7-20-25 Biblical-Literacy Pastor David Fleming taught from Philippians 3 - with the theme of Destination - Knowing Jesus. He shared 3 points: Salvation is a gift - Ephesians 2:8-10 Beware of evil Grace plus works is not grace Is Jesus Enough? Did He do enough? Jesus paid it all. Spiritual growth Am I putting in the effort and energy? Am I making progress? Graduation Eventually we reach graduation Our citizenship is in heaven. How would you like to meet Jesus in Heaven? Older? Better? Closer? Mor...
Jul 20, 2025
7-13-25 Biblical-Literacy Pastor David Fleming led in Part 3 of the summer series on Philippians with a focus on Chapter 2’s call to Unity. A call to Unity 1.Unity is not uniformity 2.Unity is more than the absence of open warfare 3.Unity is a common faith and interests and purpose The Key to Unity... Humility 1.Lowliness of mind 2.Modest and accurate understanding of one’s own importance 3.Thinking of others first. Examples of Humility 1.Jesus humbled Himself for us 2.Excellent example in Paul ...
Jul 13, 2025
7-6-25 Bib-Lit Pastor Brent Johnson continued with the summer series of Philippians. Week 2: “On Being a Good Citizen” as found in Chapter 1. Background Date Written: AD 60-62 Location: Paul wrote the letter while in prison Purpose: thanks and encouragement Audience: Romans, Greeks, a few Jews, and slaves Brent uses passport stamps to illustrate the lesson of Paul’s teachings. Stamp 1 Prayer - Paul writes of prayer: instruction, response, and confidence in God’s active involvement. Stamp 2 Satis...
Jul 06, 2025
6-29-25 Biblical-Literacy Dr. David Capes provided an introduction in a summer study of Philippians: an Epistle of Friendship. Paul’s relationship with the church: established on his 2nd missionary journey. First church in Europe. Paul wrote the letter during Roman military custody - Christian community supported him - He was able to communicate outside of jail - People were able to see him and tend to his needs - Imprisoned a long time Friendship Letter - a sharing of life together. - Fellowshi...
Jun 29, 2025
6-22-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark taught from Romans 4 with Paul’s passage on saved by grace, meaning of faith, and what that meant to the early Jew and Gentile believers in accordance to Abraham, who was considered righteous in God’s eyes and why. The Covenant; justification by faith Abraham lamented his lack of a son in Genesis 15. He had faith in God’s promise, which showed he was righteous. God requested Abraham to be circumcised. The Gospel was for all people who had faith in the death, burial...
Jun 22, 2025
6-15-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in Romans 4:1-9 with Paul’s focus on righteousness. Mark begins with Paul’s background, training, and the origin of the Pharisees. The sect was formed to ensure the preservation of the Jewish temple and religion. Romans 4:1-9 Abraham was justified by faith apart from the law, so none get to boast. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Torah, but to help others understand it. God does the impossible Justifies the ungodly. God did not forgive the ungodly but tra...
Jun 15, 2025
Mark interviewed a special guest during today’s class: Dr. W. Scott Sager, minister, professor,speaker,community leader,and author based in Nashville,TN. Scott first shared some general background. He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas in a Christian family.His dad was a church song leader. He attended Abilene Christian University, studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, received his doctorate at Southern Methodist University, and currently teaches at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. He’s ...
Jun 08, 2025
Mark continued in the book of Romans with an emphasis on verses 3:20-31 through 4:1. The theme of today’s lesson was based on the many Bible translations or interpretations today, especially focused on words in Romans 3:23-24. Faith and Christ Works will not justify us in God’s covenant of faithfulness. The passage can read faith in, of,from,or through the saving work of Jesus Christ. Mark provides 5 criteria that translators use to argue the meaning of these verses. Boasting The best we have is...
Jun 01, 2025
5-25-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the study of Romans with a focus on the “gold" in Paul’s words. This week Mark first provided some background and context, expanding on things shared from previous lessons, and then focused on Romans 3:21-26. Background and context: The Roman church was not full of lightweights. Paul produces a masterpiece with rhetorical features. Paul’s letters are longer than typical at the time. Powerful and detailed to an audience who were sophisticated in biblica...
May 25, 2025
5/18/25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the book of Romans with insights into Romans Chapter 3:21-26 with an exploration into the Greco Roman language vs English. He divided the lesson as follows: 1. Explore the word group Ancient Greek origin of “dike” which means, right, justice, punishment. Translated into English it uses various words from other language origins. Paul is using one word that means various English meanings: courtroom verdict, covenantal faithfulness, conforming behav...
May 18, 2025
05-11-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the study of Romans with an exploration Romans 2:12 - 3:21. Paul used his lawyer background consisting of a 3-pillar approach of persuasion: ethos, pathos, and logos to provide information to the Greco-Roman culture. His flow of logic included a power statement and logically or methodically based statements that were brief, complete, and concise to show God’s judgment. Romans 2:12 - 3:21 All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory: without the law...
May 11, 2025
5-4-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued a study of Romans with a focus on Chapter 2:1-11, highlighting God’s Principles of Judgment. The lesson was divided to discuss: 1. Paul’s legal background as a Pharisee -Jewish legal background. Had their own court system based on the Torah. The great Sanhedrin was considered the Jewish Supreme Court. -Roman background. Citizen of Rome granting Paul considerable rights in the Roman court and recognized throughout the Roman Empire. 2. Romans 2:1-11 - Uses L...
May 04, 2025
4-27-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued the study of Romans with a focus on The Wrath of God. The lesson was divided to include: Ancient Greco-Roman thought at the time of Paul’s writing the letter to the Romans We naturally use our culture to understand the world around us. They taught that moral blindness and error caused by the gods. Paul can quote Greco-Roman philosophers who believed in many gods. Contrast Paul’s text People suppress the truth and not the gods. The wrath of God i...
Apr 27, 2025
04-13-25 Biblical Literacy Marks continued the study of the book of Romans by focusing on Chapter 1 vs 16 & 17 and Paul and his family life long movements and the influence that each of the places he lived and the influences each location had on his life, his person and influences on his character. God died for our sins. The most simple thing about the Gospel is Christ Died for our sins. The most profound thing about the Gospel is Christ died for our sins. Paul grew up in Tarsus, which was a...
Apr 13, 2025
4-6-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark taught the second lesson in Romans with an emphasis on the beginning verses of chapter one. Paul wrote Romans around 55AD. Mark breaks down the lessons: Paul’s Salutation to the Romans He is a servant of Jesus Christ. Called to be an apostle to share the Gospel. Grace and peace. Paul’s Prayer Thank God for the Romans’ faith and prays for their strength. Paul’s Theme Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is the power of G...
Apr 06, 2025
3-30-25 - Biblical-Literacy Mark Lanier began a new series on Romans. Today’s focus merged how to study an Epistle and began an introduction into the book of Romans. 1. How to study Romans, an Epistle, in 8 basic steps. Historical context Literary context Textual analysis Paragraph exegesis Theological analysis Application Mix-in others Constant ongoing reflection 2. The occasion of the letter - Mark explains historical context that result in the church in Rome consisting of both...
Mar 30, 2025
Mark taught lesson 2 on How to Study the Bible with a focus on the genre of Poetry. The lesson’s three points: 1 A little Bible background: Old Testament written mostly in Hebrew. New Testament written mostly in Greek. Afterward and primarily due to the dominant language of the Roman Empire the scriptures were translated into Latin. 2. Reading different passages: Psalms are various styles of poetry or songs. Learn about the types of parallelism and how they help in understanding poetic scripture...
Mar 23, 2025
The Bible states we should study the Bible to know Scripture and the power of God. Mark then spent time in 1. What’s are we doing when we study the Bible? God entrusted His Words through people: Scripture is inspired by God. There are 2 types of critical studies described as: Lower criticism which is foundational. Then Higher criticism follows. Mark cautions us not to rely on only one Scripture translation, commentary versions, the internet, or linguistic substitutions. 2. How do we study the Bi...
Mar 16, 2025
3-9-25 Biblical-Literacy Listen to Mark expound on The Strange Woman and its meaning. Our choices impact our relationship with God, Family, Community as well as ourselves.. Mark taught the final lesson in the Lesser-Known Women of the Bible series with a focus on The Strange Woman and similar to Lady Widsom, this employs personification as a literary device. The lesson in 3 parts: 1. The Path Metaphor - Scripture teaches of good and bad paths, and those paths compete for our souls.Wisdom is the ...
Mar 09, 2025
03/02/25 Bib-Lit.docx Mark interviews three well known biblical scholars. Dr. Steve Ortiz Dr. John Manson Dr. Lawson Younger We are looking at our guests to enlighten us through scripture on: 1. How we See the World 2. How we See Scripture 3. How we See God Dr. Ortiz Grew up in LA and moved to Arizona with his wife and two children. He lived in Isreal and then back to New Orleans. He then left New Orleans and attended South Western Baptist Seminary and after that accepted a position as a Profess...
Mar 02, 2025
Mark Lanier 02/23/2025 Mark takes us on a very different experience in our study of Lessor Known Women in the Bible. Mark asks the question? Who am I ? 1. I help a King Rule Justly 2. I cried out in the streets and raised my voice in the Public Square 3. I was there when God set the heavens into place Wisdom: Wisdom in Hebrew is a feminine word and this realization shaped and framed the balance of the lesson. Lady Wisdom in the bible stands out from all other cultures. The lesson is delivered in...
Feb 23, 2025
2-16-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark taught Lesser-Known Women of the Bible with an emphasis on unnamed but significant women. Anonymity can sometimes speak volumes. Why no name? Various reasons: to prevent embarrassment, the person is unknown or sometimes used as a literary device. Examples of the later could be to 1) elevate a universal significance as with the Shuminite woman, which provided a lesson in hospitality, 2) bring divine action to the foreground or 3) deliver a dose of irony. Today’s les...
Feb 16, 2025
2-9-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued the series: Lessor Known Women of the Bible. This week’s lesson focused on Job and his daughters. The lesson had three sections: 1. The journey through suffering - Job, a righteous man whom God had blessed with divine provision lost everything, including his children, health, and relationships. God responds to Job’s questions by asking questions. 2. The significance of restoration - When Job prayed for his friends, he was restored. He received double porti...
Feb 09, 2025
2-02-25 Biblical-Literacy Dr. David Capes led another lesson of Lessor Known Women ofthe Bible with an interview of Dr. Nancy Dawson, author of All the Genealogies of the Bible. Dr. Lawson received her doctorate in biology and always held an interest in theology. In this lesson she focused on three of the five women named in Matthew 1 who are part of the line of Jesus’ genealogy. These three woman held the genealogy line for Judah: Tamar: Gentile not a Jew. Rahab: Gentile not a Jew Bathsheba: Je...
Feb 02, 2025
Dr. David Capes interviewed Dr. Federico Villanueva, regional commissioning editor for Langham Publishing and scholar care coordinator for current Langham Scholars in Asia. He teaches at the Asia Graduate School of Theology and Loyola School of Theology in Manila, Philippines, and is known for his focus on the church knowing the importance of lament as in the Psalms, Lamentations, and other areas of the Bible. Dr. Villanueva grew up in the Philippines. He is married with two children. He shared ...
Jan 26, 2025
Mark Lanier continued his series on Lesser-Known Bible Women with a study of Jael - Courage in a Crisis, from Judges 4:2 - 5:27. Mark divides the lesson into: 1. Context and Characters: Israel is under oppression from the Canaanite army led by Sizer who has control of the Jezerel Valley. The people are regulated to the mountains where it is not suited for agriculture and the trade routes are blocked. Deborah was Israel’s prophet and judge who commands Barak to lead Israelites into battle and def...
Jan 19, 2025
Mark continued the series on The Lesser-Known Bible Women by focusing on Zipporah, Moses’s wife, as found in Exodus 4:24-26. He unpacked the meaning behind her striking statement: “You are a bridegroom of blood.” The Context In Moses’s time, culture dictated every aspect of life. Mark began by revisiting the pivotal moment of the burning bush, where God called Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt. The Story Mark contrasted Moses’s two departures from Egypt. The first time, Moses left...
Jan 12, 2025
In this first lesson of 2025, Mark continues the Lesser Known Women of the Bible series by exploring the intriguing reference to the “elect lady” in 2 John. Who is the lady? - A majority of scholars interpret the “elect lady” as a metaphor for the local church - the unified body of Christ chosen by God, living in truth and love. Central Theme: truth in Christ - Mark traces the overarching biblical narrative of God dwelling with humanity: from Eden to the Tabernacle, the Temple, the Church as Chr...
Jan 05, 2025
Mark taught the last class of 2024 which concluded the series of Lesser Known Women of the Bible using a passage in Luke 2 with a focus on 3 witnesses of Jesus’s birth. -Witnesses of the Shepherds: Those who were of the lowest social standing, outcasts. Even the line of priests who raised lambs for the temple sacrifice were considered untrustworthy. -Witness of Simeon: God promised that Simeon would not see death until he saw Jesus. Simeon was in the temple when Mary and Joseph brought the infan...
Dec 15, 2024
Pastor Brent Johnson continued with the series, Lesser-Known Women of the Bible with a focus on Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist from Luke 1. Brent taught three points: 1. Aaron: Zachariah and Elizabeth were from the Levite clan. 2. Baron: Although righteous, Elizabeth was advanced in age, and felt shame and inadequacy in that culture. 3. Errand: Elizabeth served God by greeting Mary, acknowledging Mary’s pregnancy, spoke of God‘s blessings and shared blessings for Mary. Take home: 1. Assem...
Dec 08, 2024
