Jesus

The Road to Bethlehem – The 2nd Sunday of Advent

/ Bob

Advent is that time of year when we look forward to Christmas – as we remember and look forward to the coming of Mashiach – the Messiah – Christ, the Lord. This week we lit our second candle in our Advent Wreath – the Bethlehem Candle of Faith.

When the wise men came into Judea they went to Herod, the King, figuring that he would no doubt have all of the up-to-date information on the new king they were looking for. Herod’s scriptural advisors rightly told Herod that Bethlehem was the place where the Messiah King was to be born because it was prophesied in the 5th chapter of the prophet Micah. The little town of Bethlehem has always been a defining proof of the Messiah. He would come from the line of David and would be born in Bethlehem. Yeshua – Jesus – did have the ancestral link to David and was, indeed, born in Bethlehem.

After exploring this facet of the Nativity Narrative (and after answering a few questions about whether or not there was a donkey in the story as well as what type of place Jesus was actually born in – hint – it wasn’t a barn, a cave, or a stable) we went on to explore the significance of small things in God’s economy. Micah 5:2 says “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” (NKJ) At the time Bethlehem probably had a population of about 500-1,500 people – a small town even by today’s standards. Yet, in this small town we find the biggest event in human history – the birth of God!


God specializes in using small things to accomplish big things. Think about the rod that Moses used. It was an insignificant shepherd’s tool that was used to do miraculous things. How about the jawbone of a donkey that Samson used to slay 1,000 Philistines? Or five fish and few pieces of bread that were used to feed 5,000? And don’t forget the slingshot and that smooth river stone that David used to take down the arrogant Goliath. Small things used by God to accomplish big things.

And so it continues today. Even our small faith, if it be only the size of a mustard seed, can move mountains because when that small faith meets up with God’s omnipotence, big things happen.

O little town of Bethlehem – teach us that when we are weak it is then that we are strong, because the strength of God shows up best when we are week, when we are small, and even when we feel small.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, December 3, 2023. It is part of an Advent series of lessons that will run through Sunday, December 17, 2023.

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

The Hope of Prophecy – 1st Sunday of Advent

/ Bob

Advent is that time of year when we look forward to Christmas – as we remember and look forward to the coming of Mashiach – the Messiah – Christ, the Lord. This Sunday we lit our first candle in our Advent Wreath – the Candle of Prophecy and Hope.

In the Old Testament the people who walked in darkness were looking ahead to a great light – one who come to deliver them from their darkness and their oppression – one who would restore God’s Kingdom. There are many prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah; over 300 in fact. The fact that one man could fulfill all of the prophecies is mind-blowing. It is statistically impossible and yet He did. We looked at a few of them and then discussed what the coming of the Messiah would have meant to the Jewish people in Jesus’ time.

Isaiah 53 is known as The Forbidden Chapter in many Christian groups. In it we find “the Suffering Servant.” Messianic scriptures point to a victorious King who would restore the Kingdom of God and throw off the oppression of conquering nations. The followers of Jesus, as well as many Jewish scholars of the day, saw and proclaimed Isaiah 53 as describing the Messiah with the Christ followers seeing it as clearly pointing to Jesus. Jewish leaders responded to the focus on Jesus by asserting that that the “suffering servant” was the nation of Israel. And so it continues today. As we looked at the chapter in class we saw Jesus throughout. He is the Messiah and He is the Suffering Servant.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 26, 2023. It is part of an Advent series of lessons that will run through Sunday, December 7, 2023.

Handouts with slide content can be requested at:
fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .
Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
X – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
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What You Say and What You Do – James 5:12-10

/ Bob

At the end of the book of James we find some timely advice on what we say and what we do in relation to our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as on what we say and do in prayer.

Verse 12 speaks to our integrity in what we say. We shouldn’t have to swear to something or take an oath to support what we say or to prove that our word is good. Our word should stand on its own. Our word should be as good as gold. Our yes should be yes and our no should be no.

In prayer we should submit to God. James has already told us why we don’t get what we pray for in James 4:3. But it goes deeper. Praying for healing is something the church must do. Prayer offered in faith will bring healing. The prayer of faith offered up by the righteous is powerful – as powerful as that of Elijah the prophet.

Finally, in loving our fellow believers, we must be mindful of those who are struggling in their faith. As we read in Galatians 6 we who spiritual are to assist those who have wandered from the faith, remembering that next time it might be us who will be in need of assistance.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 19, 2023. 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 The Making of Authentic Faith. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: gc2press.org/the-making-of-authentic-faith-james-study-guide/ .

Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

X – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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Judgment of Affluence – James 5:1-6

/ Bob

Judgment of Affluence – James 5:1-6

According to 1 Timothy 6:10 the love of money is the root of all evil. James addresses that issue in the first six verses of chapter 5 . He comes down really hard, like Old Testament hard, like Old Testament prophet hard, like Haggai chapter 11 hard, on those who have money and use it to fatten their own coffers. with vivid imagery James paints a picture of wealth and how it can dissolve and of how it can burn your very soul.

In speaking these words of judgment to the rich he is also sharing a message to those have nots who would be listening. There is the obvious warning about the harmful effects of seeking worldly gain, but there is also a warning to watch out for those people.  Furthermore, as we will see next week, we need to keep wealth in perspective. 

For us as Americans there is a message concerning our wealth and affluence. We like our creature comforts like air conditioning, soft beds, comfortable and yet stylish clothes, and good food. In short, all of the things that make physical life pleasurable are things that we seek out. There is nothing wrong with having money. There is nothing wrong with spending money on things we need. However, there is something wrong when we spend money without considering what God wants us to do with our money.

In light of this passage we must all take a hard look at how we handle the abundance of what God has given us. May we always seek to honor Him with our finances.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 5, 2023. 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 The Making of Authentic Faith. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at:
http://gc2press.org/the-making-of-authentic-faith-james…/ .
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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Changing Your Pronouns – James 4:1-12

/ Bob

There’s a great deal of talk about pronouns these days. The pronoun problem begins with the pronoun “me.” We have become such a self-centered people that our national anthem should be changed to “I Wanna Talk About Me.” James speaks to this problem in the first few verses of the 4th Chapter.

It affects our overall attitudes, our relationships, our work, our health, and our lives in general. It even affects our prayer life. James says that we don’t get what we ask God for because we ask with selfish motives. Only in humility can we know the peace of God that comes from letting go of the control of our lives. Even when James tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from us it is to be done in a spirit of humility.

Finally, he concludes this section with some straight talk about judging others. He tells us not to talk trash about our fellow Christians. When we do this we are saying that God – the One Who established the law and right and wrong – may have missed missed something and that He needs us to step in and point out what he hasn’t. Then we’re on thin ice because we have moved from a position of obeying God to thinking we can handle God’s job. Definitely this is not a good place to be.

God gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 8, 2023. 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 The Making of Authentic Faith. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at:

gc2press.org/the-making-of-authentic-faith-james-study-guide/ .

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 Taming of the Shrewd Tongue – James 3:1-13

/ Bob

Words have power. Whoever first said, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” did not consider the horribly destructive force our words can unleash. The tongue is so small and yet so big in it’s potential for harm . . . and for good.

James describes this concept using words with powerful imagery. Comparing the tongue to a bit in a horse’s mouth, a rudder on a ship, and a spark that ignites a forest fire, he makes it very clear that the tongue is something that must be controlled.

However, he then gives us one of the most frightening statements in the Bible. This tongue – this beast – cannot be controlled by humans. But Praise God, it can be controlled by God’s Spirit within us. The mouth is only saying what overflows from the heart and God is in the heart transplant business. In fact, He gives us a DNA transplant – in Him we are new creations. (2 Cor. 5:7)

But the regeneration of the heart is not the end but rather the beginning of the process of sanctification that continues throughout the remainder of our lives here on this earth. We must continually be transformed through the renewing of our minds. (Rom. 12:1-2)

Only then can our tongues be tamed. Only then can our speech reflect the Godliness that we want to see revealed in our lives. Only then can we know that what we say will “give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 4:29)

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 24, 2023. 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 The Making of Authentic Faith. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at:

gc2press.org/the-making-of-authentic-faith-james-study-guide/ .

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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