Agape Life Bible Study

When Everything Falls Apart – Job 1:13-22

/ Bob
Job is identified the 1st verse of the 1st chapter as a man who is blameless and upright; a man who feared God and shunned evil. When God and Satan met Job was the topic of discussion. Satan was given permission to test Job as long as he didn’t touch him physically. So beginning in Job 1:13 we find Satan’s attacks on Job.

Job lost his livestock and his livelihood. He lost his possessions and his provisions. He lost his income and his investments. And, finally, he lost his entire family to a deadly tornado. Devastated, he tore his robe apart and shaved his head, both signs of deep anguish and grief. And understandably so. His world had not just been turned upside down, but it had been twisted, burned, stolen, and left in a ruined heap.

Job’s ultimate response? Worship. According to Job 1:21 Job said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” Verse 22 sums it all up: In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

This lesson is only the beginning of a study in the trials of life. We all face difficulties as we live in this fallen world and the book of Job provides understanding of those trials and tribulations as well as an understanding of how to live through them with the g4race of God.


First Lesson – When Everything Falls Apart, Trust God.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, May 19, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Light for a Dark World – Ambassadorship 101

/ Bob
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 we read that we, as Christians, are ambassadors for Christ and that we are to be engaged in the ministry of reconciliation between God and mankind. The world is groaning under the weight of sin and decay. Antisemitic protests, the fight over abortion, economic fears and terroristic threats are on our minds and are reinforced by the 24 hour news cycle. We have the solution. We know the One in Whom is found our hope – our salvation. To keep this glorious truth to ourselves is simply wrong.

And yet, we struggle to share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ because we find it too personal and would like to confine our spiritual discussions to our close friends and immediate family. We don’t share the Gospel because we don’t want to be seen as holier-than-thou and we sure don’t want people confronting us concerning what we believe. That kind of attention is not something we seek.

The world is crying out for hope, for peace, for love, for joy – for light in the darkness. Jesus said that we as believers are the light of the world – a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. We cannot hide our light but rather share our light for all to see so that they can see and hear what we do and say and, in so doing, glorify our heavenly Father. We are Ambassadors for Christ!


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, May 5, 2024. It is Part 3 of a series of Bible study lessons entitled “Ambassadorship 101: A Practicum for Ambassadors for Christ.” Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
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Ambassadorship 101: A Practicum for Ambassadors for Christ – Week 2

/ Bob

In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 we read that we, as Christians, are ambassadors for Christ and that we are to be engaged in the ministry of reconciliation between God and mankind. The world is groaning under the weight of sin and decay. Antisemitic protests, the fight over abortion, economic fears and terroristic threats are on our minds and are reinforced by the 24 hour news cycle. We have the solution. We know the One in Whom is found our hope – our salvation. To keep this glorious truth to ourselves is simply wrong.

And yet, we struggle to share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ because we find it too personal and would like to confine our spiritual discussions to our close friends and immediate family. We don’t share the Gospel because we don’t want to be seen as holier-than-thou and we sure don’t want people confronting us concerning what we believe. That kind of attention is not something we seek.

The world is crying out for hope, for peace, for love, for joy – for salvation. We who know the source of all these things MUST share now. We who know the truth must bear witness to the truth. We who know the Lord must declare our allegiance to Him and reach out to a dying world to tell them that Jesus is the answer.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, April 28, 2024. It is Part 1 of a series of Bible study lessons entitled “Ambassadorship 101: A Practicum for Ambassadors for Christ.” Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Ambassadorship 101: A Practicum for Ambassadors for Christ

/ Bob

In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 we read that we, as Christians, are ambassadors for Christ and that we are to be engaged in the ministry of reconciliation between God and mankind. The world is groaning under the weight of sin and decay and we have the solution. We know the One in Whom is found our hope – our salvation. To keep this glorious truth to ourselves is simply wrong. It would be like finding a cure for cancer and not sharing it with the world because you just want it to benefit our immediate family or because you don’t want to appear to be boasting or because you don’t want the attention it would attract. How selfish. How inhuman to not let your fellow humans know of your discovery.

And yet, we refuse to share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ because we find it too personal and would like to confine our spiritual discussions to our close friends and immediate family. We don’t share the Gospel because we don’t want to be seen as holier-than-thou and we sure don’t want people confronting us concerning what we believe. That kind of attention is not something we would feel comfortable with.

The world is crying out for hope, for peace, for love, for joy – for salvation. We who know the source of all these things MUST share now. We who know the truth must bear witness to the truth. We who know the Lord must declare our allegiance to Him and reach out to a dying world to tell them that Jesus is the answer.

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This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, April 21, 2024. It is Part 1 of a series of Bible study lessons entitled “Ambassadorship 101: A Practicum for Ambassadors for Christ.” Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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Kingdom Business – Luke 19:11-17

/ Bob
This is the final lesson containing one of Jesus’ parables as recorded in Luke. We have previously established that the parables Jesus shared offered insight into the Kingdom of God and how it compares with the Earthly Kingdom. In this parable – The Parable of the 10 Minas – Jesus gives us a story about an earthly kingdom with an earthly king and earthly kingdom subjects to instruct us as to how things work and will work in the Heavenly Kingdom.

The parable seems to follow the historical account of Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, and his seeking the kingship of the area we now know as the Holy Land. This happened between 4 B.C. and 6 A.D. It was a piece of history that would have been well known by the people listening to the parable. So Jesus uses this story of this earthly “king” to speak of His Kingship and His Kingdom and to exhort His Kingdom Subjects.

Just as Archelaus left his territory to secure his kingship in Rome, so Jesus left His earthly territory and returned the Father where He was enthroned as King. He will return in glory and in victory and at that time there will be a day of reckoning in which everyone will have to give an account of what they have done to advance the Kingdom. Those who rejected Christ on earth will face the same fate as those who opposed Archelaus – death. Those who have accepted his Kingship will be judged and rewarded according to how they engaged in Kingdom Business while here on earth. As we read in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior will be saved, but their Kingdom transactions will be tested by fire. Salvation is not in question, but there will be great joy for those whose work is proven to be true as there will be regret for those whose work is found wanting.

Therefore, our response to Jesus in light of this parable is be engaged in Kingdom Business until He comes again. This engagement in Kingdom business is what we were made for according to Ephesians 2:10. Furthermore, our engagement in Kingdom Business is the gauge of our love for Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:15 that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments? Do you love Him? Are you keeping His commandments? Are you engaged in Kingdom Business? As a subject of the King, take an inventory of what He has given you and see what you’re doing with His resources to advance His Kingdom.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, April 14, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths from His Parables. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: https://gc2press.org/jesus-storyteller-luke-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch
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Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
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A Tale of Two Worshippers – Luke 18:9-14

/ Bob

Do you believe in God? Do you believe in the God of the Bible? Do you trust God? We, as Americans, tend to rely on ourselves for just about everything in life. We trust in ourselves before we trust in God. We trust in our abilities to the exclusion of trusting in God. It may not be a conscious act of willful disobedience, but it is at its heart, arrogance.

Jesus, in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, points out the arrogance of the Pharisee who proudly proclaimed how wonderful he was in God’s eyes and contrasted that arrogance with the contrition of the tax collector who fell on his face before a Holy God in true humility and repentance.

We must come to the Holy God as unrighteous, undeserving sinners. We must come in humility on our knees. And when we humble ourselves before God Almighty, He will lift us up. This promise is made in Luke 18:14 as well as in James 4:10 and 1 Peter 5:6. However, God cannot lift us up unless we first humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, April 7, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths from His Parables. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: https://gc2press.org/jesus-storyteller-luke-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
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The 7 Last Words of Christ

/ Bob
As Jesus hung on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for all mankind, he spoke 7 times. Those 7 statements form the “7 Last Words of Christ.” As the dying declaration of Jesus it is important that we know the significance of these statements. As we look at each statement we will see how Jesus spoke scripture in these last hours of His human life. We will also see how he demonstrated his teachings and completed the primary purpose of His life – the redemption of fallen sinners.


Obviously, these seven statements are not the last words Jesus spoke on this earth, nor are they the last words He will ever speak since he continues to speak to us today through His Spirit. However, the statements He made on the Cross are followed by the ultimate “Last Word” as seen in the Resurrection. When Jesus, in His last moments on the cross, said “It Is Finished,” He gave the last word on Atonement as He was the final blood sacrifice required by God. When God raised Him from the dead He put the final nail in Satan’s coffin as He proclaimed the last word concerning life and death now and always.




This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 24, 2024. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
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Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
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Ars Longa – Vita Brevis – Deus Eternus – Luke 16:1-13

/ Bob
The aphorism “Ars longa, vita brevis” literally translated is “Art long, life short.” It comes from a quote by Hypocrites and it means that our art and/or what we create and build will outlive us because life is short. In the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, Jesus deals with the same issue, but He has a solution. First, recognize the brevity of your life and it’s relationship to eternity. Second, prioritize accordingly.

The ways of the world are not the ways of God. The thoughts of humans are not the thoughts of God. It is foolish for us to think that we can shrewdly manipulate our way through this life without considering what follows that shrewdly manipulated life. It is the well-lived life that subjects itself to the Eternal God of the Universe and lives to please Him rather than satisfy our temporary desires.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21




This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths from His Parables. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: https://gc2press.org/jesus-storyteller-luke-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
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Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
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What Is God Really Like? – Luke 15:11-32

/ Bob

One of the best known parables of Jesus is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. However, a more appropriate title might be the Parable of the Compassionate Father. As is the case with all of the parables of Jesus, the story is about the Kingdom of God and, in this case, specifically about God Himself. In the compassion of the father for his prodigal son we see the compassion of our Father, God.

Often we see God as an angry and vengeful disciplinarian who actually takes a certain amount of delight in punishing His wayward children when, in reality, He is a kind, loving, and compassionate father who wants to live in close relationship with His kids and loves them even when they wander away from home. That’s what God is really like. He loves His children when they wander far from home and He loves His children when they don’t wander far from home, but get confused about their relationship with Him. God is love. (1 John 4:8) No matter where we are or what we are doing, God’s love for us never changes. It never wavers and it certainly doesn’t leave us – even when we leave Him.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths from His Parables. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: https://gc2press.org/jesus-storyteller-luke-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Check the Lost and Found – Luke 15:1-10

/ Bob

We all lose things. We have all searched diligently for our keys, glasses, or wallets. It is as if our life gets put on hold until we find those lost items. So it is with the woman who lost 1 of her 10 coins and the shepherd who lost 1 of his 100 sheep. Everything came to a grinding halt until they found that which was lost. And then it was party time because what was lost was now found. Yay!!

All we like sheep have gone astray. Each one of us has turned away from God to follow our own path. (Isaiah 53:6) And yet God doesn’t give up on us. He pursues us like the Hound of Heaven. He will not let us go until we realize that in our search for meaning we realize that Jesus is who we have been searching for all along. And when we repent of our sinful ways He is there to lovingly caress us with His gentle hand even as he gestures with his other hand for the party to begin.

Check the lost and found. Are you lost or are you found?

(Follow this link to read “The Hound of Heaven” by Francis Thompson – houndofheaven.com/poem)

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 3, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths from His Parables. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: https://gc2press.org/jesus-storyteller-luke-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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X – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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