peace

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
X – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast
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Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

How Do We Live Godly Lives in an Ungodly World? – Part 3

/ Bob

How Do We Live Godly Lives in an Ungodly World ~ Part 3

In order to live Godly lives in an ungodly world, we Christians have to first understand that this world is not our home. We are resident aliens just passing through this planet. We are chosen by God, saved by God, and kept by God so that we can carry out His plan to bring light into a dark world.

Therefore, we have to set our minds on things above, not on this things of this world. We have to have a paradigm shift from following the world’s way of thinking to following God’s way of thinking. We have to know who we are in Christ and, as we read in 1 Peter 1:3. we have to prepare our minds for action and, being sober-minded, we must set our hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ.

Next week we will focus on how to avoid conformity to the world’s way of thinking through holiness.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 12, 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

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How Do We Live Godly Lives in an Ungodly World ~ Part 1

/ Bob

In John 15 and in John 17 Jesus uses the word “world” over and over again – and it’s not good news for the world. The world He is talking about involves the worldly ideas, beliefs, practices, and common behaviors of the general population. Satan is the evil one who seems to have his way in the minds and hearts of the people at large and Jesus knew that the world that Christians would face would not be tolerant of their fundamental beliefs.


In this session we looked generally at the ways of the world as opposed to the ways of the Kingdom. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12) in our opposition to the sin that has beset our world, but we do need to know where we stand in relation to the worldly ways that are brought on by that sin.


In James 4:4 we read that friendship with the world equals hatred toward God. To be a friend of the world, you will automatically be an enemy of God. Next week we will begin looking at some practical, scriptural responses to the world’s ways as we seek to Godly lives to the glory of the Father.



This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday,
March 12, 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
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Are We Living in the End Times? ~ Part 1

/ Bob / 2 Comments

Signs of the End Times

Deception & False Teachers

Wars and Rumors of War

International Conflict

Earthquakes

Famine

Pestilence (Disease)

Gospel Preached to the World

Lawlessness

Christians Hated & Persecuted

In the Olivet Discourse, found in Matthew 24 & 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus shared the signs listed above and others as signs of the end times. Are we living in the end times? Jesus spoke to these disciples as if they were – or at least soon would be – living in the end times themselves.

The fact is that we have been seeing “End Times” events and signs since Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Those signs may be more prevalent today and situations may seem more dire, but are they signs of the end of the age?

That is the purpose of this study – to look at the signs laid out by Jesus and determine how we as Christians should respond to those signs. In Part 1 of this lesson we are looking at some of the general signs given in scripture which point us to the rapture and we will begin looking at the first four signs listed above as seen in the Olivet Discourse.

Next week we will continue to study the signs, but moreover, we will see how Jesus would have us live in light of what we know will inevitably come.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 25, 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

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The Asbury Connection ~ Revival of God’s People

/ Bob

Throughout history there have been times of revival among God’s people – times when the Spirit of God moved in a way that could only be explained as the work of God. Since the birth of the church there have been numerous times when the Spirit moved His bride, the church, to leave her sin behind and return once again to Him.

In the early to mid-1700’s there was one such movement of God that has since been named The Great Awakening. It began in Europe and in the Colonies of the New world that we now know as the United States. In the Americas it swept through the colonies, uniting them in purpose and in faith. Many great things came about as a result of the Great Awakening in America, but perhaps the most significant is the United States itself.

Skip ahead almost 3 centuries and we find the Spirit moving on the campus of Asbury University. It’s not the first time that Asbury has found itself in a revival experience. In fact, it has happened 9 times since the founding of the college in 1890. And the roots of those revivals go back to the Great Awakening in which John Wesley was awakened by the Spirit of Christ. You can watch the video to see how it all came to pass.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 19, 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

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What Is Salvation? ~ Part 1

/ Bob

Far too many Christians rest comfortably on the fact that they are saved without giving serious thought as to what that means. From what are we saved? To what are we saved? To what extent does our salvation affect our daily lives? What does it mean to be born again? Why is Jesus so important in salvation? What are the various aspects of salvation and when do we experience the different aspects of salvation? Is salvation intended to make us better people? When we are saved, can we do whatever we want? Is salvation at “get out of jail free” card?

In this session we discuss these questions and many more. After all, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3)

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 5, 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

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Pray and Then Vote

/ Bob

1 Timothy 2:1-4

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Voting is both a right and a privilege here in the United States. But whether you live in the U.S. or in some other county, the admonition Paul gives Timothy applies to us today. Here in the U.S. we have begun to think that our future is determined by the vote. As citizens we should be salt and light within our country and, consequently, we should be involved in the political process as much as is in our power to do so. However, our faith must be in the One Who establishes and allows governments to exist. Our hope must be in Him. Only then can we walk in wisdom and in peace in the midst of a political storm, a geo-political conflict, or a peace–squelching effort on the part of any human or institution.

Daniel 2:20-22

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.

Trusting God in the Storms of Life

/ Bob

Friday night we were anticipating some serious weather as a cold front approached. We heard reports of high winds, hail, lightning and tornadoes associated with this front. We took precautions to try to mitigate damage from high winds and other effects of the storm. We turned on the television to watch the weather reports and waited for the front to blow through while we reviewed our response actions should a tornado warning be sounded. The front blew through mildly in our area even though there were dozens of tornadoes that did plenty of damage across 4 states. We had rain and lightning and strong winds though nothing was severe.

We all face storms in different ways. Even my wife and I have different ways of responding to the approach of a storm system. However, one thing is universal – we all face storms whether they be weather related or the storms of life. Paul dealt with storms in his missionary journeys. In fact, 4 times he was shipwrecked at the hands of those storms. Three of those shipwrecks are mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11:25 and one is recorded by Luke in Acts 27 & 28.

Paul was being transported to Rome because he had appealed to Caesar during his trials in Judea. The ship they sailed on the Mediterranean Sea ran into a violent storm and set them adrift for over 2 weeks. The storm terrified those onboard – even the sailors for whom this was their way of life. However, Paul remained steadfast and was the calming influence for the entire ship. God’s faithfulness was demonstrated in Paul’s life and in his response to the storm. Because of God’s providential care and Paul’s God-given peace, all 276 people onboard the ship made it safely to land. Because God is always faithful we can trust Him always – especially when we seem to be adrift in our lives or when all seems lost.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 6, 2022. It is part of a series of Bible study sessions from The Gospel Project – a Bible study curriculum developed by Lifeway Christian Resources. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

Twitter – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

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