December 22, 2025
LORD FROM BEGINNING TO END
From the first day of the year to the last, from the beginning to the end, Jesus is “the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13).
Articles for tag: Revelation 2
November 18, 2024
November 24 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “The Battle is the Lord’s” (Revelation 21:1-8; 22:1-7, 18-20), by Mark Scott.
November 11, 2024
November 17 Study | Dress for the Victory Feast
The dress code of Heaven for the wedding feast of the Lamb is good deeds. The church (bride) makes herself ready for that feast by righteous acts. John gave this interpretation of the fine linen (19:8).
September 23, 2024
September 29 Application | Bowing Down: Worship’s Forgotten Posture
Even if our bodies stiffen with age, our hearts should bow in reverence before the holy Lord. An old proverb rightly reminds us, “The taller the stalk grows and the more grain it bears, the lower it bends.”
September 2, 2024
September 8 Study | Be Faithful
Christ's message to the church of all ages is that it must be faithful, even to the point of death.
September 2, 2024
September 8 Application | No Matter Where You Are
No matter where we are in life, instead of looking for excuses, we should follow Jesus. Through it all, his promise remains clear. “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown” (Revelation 2:10).
September 2, 2024
September 8 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Be Faithful” (Revelation 2:1-17), by Mark Scott.
March 1, 2024
Traders Point Christian Church: 190 Years of Kingdom-Centered Service
Many people assume TPCC is younger than it really is . . .
May 1, 2023
Humility, Unity . . . Revival
By Michael C. Mack “Jesus loves this. He loves humility. He loves unity.” A leader at Asbury University spoke these words amid what some have called revival. I visited Asbury in February and witnessed what I would call a gentle moving of God’s Spirit among people both young and old—but led by the young (Gen Z). Several things were noticeably missing at the college, however. Not once did I hear anyone refer to the denomination or tribe they belonged to or the name of the preacher at their church. I heard no arguments about worship style, Bible versions, or any
November 1, 2022
The Stories God Tells
By Michael C. Mack Who doesn’t love a gripping story of adventure told by a master storyteller? Some of my favorites are epic sagas: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and the like. I was reminded about the adventures of the Pilgrims as I read Bob Russell’s feature article about Thanksgiving in this issue. It’s a true story about religious convictions, bravery, suffering, perseverance, and faith. God uses stories like that to teach us and transform us. It’s why Bob used this and a story about his grandson Charlie in his article, and it’s why I often remind our writers
How God Plans to Make America (and All Nations) Great Again
Many American churchgoers are asking: “When will God bring revival to this nation and restore our Christian foundations?” The desire for a country based on Christian morality and for revival is not unlike the concern in Jesus’ day for the restoration of Israel, its freedom, and economic prosperity. . . .
A WARNING FROM EPHESUS . . . And Jesus’ Solution for When a Church Loses Its First Love
By Tyler McKenzie The Ephesian church was a first-century megachurch that had everything, and then, by all historical accounts, lost everything. Ephesus was the sort of city Paul liked to target: a hub of culture and a place of notoriety. He knew if he could plant the gospel in Ephesian “soil,” it would spread. Ephesus was a major commercial center—three trade highways ran through it—it was a port town, and it was tourist hub. One of the seven wonders of the world, the temple to the goddess Artemis, was located there. Some estimate the city’s population at a quarter-million people—massive
December 23, 2019
Lesson for Dec. 29, 2019: New Life (Isaiah 65:17-25)
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 49-52; December 8—December 29, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Live in the sure hope of God’s promises. ________ By Mark Scott Dr. James Strauss from Lincoln Christian University said, “Isaiah 60-66 is the greatest eschatological section of the Old Testament.” It would seem so. Isaiah 60 celebrates the future glory of Israel in the coming light of the
October 31, 2016
Lesson for November 6, 2016: Brand New (Revelation 21:1-8)
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 the October 30 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott The New Testament has two different Greek words translated new (four times in our text). One is “chronos,” which refers to something new in time. The other is “kairos,” which refers to something new in quality. John uses the latter when describing Heaven. Our next four lessons describe Heaven in terms of a social reality that
October 11, 2013
What I Want to Tell Church Planters
By Aaron Brockett Six months after the grand opening of our church plant, I hit a wall. The combination of seeing the last of the “well-wishers” depart, watching our first disillusioned family leave the church, and experiencing the drought of summer attendance was too much. I”d given everything I had to get this young church started, and now the needle of my emotional tank was firmly planted on empty. I wanted to bail. To be honest, I was irritated with the stories of church planters turned megachurch pastors who made it look so easy (or so I thought). On paper,
June 17, 2013
Lesson for June 23, 2013: Worship in the New Creation (Isaiah 65)
By Sam E. Stone In this final lesson from Isaiah, we study part of his prophetic message that parallels John”s vision recorded in the book of Revelation. Bible scholars point out how the book of Isaiah mirrors the entire 66 books of the Bible. Isaiah 1″“39 is reminiscent of the 39 books found in the Old Testament, while the remaining 27 chapters call to mind the 27 books of the New Testament. Isaiah 40″“66 contains many significant prophecies about Jesus Christ. That section begins with these encouraging words: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and
February 24, 2013
When Things Go Well
By Eddie Lowen When church leaders need to crack a code or solve a problem, help is everywhere. Books, blogs, coaches, conferences, e-zines, and webinars are so plentiful that the trick is no longer accessing information, but evaluating and organizing it. And there”s help for those tasks, too (there”s always an app for that). If you need a strategy that fits your vision, you can find it. If you face a mystery, someone can help solve it. If you need an expert who specializes in evangelizing 38.5-year-old suburban males who work in financial services and eat their cereal with tablespoons,
May 23, 2011
Lesson for May 29, 2011: Water of Life (Revelation 22:1-9; 13-17)
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for May 29) is written by Ron Arnold, senior pastor with Kaimuki Christian Church in Honolulu, Hawaii. ____________ Water of Life (Revelation 22:1-9, 13-17) By Ron Arnold Water department trucks in Honolulu display the slogan “Pure Water””Our Greatest Need””Conserve It” to remind the people of Hawaii to use this limited resource sparingly. This is true in the islands, and may be true in your area, if we”re talking about the physical realm. It”s only a half-truth in the spiritual realm. In the Scriptures, water is a symbol of life flowing from
May 16, 2011
Lesson for May 22, 2011: New Order of Things (Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27)
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for May 22) is written by Melissa Wuske, an editor for F+W Media in Cincinnati, Ohio. ____________ New Order of Things (Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27) By Melissa Wuske My grandpa recently died after a far-too-long battle with Alzheimer”s disease. After decades as a faithful husband, father, and leader in the church, he spent the last decade or so of his life struggling to think or speak or remember. He spent the last few years unable to leave his bed on his own, unable to perform the basic daily functions that adults and
November 18, 2007
Why I Take a Premillennial View (Longer Version)
Alex V. Wilson explains why he holds a classic premillennial view, clarifies common misunderstandings, and points to Revelation and other passages as support—while urging charity and unity among believers who disagree.
