From the Back Porch

In today's culture we are told over and over again that we must be true to ourselves. We must strive to be the “authentic me.” In our study of Mark 14 Sunday morning, we saw that Jesus was true to His nature in doing the Father's will even though He knew what that obedience would entail. Even though He faced great anguish, betrayal, abandonment, ridicule, beatings, and even being spit upon, He never wavered from His one true mission in life – the salvation of the world. We as Christians, who literally bear the Name of Christ, must have the same focus on His mission – the salvation of the world. In other words, we must Keep Watch and be true to our new “authentic me” as Christians and, in so doing, deny ourselves, take up His cross and follow him. Just to make it totally clear – in order to be true to ourselves as Christians, we must deny ourselves. In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 we read, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Next week will look at the ultimate price which Jesus had to pay in order to complete His mission of reconciliation. This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, January 23, 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

Was Jesus born on December 25? Did Mary ride a donkey to Bethlehem? Were there 3 kings who visited the baby Jesus and did they ride camels? What does "Noel" mean? What does "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" mean? What is the difference between Immanuel and Emmanuel? Were Mary and Joseph married when they went to Bethlehem? Did Mary give birth to Jesus in a barn or stable or a cave or none of the above? All of these questions and many others were answered in the Agape Life Bible Study presented on Sunday morning. Some of the answers might surprise you. When we consider the facts surrounding the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it is important to remember the facts about the birth and life of Jesus that are truly important - that in the fullness of time, Jesus was born of a virgin and that He lived a perfect life so that He could be offered up on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sin and that 3 days later He rose from the grave - victorious over death - and is now seated at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf and waiting for the day when He will return once again in power and in glory. In short - Jesus was born to die so that we might be born again to live. Hallelujah! This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, December 12, 2021. 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

Kingdom Parables In this session we look at how Jesus taught by using parables – simple stories that gave insight into spiritual truths. In Matthew 13, there are 8 parables that all relate to the Kingdom of God. Through four of those parables we can learn three valuable lessons concerning the Kingdom of God and our responsibility as citizens of the Kingdom. First, we must faithfully and consistently sow the seed of the Kingdom and proclaim the message of salvation in Christ to all, knowing that when the gospel takes root in good ground, it produces bountiful fruit. Secondly, we must sow the seed of the Gospel of Christ in our culture and throughout the world so that the Kingdom can take root in all corners of the earth. Finally, we must realize the true worth of the Gospel, which we hold in our hearts, and not conceal it. Rather we must sow the seed of salvation so that all who receive it can know its riches as we do and know the joy and fullness of Kingdom living. Too often we choose to live in the muck and and mire of life thinking that’s all there is this world. However, when we realize that we are only passing through this world as aliens from another Kingdom – the Kingdom of God – we will take on a whole new attitude about our roll in this foreign land. What is our roll? We are Ambassadors for Christ and His Kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:20) and these parables outline our responsibilities as such. Praise be to God Who has entrusted us with such incredible truth and such a solemn duty. This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 7, 2021. 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

One of the most, if not the most, neglected and underrated events in the life of Jesus is the transfiguration. Before the beginning of time itself, the Glory of God was. From the beginning of time till now, the Glory of God is. From the end of time throughout all eternity the Glory of God will be. He is the Great I AM! But as Jesus walked on the earth (as the Glory of God shone in the heavenly realms) the transfiguration is the first time we see the Glory of God at its source – Jesus Himself. We had seen the power of God in the miracles. We had heard the wisdom of God in the parables and teachings. Indeed, Jesus was Emmanuel, God with us. But this is the first time we had seen the Glory of God in God Himself, Jesus Christ. Jesus, Moses, and Elijah discussed the impending crucifixion and the debt that had to be paid. The One who was light itself had to take on the darkness of man's sin. And then He placed His light in us. Unbelievable, but true. And we must respond. 1. We must see the Glory of God, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) 2. We must seek first the Kingdom and Glory of God and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33) 3. We must urgently join with John the Baptist and Jesus in proclaiming, “Repent! - For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2 & Matthew 4:17) 4. We must fall down and worship Him so that He can lift us up and use us to accomplish His will. (1 Peter 5:6; Matthew 23:12; James 4:10) How will you respond when confronted with the Glory of God in Christ Jesus? You can't ignore the light – you have to respond. This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 31, 2021. 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

In John, Chapter 6, we find John's account of the feeding of the 5,000. This is the only of Jesus' miracles to be recorded in all four gospels. Many have tried to explain it away, but it is most definitely a miracle. All four gospels proclaim it as such and it was accepted as such when it happened. In the study of this miracle we find the following applications for the living of our lives: 1. Don't be surprised when God interrupts your plans. 2. If Jesus says, “Do It,” then do it. 3. When you are tested, focus on Jesus, not on the circumstances or details. 4. Look for and join in the opportunity to be involved in something miraculous. 5. Meet the physical needs of people, but always remember that their greatest need is the salvation found only in the Bread of Life. This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 17, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com Twitter - From the Back Porch @ nationalfast Website - FromTheBackPorch.org Facebook - From the Back Porch in Texas YouTube - From the Back Porch

Evil is real. Demonic forces are active in ways we witness everyday in every aspect of our lives. "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12 NLT) So, if that's the case, our response to the evil in our world must be in the realm of the demonic and the response to evil must be in the name and power of Jesus. In Luke 8 we see one of many times when Jesus displayed His authority over demons. When we go up against Satan's demonic forces in our own power, we lose. When we go up against Satan's demonic forces in the power and name and authority of Jesus we win. Furthermore, the only hope that our family, friends, and acquaintances have in this realm of such forces is in Jesus. Therefore, we must be diligent in introducing them to Him. A chaotic life that ends in eternal death is what lies before them. The man in Luke 8 was living in chaos and headed for a tragic end before he met Jesus. Our world, our nation, our state, our county, our town, our neighbors, our work associates, and our family members need to know the victorious power found only in Jesus. That's how we should respond to the evil in our world. This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com Twitter - From the Back Porch @ nationalfast Website - FromTheBackPorch.org Facebook - From the Back Porch in Texas YouTube - From the Back Porch

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way." (Isaiah 53:6) Sheep need a shepherd. Left on their own they can get into all sorts of problems. Left on their own they are vulnerable to attack. Left on their own they can become hopelessly lost. We are sheep and because God loved us even while we were sinners, he sent us a Shepherd - a Shepherd who was willing to give up His life for His sheep. In this lesson, we will look at our Shepherd, Jesus, who loves us and cares for us and offers us an abundant life. We've wandered long enough - now it's time to return to the fold. This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 19, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com Twitter - From the Back Porch @ nationalfast Website - FromTheBackPorch.org Facebook - From the Back Porch in Texas YouTube - From the Back Porch

Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34) In Luke 12:13-34 Jesus teaches those who were following Him about the need to trust Him for everything we need. If we treasure material things, then our full love and attention will be focused there and eventually those things will let us down. If we treasure Him, we will have the material things we need - perhaps not all that we want, but definitely all that we need. And He will never let us down. As Paul says in Philippians 4:19, "My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 12, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com Twitter - From the Back Porch @ nationalfast Website - FromTheBackPorch.org Facebook - From the Back Porch in Texas YouTube - From the Back Porch

It's almost mind-boggling that Jesus prayed. Jesus knew the Father more intimately than any other man who walked on this earth, because He and the Father are One. And still He prayed. If was so important for Jesus to pray it is even more so for us. We will be looking at the teachings of Jesus concerning prayer from Luke 11 & 18. At the beginning of Luke 11, one of the disciples came to Jesus with a profound request - teach us to pray. That should be our request as well. And so we say, "Jesus, Teach Us to Pray." This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 5, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com Twitter - From the Back Porch @ nationalfast Website - FromTheBackPorch.org Facebook - From the Back Porch in Texas YouTube - From the Back Porch

Jesus never said that life as a Christian would be easy. Those who say such things obviously don't remember the words of our Lord when he said, "In this world you'll have trouble, but be courageous—I've overcome the world!" (John 6:33b) In the 9th and 14th Chapters of Luke Jesus lays out the cost of being His disciple. If we choose to follow Christ completely, our lives will change dramatically and perhaps even be turned upside down. The only wise choice is to follow Jesus, but he still calls on us to count the cost - because the cost is high. This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 29, 2021. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

It doesn't matter what ails you. It doesn't matter what obstacles stand in your way. It doesn't matter where you've been for help, what solutions you've tried, or how many years you've been dealing with the problem - Jesus can help. This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 8, 2021. In the 5th Chapter of John we see Jesus heal a man who has been a paraplegic for 38 years. Only Jesus can speak hope into such a situation as this. Only Jesus can bring physical healing to this man. And only Jesus can save him from a fate worse than his physical state because only Jesus can save him from eternal death. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, March 7, 2021. In the second half of Nehemiah we see how the people responded to the completion of the wall and the reading of God's Law. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 21, 2021. This is the story of Esther and how God used her to save His people from genocide. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas. It deals with the increasing secularism in America. We look at what this means for the Christian faith in America and how believers need to respond. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com #FirstAmendment #Constitution #Bible #Faith #SeparationofChurchandState #FreethoughtCaucus #SecularDemocrats

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, February 7, 2021. It is a look at the prophet Zechariah with a focus on the coming of Christ as a Savior and His final return as the King of Peace. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

Agape Life Gospel Project Bible Study 01.24.2021 Haggai 1-2 This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas. It covers both chapters of Haaggai with a focus on how God wants his children to wake up and get to work. Handouts with slide content can be requested at fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com