The scroll and the lamb (April 27, 2025)
In Revelation 5, John proclaims Jesus—not Caesar—as Lord, calling believers to bold, holy resistance against tyrannical forces, writes Mark Hinds.
More Stories from this Author
Jesus lives again (April 20, 2025)
Mark Hinds explores Matthew 27:24–28:10—Jesus’s trial, crucifixion, and resurrection—revealing themes of power, betrayal, hope, and transformative redemption.
Perseverance, grace and community (April 6, 2025)
Mark Hinds writes about Hebrews 9 and 10.
Sacred preparation (March 30, 2025)
Mark Hinds explores Leviticus 16's call to atonement, sacred preparation, and divine grace — inviting us to pray and clean like crazy for God's presence.
Missional confirmation: Strengthening youth in their missional identities and vocations
The "Changing the World" confirmation curriculum emphasizes a missional approach to confirmation, commissioning the baptized to serve God’s kingdom and change the world through the Holy Spirit.
Discussion guide for July/August 2023 issue
In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation.
Three parables: Finding and gathering (July 30, 2023)
What if we viewed the three parables in Matthew 13:44-52 through the eyes of a child, Mark Hinds wonders?
Coming soon: A missional confirmation handbook for parents and mentors
You asked — we listened! We're adding a supplement to Changing the World: Confirmation for the Missional Church: "A Handbook for Parents and Mentors.”
Weeds among the wheat (July 23, 2023)
For the most part, humans can tell the difference between good and evil. And yet, the definition can get messy. What's a seed to do? Mark Hinds looks at the parable of the weeds.
The sower and the seed (July 16, 2023)
Jesus calls us to open our ears and eyes to recognize God's kingdom in our midst and then to become agents of the kingdom in our creator's world.
The kingdom has come upon you (July 9, 2023)
Looking at the Gospel of Matthew, Mark Hinds explores what we mean when we talk about the kingdom of heaven.
Discussion guide for June 2023 issue
In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation.
Discussion guide for May 2023 issue
In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation.
Discussion guide for April 2023 issue
In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation.
Moving from “membership confirmation” to “missional confirmation”
"Missional confirmation inspires a missional identity and commissions young people to a missional way of life," writes Mark D. Hinds.
Discussion guide for February 2023 issue
In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation.
Discussion guide for January 2023 issue
In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation.
How to change the world: Matthew 25 and confirmation
I taught my first confirmation class in 1987. Twenty-five eighth graders explored the Apostles' Creed for nine months! On Pentecost 1988, all..
Purposeful retirement
I became a senior citizen in 2021, a transition I had largely ignored for most of my life. As a public high..
Fixing confirmation: How to say, “Glad you’re home” instead of “See you later”
A history of confirmation In the early church, adult converts entered the catechumenate, a sometimes-three-year period of instruction. The culmination of this..