light

Salt and Light – Making a Difference

/ Bob

You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

In 1st Century Galilee, salt was used commonly as a preservative, a healing and cleansing agent, and as a seasoning. However, its spiritual and ceremonial use gives us the depth of meaning found in this simple mineral. Sacrifices were brought to the altar with salt – even the grain offerings. In passages such as Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5 God’s unchanging, everlasting, permanent covenant was referred to as the “covenant of salt.” In ancient Middle Eastern cultures a covenant was sealed (ratified) with various means of sharing salt (i.e.- a meal or simple exchange) with the salt representing permanence, incorruptibility, and shared fellowship. As believers we are the “salt of the earth” and, hence, we are physical agents of healing, cleansing, purification, preservation of God’s goodness, seasoning – bringing out and highlighting the glorious flavors of God’s creation, and of reminding the world of God’s “chesed” – His Everlasting Love!

The prime focus of the Romans was glory. The prime focus of the Greeks was knowledge. The prime focus of the Jews was light. The world began with God saying, “let there be light” and light has been the central theme all along. A burning bush, a pillar of fire, and numerous descriptions of the LORD and His Word being light. (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19-20; Micah 7:8) Jesus refers to Himself as the Light of the world and there is no doubt that He is “the light that shines in the darkness” as seen in Isaiah 9:2. Paul summarizes the superiority of Jesus as the Light in 2 Corinthians 4:6: For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

And now that Light lives within us and consequently, as believers, we are bearers of the Light, torch bearers in the darkness, lighthouses of hope in the storms of life, glowing examples of what God can do and how God can love, and reminders to the world of God’s Everlasting Light, the Light of the World!

We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world because God, through the blood of Jesus, has made us so.

Class Notes – Salt and Light – Making a Difference – September 6, 2026Download

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 6, 2026. 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, which covers Chapters 5-7 in the Book of Matthew, is Kingdom Power: The Sermon on the Mount. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/kingdom-power-matthew-5-7-digital-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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Light for a Dark World – Ambassadorship 101

/ Bob
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 we read that we, as Christians, are ambassadors for Christ and that we are to be engaged in the ministry of reconciliation between God and mankind. The world is groaning under the weight of sin and decay. Antisemitic protests, the fight over abortion, economic fears and terroristic threats are on our minds and are reinforced by the 24 hour news cycle. We have the solution. We know the One in Whom is found our hope – our salvation. To keep this glorious truth to ourselves is simply wrong.

And yet, we struggle to share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ because we find it too personal and would like to confine our spiritual discussions to our close friends and immediate family. We don’t share the Gospel because we don’t want to be seen as holier-than-thou and we sure don’t want people confronting us concerning what we believe. That kind of attention is not something we seek.

The world is crying out for hope, for peace, for love, for joy – for light in the darkness. Jesus said that we as believers are the light of the world – a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. We cannot hide our light but rather share our light for all to see so that they can see and hear what we do and say and, in so doing, glorify our heavenly Father. We are Ambassadors for Christ!


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, May 5, 2024. It is Part 3 of a series of Bible study lessons entitled “Ambassadorship 101: A Practicum for Ambassadors for Christ.” 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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class-notes-week-3-05.05.2024-amassadorship-101-light-for-a-dark-worldDownload

Overcoming Temptation

/ Bob

Overcoming Temptation – James 1:13-18

We know what is right and we know what is wrong. We want to do what is right but we are constantly tempted to do what is wrong. Paul describes this dilemma in Romans 7 and it is all too familiar a struggle in our daily lives. James begins his letter by emphasizing our response to the trials we face. In verse 13 James pivots to explore the nature of temptation.

God tests us, but He does not tempt us. We need to have a clear concept of how we are tempted so that we don’t fall into the traps set by Satan and so that we don’t lightly pass over our sin as just part of the human experience. Satan may set the trap, but we are too easily fooled because we fail to see how he is using our own desires to bait the trap.

On the other hand, God – the Creator of all that is and the One Who created us as His prized possession – offers us truth and light to counteract Satan’s darkness and lies. And so we pray as Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 13, 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
class-notes-08.13.2023-overcoming-temptationDownload

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
class-notes-04.23.2023-the-i-ams-of-christ-1Download