August 25, 2022
"Pleased with the prospect of enlisting a newcomer [to teach the class], the superintendent led me to a barren, unattractive space . . . at the head of the stairs leading to the balcony of the church, where four boys around twelve years of age were huddled upon dusty, uncomfortable chairs. . . ."
February 22, 2021
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 February 2021 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. ________ Lesson Aim: Be single-minded in your devotion to the Lord. ________ By Mark Scott Certain words are warm. Words like infant, soft, secure, and love. Another such word is friend. While it sometimes is used in a “distant” and unflattering sense (Matthew 20:13; 26:50), most of the
March 16, 2020
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: Don’t be held captive by sin anymore because Christ has set you free! ________ By Mark Scott Jesus is all about freedom (Isaiah 61:1; John 8:34-36; Romans 8:1, 2; Galatians 5:1). His ordination sermon in the Nazareth synagogue (Luke 4:16-30) made that very clear. He will not be dissuaded or
December 23, 2019
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
November 11, 2019
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
February 11, 2019
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. 2 (weeks 5–8; February 3–24, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Lesson Text: Genesis 39:1-4, 19-23 Lesson Aim: Be assured that God will never forsake you in times of trouble. ______ By Mark Scott We sometimes use the expression, “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” when we want to emphasize that good is on the way and that soon our “tunnel experience” will end.
August 22, 2016
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 21 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott The most outstanding attribute of God is love (1 John 4:8). The greatest commandment is to love God (Mark 12:30). The second greatest commandment is to love one”s neighbor (v. 31). The first listed fruit of the Holy Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). All the commandments of God are swallowed up in love. This is why
April 13, 2015
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
August 19, 2013
By Sam E. Stone The conclusion of the book of Nehemiah emphasizes how reform happens. James E. Smith observes, “Once again the reading of Scripture had driven home to the Jews the obligation to be holy unto Yahweh. The prohibition here enjoined (Nehemiah 13:1-3) was not absolute. It was religious, not ethnic. Those who embraced in faith the God of Israel, like Ruth the Moabitess, could find a very different reception in Israel.” Nehemiah 13 describes a time somewhat removed from the first chapters. Nehemiah has now returned to Jerusalem from his homeland (v. 6-9). While some feel he had
December 3, 2012
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone In the book of Ephesians the apostle Paul tackles one of the great challenges facing believers in the first century: uniting all Christians in one body, following the one head, Jesus Christ. That challenge remains today! Two groups of people were living side by side in Ephesus””Jews and Gentiles. Each group had contempt for the other. Jewish Christians had been reluctant to admit Gentiles into the church, unless they first became Jews (Acts 15:1; Galatians 2:11-21).
By Mark A. Taylor As we announced earlier, Christian Standard, published weekly since 1866, will become a monthly publication in September. What does this change mean? Well, there are several things it does NOT mean. This change does NOT mean Christian Standard readers will get less than they received before. Instead of 16 pages 48 times a year, they”ll receive at least 64 pages (plus a four-page cover) every month. Meanwhile, Paul Williams and I will continue to write weekly””find our columns every week at ChristianStandard.com. The weekly Sunday school lesson will appear there too, along with weekly Communion meditations
May 14, 2012
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the “synoptic Gospels.” These three accounts of Jesus” life follow a similar outline and record many of the same events. The Gospel of John, written some years later, supplements our knowledge of Christ”s ministry in a wonderful way. While John recounts many of the same things as the other three, he also includes other significant teachings and events not previously recorded. Today”s lesson is one of them. Near the
August 22, 2011
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for August 28) is written by Jason Jones, an elementary school principal with East Clinton Local Schools in New Vienna, Ohio. ____________ Caring for One Another (Ruth 4:1-10) By Jason Jones There is nothing I enjoy more than an evening at the ballpark: peanuts and hot dogs, watching boats on the Ohio River, and then a ninth-inning rally by the home team to send me home happy. It just doesn”t get much better. I”m a creature of habit. I park in the same place. I sit in the same seat. I
August 1, 2011
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for August 7) is written by Lori Mills, professor of psychology at Milligan College in Tennessee. ____________ Walk in God’s Path (Judges 13:1-8, 24, 25) By Lori Mills Can you recall a time you were consumed with wanting something? Perhaps it was a relationship, or child, or job, or healing from a disease. We might think we would do anything for God if he would just grant us our heart”s desire. We find ourselves promising God we will live our lives for him if he will just bless us by granting
July 4, 2011
Eight pages every week to help you with your Sunday school lesson. Learn more about Standard Lesson Commentary! ____________ This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for July 10) is written by Rick Walston, senior minister at Marion Church of Christ, Rochester, Minnesota, and adjunct professor at Crossroads College. ____________ Listen to God’s Judges (Judges 2:11-19) By Rick Walston Today”s lesson begins a new Old Testament book as we move from the conquest of the peoples in the promised land during Joshua”s lifetime to the challenging period of the judges. This unit, “Listening for God in Changing Times,”
March 21, 2011
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for March 27) is written by Robert Woolfolk who serves with Agape Christian Church in Denver, Colorado. ____________ Compassionate Service (1 Timothy 5:1-8, 17-22) By Robert Woolfolk As we read Paul”s instructions to the young preacher Timothy, we gain wisdom about godly relationships in the church, which is the body of Christ. Families Godly family interaction is important to the health and vitality of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. How we treat one another speaks louder than anything we teach, preach, or counsel. Paul”s instructions still reverberate 20 centuries
January 17, 2011
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for January 23) is written by Steve Carr who serves with Echo Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:1-7) By Steve Carr As a minister and an employee at a Christian institution, I have spent a lot of time talking with people about God”s call in their lives. Through these interactions I have met people who have claimed to hear the audible voice of God speak to them. I”ve also met people who fear for their salvation because they have never felt God speaking in their lives. While
November 29, 2010
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for December 5) is written by Teresa D. Welch, assistant professor of Christian education at Emmanuel School of Religion in Johnson City, Tennessee. God Gives Strength (Isaiah 40:1-8, 25, 26, 29-31) By Teresa D. Welch Are you waiting, worried, or weary? What concerns do you carry? Wars and rumors of wars? Economic upheaval and increased poverty? Political decisions and governmental policies? Religious hostility or indifference? The words of God recorded in Isaiah 40 are delivered to the nation of Judah, which had these concerns and many more. The people of God
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