Biblical Literacy - June 12, 2022 Scott Riley taught the Biblical Literacy class today on Snapshots of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. He had three areas of focus: 1) The kindness of God A supernatural reliance on the kindness of God. Love and do good—friends and enemies—without anything in return. Walk in the power of God with love and mercy. 2) The strength of God What is impossible with man is possible with God. Total dependence and reliability on God. 3) The loyalty of God God is for us. Jesus ...
Jun 12, 2022
hey began by discussing the Queen’s Jubilee, a celebration of her 70 years on the throne. They also discussed Tom’s service as Lord Bishop of Durham and what those duties entailed within the Church of England. He also discussed his responsibilities as a member of the House of Lords. They further discuss the Queen of England’s Christian beliefs and their impact on her Reign as Queen and on her personally. Mark and N. T. moved to Paul’s teachings in Psalms 8. Mark displayed a graphic depicting the...
Jun 05, 2022
Synopsis Biblical Literacy Class Chapter 16 05/29/22 Mark continues the Snapshots of Jesus, as found in the Gospel of Matthew Today’s lesson focuses on interpreting and clarifying problem passages submitted by class members, Matthew 27: 51-53 Mt. 27:51 “ And behold , the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” He discussed the meaning of this and what the separation of the curtain meant 1. All people have access to God through Jesus Christ 2. Jews and Gentiles and included in...
May 29, 2022
Synopsis Biblical Literacy Class Chapter 16 05/22/22 Mark continues the Snapshots of Jesus, as found in the Gospel of Matthew Today’s lesson focuses on what is in a ”Name”, and how to interpret the many “Names “ Jesus was called throughout the scriptures of Matthew. We had the privilege of having Dr. Simon Gathercole from Cambridge University and a translator of the NIV version of the Bible and Dr. David Capes, the Senior Research Fellow at the Lanier Theological Library Mark explained, as a pre...
May 22, 2022
5-15-22 Biblical-literacy Mark continued his series of Snapshots of Jesus returning to the Gospel of Matthew and addressing a few odd passages. Friends. Matthew 11:16-19 - Jesus was a friend of sinners and to me. Wisdom bears fruit. Vegetables Matthew 13:31-32 - Big things can grow from little starts. Moving Matthew 8:1-3 - Although we are all unclean lepers, Jesus will never turn you away when you come to Him for help. Bonus Passage. Matthew 20:20-22 - James and John’s mother’s request. God kno...
May 15, 2022
5-8-22 Biblical-Literacy Mark taught Mother’s Day: Lessons and instructions from the Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 6 as he continued Snapshots of Jesus. Manners of righteousness, the how and why. The Instruction - Matthew 6:1-4 Danger is always present. Beware of practicing righteousness in front of people. We don’t do it to be seen by them. Instead allow our reward to be from God and in heaven. The Applications - Matthew 6:5-6 Give in secret. Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand i...
May 08, 2022
Mark introduces today’s class with a reminder of the context of the writers of Mark and Matthew with a focus on Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. Mark’s Gospel was written on behalf of Peter for a largely Gentile audience, and Matthew’s Gospel was written for the Jewish people. Today Mark taught three important points about the context of Matthew: 1. Matthew as a Gospel 2. The various passages in Matthew in relation to the Jewish audience context. 3. Points for home: God loves me; G...
May 01, 2022
Synopsis Biblical Literacy Snapshots of Jesus 04/24/2022 Mark Interviews Bill Mounce and Dan Wallace Bill and Dan were childhood friends and lived and took very different paths In their careers, as Greek Scholars, and both were joined together as members of the NIV Translation Committee. They discussed that journey in some detail, which included how each of them were led to the Lord. Bill and Dan discussed why they wanted to learn Greek. Both have PHD’s and are very well versed and very well kno...
Apr 24, 2022
4-10-22 Biblical-Literacy Mark taught today on Holy Week, giving us snapshots of Jesus from the days leading to the crucifixion and Resurrection Sunday/Easter Palm Sunday-The Triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The people went out to meet Him, just as we are to meet Jesus every day. Holy Monday-Jesus came as a man of peace, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. Holy Tuesday-The puzzle of God or Word of God? Jesus was pierced for our transgressions. God is a just God. Holy Wednesday-Mary anoin...
Apr 10, 2022
4-3-22 Biblical Literacy Snapshots of Jesus from Matthew. Today’s lesson focused on Matthew 15. Mark uses a boxing match to illustrate the lesson. Round 1. Pharisees and the scribes vs the disciples not washing their hands before eating Jesus comments on what God says vs what the elders say and called them hypocrites. Round 2. The Canaanite woman who demonstrated great faith in asking Jesus to heal her daughter. Listen to Mark discuss how the cross of Christ is a stumbling block for unbelievers ...
Apr 03, 2022
Mark continued with Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. Mark showed the similarities and distinctions between Moses the prophet and Jesus; both were commissioned to bring God’s people out of slavery. Moses was a man who communicated God’s message to His chosen people. Jesus is the Son of God who authored the message. Jesus is a willing prophet but Moses had to be convinced. Mark elaborates how the two were similar, distinct and the reasons why. Listen to Mark expound Jesus in the Gosp...
Mar 27, 2022
Dr. David B. Capes taught for Mark this week providing an overview of the Gospel of Matthew as part of the Snapshots of Jesus series. Dr. Capes posed the question: If we knew the Old Testament well, how might it impact how we read Matthew? In Matthew 1:1, we see Jesus as: 1. Messiah - God with us, Son of Man, LORD. One who is anointed. God’s chosen anointed agent whose task is to liberate the world from disease, death, spiritual power, sin, and oppression (including religion and political). 2. S...
Mar 20, 2022
Mark completes Snapshots of Jesus from the Book of Mark lesson series by reflecting on the spread of Christianity after the Crucifixion of Christ. The journey starts with a pictorial view of the spread of Christianity across continents and Oceans bringing us to 2021 and beyond. Mark identifies the top four countries that,to this day, continue persecution of Christians in many forms. He shows statistics that hundreds of millions of people are still in 2021 being persecuted for their religious bel...
Mar 13, 2022
Mark interviewed William Lane Graig, who delighted the class with a very heartwarming and deeply spiritual review of his life growing up and his achievements throughout his life in search of the truths about being a Believer in the power of God, since accepting Christ at the age of sixteen. He recounted his acceptance of Christ as his Savior and his pursuit of higher education in the fields of Philosophy of Religion, Christian History of Thought, and Historical Evidence of the Resurrection of Je...
Mar 06, 2022
Mark continued teaching Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Mark. Today’s lesson was titled How Do You Walk Through Life? Mark 4:35-41 presents a crescendo of Jesus’ four miracles— 1. Defeats Nature: Jesus calmed the sea. We see the humanity of the weary Jesus and His divine power. 2. Defeats Demons: Jesus casts out a legion of demons and sent them into pigs and drowns them. 3. Defeats Sickness: The healing of Jairus’s twelve-year-old daughter and the woman with a discharge of blood for twelve...
Feb 27, 2022
In this chapter of Snapshots of Jesus, Pastor Brent Johnson discusses the idea of Biblical Worldview. He provides a definition for “World View, as “an understanding of the world, which informs one’s fundamental beliefs and assumptions, which builds a framework of ideas & attitudes about the world and how it works.” It is informed by your upbringing, your culture, your religion. Brent in his discussion addresses topics and questions that are reflected in our World View: 1. What is the prime r...
Feb 20, 2022
Biblical-Literacy 2-13-22 Dr DavId Capes continued as guest teacher in the Snapshots of Jesus series from the Gospel of Mark. Today’s focus was How do you see Jesus? In the Gospel of Mark ,we see Jesus locked in conflict. In chapters 5 and 6, we see three accusations and Jesus’ response to each. 1. Friend of sinners. Those who are well have no need of a physician. 2 Lord of the Sabbath - the sabbath was made for man. 3. Has all authority in heaven and earth. Listen to Dr. Capes share how culture...
Feb 13, 2022
Mark continued Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Mark asking the question: Where are you headed in life? Mark began the lesson with the definition of the Greek word hodos, which has three meanings that are used throughout the Bible: 1) a way for traveling or moving from one place to another, way, road, or highway 2) the act of traveling, way, trip, journey 3) a way of behavior or the course of life. The Gospel of Mark used hodos, translated this way 16 times. Life is a unique journey that we...
Feb 06, 2022
Mark continued with Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Mark. Today’s topic: What is the Significance of the references to "Son of Man” throughout the Bible? The Gospel of Mark mentions Jesus as the Son of Man fourteen times. During biblical times, culture used the term to show a man was known as son of man (Name of man, son of Name-of-the-father). In the Old Testament, son of man was reference 107 times, meaning me or people themselves. In Daniel 7:13, the term takes on apocalyptic meaning or...
Jan 30, 2022
Mark continued with the series, Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Mark. This week’s topic was “How Do You See Jesus?” Mark had three lenses for us to grasp: 1. Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God. 2. Jesus in the midst of spiritual warfare. Jesus came to destroy evil. 3. Don’t miss Him. Have faith and trust in The Son of God. Listen to Mark teach on how to see Jesus beyond His role as our Lord and Savior. He is the holy One of God, the One who makes us clean.
Jan 23, 2022
Mark joined with Dr. Michael Lloyd, the Principal of Wycliffe Hall at the University of Oxford in England, who is a specialist in all things evil and suffering. Mark and Dr. Lloyd discussed the three most historically prominent views from a Christian philosophical perspective on suffering and evil. 1. Instrumental in that God allows things to happen to bring good 2. Inevitable in our world where satan dwells 3. God is inimical. He hates suffering and evil. This is what Dr Lloyd believes. Listen ...
Jan 16, 2022
Mark began a new series titled Snapshots of Jesus as seen throughout the Gospels. Today focused on the Gospel of Mark. This New Testament synoptic Gospel is not written in chronological order. Rather the stories of Jesus are repeated themes for the reader to contrast and compare. The first thirteen verses of the Gospel of Mark are written from God’s perspective followed by verses that reflect man’s bewilderment at Jesus’ teachings. Today’s lesson reviews three aspects: the writer's Perspective, ...
Jan 09, 2022
Mark drew the curtain back on Advent lesson 4, unveiling a lesson on “Adventus” which is Latin for Arrival. ( Advent is the 4 weeks of celebration on the Christian calendar before Christmas, the birth of Christ.) He broke down the arrival onto 3 life events. 1. Arrival in Bethlehem 2. Arrival in Life 3. Arrival to come, the “second coming” Mark gives us a brain teaser…which Christmas carol is about the second coming? Do you know? Mark addresses the 3 life events by discussing in detail: 1. Life’...
Dec 19, 2021
Mark taught lesson 3 in the study of Advent. This week’s emphasis: When Jesus Comes Again. Mark focused on a taste and feast Advent buffet as written in Luke 1. Mark used Scripture to show us life is full of ups and downs, life is full of contrasts, God does incredible things, is always reliable, but not predictable. Listen to Mark explain the social norms/culture of the day through Luke’s accounting of the events leading up to Jesus’ birth. In conclusion, we re loved, favored, and we can trust ...
Dec 12, 2021
Brent Johnson continued teaching the Advent series with lesson 2. Today is the second Sunday in Advent, Adventus in Latin which means arrival. After sharing in responsive liturgical reading, Brent expounded on the emphasis of week 2: Peace of God. We are promised God's peace as the angels' proclaimed to the shepherds of Jesus' birth, "Fear not." Brent focused on three points of being pleasing to God: 1. Trust / Faith God - Matt 8:23-27. Romans 8:5-8 2. Bring Peace to Others - Matt 5:9. Matthew 2...
Dec 05, 2021
Today was the first Sunday in Advent, and Mark taught the first of four lessons before Christmas. Mark first explained the histories of marking time around the world and how it affected the church regarding holy day observances. He then transitioned to 3 focus areas for Advent that infuse joy and faith: Arrival in Bethlehem: God has plans. Arrival of Christ in our life. The arrival of Jesus again. God has perfect timing, and believers are to rely only on God as we 1) live with purpose, 2) serve ...
Nov 28, 2021
Dr. Peter Williams joined Mark this morning to dig deep and reveal numerous levels of meaning from the three lost and found parables found in Luke 15: The lost sheep The lost coin The lost or prodigal son The main focus was the prodigal son relating several examples of similar real events in Genesis. Jesus spoke to a mixed audience in easy to understand language. Listen to Mark and Peter discuss how Jesus used the power of story to reveal and hide, to bypass our natural defenses, and show truth ...
Nov 21, 2021
Mark brought the study of Philippians to a close with a focus on Philippians 4:14-23. He shared three points from Paul: 1. Finding a Deeper Fellowship: We learn that by doing good for others and sharing in their suffering and trouble, we will be stronger Christians. 2. An Uncomfortable Truth. Paul was familiar with the Greco-Roman culture and their sign of friendship in giving and receiving gifts. He encouraged giving to others with a right heart motive. God is glorified and richly blesses. 3. T...
Nov 14, 2021
Sunday’s Biblical Literacy Class was a breakfast celebration with lots of fun and food. Mark interviewed his mother who thrilled us with her delightful answers. Listen to Mrs. Lanier’s wisdom and especially her sweet potato story.
Nov 07, 2021
10-31-21 Mark taught today’s Biblical-Literacy class - The Key and the Secret - from Philippians 4:10-13 Faith demands more than tunnel vision. 1. Practice what you preach. Rejoice in the Lord always. 2. The blessing of relationship. Paul shows a 3-way bond: Christ, Paul, and the Philippians. Paul encourages us to be a giver and a good recipient. 3. The secret to joyful living. The secret of having plenty and hunger is joy in the Lord. Listen to Mark explain how Paul can say: I can do all things...
Oct 31, 2021
