January 3, 2022
The Look
As we eat and drink, remember that Jesus knows our failures as clearly as he knew Peter’s.
Articles for tag: Repentance
November 22, 2021
Crushing God
We often ponder the impact of our sinful choices on our lives and spirits, but do we consider the impact of our sin on God?
November 1, 2021
Nov. 7 | Application
The book of Hebrews urges us to stick with our faith. Hebrews 3:14 says, “We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.”
June 21, 2021
JUNE 27 | DISCOVERY
Imagine you witnessed the events described in 2 Chronicles 5. How would you describe the demeanor of the people as the ark was carried into and placed in the temple?
December 2, 2020
50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years of Preaching
Victor Knowles recommends you ask yourself these questions as you preach or prepare to preach.
October 12, 2020
Lesson for Oct. 18, 2020: How To (2 Timothy 2:14-26; 3:1-9)
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 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES “Don’t Get Sloppy” by David Faust (Lesson Application) Discovery Questions for Oct. 18, 2020 ________ Lesson Aim: Discern how to deal with people as you serve Christ. ________ By Mark Scott The “purpose” of the Bible is larger than just functioning as a “how-to” manual for getting along with folks. But one
September 22, 2020
10 Foundation Stones of the Church—No. 6: Communion
By Jerry Harris The church established in Acts 2 identified two sacred observances: baptism, which was discussed in week 1 of this series (May 2020), and Communion, termed “the breaking of bread” in Acts 2:42, that this article discusses. The word sacred is used to describe baptism and Communion for a reason. These rituals are often labeled as “ordinances,” but they are much more than obligations to adhere to, for they possess an aspect of holiness that connect us to the blood of a sacrifice. This blood is connected to both cleansing and the forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22), meaning
August 10, 2020
Lesson for August 16, 2020: Stop the Spiral (Judges 2:10-19)
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 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ Lesson Aim: When God disciplines, repent. ________ By Mark Scott Judges may well be the ugliest book in the Bible. Perpetual sin was creating a union with death among God’s people. “There was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25, English Standard Version; cf. 17:6; 18:1;
March 2, 2020
Lesson for March 8, 2020: Good News of Forgiveness (Luke 5:17-32)
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: Trust God’s Word that your sins are forgiven through Christ. ________ By Mark Scott “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” What do we need to hear more than that? Peoples’ greatest need is to be forgiven of their sins and therefore be right with God. The two gospel narratives in our
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
November 11, 2019
Lesson for Nov. 17, 2019: Warning! (Isaiah 5:18-28)
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. 12 (weeks 45-48; November 10—December 1, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Turn away from sin, or judgment will come. ________ By Mark Scott The real irritating thing about the bearded guy who carries the sign, “Turn or Burn” is not the beard or the guy—it is the truth of the sign. As much as we may think the sign’s content
September 12, 2019
‘What Does It Mean to Be a Real Christian?’
Christian Standard pushed a program called Christian Action from 1934 to 1943 that James DeForest Murch—a name familiar to many—started “as a means of restoring the spiritual vitality in the church during this time of great social upheaval” (from an article about Murch by Jim Estep, available at www.biola.edu). Perhaps some day we will devote an entire column to Christian Action—and/or to Murch—but today we will focus on a “letter” Murch wrote 85 years ago that was part of that week’s Christian Action section. It seeks to answer this important question: “What does it mean to be a real Christian?”
God’s Love for a Lost World
We continue our monthly series of excerpts from Christian Standard, circa 1909. The magazine devoted one issue each month that year to articles of particular interest to our movement. Today we feature a sermon by Barton W. Stone, who allied with Alexander Campbell to form the Restoration Movement (aka, the Stone-Campbell Movement). No date is attached to this sermon, which we will prune some, as it is quite long. Here’s Barton W. Stone (1772–1844): _ _ _ God’s Love for a Lost World A Sermon by Barton W. Stone (Published April 10, 1909; p. 6) The love of God is
March 4, 2019
Lesson for March 10, 2019: God Blesses the Repentant (Judah)
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 3–24, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Lesson Text: Genesis 37:26, 27; 44:17-34 Lesson Aim: Experience the blessing of God through repentance. ______ By Mark Scott The website for futurologist Leonard Sweet is called “Preach the Story.” The thesis of the website is that in all the little stories of the Bible there is the embedded big story of God’s plan to rescue
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
January 1, 2019
How Far?
By L. Mackenzie In churches around the world, people celebrate Epiphany, when magi came to Bethlehem to worship baby Jesus. Elaborate feasts, complete with king cakes, paper crowns, caroling, winter swimming, and house blessings mark this festival each year as the end of the Christmas season for many. When we strip away all the traditions, the heart of the Epiphany story shares a future picture of God’s manifestation to the Gentile world through his Son Jesus. It’s the story of men being drawn toward a heavenly King. “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your
December 10, 2018
Lesson for December 16, 2018: Whole Life (Luke 19:1-10)
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 issue no. 13 (weeks 49–53; December 9–30, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Lesson Aim: Let Jesus transform your whole life. ______ By Mark Scott The ultimate objective of preaching and teaching is not just conveying information. It is achieving transformation (Andy Stanley, Communicating for a Change). Believers often know more Bible than they are living. If anyone needed a transformation of his whole life it was Zacchaeus
November 19, 2018
Lesson for November 25, 2018: The Church Grows in Greece (Acts 17:16-34)
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. 12 (weeks 45–48; November 11—December 2, 2018) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. Image courtesy of George E. Kornaios/Wikimedia.Commons. ______ Lesson Aim: Determine to turn from the potential idols in one’s life and pray for mission work in parts of the world dominated by pagan belief. ______ By Mark Scott Richard Halverson, former U.S. Senate chaplain, quoted Sam Pascoe, “Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it
September 7, 2018
Do the Right Thing
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 Dick Alexander Elder work can be hard work, involving gut-wrenching decisions. On the one hand there is great joy in seeing lives changed and God honored. It’s an undeserved privilege to be used by
August 20, 2018
Lesson for August 26, 2018: Live by the Word of God (2 Peter 3:3-15)
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. 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 Israel lived by the Word of God (Deuteronomy 8:3). Jesus lived by the Word of God (Matthew 4:4). The church should
