of Summer (Plus News Briefs)

Last week the editors of Christian Standard and The Lookout spent several days at the Hillsboro Family Camp in Hillsboro, Ohio. Family Camp is sponsored by Person to Person Ministries and led by executive director Kerry Allen. For 46 years (since 1972) Person to Person Ministries has organized this annual gathering of families for the purposes of instruction, edification, and fellowship. The camp provides programming for adults, teens, and children. Many families bring tents, campers, motor homes, and vans to Restoration Acres, a 158-acre campground owned by the ministry, to participate in Family Camp. This year there were 273 camping

July 23, 2018

Lesson for July 29, 2018: Parable of the Great Dinner (Luke 14:15-24)

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 Eating is a form of thanksgiving and table fellowship is sacred. Jewish table grace went something like this: “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.” When we eat we are acknowledging that God has provided for our needs. When

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

July 9, 2018

Lesson for July 15, 2018: The Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8)

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. 6 (weeks 25–28; June 24—July 15, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott A deacon’s meeting had gotten out of sorts. Tempers flared, temperatures rose, and words got ugly. One deacon tried to calm the group by saying, “I think we should just stop and pray.” Another deacon said, “Has it come to that?” Why is prayer often a last resort as opposed

June 27, 2018

Church & Ministry Youth & Children's Ministry

Church Hosts 18 Different Camps for Kids (plus News Briefs)

By Chris Moon Summer has been a little more fun this year in Independence, KY. Nicholson Christian Church is hosting 18 different children’s camps throughout the summer for kids in the community. The camps are dedicated to such things as volleyball, engineering, woodworking, scrapbooking, basic first aid, tae kwon do, “Whodunnit,” food decorating, basketball, archery, Legos, dance, music, and soccer. The church is also hosting a weeklong theater camp for kids of all ages that will culminate in a production of the Broadway musical Mary Poppins at 7 p.m. this Friday. ________ NEWS BRIEFS Cincinnati Christian University hosted a celebration

June 25, 2018

Lesson for July 1, 2018: Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)

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. 6 (weeks 25–28; June 24—July 15, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott “God is just” was the accent of last month’s lessons. “Jesus calls for justice and mercy” is the accent of this month’s lessons. Therefore our texts will come from the Gospels—two from Matthew and three from Luke. Matthew 18 is Jesus’ fourth discourse in the Gospel. The theme of the

June 18, 2018

Lesson for June 24, 2018: Reaping God’s Justice (Luke 16:19-31)

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. 6 (weeks 25–28; June 24—July 15, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott Reaping is the language of harvest in the Bible, and therefore sometimes reaping is a metaphor for judgment (Hosea 8:7; Revelation 14:15, 16). The law of harvest is universally true. You reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7). But it is uniquely true when it comes to the use of our

June 11, 2018