July 22, 2024
July 28 | Discovery Questions
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “She Brought Joy” (Esther 9:18-32; 10:1-3), by Mark Scott.
Articles for tag: Zechariah
January 2, 2023
January 8 | It’s Exciting
By this point in the book of Ezra, God’s people had their hope deferred. They came back from captivity with such high hopes . . . but then the wheels fell off. . . .
March 8, 2021
The Gift of Grace
Have you ever taken God’s grace for granted? Have we forgotten that grace does not begin in us?
December 23, 2017
What Can I Give Him?
This Christmas essay originally appeared in the December 18/25, 2011, issue of Christian Standard. ___ By Caleb Kaltenbach Every Christmas I struggle with the same thing: what in the world do I give my wife? Do I get her shoes, clothes, jewelry, a massage, or what? Maybe this is a better question: what gift will I give Jesus this season? In Luke 1, we see the birth of a child who would be a gift to Jesus. In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his
December 12, 2016
Lesson for December 18, 2016: The Forerunner of the Savior (Luke 1:1-23, 57-66)
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 December 11 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott Musicians have their warm-up acts, knights have their introducers, kings have their cupbearers, and the Messiah had his forerunner. A forerunner is a predecessor, literally someone who runs before. For Jesus that person was John the Baptist. John the Baptist ran before Jesus. Today”s text backs up from last week”s lesson. Before Gabriel made the
December 5, 2016
Lesson for December 11, 2016: The Affirmation of the Promise (Luke 1:39-56)
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 December 4 issue of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ By Mark Scott Few things feel as good as affirmation. Is this because we are so insecure or our self-esteem is so poor? Or is it because we rightfully long for proper affirmation? While in Israel this past summer, our tour group affirmed our tour guide, Mike, at the Garden Tomb. Alan Ahlgrim spoke words of affirmation and
December 25, 2014
Have You Ever Seen an Angel?
By Mark A. Taylor Many of us witness costumed actors portraying angels in this month”s Christmas plays and pageants. But I”m pretty sure our versions don”t look much like the real angels of Luke 1 and 2. Years ago I attended the “Glory of Christmas” production at Southern California”s Crystal Cathedral, where the angels stole the show. There must have been a dozen of them, suspended through the vast expanse between the auditorium”s ceiling and the crowd below. Flowing gowns and ballet poses made these performers look ethereal and attractive, but that”s not how Luke describes the angels in his
June 16, 2014
Lesson for June 22, 2014: Hope for a New Day (Nehemiah 7:1-7; Haggai 2:20-23; Zechariah 4 )
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone This is the concluding lesson in our studies about rebuilding the temple in the post-exilic period of Old Testament history. Haggai and Zechariah were contemporaries. Together they challenged God”s people to complete the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. One final verse from Haggai begins today”s study. Zechariah was evidently a young man at this time (Zechariah 2:3, 4). This book that bears his name contains a number of important predictions of the coming Messiah (see
May 26, 2014
Lesson for June 1, 2014: Obey the Lord (Haggai 1:1-11)
This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. ______ By Sam E. Stone After returning from Babylonian exile, the Jews laid the foundations for the temple but then did no other construction work. After encountering opposition, the people were discouraged from continuing. Sixteen years passed, and the work was still unfinished. Haggai and Zechariah were two of the prophets who served in this period. Some believe that Haggai was an old man who had seen the first temple (2:3) some 60 years before. J. McIlmoyle wrote, “There is a
December 24, 2013
We Follow Too
By Mark A. Taylor “Where he leads me, I will follow.” That was Mary”s decision, finally, after she had expressed her confusion about the message the angel brought her. “I am the Lord”s servant,” she said. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). Joseph, with his own set of doubts, decided he would obey God, too. When God”s messenger explained to Joseph that his fiancée was pregnant by action of the Holy Spirit, “he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Matthew 1:24). Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, obeyed God”s will, too, although
July 8, 2013
Lesson for July 14, 2013: Dedicating the Temple (Ezra 6)
By Sam E. Stone Worship with both song and sacrifice was once again practiced by the people of Israel after their return to the promised land. Ezra, a famous priest and scribe, tells us of the event. In Ezra 4 he describes the opposition faced by the Jews as they worked to rebuild the temple. Chapters 5 and 6 record their eventual success. Today”s printed text highlights the dedication of the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. Herbert Lockyer described Ezra this way: “He conducted the Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem in peace and safety, and establishing himself as their leader, reformed
