Agape Life Bible Study

Bridge Over Troubled Waters

/ Bob

Jesus sends us as Christians into the world to be salt and light and ambassadors for the Kingdom. However, He never promised us that our mission would be easy. In fact, He promised us that in this world we will face troubling times. In Matthew 14:22-36 (also Mark 6:43-56 & John 6:16-24) we discover that Jesus sent the disciples into a troubling situation, but He knew where they were and what they were dealing with. If you have ever faced troubling times – times when the waves were beating against your ship of life – times when your legs and feet seemed to give way beneath you – times when your best life-preserving skills simply didn’t help – then you know what it means to truly need the One Who can walk on the troubled waters and the One Who can calm the angry wind and waves. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

In this study we learn that:

  1. We must go where Jesus sends us and do as He commands us knowing that it may be be a bumpy ride.
  2. When we face the storms of life we should know that it may be the obstructionism of Satan or the teaching and testing of God.
  3. We must realize that Jesus sees us in the storm and is waiting for us to see Him – and call to Him.
  4. We must worship Him and respond to Him as the omnipotent ruler of this world.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 24, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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Jesus Provides All You Can Eat Fish ‘n’ Chips

/ Bob

In John, Chapter 6, we find John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000. This is the only of Jesus’ miracles to be recorded in all four gospels. Many have tried to explain it away, but it is most definitely a miracle. All four gospels proclaim it as such and it was accepted as such when it happened.

In the study of this miracle we find the following applications for the living of our lives:

1. Don’t be surprised when God interrupts your plans.
2. If Jesus says, “Do It,” then do it.
3. When you are tested, focus on Jesus, not on the circumstances or details.
4. Look for and join in the opportunity to be involved in something miraculous.
5. Meet the physical needs of people, but always remember that their greatest need is the salvation found only in the Bread of Life.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 17, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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How to Respond to the Evil in Our World

/ Bob

Evil is real. Demonic forces are active in ways we witness everyday in every aspect of our lives. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NLT) So, if that’s the case, our response to the evil in our world must be in the realm of the demonic and the response to evil must be in the name and power of Jesus. In Luke 8 we see one of many times when Jesus displayed His authority over demons. When we go up against Satan’s demonic forces in our own power, we lose. When we go up against Satan’s demonic forces in the power and name and authority of Jesus we win. Furthermore, the only hope that our family, friends, and acquaintances have in this realm of such forces is in Jesus. Therefore, we must be diligent in introducing them to Him. A chaotic life that ends in eternal death is what lies before them. The man in Luke 8 was living in chaos and headed for a tragic end before he met Jesus. Our world, our nation, our state, our county, our town, our neighbors, our work associates, and our family members need to know the victorious power found only in Jesus. That’s how we should respond to the evil in our world.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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The Shepherd and the Sheep

/ Bob

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” (Isaiah 53:6) Sheep need a shepherd. Left on their own they can get into all sorts of problems. Left on their own they are vulnerable to attack. Left on their own they can become hopelessly lost. We are sheep and because God loved us even while we were sinners, he sent us a Shepherd – a Shepherd who was willing to give up His life for His sheep. In this lesson, we will look at our Shepherd, Jesus, who loves us and cares for us and offers us an abundant life. We’ve wandered long enough – now it’s time to return to the fold.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 19, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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What Do You Treasure? Who Do You Trust?

/ Bob

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34) In Luke 12:13-34 Jesus teaches those who were following Him about the need to trust Him for everything we need. If we treasure material things, then our full love and attention will be focused there and eventually those things will let us down. If we treasure Him, we will have the material things we need – perhaps not all that we want, but definitely all that we need. And He will never let us down. As Paul says in Philippians 4:19, “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

WHAT DO YOU TREASURE?

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 12, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

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Jesus, Teach Us to Pray

/ Bob

It’s almost mind-boggling that Jesus prayed. Jesus knew the Father more intimately than any other man who walked on this earth, because He and the Father are One. And still He prayed. If was so important for Jesus to pray it is even more so for us. We will be looking at the teachings of Jesus concerning prayer from Luke 11 & 18. At the beginning of Luke 11, one of the disciples came to Jesus with a profound request – teach us to pray. That should be our request as well. And so we say, “Jesus, Teach Us to Pray.” This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 5, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Jesus, Teach Us to Pray – Agape Life Bible Study – 09.05.2021

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The Cost of Following Jesus

/ Bob

Jesus never said that life as a Christian would be easy. Those who say such things obviously don’t remember the words of our Lord when he said, “In this world you’ll have trouble, but be courageous—I’ve overcome the world!” (John 6:33b) In the 9th and 14th Chapters of Luke Jesus lays out the cost of being His disciple. If we choose to follow Christ completely, our lives will change dramatically and perhaps even be turned upside down. The only wise choice is to follow Jesus, but he still calls on us to count the cost – because the cost is high. This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 29, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Get Up! Get Your Stuff and Go!

/ Bob

It doesn’t matter what ails you. It doesn’t matter what obstacles stand in your way. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been for help, what solutions you’ve tried, or how many years you’ve been dealing with the problem – Jesus can help. In our study of the 5th Chapter of John we saw Jesus heal a man who had been a paraplegic for 38 years. Only Jesus could speak hope into such a situation as this. Only Jesus could bring physical healing to this man. And only Jesus could save him from a fate worse than his physical state because only Jesus could save him from eternal death.  That same saving power is ours through the blood of Jesus Christ.  It reminds me of the song, “In Christ Alone” by by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand

Here is the link to our Agape Life Bible Study class session from the 5th chapter of John in which Jesus heals a man at the Pool of Bethesda.

The Power Of Jesus Is More Than Enough To Conquer Your Greatest Fear

/ Bob

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 1, 2021. In the 5th Chapter of Mark we see Jesus involved in 3 situations that are all filled with fear – mental illness (demon possession), long-term illness, and death. Each of these strike fear in the hearts of those who face them personally and those who love the people dealing with these life issues. Jesus proves to be more than capable of handling each with power, grace, and understanding. Our study today focuses on the last two – long-term illness and death. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Current Events from Daniel’s Perspective

/ Bob

Daniel 7 – Prophecy Comes into Focus with World Events – Part2

This is the Sunday morning session of the Agape Life Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham. This class session took place on December 13, 2020 and in that session we discussed Daniel 7 in the light of world events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 presidential election, and the Great Reset. The prophecies of Daniel and The Revelation seem to be playing out before us. We discuss how to respond as believers in the One Who wins in the End.

Click the link above or the image below to view the video.