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: Psalm 1:1
September 25, 2023
October 1 | Birth of the Church
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and so was the church. . . .
May 1, 2023
May 7 | Application (‘When the Gold Loses Its Luster’)
It’s surprising when precious metals like silver and gold serve as examples of “perishable things,” but the blood of Christ is far more precious. Gold can lose its luster.
October 17, 2022
October 23 | Discovery
In Psalm 119:11, the author says he has “hidden your word in my heart.” Have you memorized any Scripture, and if so, how have you found that helpful?
October 10, 2022
October 16 | Discovery
What does the author of Psalm 51 want? What does the author think God wants?
April 4, 2022
Passover
Today, we are about to do something that completes the third panel of the story. Our Communion time is our Passover. . . .
January 17, 2022
Jan. 23 | Righteous Remnant
Romans 9–11 is often neglected in many Christian churches. Depending on where one falls on the nuances of Calvinism and millennialism, the content is challenging. . . .
October 11, 2021
Oct. 17 | High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek
As the writer moved his argument along about Jesus’ priesthood and New Covenant, Melchizedek became the perfect type of Christ in the Old Testament to connect some interpretative dots between Jesus and his non-Aaronic tribe.
October 4, 2021
Oct. 10 | Designated by God to Be High Priest
No one can simply decide they want to be a priest, let alone the high priest. God alone can do this. Not even Jesus just showed up and expected to serve in that office. He needed to be designated by God—and he was.
September 1, 2021
The High Call of Preaching
I’m sure every preacher can think of a time when they were convinced God had given them a life-changing, church-altering message. I’m talking about a message born out of significant time alone with God and his Word. I’m referring to a message that grew inside of the preacher’s heart for some time as the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, led them into all truth. I remember a weekend like that at the church I serve. I was convinced my message that week had a special anointing from God. I believed it was a message that could change lives as
April 1, 2021
The Angel’s Profound Invitation: ‘Come, See!’
The most profound invitation ever offered to the human mind is couched in the language of the angel who said to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, “Come, see!” (This is a 1961 article about the resurrection by Ard Hoven.)
January 25, 2021
Jan 31 | Clearing Away the Fog
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount clarifies our vision with regard to prayer, truth, obedience, and others.
April 30, 2018
Lesson for May 6, 2018: Giving from a Generous Heart (Exodus 35:20-29; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
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. 4 (weeks 17–20; April 29—May 20, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott One of the best ways to acknowledge God (quarterly theme) and give praise to God (monthly unit theme) is with our “coined” lives. Giving to God in generous stewardship of finances can be a disciplined obligation and a wonderful privilege. But it is at its best when it is the
October 17, 2016
Lesson for October 23, 2016: The High Priest Forever (Hebrews 7)
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 October 16 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott How long is forever? On this side of eternity, forever is difficult to define. Sometimes in the Bible forever just means a long time (Nehemiah 2:3; Psalm 13:1). Sometimes in the Bible forever means time unending (Psalm 29:10; 115:18). The Old Testament predicted several aspects of the Messiah. At the very least he was to be
October 10, 2016
Lesson for October 16, 2016: The Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14″“5:10)
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 October 9 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott The Bible is full of priests. There is a sense in which all of God”s people are priests (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). But there is another sense in which certain people were called especially to represent God to the people and to represent the people to God. Some of these priests were exemplary
August 18, 2015
Just Say Yes!
By Mark A. Taylor Most of us obey most of the laws most of the time. But how often could we say the law delights us? How often is our obedience grudging (tax time is coming), or forced (radar detectors, anyone?), or incomplete? How often do we think about the law, any law, with gratitude and joy? The news today is full of protests against bad law-keeping and unjust treatment of some citizens. But these exceptions underline the value of the law; without it there would be no recourse against those who violate it. Theft is forbidden, murder is punished,
March 23, 2015
Lesson for March 29, 2015: The Son of David (Mark 11:1-11)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the March 22 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone The “triumphal entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem is significant for many reasons. It is one of the few events in his life that is recorded in all four Gospels. It marked the beginning of his last week on the earth. For three years he had taught and lived God”s message for the world. While his popularity was extremely high among the
March 24, 2014
Lesson for March 30, 2014: Triumphant and Victorious (Zechariah 9:9, 10; Matthew 21:1-11)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Continuing this quarter”s study, “Jesus” Fulfillment of Scripture,” we come to the Triumphal Entry. It marks the beginning of the end of our Savior”s earthly life. The event had been foretold centuries before by the prophet Zechariah. He served as a priest along with Haggai, urging the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (see Ezra 5:1, 2). James E. Smith pointed out four important facts found in Zechariah 9 concerning the coming Prince of Peace:
March 10, 2014
Lesson for March 16, 2014: Peter”s Report (Psalm 110; Mark 12:35-37; Acts 2:22-36)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Two passages form the basis of today”s study. The first is from Psalm 110, one of the most quoted psalms in the New Testament. It points readers to the coming Messiah. The other text is part of Peter”s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, where the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in Christ”s resurrection is clearly shown. Victory Promised Psalm 110:1-4 David wrote Psalm 110. When his prophetic message was given, Israel was a relatively small
April 9, 2013
You Are What You Choose
By Mark A. Taylor All of us who have heard, “You are what you eat” can agree to a corollary for the spirit and emotions: “You are what you choose.” Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos underscored the truth of this as he addressed Princeton University”s graduating class, May 30, 2010: When you are 80 years old, and in a quiet moment of reflection narrating for only yourself the most personal version of your life story, the telling that will be most compact and meaningful will be the series of choices you have made. In the end, we are our choices. Build
