Biblical Literacy Podcast

Bib-Lit 12-7-25 Mark’s topic for today was a focus on:Learning to Study our Bibles Better. Many different versions of the Bible are available for readers. Warm up. Important ways to start studying the Bible Begin with prayer Psalm 119:18 shows the power of Bible study The Bible is a library with various types of literature. Workout Studying the Psalms. The Psalms are Israel’s prayer and book hymnal that express all the human emotions. Studying Proverbs.Proverbs is rich with wisdom, literature, and principles, not promises. Cool down Chose a reading plan Pray before you study Take notes Listen to Mark give us Scriptural guidelines to better study, understand, and apply God’s Word to our lives.

Pastor David Fleming taught Part II: How to Deal with Relational Conflict—A Biblical Approach. Jesus dealt with conflict, which means we will too. Road map 1. The inevitability of relational conflict Paul dealt with conflict and resolution throughout his life. Opposition is part of ministry. Driven by reason or emotions? 2. The nature of relational conflict Relational storm and a cycle of emotions Preserved/saved a relationship Gain new understanding of ourselves and others 3. Points for home - a Biblical Toolkit We take initiative Follow Jesus’ plan Focus on the conflict Extend forgiveness Return to the mission Listen to Pastor David share wisdom from Scripture on how we are to handle relational conflict. Our job is to love others not change them for who God wants them to be.

Pastor David Fleming taught part one of a two part class: How to Deal with Relational Conflict—A Biblical Approach. Today’s Road Map 1. The inevitability of Relational Conflict * You aren’t the only one * Jesus dealt with relational conflict * If you are a peacemaker, others need you 2. The nature of Relational Conflict The steps people consider in resolving relational conflict and how to glorify God. 3. Points for home. Prepare for conflict resolution * A spiritual perspective * A mirror to reflect our emotions * The choice to love * The power of prayer * Wisdom to discernment Pastor David shows us how to handle and how not to handle relational conflict by seeking peace. Conflict resolution is an act of love.

11-16-25 Bib-Lit Mark continued in the book of Romans with a study of Romans 7:14-25:The Struggle is Real. Part 1—Debating Romans 7:15. 3 Hidden problems or positions of this verse. 1. Assumes Paul is converted. 2. Assumes Christianity and Judaism were separate to Paul. 3. Assumes Paul had a clean break from Judaism. Paul never converted but learned to recognize the Messiah. Timeline: Paul is born Age 34ish when persecuting the church Age 35ish to Damascus a revelation and a calling Later Paul’s Christian experiences. How does verse 15 affect Romans 7 and 8? The flow of God’s thought. The Law commands, but we can’t obey without the Holy Spirit. Homework. Go thru Romans 7 and look at the tenses. Does it make sense if Paul is talking before or after conversion? Or a transition? So what? Points for home Legalism kills. Understand the already/not yet. Don’t be surprised with the struggle. Listen to Mark teach Paul’s faith and how he didn’t waver from the Jewish religion. Jesus’s sacrifice was for all time, before, now, and the future. Believing Jews transitioned from Torah-administration to the Spirit-administration.

11-9-25 Bib-Lit Pastor David interviewed Dr. Paul Copan, one of the leading voices in Christian Apologetics. He’s a philosopher, theologian, professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University, and authored and edited 45 books. During the interview, we learned about Dr. Copan’s views on campus life, Old Testament apologetics, and how to understand God in the Old Testament and New Testament. Apologetics is the art and science of defending the. Christian faith. Pastor David posed the hard questions of the Old Testament with the new, revealing severity and kindness in both. Listen to Dr. Cohan’s sharing of his work in the educational field and apologetics. His Christian worldview and apologetics are an encouragement to Christian living.

11-2-25 Bib-Lit Mark continued in the study of Romans with a focus on Chapter 7: 1-7—Paul’s most debated chapter, especially the verses studied today. Paul uses a legal analogy. What about the law? Marriage metaphor: legal, exclusive, permanent. But when someone dies, everything changes. Death ends the legal agreement of the law. Illustration Paul draws out what Scripture says: We have died to the law through the body of Christ so that we belong to God. Our purpose is to bear fruit to God. The old self bore fruit for death The new self bears fruit for the Spirit. Application We move from law to serving God Points for home Stop living the guilt Fruit comes from your union with Christ not achievement We’re not serving less but better Listen to Mark show Paul’s flow of reasoning in how living in Christ means we are dead to sin but alive to serve Him.

10-26-25 Bib-lit Mark continued in Romans with a study of chapter 6:14-23. The lesson focused on liberation: to live as free in Christ and dead to sin. Mark had three points: 1. The promise of grace The purpose, reason, and result of Christ’s sacrifice Sin will have no dominion over the believer. 2. The choice of masters We are slaves to the one we obey. True freedom is serving God because He frees us. 3. The outcome of the service Sin delivers shame, bondage, and death. Righteousness delivers eternal life Points for home - rewire your mind Believe the promise Choose your master daily Remember the fruit Listen to Mark show us how we are to live as instruments of righteousness. We cannot fight sin through human effort, but through grace, we have divine power. The war against sin is over, but the fighting continues

Biblical - Literacy — October 19, 2025 For Mission Sunday, Mark interviews Dr. John Barclay , a distinguished New Testament scholar known for his insights on the writings of Paul. Originally from London, Dr. Barclay grew up in a Christian home and studied classics and theology at Cambridge. He now serves as Professor of Divinity at Durham University. Dr. Barclay believes that living out our faith means staying connected to today’s world — just as Paul did when he addressed the culture and social status of his time. Paul proclaimed that both Gentiles and Jews were called to experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Dr. Barclay shared three key theological truths: 1. We are, first and foremost, children of God. 2. Grace draws us into the life of Christ — not to do as we wish, but to follow God’s leading. 3. Love is fulfilled when it binds us together in unity. Listen as Mark explores Dr. Barclay’s faith, family, education, and his powerful insights on Paul’s writings about grace.

Bib-Lit Summary Oct 12,2025 Mark gives us a lot to think about in this lesson from Romans 6:11-13 Mark introduces us to a Novel by: C. E. Lewis, The Chronicles of NARNIA, The Silver Chair. In this mystical novel Lewis is asking a question through stories; Primarily What is Real? Mark addresses this through a detailed look at Romans 6: 11-13 1. Rom. 6:11, So you must consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Paul, in verse 9, says we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again. He died to sin but the life he lives he lives to God. Some of the sins we struggle with are greed, envy, honesty and pleasures. a. Align yourself with reality b. Believe what God Says c. Count yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ d. Do this every moment Dead to Sin --- Alive to God in Christ. 2. Rom. 6:12, Let choice not sin, therefore reign in your mortal body to make you obey its passions. 3. Rom. 6:13, Do not present your members to sin as instruments or unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life and your members to God as instruments or righteousness. Points for home: 1. Your thinking Determines your Living. a. Consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God b. When temptation comes pause and say, I am dead to this. This is not who I am anymore in Christ 2. You are always going to serve someone. a. The question isn’t “will I serve ?” but “ Whom will I serve?” 3. Grace will empower what it demands. a. The same God that justifies you also sanctifies you b. You are not under law but under Grace

Bib-lit Class October 5, 2025 Mark begins the lesson by addressing a question or concern that we all may have had after giving our life to Christ. We may be worried that we have done something wrong. Everything seems to be going wrong with my life. I am not living that Christian Victory. I am not that success story that says I gave my life to Jesus and now everything is rainbows. Mark dissects these feelings by traveling through the Book of Romans: Step 3: Practical implications (Rom. 6:8-10) Step 2: The certainty of our new life (Rom. 6:8-10) Step 1: The certainty of our union with Christ (Rom. 6:5-7) Mark address how these passages and how the word of Paul effects our transition into our new life as a Christian. He delves into Romans 6:8 and addresses the way Paul used the Past, Present and Future in one verse. From these verses we can conclude that, we have died with Christ, so from the past experience, the future is one of living with Christ. Romans 6:9 brings us to the realization and answer to many questions. “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him". So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11) Christ’s death was terminal to sin’s claims; his life is permanent in God’s power...So logically where are we? So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.(Romans 6:11) Points for Home: Know the truth: “We know that our old self was co-crucified with him”(Rom.6:6) Process the implications: Live from your new nature, not your old habits! One who has died has been set free from sin(Rom. 6:7) Learn to use the tools: You’re not fighting to become free–you’re learning to live free! consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God (Rom. 6:11)

9-28-25 Biblical-Lit Mark continued teaching the book of Romans with a focus on Chapter 6:5-7. How do we live when God forgives sins? We have been transformed. 3 verses Verse 5. The Certainty of our union with Christ. For If we have been United to Christ in death, then certainly we will have a resurrection like His. Verse 6: The old self crucified. We have been co-crucified with Christ. Knowledge vs. Feelings. Verse 7: Deaths brings freedom If you have died to sin, you’ve been set free from sin. Points for home  Know the truth  Process the implications  Learn to use the tools that God has given us. Listen to Mark talk about the power of uniting with Christ through baptism. We are redeemed.The old self has died. We are transformed a little more each day into the likeness of Christ

Mark discusses Romans 6 in great detail. His initial focus is on WH Ouden who was a student at Christ Church College, at Oxford University. Mark discussed his life and family and his time at Gresham’s Boarding school. Religion was taught there. He made an observation, “People only love God when no one else will love them. While at Oxford he was a non-believer, at least in a personal God. Mark continues with a discussion of Post Freudian psychology, Marxism, Liberalism and a discussion of whether people are naturally good. Then the in the 1930’s “classic Liberalism” was destroyed by a specific event, Hitler and the Third Reich. After all the events associated with the above history and the and the history of Christ’s Death on the cross, the discussion transitions to God’s Grace and Forgiveness. This is discussed as the effects of a pendulum of God’s Grace and forgiveness: God’s Grace and Forgiveness Legalism Antinomianism Human’s can do it Grace abounds; And earn it Sin doesn’t matter Romans 6:1 Romans 6:2 Balance Romans 6:3-4 Points for Home: • Find and live your new life • We too might walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4)

Pastor Jarrett Stephens taught from John 11 with the title of “It’s Okay to Ask Why.” The story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We all experience struggling events that shape our faith and we ask why. It’s okay to ask “why?” - God can handle our questions. It’s okay not to understand “why”. - Don’t trade what you know for what you don’t know. Seven certainties in suffering: • Universal and unavoidable • Temporary • Not judgement of sin • God loves me and has not forgotten me • God empathizes with me • God uses it for my good and His glory • God gives us His Spirit and His Church to help me It’s not okay to lose hope. Listen to Pastor Jarrett give us the cause, trials, and blessings of suffering as written in the Scriptures

Mark continued in the study of Romans Chapter 5:12-21 addressing the "so-what" question. For example, So what does it mean that Jesus died for me? Mark focuses on looking at the Literary context aspect of the passage reading it from three perspectives: Reading through the ancient honor and shame culture: people avoided shame; determined social standing, economic opportunities, political influence, and family reputation or boasting rights. Paul turns the boasts upside down by declaring Christian's boast in their sufferings. Old: death reignedNew: life reigned Reading through ancient imperial warfare language: Rome maintained peace through military superiority Power lived by quick and brutal retaliation Paul uses military language - the peace treaty was signed by the blood of Jesus Reading through ancient Chiastic Jewish Chiasm - language mirror. Emphasized what was in the middle. In this case grace. Ancient ear was trained to listen for Chiasms Consider our role as Christians to mean we are part of God’s cosmic to restore creation through Christ. Points for home Not honor-shame but grace-security Not warfare but peace From individual to cosmic Listen to Mark show how Paul used honor, shame, boasting in our relationship with the Lord, and the power of military language to show that Christ’s death translates to God loves us. We are part of God’s winning side of grace with hope, power, purpose, and security.

8-31-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the study of Romans with a focus on Chapter 5:12-15. He began by sharing that Paul who had a pastoral heart wrote to help us understand Jesus’ teachings and the inspiration of the Scriptures. With shovel in hand, Mark proceeded to dig deep in the few verses: 1. Sin's universal entry & reign (verse 12) Through one man, sin came into the world Sin is outside of God Paul personifies sin for our understanding Death entered the world through sin 2. Reign of death before the Law (verse 13 -14) Ignorance is no excuse Still outside the nature of God 3. Greater grace (verse 15) Where grace is greater than the trespass - the cross In Christ we can live Points for home  Understand reality  Marvel at grace  Reject despair and pride Listen to Mark teach the origin of sin as a universal contamination. One sin led to death, and one death led to life

8-24-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark Lanier taught from Romans 5:6-11 asking two questions: what is your “why” for experiencing the class, and what is God’s “why” we are here? He then divided the passage into three sections to answer the “why” questions covering the text, a related song and application. 1. Do we find our “why" in Romans 5:6-9? Text: Christ died for weak sinners, not good people. Christ died in our place, a demonstration and manifestation of God’s love and who He is. Song: Elvina Hall wrote, “Jesus Paid it All” Points for home: God’s love triumphs over human failure 2. Do we find our “why" in Romans 5:9-10? Text: We shall be saved. Song: Amy Grant sang, "The Now and Not Yet" Points for Home: God’s not finished with you yet 3. Is God’s “why” in Romans 5:11? Text: Rejoice in God through Jesus. Song: Joseph M. Scriven wrote, "What a Friend We have in Jesus" Points for home: Lean into your friend Listen to Mark explain the context of Romans 5:6-11. In Christ we are not yet what we will be. What is your why? Jesus is always your answer.

8-17-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark returned to class to relaunch our study on the book of Romans. The class began with a review then centered on the first verses in Romans 5 followed by application. 1. Let’s remember where we were Review of past 11 classes. Paul’s reason for writing the letter to the Romans. The letter based on Paul’s 4 points in Romans 1:16-17. 2. Look at Roman’s 5:1-5 Putting the community of Roman church believers back together. Justified by faith in the past with Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. We have peace with God today: we are no longer enemies. Access to God that we have already obtained. Rejoice in our sufferings and why. We have hope. 3. Points for home We have peace with God. Access to God. Joy in suffering. Listen to Mark highlight the previous classes with a historical accounting of the church in Rome. Gospel is a Pauline word: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Listen to Mark share how our present relationship with God is based on the past work of Jesus. We have a past, today, and a future that shape us

8-10-25 Biblical-Literacy Brent Johnson taught on the 1 Chapter book of 3 John with a focus on being a good ambassador for Christ. He started with some background: Author: the elder (John) Location: Ephesus Date: A.D. 85-95, end of John’s life (50 years after resurrection) Purpose: Commendation and Condemnation Recipient: Gaius Brent divided the lesson from John’s letter using three areas of focus: Gaius John loved Gaius in truth. Encouraged him to continue living and walking in the truth. Diotrephes Correct. Rebuke. Restore. Selfish. Ignores church leadership. All about me. Demetrius Imitates good. Encouragement in truth and love. Points for home / Homework Write notes to someone needing encouragement sharing Truth, Love & Peace. Listen to Brent’s in-depth teaching on living as citizens in the kingdom with truth and what it means to walk out truth in our lives

Brent Johnson taught on the 1 Chapter book of 3 John with a focus on being a good ambassador for Christ. He started with some background: Author: the elder (John) Location: Ephesus Date: A.D. 85-95, end of John’s life (50 years after resurrection) Purpose: Commendation and Condemnation Recipient: Gaius Brent divided the lesson from John’s letter using three areas of focus: Gaius John loved Gaius in truth. Encouraged him to continue living and walking in the truth. Diotrephes Correct. Rebuke. Restore. Selfish. Ignores church leadership. All about me. Demetrius Imitates good. Encouragement in truth and love. Points for home / Homework Write notes to someone needing encouragement sharing Truth, Love & Peace. Listen to Brent’s in-depth teaching on living as citizens in the kingdom with truth and what it means to walk out truth in our lives.

8-3-25 Biblical Literacy Mark taught a unique class titled Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a Theology of Science / God's tools in human hands. Does artificial intelligence coincide with science and faith? Mark shares in three points: 1. A gift for flourishing Man has a biblical charge to watch, keep, preserve, and be active. God does not leave humanity helpless. God shows us how to survive. 2. The proper relationship between faith and science God’s word and God’s world show us how to exist. Science doesn’t diminish faith, it magnifies it. Science is God’s tool but can be used for good or evil. 3. Wisdom and Discernment in AI’s Power and Potential Danger The call for biblical wisdom. Use to enhance not hurt. Points for home / Homework: Embrace your role as God’ image bearer Exercise faithful stewardship Maintain wisdom and discernment Listen to Mark provide the history/timeline of artificial intelligence. Theology of science came from God as noted in Genesis and throughout the Bible. AI is a gift of God which can be used to help us solve complex problems encompassing many facets including justice, mercy, truth, stewardship, or love. But it can also be used for evil so we must be wise in its use.