Trust God

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 .


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Secret Sin to Devastating Downfall

/ Bob

After the resounding victory at Jericho the City of Ai seemed like an easy win. Joshua sent out his reconnaissance team and they came back with a report of easy pickings so Joshua sent a much smaller force to take Ai. However, Joshua was unaware that Israel had violated God’s command of total destruction of Jericho. It was only one soldier who did the deed, but the entire camp suffered the consequences.

God demands total destruction when it comes to the sin in our lives. We tend to play fast and loose with the sin in our lives. With a wink and a nudge we excuse those little insignificant sins that we think are basically harmless. But God ain’t playing that game. We must address the sin that separates from our Lord. We must address it and exterminate it. Only total destruction is acceptable.

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


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Do You Want to Be Safe or Saved? Rahab’s Dilemma and Ours

/ Bob

Rahab was a resident of the city of Jericho. Jericho was a well-fortified city with a double-wall defensive system. While Jericho had a history of being over run in the past, it had been about 1,000 years since anyone had been able to break through those defenses. It was a safe haven in the dessert that Rahab called home. She and her family lived there. Her business – be it brothel, hotel, or both served her well. She was respected enough to sway the city officials to go on a wild goose chase for spies who were known to have visited her establishment. She had a big decision to make – either stay in the city and hope that the Israelites would not prevail in their advance on the city or trust in the God of the Israelites for her salvation. She chose wisely. She chose to trust in God.

When things are going well as they were for the city of Jericho and for Rahab as well we have a tendency to become complacent. It’s a battle we face throughout our lives. We must count the cost as Rahab did and choose to follow God and trust Him. We can’t let the good things we are experiencing keep us from the best things God has for us. It is most definitely better to be saved than to be safe.

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


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Class Notes – 10.12.2025 – Lesson 4 – Do You Want to Be Safe or SavedDownload

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 .


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

The Great Flood Myth

/ Bob

We begin our study of Big Stories from the Old Testament with a look at the Big Flood.  However, before exploring Noah and the flood itself we need to look at the concept of “myth.”  In our culture the term “myth” implies something that isn’t true like the myth of unicorns or that the earth is flat.  However, a myth by definition is nothing more than a story.  Quite often ancient myths contained supernatural elements and more often provided explanations of how certain things came to be.  Creation myths abound in ancient history and they are often accompanied by flood myths – stories of world-wide floods and those chosen to survive them.  Of course we have our Creation Myth (capitalized intentionally) and we have our own Great Flood Myth.  

The difference between our Biblical “myths” and the myths of other cultures lies in the distinction between two Greek concepts embodied in the Greek words “mythos” and “logos.”  In the centuries just prior to Jesus’ incarnation discussions among the Greeks revolved around stories which were simply stories – mythos – and stories which were verifiable, rational, statements of truth – logos.  In John 1:1 the apostle removes all doubt as to where the “stories” of Jesus fall in the discussion of mythos vs logos. He said that in the beginning was the Word (logos) and the Word (logos) was with God and the Word (logos) was God.  In other words, the Biblical “Myth” is the True Myth – the True Story – of God’s creation and redemption of the world.

So yes, the Creation as recorded in Genesis is a myth – a story or account – but it is the True Myth or story of how the world began.  Furthermore, the Great Flood myth, also seen in Genesis, is the True Myth of the how the world was cleansed by a world-wide flood in which Noah, his family, and the animal kingdom were saved in an ark.  And in Jesus we find the Logos – the Word – who is the verifiable truth of God who not only confirms the True Myth, but also provides salvation through the cleansing of His blood – blood shed on an ark we know as the Cross. 

Therefore, we see in the Great Flood and the Ark of Noah a type for the salvation we know in Jesus. In Biblical interpretation a type is an Old Testament person, thing, or event which is divinely created and established by God as a direct foreshadowing of a New Testament reality. Peter compares the flood to the cleansing waters of baptism. The ark is where Noah and his family found salvation from the flood just as we who are “in” Christ find salvation in Him. God said in the True Myth of the Great Flood that One would come who would bring salvation to the world.

In the 9th Chapter of Genesis we find God’s promise to never destroy the world by flood again. However, floods – not wordwide, but localized – are very much a part of our world. However, the same God who provided salvation in the Great Flood also provides salvation in the floods of the life; in the storms of life; in the wildfires of life. In Isaiah 43:1b-3a we read:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

When you pass through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

For I am the Lord your God,

The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

He is still our ark of Salvation!

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 14, 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 .


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Class Notes – 09.14.2025 – Lesson 1 – The Great Flood Myth – Part 2Download

Good Night, Sweet Prince, and Flights of Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest

/ Bob

Death, not space, is the Final Frontier. And no other faith than that established by Jesus Christ has conquered death and the grave. All religions have addressed the issue of passing from this life to the next, but none so completely, honestly, and thoroughly as has Christianity. And it’s all because of the Love of God. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

In Luke 16 Jesus paints a picture with his story of Lazarus being carried into the bosom of Abraham – carried there by angels. In Acts 7 Stephen, as he is dying, looks into the glory of Heaven and sees the Father with the Son standing at His right side. While no angels are specifically mentioned we have numerous accounts of those who have seen Heaven and its glory and there are always angels in attendance. The angels are singing Stephen to his rest.

Finally, as we see in the 2nd Chapter of 2 Kings, Elijah is ushered into Heaven on a flaming chariot with flaming horses and flaming horsemen – angels. The slaves on the plantations read this account of Elijah’s departure and sang, “Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin’ for to carry me home.” They dreamed of a deliverance that transcended their earthly bondage. In one of the verses they sang, “I looked over Jordan and what did I see – Comin’ for the carry me home? A band of angels comin’ after me. Comin’ for to carry me home.”

As Horatio lamented over the loss of Hamlet, he said, “Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 17, 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 .


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Class Notes – 08.17.2025 – Lesson 12 – Angels in DeathDownload

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 .


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

Look in the Book . . . The Book of Life

/ Bob

In the 3rd Chapter of Revelation Jesus comforts some of the people of Sardis with this statement, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5) As we have looked at the judgments that each of us will face we find a focus on the records department of Heaven – specifically The Book of Life. When we were kids we would excitedly look in the newest edition of the phone book to find our name. Seeing our name in the Book of Life will be infinitely more thrilling and the inclusion of our name will have eternal consequences.

We see the Book of Life referenced throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. It is always seen as a place where we will find the names of those who have chosen to follow God. References to those found in the Book also include the good things they have done. What they have done is not the reason for their salvation, but rather the proof of their relationship with the Father.

Those whose name is not found in the Book of Life face an eternity in Hell. 2 Peter 3:9 shows us the heart of God concerning this fact. He does not want to see any of the people He created perish in the Pit. His desire is for everyone to be saved. That’s His heart cry and it should be our heart cry as well. As those whose names are in the Book, we must look at all of the people within our sphere of influence with a desire to lead them to the truth. We must ask, “Are their names written in the Book of Life?” It truly is a life or death situation – an eternal life or eternal death situation.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 20, 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 .


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Class Notes – 07.20.2025 – Lesson 7 – The Book of LifeDownload

Are You Ready to Meet Jesus? – Part 1

/ Bob

Meeting important people like the President of the United States or your favorite NFL quarterback is an event that brings on much anticipation, anxiety, and excitement. It also brings on an urgency to properly prepare for the event – to make sure you have the right clothes and the right words to say when you finally come face to face. One day each and every one of us is going to meet the most famous and influential person ever to exist. He is known as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Are you ready to meet Him?

Consider what that meeting will be like. How we will react to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords when we come into His presence? So many images come to mind, but one image tends to be absent from these ponderings – the image of Judgment. In Hebrews 9:27 we read that we all are going to die and that after that will come judgment. We sometimes joke that the only 2 sure things in life are death and taxes. However, once you die you’ll no longer have to worry about taxes, but judgment? Yep, it’s still coming.

Sunday morning’s lesson was a time to consider our readiness to meet Jesus. We also began a discussion of judgement.  We will continue the study on judgment and then hopefully we will discuss how to make sure we make it to Heaven.  That is the gist of Lesson 7 entitled “Making Your Reservation in Heaven.”   God is patient with us and doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9) but He is also a God of Justice and Judgment. We need to make sure where we stand on His scales of Justice before we stand before Him in Judgment.

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


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Class Notes – 07.06.2025 – Lesson 6 – Meeting the KingDownload

Heavenly Questions – Work and Relationships in Heaven

/ Bob

Will we have work to do in Heaven or will we float around on clouds playing our lyres? I’m figuring that such mental conjurrings are the result of not being able to comprehend Heaven and forcing the brain to conceive of some ethereal existence which is totally contrary to our existence hereon earth. Or perhaps it’s from watching too many Tom and Jerry cartons where Tom dies and immediately floats up to the clouds in hiss glistening, white gown. Either way, we know it ain’t gonna be the same as here and now so then and there must be something really strange. However, work will definitely be a part of Heaven. Furthermore, our personhood and the personhood of those around us – not our ethereal gowns and heavenly banjos – will be a part of what makes Heaven heavenly.

Consider the following reasonings:

– God created a perfect world called the Garden of Eden.

– The New Heaven and the New Earth are called “paradiesos” – Greek for Paradise or garden.

– God will be reconstructing His perfect Garden – Paradise – which we call Heaven.

– When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, they were given work to do.

– We will work in the Garden, that is Paradise, by tending to the Garden, cultivating our new world and enjoying God and all other Paradise residents forever. It won’t be boring and since we will exist outside of time, we won’t even have time to get bored.

‘Nuff said.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, June 1, 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 .


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Class Notes – 06.01.2025 – Heavenly Questions & Lesson 4–Exploring HeavenDownload