Exploring the Bible with Scott & Ken

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 20-25. God forgives sin through Christ. Do we still need to have good works? Perhaps this is a question you've wondered. As we read Moses' words to the Israelites, we see that obedience is important for anyone wanting a relationship with God. It sets the stage for prosperity and becomes the basis for our perspective. Yet we don&#...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Deuteronomy 4:1-9, 15-20. Moses had much to say to the "Joshua Generation" who, unlike their unbelieving fathers, was about to enter and conquer the promised land. He sternly warned them to stay true to their God, following all of His commands and worshipping Him alone. Despite Moses' warnings, just was with past generations, future generatio...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Mark 12:41-44. Rich benefactors were putting large sums into the temple treasury in Jerusalem, but Jesus was not impressed until a poor widow woman dropped in two small coins worth slightly less than a dollar each in today's currency. Could this woman have given more than everyone else? And what does that teach us about God's expectations for givin...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Malachi 3:6-15. A robbery had occurred! Resources that belonged to God were missing! How could this happen? Unlike a brazen thief who breaks into churches and steals from the community, often times the equivalent crime is this: believers not giving what God asks us to give. In the Old Testament, 10% of the land's produce (the tithe) was to be given to support...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Are we generous in giving? Cheerful in giving? Do we trust God to supply our needs so we can give our resources wisely to those in need? Did you know that when Christians give faithfully, we nullify many of the baseless arguments against the church today? What is holding you back from following Christ's example and giving the way...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Matthew 6:19-21,24-34. Where is your treasure? Are we pursuing earthly or heavenly priorities? Are we relying on self-effort or trusting in God's provision? As we explore these questions and seek the qualities of good stewards, we learn from the words of Jesus and Paul that our focus greatly impacts both our present and our future. Let us seek to be wi...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson wrapping up our 7 week study from the book of numbers. 2 and a half tribes have secured their inheritance on the east of the Jordan. 9 and a half tribes are readying to cross the Jordan and conquered their share of the promised land. What are God's instructions for his chosen people? What about the people already in the land? Is it just to expel the Canaani...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Numbers 22:21-35. Balaam was a prophet for hire. He said all the right things and seemed to want to honor God, but his heart was being captivated by greed. God knew his motives were corrupt. To keep Balaam from pursuing a reckless and destructive path, God used a simple donkey to first save Balaam's life and then instruct Balaam what it means to see spirituall...

Scott Allen teaches today's lesson from Numbers 20:2-13. Again facing a need for water in the wilderness, the people once again grumble and complain and give full voice to their displeasure and cynicism. The people assume the worst motives for Moses and God despite their history of patient leadership and constant care for the people. Moses and Aaron take the people's accusations to God, wh...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Numbers 14:11-24. The Israelites had no excuse for their lack of faith in God. Time after time God had demonstrated that His sovereign power was sufficient for their every need and challenge. This disrespectful and doubting people was not fit for the promised land. Should God destroy the people and pick someone else. Moses' interceded for his people. H...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Number 13:17-31. On the cusp on entering the promised land, Moses assigned one person from each of Israel's 12 tribes to scout out the land of Canaan, the promised land. Starting at the far south, they traveled over 200 hundred miles to the north and then back again, stopping near the city that would one day be named Hebron to collect the fruits of thi...

Scott Allen leads todays lesson from Numbers 11:4-17. Discontent was spreading throughout the Israelite camp. They wanted meat to eat, not this daily manna. Yet manna itself was a miracle provided by God to sustain the people through their wilderness journey. And their glowing recollection of their meals in Egypt neglected the fact that they were oppressed and mistreated as slaves. God had rescued...

Scott Allen begins a study of the book of Numbers with chapter 9 verses 15-23. Numbers is the story of two generations in the wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. As God provides protection and guidance through a cloud representing his presence, the Israelites begin their journey with a positive example of careful obedience. As believers, we also have reason to carefully obey God's...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Psalm 42:1-11. What should we do when God seems distant? When we cannot see or find God? When we can't understand why God has seemingly forgotten about us? When we can't trace God's hand, as the old quote says, we can still trust His heart. The Sons of Korah, descendants of the leader of a failed rebellion against Moses, direct us to find comfo...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Psalm 5:1-12. How should we respond when others intend us harm without cause? David could relate to that. He spent much of his adult life running from a paranoid King Saul. David learned to bring his case to God and trust the results to God's character. This allowed David to take the high road and avoid sinning himself. We can entrust wicked individual...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Psalm 139:1-16. In this psalm, David stands in amazement at God's great qualities. God knows everything about us (He is omniscient). God sees us no matter where we go because God's presence is everywhere (He is omnipresent). Lastly, God is intimately involved in human life from before birth to our last days, which gives purpose to every stage of li...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from the beloved Psalm 23. While we often cite this psalm in times of loss, we recognize that David wrote it as a reminder of God's guidance and provision during life. We discuss God's provision, path, presence, preparation, and protection. While our path may be well lit at times and at other times under intense darkness, we find comfort tracing the she...

Scott Allen brings today's lesson from Psalm 32:1-11. Through God's forgiveness we find a path from conviction and shame and guilt to joy and peace and security. David's life shows us that no matter the magnitude of our mistakes, as we turn humbly and honestly toward God, we find a hidden place of communion with God as he remakes us with an upright heart.

Scott Allen leads this lesson from Psalm 38:1-8, 18-22. David penned this psalm because he wanted everyone to be aware of the misery of sin and guilt. He felt the devastating sting of God's conviction. Why would God send such a crushing feeling to His children? Are we doomed to remain in condemnation when we disobey God? There is hope of restoration when believers confess their sins to God. We...

Scott Allen teaches today's lesson from Psalm 105:1-11 and 42-45. The people of Israel had a special relationship with God. They received special promises as a result of a covenant with God. God honored his promises, bringing them back out of Egypt and into the "promised land." Christians today also enjoy a special relationship. The God who has kept all of his historical promises wil...

For over two decades after being anointed the next King of Israel, David lived life on the run from King Saul. Although David was faithful to Saul and happy to await His turn to power, Saul constantly pursued David out of jealousy and on numerous occasions sought to kill David. Yet here in Psalm 18, David celebrates God's faithful deliverance, noting God's response to both his character an...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from one of the most significant of all the psalms, Psalm 110. In this psalm of David, a future ruler is foreseen. This ruler from David's line is so special that even David himself calls Him Lord. But how could the Son of David precede his own ancestor? We soon learn that the Messiah was not a mere man or even an angel but the eternal Son of God, and not m...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Psalm 132:1-18. Psalm 132 is a song of ascents which was traditionally sung by worshipers as they travelled to Jerusalem for one of the annual feasts. This psalm reflects on David's decision to build God a permanent dwelling and the joy experienced by those seeking a manifestation of God's presence. Such worshipers are encouraged by God's faith...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Psalm 96:1-13. God is God alone. He is unrivaled in the universe. He alone created our world and then sent His son to redeem us from sin. He alone is worthy of our worship. We are encouraged to add our personal testimony of God's faithfulness to God's worldwide praises. Although we face the ups and downs of mortal existence, we find assurance that...

Scott Allen leads todays lesson from Psalm 19:1-14. God may not be visible to our eyes, but in His created universe and written Word, God has clearly revealed his nature and expectations. How will we respond to the creator of the sun that daily greets us and the author of the Bible that communicates his rules and great love? We need God's daily help to cultivate a heart that reflects his chara...