death

Good Night, Sweet Prince, and Flights of Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest

/ Bob

Death, not space, is the Final Frontier. And no other faith than that established by Jesus Christ has conquered death and the grave. All religions have addressed the issue of passing from this life to the next, but none so completely, honestly, and thoroughly as has Christianity. And it’s all because of the Love of God. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

In Luke 16 Jesus paints a picture with his story of Lazarus being carried into the bosom of Abraham – carried there by angels. In Acts 7 Stephen, as he is dying, looks into the glory of Heaven and sees the Father with the Son standing at His right side. While no angels are specifically mentioned we have numerous accounts of those who have seen Heaven and its glory and there are always angels in attendance. The angels are singing Stephen to his rest.

Finally, as we see in the 2nd Chapter of 2 Kings, Elijah is ushered into Heaven on a flaming chariot with flaming horses and flaming horsemen – angels. The slaves on the plantations read this account of Elijah’s departure and sang, “Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin’ for to carry me home.” They dreamed of a deliverance that transcended their earthly bondage. In one of the verses they sang, “I looked over Jordan and what did I see – Comin’ for the carry me home? A band of angels comin’ after me. Comin’ for to carry me home.”

As Horatio lamented over the loss of Hamlet, he said, “Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 17, 2025. 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 Heaven & Angels: Our Eternal Home and Its Heavenly Hosts. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/heaven-angels-study-guide/ . Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 08.17.2025 – Lesson 12 – Angels in DeathDownload

Look in the Book . . . The Book of Life

/ Bob

In the 3rd Chapter of Revelation Jesus comforts some of the people of Sardis with this statement, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5) As we have looked at the judgments that each of us will face we find a focus on the records department of Heaven – specifically The Book of Life. When we were kids we would excitedly look in the newest edition of the phone book to find our name. Seeing our name in the Book of Life will be infinitely more thrilling and the inclusion of our name will have eternal consequences.

We see the Book of Life referenced throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. It is always seen as a place where we will find the names of those who have chosen to follow God. References to those found in the Book also include the good things they have done. What they have done is not the reason for their salvation, but rather the proof of their relationship with the Father.

Those whose name is not found in the Book of Life face an eternity in Hell. 2 Peter 3:9 shows us the heart of God concerning this fact. He does not want to see any of the people He created perish in the Pit. His desire is for everyone to be saved. That’s His heart cry and it should be our heart cry as well. As those whose names are in the Book, we must look at all of the people within our sphere of influence with a desire to lead them to the truth. We must ask, “Are their names written in the Book of Life?” It truly is a life or death situation – an eternal life or eternal death situation.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 20, 2025. 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 Heaven & Angels: Our Eternal Home and Its Heavenly Hosts. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/heaven-angels-study-guide/ . Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 07.20.2025 – Lesson 7 – The Book of LifeDownload

Are You Ready to Meet Jesus? – Part 1

/ Bob

Meeting important people like the President of the United States or your favorite NFL quarterback is an event that brings on much anticipation, anxiety, and excitement. It also brings on an urgency to properly prepare for the event – to make sure you have the right clothes and the right words to say when you finally come face to face. One day each and every one of us is going to meet the most famous and influential person ever to exist. He is known as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Are you ready to meet Him?

Consider what that meeting will be like. How we will react to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords when we come into His presence? So many images come to mind, but one image tends to be absent from these ponderings – the image of Judgment. In Hebrews 9:27 we read that we all are going to die and that after that will come judgment. We sometimes joke that the only 2 sure things in life are death and taxes. However, once you die you’ll no longer have to worry about taxes, but judgment? Yep, it’s still coming.

Sunday morning’s lesson was a time to consider our readiness to meet Jesus. We also began a discussion of judgement.  We will continue the study on judgment and then hopefully we will discuss how to make sure we make it to Heaven.  That is the gist of Lesson 7 entitled “Making Your Reservation in Heaven.”   God is patient with us and doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9) but He is also a God of Justice and Judgment. We need to make sure where we stand on His scales of Justice before we stand before Him in Judgment.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 6, 2025. 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 Heaven & Angels: Our Eternal Home and Its Heavenly Hosts. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/heaven-angels-study-guide/ . Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 07.06.2025 – Lesson 6 – Meeting the KingDownload

Heavenly Questions – Answers to Questions About Heaven: Awareness of Earthly Events in Heaven

/ Bob

Today’s question is “In Heaven, will we be aware of events happening on earth?” My answer is, “I don’t know.” It’s one of those Biblical questions that doesn’t have a definitive answer. Therefore, we look to the scriptures for guidance as we ponder the question. We begin by acknowledging that we cannot know all there is to know or there would be no need of faith. We look to the Bible and only the Bible. We avoid proof-texting, that is basing our beliefs on a single verse taken out of context. Finally, we let the Spirit guide us.

So, concerning our awareness in Heaven of earthly events we read that everyone in Heaven rejoices over a sinner who repents. (Luke 15:7 & 10) We saw that Samuel had knowledge in Sheol of Saul’s past, present, and future events. (1 Samuel 28:15-19) We saw in the account of the Transfiguration that Moses and Elijah were aware of the impending death of Jesus. (Luke 9:30-31) Then we have accounts of citizens of Heaven questioning earthly events and rejoicing over earthly events. (Revelation 6:9-11; & 18:20) These passages are descriptive and do not necessarily prescribe any set pattern, but they do give us something to think about.

We then looked at passages that describe how we will think and perceive things with complete understanding for we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him and we will not see things as in a dim mirror, but fully and completely. (! Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:2) The conclusion to draw from this is that whether we are aware of any earthly events or not, we will see them all through the loving and understanding eyes of Jesus. It will be beyond our wildest comprehension for “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, May 18, 2025. 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 Heaven & Angels: Our Eternal Home and Its Heavenly Hosts. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/heaven-angels-study-guide/ . Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 05.18.2025 -Heavenly QuestionsDownload

I Wish I’d Never Been Born – Job 2:1-10; 3:1-26

/ Bob

Job had been dealt blow after blow – losing his family, servants, livestock, property, income, future prospects, respect, reputation, health, and spousal support.  And yet in Job 2:10 we read that Job’s response to to all of this was,  “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”  And then Job’s ultimate response is that in all this Job did not sin. 

Nevertheless, the pain of Satan’s attacks was very real and could not be ignored or dismissed easily.  In Job 3 we come to understand just a bit of that pain as Job expresses the deep depression that has resulted from the these attacks.  He wishes he had never been born.  He wants the day of his birth removed from the calendar.  He laments that he would be better off dead.  

We see this same expression of longing for death in Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Jeremiah, and David.  In each of these giants of the faith there were times of deep distress that brought them to this point.  Job said I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest – only turmoil. (Job 2:26)  Fortunately, Jesus promised in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, May 26, 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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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 .


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It Ain’t Nothin’ Until He Calls It – Luke 13:1-9

/ Bob

Bill Klem was a legendary baseball umpire who set the pattern for umpires to follow right up until today. He was the first to use hand gestures for calls. He was the first to use a chest protector. He was the pioneer of the slot position. He proved his value by calling more World Series games than any other umpire in history. Once, when asked by a batter if a pitch was a ball or a strike, he replied, “It ain’t nothin’ until I call it.”

Who is in control of the world? Who is in control of our country? Who is in control of your life? If the answer isn’t God, then we’re all in a world of trouble. God makes the final call on literally everything that happens in this world, in our country, and in our personal lives – it ain’t nothin’ until He calls it.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree illustrates God’s Sovereignty and God’s Providence. In this study we answer the question “Why am I not dead yet?” and we find that God’s wisdom rules in the answer. It also gives us reason to respond to God’s delay in “calling us home.”

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 18, 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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