Jesus

Humbly Feed His Sheep– 1 Peter 5:1-6

/ Bob

After His resurrection, Jesus met and ate with His disciples on the shore of Lake Galilee. He had already appeared to them more than once, but this time was a little different. The disciples were on the lake fishing largely because Peter had told the group, “I’m going fishing” whereupon the others decided to join him. Jesus called to them from the shore and, true to form for the Master, gave them a lesson in fishing. When they realized it was Jesus, Peter leapt from the boat so that he could get to shore faster.

They had a fish fry right there on the spot. Jesus took some bread and shared it with the disciples and then he gave them all some fish. (Note the similarity to the meal they had the night before He was crucified.) This was the 3rd time Jesus had met with them. Then Jesus spoke with Peter directly. Peter no doubt remembered on this 3rd visit with his Lord the 3 times he had denied knowing Him. Then Jesus proceeds to ask Him 3 questions which were sort of the same question each time. 3 times Peter answered and 3 times Jesus told Him to shepherd His flock.

When we arrive at 1 Peter 5 we find Peter telling the elders of the church to shepherd the flock of Jesus. Coincidence? I think not. Nor do I think it a coincidence that Peter told them to clothe themselves with humility in doing so. Peter had learned true humility when confronted with the true grace of God. Hopefully, they would listen to him since his instructions were not only given to him by the Holy Spirit, but they were also borne out in his personal experience.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, April 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 Hunger for Holiness: Living Pure in an impure World. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/hunger-for-holiness-1-peter-digital-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 – 04.06.2025 – Humbly Feed His Sheep – 1 Peter 5.1-6Download

Rejoice in Suffering– 1 Peter 4:12-19

/ Bob

As Peter wraps us his discourse on suffering he delivers several timely thoughts. He tells the believers not to be surprised that they have to endure hardships. Here he echoes the message of Jesus in John 15 that hatred (and subsequent trials) are part of being a follower of Christ. He was hated and they would be hated as well. Furthermore, they could rejoice in their sufferings just as Jesus said they should in Matthew 5:11-12. “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Peter 4:14)

He sums up this section of his letter with this statement in verse 19: “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.” In other words, as a follower of Christ, rejoice when you suffer for His name’s sake and trust God as you continue to honor Him with your holy living.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 23, 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 Hunger for Holiness: Living Pure in an impure World. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/hunger-for-holiness-1-peter-digital-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 – 03.23.2025 – Rejoice in Suffering – 1 Peter 4.12-19Download

Holy Homelife– 1 Peter 3:1-7

/ Bob

In several New Testament passages we find Instructions concerning the home environment for Christians. Colossians 3:18-19; Titus 2:3-5; Ephesians 5:22-27; and the passage for today’s lesson – 1 Peter 3:1-7 – all give such instruction. While all of these verses outline the roles of husbands and wives, the message from Peter is much more pointed.

Peter has been focused on holiness since the beginning of his letter. The Christians who were the recipients of this letter were facing severe oppression and persecution. Peter encouraged them to remain faithful. His point was that Christians had to live their lives in such a way that their devotion to Christ would be evident to all. They were to be holy – set apart – different – living lives that were obviously “out of this world.” And this included life in the home.

WIVES are to show proper honor to their husbands. They should not put undue emphasis on outward beauty, but let their Godly, inward beauty be seen in all they do and say. HUSBANDS are to be understanding and loving toward their wives and honor them as equal heirs in God’s grace.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 23, 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 Hunger for Holiness: Living Pure in an impure World. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/hunger-for-holiness-1-peter-digital-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 – 02.23.2025 – Marriage Made in Heaven – 1 Peter 3.1-7Download

Living Honorably As Aliens In a Foreign Land – 1 Peter 2:11-17

/ Bob

Do you ever feel like a “fish out of water?” Have you ever felt like you simply don’t belong? Peter addresses the isolation and uncertainty that comes with being a stranger in the place where you live. Moreover, he gives encouragement and practical advice on how to live in your world as a Christian and share you faith in a kind, respectful, and loving way.

In this passage he helps us look at our relationships with the people around us – family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and casual acquaintances. He then goes on to show how we should relate to people in the political arena. He sums up this this section of his letter with 4 simple yet life changing statements: honor all people; love your fellow believers; respect God above all others; and honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17)

We must ask ourselves if all of our interactions with people are honorable. – talking face to face, calling, texting, emailing, memoing, posting, commenting, liking, disliking, looking, listening, smiling, laughing, giving, sharing, holding, touching, crying, hugging, praying, etc. etc. etc. Are our actions honorable, respectful, loving and, moreover, do they point to Jesus?

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 9, 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 Hunger for Holiness: Living Pure in an impure World. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/hunger-for-holiness-1-peter-digital-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 – 02.09.2025 – Living Honorably – 1 Peter 2.11-17Download

Candlemas & Groundhog Day

/ Bob

February 2 is the Feast of the Presentation in the Temple, or Candlemas, commemorating the occasion when Mary, in obedience to Jewish law (Leviticus 12:1-8; Exodus 13:1-2,11-15), went to the Temple in Jerusalem both to be purified 40 days after the birth of her son, Jesus, and to present him to God as her firstborn (Luke 2:22–38).

Candlemas falls on Groundhog Day, but the first known Candlemas reference was in the 4th century, so it predates our groundhog. Each year the eyes of the weather world focus on Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to see if Phil sees his shadow. This tradition came out of an old English poem about Candlemas:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,

Come winter, have another flight.

If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,

Go winter, and come not again.

So, it looks like we are giving a nod to Candlemas when we watch Phil searching for his shadow. Pretty cool. Isn’t it interesting to find the Christian roots behind our traditions?

Candlemas has several traditions depending on the cultural and religious context. Here are a few ways it’s celebrated:

  1. Christian Traditions:
    • Blessing of Candles: Churches often bless candles on this day, symbolizing Jesus Christ as the light of the world. Congregants may bring candles from home to be blessed, which they then use for the rest of the year.
    • Processions: Some communities hold processions with candles to symbolize bringing light into the world.
  2. Weather Lore:
    • In some cultures, Candlemas is linked to weather predictions. As the poem suggests, the weather on Candlemas Day is thought to predict the remaining length of winter. This tradition is similar to Groundhog Day in the United States.
  3. Festive Meals:
    • In some regions, people celebrate with special meals or desserts. For example, in France, it’s traditional to make crêpes on Candlemas (La Chandeleur).
  4. Purification and Presentation:
    • For many Christians, Candlemas commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the purification of Mary, as described in the Gospel of Luke.

It’s a time rich with symbolism and history, celebrating both the end of the Christmas season and the hope of light (The Light) returning as winter wanes.

The Living Stone, The Cornerstone, and The Sure Foundation– 1 Peter 2:1-10

/ Bob

Peter becomes the construction manager in the 2nd chapter of his letter. He lays out the blueprints and explains how the church is to be built. Jesus is the foundation on which we build our lives. Jesus is cornerstone. Jesus is the capstone. Jesus is the Living Stone. Jesus is also the stumbling stone for those who refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord.

He also points out that we are living stones which will be the building blocks for the kingdom. And he goes on to point out that we are a royal priesthood of the faith. As he does so, the image of Christians as the Temple of God becomes clear. Just as the Temple was the place where the faithful went to find love, mercy, hope, and faithfulness, now we as the Living Temple should be the place where people go to find the same love, hope, and faithfulness of God through the Gospel Message of Jesus, the Messiah.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, January 26 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 Hunger for Holiness: Living Pure in an impure World. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/hunger-for-holiness-1-peter-digital-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 – 01.26.2025 – The Living Stone – 1 Peter 2.1-10Download

Reviewing the Situation – 1 Peter 1:1-9

/ Bob

Read the headlines. Watch the news. Listen to the radio. Talk to your friends. Talk to your family. It won’t take long for the subject of evil doers and evil ways to come into the discourse. We live in a fallen world full of fallen people who do despicable things for detestable reasons. And should the discussion turn to the path which the Christian should walk in this fallen world, the tone can be discouraging, hopeless, and at times even fearful.

That is where the book of 1st Peter steps in. In it we find a living hope and practical instruction on how to live a Godly life in an un-Godly world. We find the Living Rock of our salvation on which we can firmly stand when the world around us is crumbling. In the decadent days in which we live, Peter shows us not only how to live holy lives in the face of moral depravity, but also how to lift others out of the pit of destruction that is devouring them. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart – I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Peter takes this promise and provides the insight into how the overcoming life of our Lord can be realized in our contemporary world and in our daily lives.

The Agape Life Bible Study group of Brenham’s First Baptist Church began a series of lessons from the book of 1st Peter on Sunday, January 5. The title of the series is Hunger for Holiness: Living Pure in an Impure World. This is the first lesson in that series and in it we lay out the situation of the people to whom Peter is writing. We also look at how his words of encouragement for them can apply to us as well.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, January 5, 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 Hunger for Holiness: Living Pure in an impure World. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/hunger-for-holiness-1-peter-digital-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 – 01.05.2024 – Hope That Lives – 1 Peter 1.1-9Download

Is That What God Wants or Is That What You Want? – 1 John 5:14-15

/ Bob

In 1 John 5:14-15 we read, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” It almost sounds as if God is giving us carte blanche or a blank check with our prayer requests.

However, there is a caveat or stipulation if you will – “according to His will.”

What John is telling us that God will hear us and grant our petition when we ask according to His will, His design, His plan, His purpose. God’s ultimate desire is the salvation of the world. The entire Bible highlights God’s efforts to restore His relationship with mankind and that must be our ultimate desire as well. When our focus is in line with God’s focus two things happen in our prayer life. First, we ask for things that advance the Kingdom of God. Second, the things that once seemed so important fade in the light of God’s design and God’s desire.

Of course, “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1) and God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19) so there is no need to not go to the Lord with our requests. In fact, we are told to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) Still, we must always submit to the will of God and place our lives as well as our requests in His hands.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 24, 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 – 11.24.2024 – Is That What God Wants or Is That What You WantDownload

How to Pray for Healing – James 5:14-16

/ Bob

In the beginning God created a perfect world free of disease and decay and death. It was His design. Humans chose to follow their own plan – their own design – and the result is sickness and entropy that ultimately leads to death. But God chose to provide a remedy for the fatal choice. Healing. We can never be healed from the ultimate end – death – but God designed the human body to heal itself. While doctors provide healing cures, they only work because of God’s design. God is Jehovah Rapha – the God Who Heals. At times He intervenes in the natural course of biology and heals miraculously. At other times He allows us to pursue earthly modes of healing, but at all times healing comes because of His design.

Healing is above our pay grade. We must go to the God Who Heals to request healing and we must trust Him for the outcome, knowing that healing is not only above our pay grade – it’s above our ability to comprehend it. We are not always healed physically in the way we desire, but we must glorify Him whether healing comes in the way we want it or not.

Moreover we look longingly to the day when we shake off these mortal shells and join our risen Lord in Glory. Therein lies the ultimate healing.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 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 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 – 11.17.2024 – How to Pray for HealingDownload

National Circumstances Demand Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer

/ Bob

The concept of fasting is one that is at the forefront of weight loss discussion with intermittent fasting being a popular choice as a diet regimen. However, when fasting first developed it had nothing to do with weight loss. Fasting as a spiritual discipline still has nothing to do with weight loss. In fact, food is not the focus of fasting – God is.

The Bible has numerous examples of fasting and even instructions concerning how to and how not to fast. Jesus fasted before being tempted by Satan. Moses fasted as he was receiving the 10 commandments. Nehemiah, the focus of today’s lesson, fasted and prayed when he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were in disrepair. This led to him going to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding of the walls. I these cases circumstances led to a need for fasting and praying. With Nehemiah, the circumstances involved the nation of Israel.

Circumstances in our nation have led to periods of fasting and praying. Time and time again our founding fathers – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, George Washington, and many others – called our nation to a period of humiliation, fasting, and prayer. In 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer for our nation.  The fast was not designed to achieve success in battle or a favorable political solution to the problems they faced. The purpose of the fast was to realign the American people in a proper position of humility before God. They knew that by first seeking God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) they would be in a proper position to move forward.

Today our nation is embroiled in a Civil War – different from the 1860’s, but no less harrowing.  Instead of North vs South and Grey vs Blue it is Red vs Blue, Democrat vs Republican, Black vs White, Rich vs Poor, Rural vs Urban, White Collar vs Blue Collar, Old vs Young, and even Religion vs Religion.   In the midst of the American Civil War of 2024, we must join with our forefathers of 160 years ago and fall on our faces before a Holy God – recognizing His holiness and our depravity – and in that humility fast and pray for His restoration of our Union.

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