Articles for tag: Sam E. Stone

July 20, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for July 26, 2015: God’s Matchless Mercy (Micah 7:11-20)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the July 19 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  This month our study has focused on the message of another of the minor prophets””Micah. As Allen A. MacRae pointed out, “Micah”s message alternates between oracles of doom and oracles of hope. The theme is judgment and deliverance by God. Micah also stresses that God hates idolatry, injustice, rebellion and empty ritualism, but he delights in pardoning the penitent. The

July 13, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for July 19, 2015: What the Lord Requires (Micah 6)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the July 12 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  During the first two weeks of our study of Micah, we have considered chapters 2 and 3. Micah soundly condemned those prophets who were leading the people astray (3:5-7). They were much like the nation”s leaders whom he also condemned. The prophets would say to the people, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.” C. F.

July 6, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for July 12, 2015: No Tolerance for Corrupt Officials (Micah 3)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the July 5 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  Micah began his prophecy with a scathing indictment of all who held administrative and judicial positions in the state (chapters 1, 2). These leaders had been placed in authority to serve the people, while in reality they were using their status to rob them (Micah 3:1, 2). The prophet described the leaders” cruelty in mistreating the people with a dramatic figure

June 29, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for July 5, 2015: No Rest for the Wicked (Micah 2)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the June 28 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  During this month we will focus attention on another of the “minor prophets”””Micah. He lived during the time of the divided kingdom. Some of the tribes of Israel had broken away from the northern kingdom, with its capital in Samaria. The southern kingdom continued to be headquartered in Jerusalem. Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah. While Isaiah preached to the

June 22, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for June 28, 2015: God Will Never Forget (Amos 8)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the June 21 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  This month we have focused attention on Amos, one of the most important of the minor prophets. As James E. Smith pointed out, “The oracle which follows the fourth vision may have been delivered in Judah during a second phase of Amos”s ministry. In any case, these verses contain one of the strongest indictments against covetousness found anywhere in the Bible.”

June 15, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for June 21, 2015: God Abhors Selfishness (Amos 6)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the June 14 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  Amos began his prophecy by pronouncing judgment on the major countries throughout the part of the world where he lived. Captivity was coming for the people of Israel as well. Within 50 years his predictions would be fulfilled. Henry Halley wrote, “Over and over Amos contrasts the voluptuous ease, palatial luxury, and feeling of security of the leaders and the rich

June 8, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for June 14, 2015: God Is Not Fooled (Amos 5)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the June 7 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  The exact length of Amos”s ministry is not specified in Scripture. Most Bible scholars agree that it was probably for a short time. Some guess only a half hour, while others think only a few months! James E. Smith suggested, “More likely his ministry extended for a few years. The years 754-752 BC for his mission to north Israel would

June 1, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for June 7, 2015: God Passes Judgment (Amos 2:4-16)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the May 31 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  This quarter”s lessons are taken from a number of important passages in the Minor Prophets (so named because their books are shorter in length than books by other prophets like Isaiah and Daniel). They reveal God”s judgment on all kinds of injustice and disobedience. Many Bible scholars date Amos”s ministry around 760 BC, while Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam

May 25, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for May 31, 2015: The Greatest Is Love (1 Corinthians 13)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the May 24 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  This week concludes a study of key passages in Paul”s first letter to the church in Corinth. Members of this first-century congregation had written Paul with several questions. We have considered some of their concerns in past weeks. Today”s study of 1 Corinthians 13 is best understood when we realize that it is sandwiched in with a discussion of spiritual gifts

May 18, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for May 24, 2015: Gift of Languages (Acts 2:1-21; 1 Corinthians 14:1-25)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the May 17 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  The first-century church in Corinth faced special challenges. One problem was that many members placed undue emphasis on those who spoke in tongues. Today we will first study Acts 2, when the church began, so that we can understand the context of Paul”s teaching on this subject to the Corinthians. Tongues at the Church”s Birth | Acts 2:1-7, 12 The Day

May 11, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for May 17, 2015: One Body; Many Members (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the May 10 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  Last week we considered the first half of 1 Corinthians 12, and this week we will study the last half of the chapter. J. W. McGarvey wrote, “In the early church the Spirit of God . . . endowed certain members with miraculous gifts . . . As gifts were bestowed on different individuals, some of them became a source of

May 4, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for May 10, 2015: Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the May 3 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  The apostle Paul spent about 18 months in the prominent Greek city of Corinth during his second missionary journey. Although he faced strong opposition (Acts 18:1-11), still the church grew and prospered. Later Paul received a letter from Corinth raising several important issues. He addressed them in 1 Corinthians. His discussion of spiritual gifts extends from 12:1″“14:40. Obviously this was a

April 27, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for May 3, 2015: Work Together for the Truth (3 John)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the April 26 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  The three short letters sent from the apostle John to first-century Christians were likely all written about the same time. Reading 3 John, the shortest book in the Bible, we see that it is similar to 2 John, but it is more specific in naming the individuals involved. Salutation | 3 John 1 The addressee, Gaius, is a friend of John”s and

April 20, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 26, 2015: Watch Out for Deceivers (1 John 5:6-12,18-20; 2 John)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the April 19 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  Deceivers are all around us. While the last two letters from the apostle John are characterized by his emphasis on the importance of love (as in 1 John), he was equally strong in his warnings about false teaching””2 and 3 John are the shortest documents in the New Testament, but they address serious and important issues. Although they deal with

April 13, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 19, 2015: Trust in God’s Love (1 John 4, 5)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the April 12 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  It is easy to understand why John has often been referred to as “the apostle of love.” That theme runs throughout the letters that he wrote to the first-century church. Today”s text is the third time in this epistle when John described love as the supreme test of the Christian life (1 John 2:7-11; 3:11-18). In 1 John 4 he emphasized

April 6, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 12, 2015: Love One Another (1 John 3:11-24)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is published in the April 5 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  Love is the hallmark of God”s community. It is also the theme of the apostle John”s epistles. The first-century believers to whom John wrote received tremendous encouragement as well as great challenge from his inspired words. Love as Action | 1 John 3:11-18 In the verses just before our printed text, John affirmed the greatness of the Father”s love for his children:

March 30, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for April 5, 2015: Believe in the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-22)

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 29 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  Often 1 Corinthians 15 is described as the “resurrection chapter” of the Bible. Tom Friskney wrote, “There is no other chapter like this in the whole Bible; the hope of Christianity resides within it. . . . We may wonder why Paul has waited until now to discuss it. . . . It is not last because it is least,

March 23, 2015

Christian Standard

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 16, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for March 22, 2015: The Spirit of Peace (John 20:19-23; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4)

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 15 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  This month”s study in the Gospel of John comes full circle today. In the first text we considered, the apostle John introduced John the Baptist to his readers (John 1). Authorities from Jerusalem found him baptizing in the Jordan. He pointed them to the Messiah, Jesus, who would one day baptize people in the Holy Spirit. Today”s text focuses on the

March 9, 2015

Christian Standard

Lesson for March 15, 2015: The Spirit of Truth (John 16:4b-15)

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 8 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Sam E. Stone  The Holy Spirit”s role was noted on several occasions during Jesus” earthly ministry. When John the Baptist immersed Jesus in the Jordan River, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove (John 1:32). When Jesus was teaching Nicodemus, he emphasized the need for all sinners to be born of water and the Spirit (3:5). Worship of God is to be

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