We’ve been writing about changes you’ll see soon in The Lookout. Here’s why we’ve chosen to make them.

First let me say that we’re committed to keeping the key features you’ve come to love in this publication. In fact, we’re expanding these features to help individuals in the local church grow more intentionally as disciples.

Our readers often tell us how much they appreciate the excellent Bible teaching provided weekly by Mark Scott and David Faust. Mark writes a detailed commentary for our weekly Bible lesson and David provides insights and practical application from the text. One change you’ll notice immediately is the additional space on each page allowing you to take notes and record personal insights alongside the lesson material. To make this easier, we’re upgrading our paper quality so you can write on the pages. To make the lesson material even more effective for personal study, Sunday school classes, and small groups, we’re adding pages of reflection and discussion questions.

And there’s more. We want The Lookout to be a resource for your daily quiet time. For years we’ve published an online Bible Reading Plan that guides users through an annual reading of God’s Word. We’re bringing the Plan back to the print publication and adding a component we think you’ll love—daily meditations based on your reading. This makes The Lookout a study tool you can go to daily as you read Scripture and grow in your understanding and application of the Word.

To enhance our expanded Bible study and daily quiet time sections, we’re adding two additional features: a place to record prayer concerns and space for personal journaling. We believe this will increase The Lookout’s value in two ways. First, it will provide helpful resources for your daily walk with God. Second, it will allow you to create a spiritual legacy for your children and grandchildren. As you record your insights and study notes, list the needs you pray about from week to week, and document your journey in discipleship, you’ll be compiling a personal spiritual history that will challenge generations of your family to follow in your footsteps as disciples of Christ.

More next week.