Bible Study

Of Figs, Faith, and Forgiveness – Mark 11

/ Bob

In the week prior to the arrest of Jesus He teaches them lessons about faith and forgiveness and it all plays out in the midst of an unusual event involving an unsuspecting fig tree. Figs were a big deal in Bible times even showing up in the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 3. Figs were a symbol of the blessings of God on Israel and they were also a symbol of the judgment of God on Israel. Like the fig tree in Mark 11 and Matthew 21, the religious leaders of Israel looked good on the outside, but they were fruitless – empty in heart.

By contrast, Jesus pointed out that the disciples could live in faith – faith in God – and accomplish things that the Pharisees and their ilk could only dream of. They could remove mountains from the scene and shake up the world if they would believe and not doubt.

There was however, one major proviso to what they could accomplish – they would have to practice forgiveness. Lack of a forgiveness triggers a lack of forgiveness on God’s part and a lack of power in prayer. You must make sure your heart is right with God when you pray and that begins with making sure that your heart is right in the relationships with those in your circles of influence.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 27, 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 Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 10.27.2024 – Of Figs, Faith, and Forgiveness – Mark 11.22-25Download

Jesus Prays For Us – Jesus Prays For You

/ Bob

In the 17th Chapter of John we find the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. As Jesus was within hours of his arrest and subsequent crucifixion He was praying for His disciples who would soon face the most gut-wrenching hours and days of their lives. As he prayed for them He prayed for their safety but moreover, He prayed that they would remained unified – unified with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and all for the salvation of the lost.

Jesus said that He came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10) The unity He prayed for is critical for the saving purpose of Christ to continue through His followers today. If we are one with the Father through the Son by the Spirit within us, the gospel message will be proclaimed and the purpose of Jesus to seek and save the lost will continue until He returns. Furthermore, the unity Jesus prayed for will sustain his followers today as they face opposition as they share their faith.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 20, 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 Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 10.20.2024 – Jesus Prays for Us – Jesus Prays for You – John 17Download

Pray On & Pray Through

/ Bob

In Luke 11 and Luke 18 we find two parables which Jesus told in order to encourage his followers to pray – to seek the Father in all things. We prepare for every eventuality and yet so many times our plans fail. God is there waiting for us to turn to him. When we have wasted our resources, God is there waiting for us to turn to him. Even in those times when you declare with the defiant fortitude of a two year old, “I Got This,” He is still there ready to help you pick up the pieces when you realize you got nuthin’.

God is way more gracious than the grumpy neighbor of Luke 11 and way more kind than the unjust judge of Luke 18. If we would learn to ask, seek, and knock as He tells us to do in Luke 11:9-10 and keep on going to Him – not as a last resort when everything has blown up in our face – but always. We should go to Him first to find grace and help in our time of need. He knows what we need before we even ask Him. He just wants us to ask. If you’ve been a parent you know how you long for your kids to come to you when they need help. That’s what our Father wants us to do – go to Him in prayer.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 13, 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 Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 10.13.2024 – Pray On and Pray Through – Luke 11.5-13Download

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (And What to Do with Them When You Do)

/ Bob

In the final chapters of the book of Job we find God once again speaking to Job and his “friends.” He is reminding them that He is God and that they are not. He has been giving examples of His creative power as seen in nature but in today’s lesson he speaks of two exotic beasts that are under His control and are perfect examples of His creative power and also His sovereignty in ruling His creation. The beasts are Behemoth and Leviathan. Behemoth fits the description of a brontosaurus and Leviathan fits the description of a dragon. These are fantastic beasts indeed.

We all face beasts in every stage of our lives. We laugh at the things that used to scare us, but we get a little weak, our hearts beat a little faster when we consider the beasts that attack us now. Some alcoholics refer to alcohol as the beast. Some psychologists refer to depression as the beast. Even the sweet, darling, innocent children in Lord of the Flies had a beast. which started out as a snake but ended up being the evil within them.

In Job, God declares his supremacy over the entire creation including Behemoth and Leviathan. Throughout the entire Bible, God declares His supremacy over evil and over everything Satan can throw in our path.

In Revelation 19:19-20 we find the ultimate destruction of the ultimate beast:

“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”

It may be a beast that causes us to pedal faster so we won’t get eaten up by it. It may be a beast that has climbed onto our backs and won’t let go. It may be a beast that lurks in the shadows and fills us with dread and anxiety. You know who or what your beast is. But you also need to know who your God is. God is supreme over any and all beasts.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

God is the Dragon Slayer in every sense of the word.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 25, 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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Class Notes – 08.25.2024 – Job 40-42 -Fantastic Beaswts and Where to Find Them in the EndDownload

A Young Man Speaks Truth to Conventional Wisdom – Job 32-37

/ Bob

People love to share their opinions online. And they can comment on any given post just as fast as their chubby little fingers or thumbs can type out the words. They don’t even have to think – and quite often don’t think – just open up their minds and vomit out the wisdom. And Why? Because what we have to say is important, or at least we think so. We think we know the score; we think we have it all sorted out; but God says you don’t know squat.

It’s easy to be the grumpy old man with life experience who doesn’t want to bother with the young Know-It-All – all the time yelling “Get off my Biblical lawn.”

It’s also easy to be the young Know-It-All who feels the need to speak on any and every topic available. All the time yelling “I’ve read the same thing in a dozen different posts. It must be true.”

But whether young or old, wise or foolish, knowledgeable or ignorant, none of us have arms long enough to box with God. We don’t know nuthin’.

So, we must listen to and trust the voice of God – even when God chooses to speak through an unlikely source such as a loud obnoxious young whippersnapper or a loud obnoxious old curmudgeon (remember God spoke through a donkey once – and He was just warming up) we must listen to His Voice and trust His Voice, His Wisdom, His Understanding; and NOT listen to the voice of human wisdom – above all not our own human wisdom.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 11, 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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Class Notes – 08.11.2024 – Job 32-37 – The Wisdom of YouthDownload

You Are Not Alone – Job 19:13-19

/ Bob

Loneliness is a regular occurrence in the human condition. Job expressed his loneliness in Job 19:13-19 and, in doing so, described the way many of have felt at one time or another. There are times in life when we feel deserted, abandoned, alone, and friendless.

As a believer we have access to the community of faith. The fellowship of believers provides a unique relationship opportunity that can ease the pain of loneliness. In Romans 8:9-21, Paul gives the church as framework of actions that can be taken within the church to make this happen – love each other, help each other, rejoice and weep with each other, and live in harmony and humility with each other. When we function as the church was intended to function, loneliness will have a hard time gaining a foothold.

As believers we also have access to God through His Holy Spirit within us. We have promise after promise in the scriptures reminding us that we are not alone because of the presence of our Lord in our lives. We are further reminded in scripture that as we receive and enjoy the presence of the Lord in our lives, we must reach out and touch those around us and, in so doing, be the presence of Jesus in the world.

On a final note, being alone is not synonymous with loneliness. We must learn to embrace our alone time and use that distraction-free time to spend quality time with the Lord. Bering alone can be a blessing because only then can we be still and know that He is God.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 29, 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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Class Notes – 07.28.2024 – Job 19.13-19 – You Are Not AloneDownload

Why Is Suffering a Part of Life? – Job 7:1-21 –Part 2

/ Bob
Job lost it all – family, business, health, property – and with all of that he lost all hope. In the 7th Chapter of Job he comes out swinging. He has nothing left to lose so he lays it all on the line before God. His entire life seems futile. He can’t find rest in his sleep. His misery haunts him night and day. The questions about the meaning and purpose of it all rage in his mind to the point where he feels he would be better off dead.

As we go through periods of suffering – times when we experience the worst that life can throw at us – we, too, find ourselves asking questions: Why me, Lord? Why do these things always happen to me? What have I done to deserve this kind of abuse? Are You even there, Lord? While it is possible to know some of the reasons for the suffering, that doesn’t calm the silent storm raging within us. The questions are valid as we see in the life of Job, but finding the answers should not be the ultimate goal. Our hope is not in finding the answers – our hope is in finding Him, Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant. In Him we gain understanding, love, strength, and the hope to endure and even thrive in the midst of the suffering. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, June 16, 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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Why Do We Suffer? – Job 7:1-21

/ Bob
Job lost it all – family, business, health, property – and with all of that he lost all hope. In the 7th Chapter of Job he comes out swinging. He has nothing left to lose so he lays it all on the line before God. His entire life seems futile. He can’t even find rest in his sleep. His misery haunts him night and day.

We have all had days . . . or weeks . . . or months . . . or years when we have felt this way. Maybe it wasn’t to the degree that Job felt it or maybe it was. The thing is that suffering is a part of the human condition. We live in a fallen world. We live in a decaying world. The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics says that entropy is the soup of the day and that soup is constantly cooling not unlike our physical bodies when we pass from this world to the next. We are decaying right along with the rest of creation and that decay leads to suffering. It’s inevitable.

Job didn’t deny this. He pointed it out and told us how it affected him in every way. Physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually he was experiencing his anguish.

As we look at our own struggles we have a marked advantage over Job. He didn’t have the scripture to give him guidance in how to endure the pain and suffering of this world. He didn’t have the indwelling Spirit to guide him into all knowledge. And he didn’t have the example of the Suffering Servant, Mashiach, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to serve as an example of how to live victoriously even as our mortal bodies are dying pathetically. The Scriptures give insight into why we suffer and how to live as we suffer. That’s what this study was all about.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, June 9, 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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When Friends Fail –Job 2:11-13; 22:5-11

/ Bob

When Job faced unbearable trials he had three friends who came to show him sympathy and comfort him.
(Job 2:11) They reacted with shock and grief when they saw him and then they sat with him for a week without saying anything to him. They sat with him in silence. That’s when things started to go sour.


Eliphaz, the eldest of the friends began in chapter 4 begins to point out that only those who sin are punished as Job has been punished. As we skip ahead to chapter 22, we see that Eliphaz is now criticizing Job for his misuse of his wealth and for his social injustice. Some things never change. Those same criticisms are being used today to attack people. But the truly shocking thing is that Eliphaz is Job’s friend – someone who should treat Job with love and care.


In light of today’s lesson we need to inspect our own friendships. Do we have friends who treat us harshly? How do we respond to that? Are we harsh in our treatment of our friends? How do change that? Finally, do we consider Jesus to be our friend? Jesus calls us His friend in John 15:13-15 and in that same passage tells us that we are His friends if we do what He commands us.


In Proverbs 18:24 we read, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Jesus is that friend and we should be that kind of friend as well.



This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, June 2, 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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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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