January 1, 2026
Preach the Real Gospel
Discernment isn’t knowing the difference between right and wrong; it’s knowing the difference between right and almost right. Almost right will never be enough when it comes to someone’s eternal destiny.
Articles for tag: Sermon on the Mount
November 5, 2025
The Missing Piece of the Great Commission
As those who have been charged with carrying out the Great Commission to go to all the world making disciples, let's remember that baptizing and teaching is not complete if obedience is not also taught and modeled by those who claim to follow Jesus.
December 4, 2023
Dec. 10 Application | ‘So What?’
The tiny word 'so' plays a role in the much-loved verse, John 3:16. What does it mean to say, “God so loved the world”? . . .
5 Preaching Tips from C.S. Lewis
In a letter to a seventh-grade girl from 1959, C.S. Lewis shared eight pieces of writing advice, the first five of which I believe to be quite relevant for preachers.
July 1, 2022
What Should the Church Do about the Mental Health Crisis
By Ben Cachiaras We have a problem. Emotional well-being is in serious decline. It’s a palpable crisis that was bad before the pandemic. The isolation, social upheaval, polarization, and massive changes with work, school, and life have exacerbated the crisis, creating an extended ambiguity and heightened stress that’s a perfect cocktail for burnout and emotional struggle. (I first heard it put that way by Paul Alexander, president of Hope International University.) No wonder the World Health Organization’s recent scientific brief states that the global prevalence of anxiety and depression has increased 25 percent since the pandemic’s arrival in early 2020.
January 3, 2022
Jan. 9 | Righteous Judgment
Our first two lessons in Romans deal with God’s righteous character evident in his wrath and judgment. Beneath the radar was the tension between Jew and Gentile in regard to salvation.
February 3, 2021
The Captain Family: “Go Where God Calls You”
By Chris Moon Not every ministry couple can boast of watching all three of their grown sons enter into full-time ministry. But such is the case with Lewis and Lisa Captain. “Our lives have been centered around kingdom work,” Lisa Captain said. “This world is not our home. We’re here for God’s purpose. We tried to involve [our sons] in ministry as much as possible. This is something they did as well. Growing up, this was our life.” The Captains’ own journey has taken them to Zimbabwe, Hawaii, various spots in the Midwest, and now Utah. Their sons Brent, Timothy,
February 1, 2021
Feb 7 | Hearing and Doing
Unit: James Theme: Faith With Action Lesson Text: James 1:22-27; 2:14-26 Lesson Aim: Live out what you claim to believe.
January 25, 2021
Jan 31 | Different Discernment
It is not enough to like or agree with the Sermon on the Mount. One must obey it. Jesus ended this sermon with a decisive call to action. He did so with a series of contrasts.
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.
January 17, 2021
Jan 24 | Singular Servants
In this latter half of Matthew 6, Jesus employed at least 18 different metaphors or images to drive home his point. He spoke of treasures, moths, vermin, and thieves. He spoke of eyes, light, darkness, masters, money . . .
January 17, 2021
Jan 24 | Consider the Birds
Jesus didn’t say a sparrow would never fall; he said they never fall without the Father’s awareness (Matthew 10:29). Jesus didn’t promise we would escape all hardship. He said whatever happens, he will be with us.
January 17, 2021
Jan 24 | Discovery
Study Questions for Groups Note the short phrase at the end of verse 30, “you of little faith.” What does this phrase indicate to you about Jesus’ audience and his purpose for teaching this?
January 11, 2021
Jan 17 | Reverse Rewards
The practice of faith is always public and private. If the practice of faith is only public, then it is hypocritical. If the practice of faith is only private, then we miss the community aspect of it.
January 11, 2021
Jan 17 | Discovery
Study Questions for Groups — In what ways are a person’s motives important to how they practice their faith?
January 4, 2021
Jan 10 | Unconventional Wisdom
Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. He also serves as minister with Park Plaza Christian Church in Joplin. This lesson treatment is published in the January 2021 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.) ________ COMPANION RESOURCES “Don’t Stay the Way You Are” by David Faust (Lesson Application) Discovery Questions for Jan. 10, 2021 ________ Lesson Aim: Let love define your righteousness. ________ In Jesus’ upside-down kingdom, the most unlikely people (Matthew 5:3-12) have the most sway
January 1, 2021
‘In God We Trust?’
A couple of exciting events took place in 1956. First, I was born, which was pretty exciting for me. Second, our federal government adopted the official motto, “In God We Trust.” That phrase quickly was stamped onto our currency and coin, where it remains today. Why did America adopt a motto in 1956? We were fighting a Cold War with the Soviet Union, a superpower that championed atheism. While the U.S.S.R. contended God did not exist, the United States not only declared his existence, but that our nation trusted in him. “In God We Trust” is more than a
December 28, 2020
Jan 3 | Backward Blessings
The unit for January 2021 is the “Sermon on the Mount,” and the theme is “Upside-Down Kingdom.” Our lesson writer, Dr. Mark Scott, shares, “The greatest sermon ever preached was so upside down. It was countercultural and counterintuitive in every way. It turned the world’s wisdom on its head. From it we learn who is truly blessed, how high the bar of righteousness really is, where genuine rewards are located, what focused generosity looks like, and how to make judgments that are not warped.” (This lesson treatment is published in the January 2021 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout.
December 28, 2020
Jan 3 | Discovery
COMPANION RESOURCES Study for Jan. 3, 2021: Backward Blessings (Matthew 5:1-16) “Do the Opposite” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups 1. What challenge did you face last week? 2. In what specific way did you live, love, or serve like Jesus over the past week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 5:1-16 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the teaching in one minute or less. 3. What worldviews do you see represented in Jesus’ teaching? 4. Let’s dig more
December 21, 2020
Discovery Questions for December 27, 2020
COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Dec. 27, 2020: Fulfilled through Hope (Matthew 12:1-23) “He’s Got Your Back” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack Leader: Provide extra time for this lesson, especially for question 2 as you recap this past year and question 9 as you plan for next year. 1. What challenge or blessing did you experience last week? 2. What was your biggest challenge and your biggest blessing of 2020? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 12:1-23 one after the other, preferably from different
