trust

No King But A King After God’s Own Heart

/ Bob

In 1 Samuel 13:14 we read,  “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be captain over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”  The reference was spoken to King Saul about the soon-to-be King David.  But the history of God’s opinion of human kings began before this pronouncement of Saul’s failure as king and David’s rise to kingship.

In I Samuel 8 we see the people of Israel demanding a human king.  God was displeased that they had rejected Him as king.  God warned them as to what would happen if they pursued this passion for an earthly king, but He agreed to give them what they wanted.  What’s truly amazing is that 350 years earlier in Deuteronomy 17 God had outlined the responsibilities and duties of an earthly king.  He knew then what would happen when Samuel was serving as Israel’s judge and prophet.  

Most of the Kings of Israel and Judah failed to do what God required, but David was different.  David showed his character by humbly subjecting himself to King Saul even after Samuel had anointed David as king. Even so must we as children of the king – joint heirs with Christ – humbly submit to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – the One Whose authority exceeds all earthly king, leaders, and rulers.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 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 How Great Is Our God: Passing the Faith Along. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/how-great-is-our-god-old-testament-digital-study-guide/. Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 11.09.2025 – Lesson 8 – A King After God’s Own HeartDownload

Where Do You Get Your Strength? – A Study of Samson – Judges 13-16

/ Bob

The People of Israel were led for several centuries by Judges. They were not what we think of today when we think of Judges unless you consider the County Judges we have here in Texas. They are in the judging business, but their main focus is on administering the affairs of the county. So it was in the Book of Judges although thee judges we find there also had military and combat duties as well. That’s where Samson comes in.

He was set apart by God before he was even conceived and certainly before he ever drew a breath. In addition to being set apart as a Nazarite, he was also endowed with superhuman strength. With that strength he was able to wage a personal war against the Philistines who were rulers over the Israelites and also their tormentors. Samson led a morally compromised life even though he was God’s chosen leader. His immorality and lack of judgment caused him to succumb to the wiles of a prostitute named Delilah.

His final act as a Judge was to kill over 3,000 Philistine revelers as they partied and proclaimed their joy over the defeat of God’s chosen Judge.

The message for us today is that God still calls us to be his servants and He prepares and strengthens us for the tasks at hand. He doesn’t abandon use when we do stupid things, but He might allow those stupid things to defeat us temporarily so that we turn back to Him and find ultimate victory in His strength.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 2, 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 How Great Is Our God: Passing the Faith Along. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/how-great-is-our-god-old-testament-digital-study-guide/. Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

The Secret to Surviving the Roller Coaster of Life – Part 1

/ Bob

Joseph’s life was a roller coast full of severe ups and downs. He went from being the favorite son to the slave of Ishmaelites. Sold as a slave to an Egyptian official, he rose in responsibility and power to the head of the officials household. After being falsely accused in a “me too” situation he was thrown in prison. However, in prison his organizational skills earned him a similar position as the one given him by his former employer. Still, he was in prison for years. Only when Pharaoh needed a dream interpreted was he able to get out of prison. That led to Joseph being put in charge of all of Egypt.

All of these events led to Joseph being in a position to help his family avoid the ravages of famine. It also led to Joseph’s brothers fearing for their very lives as they remembered that they were the ones who sold him into slavery in the first place. However, Joseph reminded them that God had been with him through all of the trials and successes of his life. And God is with us as well.

God’s “withness” is all that we need to meet the challenges of life. He is Emmanuel – God with us and if He is with us, who or what can possibly be against us. Through Him we are more than conquerors.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 28, 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 How Great Is Our God: Passing the Faith Along. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/how-great-is-our-god-old-testament-digital-study-guide/. Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 09.28.2025 – Lesson 3 – The Secret of Surviving the Roller Coaster of LifeDownload

Opening Our Eyes to See The Angelic Realm

/ Bob

The Nation of Israel was being repeatedly attacked by people from the land now known as Syria. It was called Aram, and its capital was Damascus. Elisha the prophet was given intel concerning their military maneuvers which he passed on the King of Israel. The Israelites were thus able to thwart Aram’s plans every time. The King of Aram caught up with Elisha in the town of Dothan and planned to kill him. When Elisha’s servant saw that the town was surrounded he urgently asked Elisha, “What shall we do?” Elisha replied, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” He then prayed that God would open the eyes of the servant so that he could God’s army of angels – compete with chariots and horses and all ablaze with the fire of God.

Angels are all around us and they exist to minister the people God created. (Hebrews 1:14) They are so prevalent in our world that we are told to be careful to do good things for strangers because they might be angels appearing incognito. (Hebrews 13:2) Yes, Virginia, they do exist and they are everywhere.

Angels are not superhuman, but rather they are extrahuman. They are not just souped-up humans with special powers and abilities. They are not human at all. They exist as entities outside of the human realm even though they can take on human form when necessary. They are powerful, created beings who praise God, do the will of God, and obey God’s Word. Furthermore, Angels are organized and

equipped for war. (Psalm 103:20-21) According to Psalm 34 they are encamped all around those who fear the Lord and deliver those faithful souls while being directed by Jesus Himself. Hallelujah!

Open your heart to Jesus and open your eyes, just as Elisha’s servant did, to see the Heavenly Hosts all around you at the ready to minister to you and on your behalf.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 27, 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 .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 07.27.2025 – Lesson 9 – Opening Our Eyes to See the Angelic RealmDownload

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 .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 01.26.2025 – The Living Stone – 1 Peter 2.1-10Download

Pray On & Pray Through

/ Bob

In Luke 11 and Luke 18 we find two parables which Jesus told in order to encourage his followers to pray – to seek the Father in all things. We prepare for every eventuality and yet so many times our plans fail. God is there waiting for us to turn to him. When we have wasted our resources, God is there waiting for us to turn to him. Even in those times when you declare with the defiant fortitude of a two year old, “I Got This,” He is still there ready to help you pick up the pieces when you realize you got nuthin’.

God is way more gracious than the grumpy neighbor of Luke 11 and way more kind than the unjust judge of Luke 18. If we would learn to ask, seek, and knock as He tells us to do in Luke 11:9-10 and keep on going to Him – not as a last resort when everything has blown up in our face – but always. We should go to Him first to find grace and help in our time of need. He knows what we need before we even ask Him. He just wants us to ask. If you’ve been a parent you know how you long for your kids to come to you when they need help. That’s what our Father wants us to do – go to Him in prayer.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 13, 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 .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 10.13.2024 – Pray On and Pray Through – Luke 11.5-13Download

A Young Man Speaks Truth to Conventional Wisdom – Job 32-37

/ Bob

People love to share their opinions online. And they can comment on any given post just as fast as their chubby little fingers or thumbs can type out the words. They don’t even have to think – and quite often don’t think – just open up their minds and vomit out the wisdom. And Why? Because what we have to say is important, or at least we think so. We think we know the score; we think we have it all sorted out; but God says you don’t know squat.

It’s easy to be the grumpy old man with life experience who doesn’t want to bother with the young Know-It-All – all the time yelling “Get off my Biblical lawn.”

It’s also easy to be the young Know-It-All who feels the need to speak on any and every topic available. All the time yelling “I’ve read the same thing in a dozen different posts. It must be true.”

But whether young or old, wise or foolish, knowledgeable or ignorant, none of us have arms long enough to box with God. We don’t know nuthin’.

So, we must listen to and trust the voice of God – even when God chooses to speak through an unlikely source such as a loud obnoxious young whippersnapper or a loud obnoxious old curmudgeon (remember God spoke through a donkey once – and He was just warming up) we must listen to His Voice and trust His Voice, His Wisdom, His Understanding; and NOT listen to the voice of human wisdom – above all not our own human wisdom.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 11, 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 .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 08.11.2024 – Job 32-37 – The Wisdom of YouthDownload

Hope Against Hope – Light at the End of the Tunnel?

/ Bob

Hope is found throughout the scripture. The Greek and Hebrew words which are often translated as hope involve the concept of waiting – specifically waiting on God. In Romans 8 we read that hope which is seen is not hope. We hope for what is not seen. Hope lives in the future in spite of our present struggles.

Is Hope the Light at the end of the Tunnel? No

The light at the end of the tunnel is something we can see that tells us that end of the tunnel is just ahead. But Romans 8 says that hope which is seen is not hope. When there is no light we still have hope because the invisible God is at the end of the tunnel. In fact, the light within us is Jesus Christ and He’s all the light we need in every tunnel.

But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.

Because those are the people who have real hope – those who don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel but know personally the God Who waits for them at the end of the tunnel and Who, in fact, occupies the entire tunnel. We wait upon Him. We hope in Him. We find our light in Him. In our present sufferings He is our hope of future glory. Furthermore, He is with us always even to the end of the age – or in this case – to the end of the tunnel.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 21, 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 .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch

X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast

TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Class Notes – 07.21.2024 – Job 9.13 & 14 – Hope Against HopeDownload

Why Do We Suffer? – Job 7:1-21

/ Bob
Job lost it all – family, business, health, property – and with all of that he lost all hope. In the 7th Chapter of Job he comes out swinging. He has nothing left to lose so he lays it all on the line before God. His entire life seems futile. He can’t even find rest in his sleep. His misery haunts him night and day.

We have all had days . . . or weeks . . . or months . . . or years when we have felt this way. Maybe it wasn’t to the degree that Job felt it or maybe it was. The thing is that suffering is a part of the human condition. We live in a fallen world. We live in a decaying world. The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics says that entropy is the soup of the day and that soup is constantly cooling not unlike our physical bodies when we pass from this world to the next. We are decaying right along with the rest of creation and that decay leads to suffering. It’s inevitable.

Job didn’t deny this. He pointed it out and told us how it affected him in every way. Physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually he was experiencing his anguish.

As we look at our own struggles we have a marked advantage over Job. He didn’t have the scripture to give him guidance in how to endure the pain and suffering of this world. He didn’t have the indwelling Spirit to guide him into all knowledge. And he didn’t have the example of the Suffering Servant, Mashiach, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to serve as an example of how to live victoriously even as our mortal bodies are dying pathetically. The Scriptures give insight into why we suffer and how to live as we suffer. That’s what this study was all about.


This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, June 9, 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 .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch
X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast
TikTok – tiktok.com/@fromthebackporchintexas
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
class-notes-06.09.2024-job-7.1-21-why-do-we-sufferDownload

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 .


Website – FromTheBackPorch.org
Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas
YouTube – youtube.com/@fromthebackporch
X – FromtheBackPorch@nationalfast
Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com
class-notes-7-last-words-of-christ-03.24.2024Download