Exploring the Bible with Scott & Ken

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Psalm 119:1-16. How can we walk in God's ways and commit to his commands? We need to follow God with our whole heart and get guidance from the Holy Spirit. Then we can truly honor and treasure and delight in God's Word, not out of duty or in need of perfection, but as a natural pattern and byproduct of a changed heart.

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Psalm 1:1-6. Two groups of people exist in our world. One group desires to obey God's commands. Another group rejects God's commands and mocks those who follow them. How does it turn out for each group? Should Christians befriend and affirm people who depart from God's instructions? No, Christians are called to live separate, obedient lives reg...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson with key verses 2 Peter 3:8-18. These are the last recorded words of Peter in Scripture. Peter reminds us that God views time very differently than we do. What should our focus be during what seems to be a long delay before Christ's return to take believers to heaven? We also recognize that sinners will face judgment on the fiery Day of the Lord. This motiv...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 2 Peter 2:1-3,17-19 and Jude verses 17-23. False teachers and false prophets are inevitable opponents of the gospel. While we cannot avoid their existence, we can seek to limit their destructive influence, responding to them quickly like a dangerous cancer. Both unbelievers and young believers are especially susceptible to falling for empty promises given by g...

Scott Allen leads this lesson from 2 Peter 2:3-10, 16-21 and also including 1 Peter 5:6-11. In the midst of conflict with the world that is spiritual in nature, how can Christians promote their faith and demonstrate a transformed life? We must request God's assistance, reap spiritual fruit, and recognize the authority of God's Word.

Scott Allen leads todays lesson from 1 Peter 4:12-19 and 1 Peter 5:1-5. A hostile world may speak against us and mistreat us because of our association with Jesus Christ. With an enlightened perspective, we realize not to retaliate but to understand the honor of following in Christ's footsteps. Rather than being taken by surprise, we can find joy in the treasure of suffering as we realize God bles...

Scott Allen leads todays lesson from 1 Peter 4:1-11. Christians are saved from sin through Christ's resurrection. Like him, we are to be finished with the empty ways of a sinful world and instead sanctify ourselves and exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit. When our attitudes and actions may surprise the world around us, we can inform people that is God's view of our lives that truly matters. Desir...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 1 Peter 3:13-22. As we accept our roles and situations that God puts us in, how can we respond to adverse circumstances in a way that glorifies God? There's a special blessing for those who receive difficulty instead of prosperity but turn in into a special opportunity to share the reason for hope we have, a hope that transcends and overcomes our circumstances...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 1 Peter 3:1-12. Our identity in Christ leads us to prioritize our witness to others, even in times of adversity. We must also live out our identity in our relationships. By working within God's framework , believers can experience the fullness of life even when in relationship with those who are not yet transformed by God's grace. It will take sincerity, a qui...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 1 Peter 2:11-25. As sin interferes with believers living out our identity in Christ, selfish desires also interfere with believers presenting a proper witness about what Christ has done for us. When we represent Christ, we can expect slander and foolish behavior in response. Instead of reacting with natural impulses, Peter teaches us to show restraint and...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 1 Peter 2:1-10. Who are we in Christ? And how should that affect our daily decisions and actions? What attitudes will impact our spiritual growth into the disciples Jesus has called us to be? Peter addressed all of these questions. There are attitudes to avoid so we can grow from our salvation, live appropriately, make our allegiance to Christ known, and g...

Scott Allen leads this lesson on the remainder of 1 Peter chapter 1, verses 10-12 and 13-25. We've received astounding, stupendously good news through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. When we believe, our inheritance is kept by God's power, not our own efforts. Does it matter that we live holy lives? In fact it does, as holiness is the outcome of a healthy Christian life as...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from 1 Peter 1:3-8. How can we experience joy in troubled times? While believers will face adversity, we find assurance from being born again and receiving God's unconditional promises of eternal life. Then when our faith is tested, we can maintain a joy that is based on God's reliable promises, not our fickle circumstances.

Scott Allen leads todays lesson from Leviticus 26:1-13 with a summary of Leviticus 16:1-10 and 29-30. The Day of Atonement provided a solemn opportunity for the nation of Israel to receive a temporary forgiveness of sins through annual rituals. In the present day, believers have permanent forgiveness through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our heavenly high priest. With such amazing grac...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Leviticus 9:15-24 and 10:1-3 with a preview of 16:1-10. Many types of offerings were prescribed for the Israelites so they might relate to God. These various offerings made it clear that there were significant barriers for sinners hoping to worship a holy God. As we look at the burnt offering, sin offering, grain offering, and fellowship (peace) offering, we d...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38. Moses' obedience to God's instructions set the stage for God's arrival at the newly constructed tabernacle. Yet even the design of the new worship center pointed out the contrast between God's holiness and the people's sinfulness. We find both comforting and challenging aspects to God's presence and discuss h...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Exodus 25:1-9 and 31:1-6. How can God's people go about doing God's work? First, we must be aligned to God and His moral commands. Then, we must willing offer ourselves and our possessions to God. Then we must follow His instructions so we can commune with Him. Lastly, we can trust that God will provides us leaders and skilled workers to help us fo...

Scott Allen leads today's study of lessons 7 & 8 of our Lifeway study of Exodus & Leviticus (combined due to inclement weather). In Exodus 20:1-17, we find 10 commandments God gave to the Israelites. If God knew we would not be able to keep them all, why did He give these commands to us? Was God trying to take away all our fun, or are God's moral precepts central to a flourishing h...

After a holiday break, Ken Travis leads a our lesson combining lessons 5 (Exodus 14:19-31) and 6 (Exodus 16:4-19) of our quarterly plan. Pharaoh finally relented to let the Israelites go, but when God has Moses march the people back towards the north, it sets up a final showdown. Here, crossing the Red Sea, and later, providing their needs in the barren wilderness, God shows that He alone saves an...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Exodus 12:21-32. We recap the plagues against Egypt described in chapters 7-11, ending with the announcement of the tenth and most devastating plague, the death of all the firstborn in Egypt. But God had a plan to deliver the Hebrews from punishment for stubborn disobedience. A Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, consumed, and commemorated. Blood would mark th...

Ken Travis leads today's lesson from Exodus 5:1-4 and 6:2-9 and surrounding verses. Moses has finally agreed to confront Pharoah with the help of his brother Aaron, but it won't be easy. Pharoah has no regard for the God of the Hebrews nor any desire to lose his source of forced labor. This story can encourage us when we face difficult conservations and face a negative response when sharing with o...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Exodus 2:23-25; 3:7-15. Long after Joseph's death, the people of Israel became Egyptian slaves. Moses was rescued as an infant and grew up in Pharoah's house, but when his attempts to fight for his fellow Israelites failed, he lived in exile. At the proper time, God calls Moses to lead the rescue out of Egypt, but how can an outcast like Moses stand before the...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Acts 27:30-44 and surrounding verses. Paul is on his way to Rome, having appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen and avoiding the plots of opposing Jewish leaders. Yet the journey westward from Crete during poor sailing weather proves every bit as hazardous as Paul had warned the chief soldier and captain of the ship. As the leaders and passengers face unrelenti...

Ken Travis leads today's lesson from Acts 26:19-29. Paul again finds opportunity to share his testimony with Roman leaders as he speaks before governor Festus and King Agrippa. Paul models the witness that all believers can have as we tell our story, expect opposition, and ask for a response. While we are not responsible for how people respond, we are responsible to share Christ with every person,...

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Acts 22:6-21. Paul, having returned to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, faces a hostile mob of zealous Jews who consider him a traitor to their religion. Saved by Roman soldiers, Paul takes opportunity to address the crowd, recounting the events of Acts chapter 9. Paul's presentation highlights both the uniqueness of his conversion experience on the Damascu...