Agape Life Bible Study

The “I Am’s” of Christ

/ Bob


God said to Moses, “I AM.” Jesus said to some questioning Jews, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” But Jesus didn’t leave it with just the simple and true statement – I AM. He went on in the book of John to lay out 7 “I Am’s” to give even more illumination into Who He Is.

As we concluded our series on living Godly lives in an ungodly world, we looked at 1 Peter 2:21-23  and determined that we must, as followers of Jesus, follow His example of how to live a Godly life in a hostile environment.  

21For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you.  He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 22He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.  He left his case in the hands of God,  who always judges fairly.  (1 Peter 2:21-23 – NLT)

Since He is our example and since we are to follow in his steps, it seems logical and necessary to see Who He said that He is.  The “I Am’s” of Christ found in the book of John are just that. 

1. I Am the Bread of Life (John 6)
2. I Am the Light of the World (John 8)
3. I Am the Gate (Door) of the Sheepfold (John 10)
4. I Am the Good Shepherd (John 10)
5. I Am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11)
6. I Am the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14)
7. I Am the True Vine (John 15)
Bonus – I am the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:11)

This past Sunday morning we looked at the first four. Next week we will look at the last last four.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday,
April 23, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at:
fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .
Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
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How Do We Live Godly Lives in an Ungodly World ~ Part 5

/ Bob

In this, the final lesson in this series, we look at the foundation of what it means to truly live Godly lives in an ungodly world. We look at what it means to subject yourself to the authorities that control the affairs of this world – what it means to live holy (separated) lives. We see what it means to live in a way which is obviously different from the world around us.

It’s counter-culture. It’s counter-intuitive. It’s abnormal in an abnormal world – a world in which up is down, wrong is right, and what seems logical defies all logic. In short, we as followers of Christ, must follow his example of how to live in this world which He created but which has wandered far from the design plan of the Creator.

No matter what happens in the world around us, we must not let the world shape us into its mold, but we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds – transformed by thinking with the mind of Christ. How do we live Godly lives in an ungodly world? We do it by living Godly lives no matter what happens in the ungodly world around us.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, April 16, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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How Do We Live Godly Lives in an Ungodly World? – Part 3

/ Bob

How Do We Live Godly Lives in an Ungodly World ~ Part 3

In order to live Godly lives in an ungodly world, we Christians have to first understand that this world is not our home. We are resident aliens just passing through this planet. We are chosen by God, saved by God, and kept by God so that we can carry out His plan to bring light into a dark world.

Therefore, we have to set our minds on things above, not on this things of this world. We have to have a paradigm shift from following the world’s way of thinking to following God’s way of thinking. We have to know who we are in Christ and, as we read in 1 Peter 1:3. we have to prepare our minds for action and, being sober-minded, we must set our hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ.

Next week we will focus on how to avoid conformity to the world’s way of thinking through holiness.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 12, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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How Do We Live Godly Lives in an Ungodly World ~ Part 1

/ Bob

In John 15 and in John 17 Jesus uses the word “world” over and over again – and it’s not good news for the world. The world He is talking about involves the worldly ideas, beliefs, practices, and common behaviors of the general population. Satan is the evil one who seems to have his way in the minds and hearts of the people at large and Jesus knew that the world that Christians would face would not be tolerant of their fundamental beliefs.


In this session we looked generally at the ways of the world as opposed to the ways of the Kingdom. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12) in our opposition to the sin that has beset our world, but we do need to know where we stand in relation to the worldly ways that are brought on by that sin.


In James 4:4 we read that friendship with the world equals hatred toward God. To be a friend of the world, you will automatically be an enemy of God. Next week we will begin looking at some practical, scriptural responses to the world’s ways as we seek to Godly lives to the glory of the Father.



This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday,
March 12, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by
Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at:
fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
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Are We Living in the End Times? ~ Part 2

/ Bob

In the Olivet Discourse, found in Matthew 24 & 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus shared some signs of the end times. Other passages of scripture like 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, and 2 Peter 3:3-4 give general descriptions of end times which look very much like our culture today.

The fact is that we have been seeing “End Times” events and signs since Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Those signs may be more prevalent today and situations may seem more dire, but are they signs of the end of the age?

As we look at the “signs of the times” we can easily come to the conclusion that the return of Jesus is imminent. However, since no one knows when that time will come our response cannot be a chicken little reaction to the signs, but rather a preparation for what will come sooner or later. And while I believe it will be sooner rather than later, the timing doesn’t matter – it’s time to prepare.

To that end we must recognize the signs and recognize that Jesus could return at any time. Furthermore, we must keep watch; be alert; pray; and keep working for the Lord. Our urgency to reach the lost must increase daily as we anticipate the time when those who don’t know Jesus will run out of time.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 5, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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Are We Living in the End Times? ~ Part 1

/ Bob / 2 Comments

Signs of the End Times

Deception & False Teachers

Wars and Rumors of War

International Conflict

Earthquakes

Famine

Pestilence (Disease)

Gospel Preached to the World

Lawlessness

Christians Hated & Persecuted

In the Olivet Discourse, found in Matthew 24 & 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus shared the signs listed above and others as signs of the end times. Are we living in the end times? Jesus spoke to these disciples as if they were – or at least soon would be – living in the end times themselves.

The fact is that we have been seeing “End Times” events and signs since Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Those signs may be more prevalent today and situations may seem more dire, but are they signs of the end of the age?

That is the purpose of this study – to look at the signs laid out by Jesus and determine how we as Christians should respond to those signs. In Part 1 of this lesson we are looking at some of the general signs given in scripture which point us to the rapture and we will begin looking at the first four signs listed above as seen in the Olivet Discourse.

Next week we will continue to study the signs, but moreover, we will see how Jesus would have us live in light of what we know will inevitably come.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 25, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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The Asbury Connection ~ Revival of God’s People

/ Bob

Throughout history there have been times of revival among God’s people – times when the Spirit of God moved in a way that could only be explained as the work of God. Since the birth of the church there have been numerous times when the Spirit moved His bride, the church, to leave her sin behind and return once again to Him.

In the early to mid-1700’s there was one such movement of God that has since been named The Great Awakening. It began in Europe and in the Colonies of the New world that we now know as the United States. In the Americas it swept through the colonies, uniting them in purpose and in faith. Many great things came about as a result of the Great Awakening in America, but perhaps the most significant is the United States itself.

Skip ahead almost 3 centuries and we find the Spirit moving on the campus of Asbury University. It’s not the first time that Asbury has found itself in a revival experience. In fact, it has happened 9 times since the founding of the college in 1890. And the roots of those revivals go back to the Great Awakening in which John Wesley was awakened by the Spirit of Christ. You can watch the video to see how it all came to pass.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 19, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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What Is Salvation? ~ Part 2

/ Bob

Far too many Christians rest comfortably on the fact that they are saved without giving serious thought as to what that means. From what are we saved? To what are we saved? To what extent does our salvation affect our daily lives? What does it mean to be born again? Why is Jesus so important in salvation? What are the various aspects of salvation and when do we experience the different aspects of salvation? Is salvation intended to make us better people? When we are saved, can we do whatever we want? Is salvation at “get out of jail free” card?

In this session we discuss these questions and move on to discuss the concept of The Age of Accountability and the Security of the Believer. In other words, we deal with questions concerning the beginning of salvation, the personal position at the point of salvation and the guarantee of salvation until the return of Jesus.

Finally we ask, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3) Furthermore, how shall our families, our friends, our community, our state, our nation, and our world escape if we as Christians neglect the salvation which is the ONLY answer to the perils so prevalent 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, February 12, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

What Is Salvation? ~ Part 1

/ Bob

Far too many Christians rest comfortably on the fact that they are saved without giving serious thought as to what that means. From what are we saved? To what are we saved? To what extent does our salvation affect our daily lives? What does it mean to be born again? Why is Jesus so important in salvation? What are the various aspects of salvation and when do we experience the different aspects of salvation? Is salvation intended to make us better people? When we are saved, can we do whatever we want? Is salvation at “get out of jail free” card?

In this session we discuss these questions and many more. After all, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3)

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 5, 2023. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions entitled Living the Agape Life – a Bible study curriculum developed by Bob Young with input from the members of the Agape Life Class. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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