Biblical Literacy Podcast

Mark continues Devotionals from the Life of Christ series. This week Mark focuses on Jesus as a teacher. He began with "Don't get it Backwards" based on John 13:13-14. Jesus is Lord and teacher, not teacher then Lord. Devotional 2 is from Matthew 22:15-18 "Don't Fake Flatter God!" Mark teaches additional devotions that show us to listen and learn from Jesus as recorded in Mark 12:28-32, Luke 7:40, and Matthew 10:35.

Mark continued with Part 2 of Devotionals from the Life of Jesus in today's lesson: How Jesus Reveals God. Jesus is the reflection of God and brings God into focus for all people. A Christian's daily goal is "to see God more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly.” This week’s focus is from Matthew 5 and how Jesus shows us God through the Sermon on the Mount. Listen to Mark teach more about Jesus revealing God throughout the New Testament: the God of comfort, righteousness, attentiveness, fulfillment, motive-searching, and listening.

Mark shared Devotions from the life of Jesus with an emphasis on how Jesus shows us God the Father in the New Testament, a reciprocal of the Old Testament Scripture that points to Jesus. Mark read from John 5:39: You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. John 12:44 also reveals God through Jesus. Some of the devotions focused on the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. Listen to Mark offer insights for living a godly life by seeking God through the study of and praying thru His Word.

Mark ended his Torah devotions lessons including a focus on Psalm 119: 97 "Oh how I love your law. It is my mediation all the day.” and asking the question - Why did God give the law? 1. Society needed it. 2. Express God in theology 3. Die under the weight of the law and see Jesus our Savior. Our God requires perfection. Listen to Mark teach how we are in need of a Savior as he expands on three final devotions from Deuteronomy.

Mark focused his class on the subject matter of his upcoming Torah devotional book. Mark’s devotional follows the plan many Jewish people use when reading the Torah. Psalms: looking to have our soul revived. The assurance of the psalms that the Law will make us wise. Inspired by God.

Mark wrapped up the church-wide Multiply study of Colossians by focusing on Colossians 4:2-3. How do you pray? Paul says to continue steadfastly. . . . Mark referred to the Greek, noting that “steadfastly" translated as "close at hand or ready or devote to.” Paul uses 2nd person, present imperative to show prayer is now. Be alert in your prayer and do so with thanksgiving. What do you pray for? How are your prayers directed? Listen to Mark teach us what Paul meant as to how we are to pray, and where we should be spiritually.

Mark finished Lesson 5 of the church-wide study of Colossians. His teachings of chapter 4 show us how to live and engage in the world then and now by making the most of our opportunities to live for Christ.

Brent continued with Lesson 4 in the Church Wide focus on Multiply. This week in Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul taught believers to seek the things above. Brent continues with encouragement for all believers to seek accountability, choose love, and to model Christ. Listen to Brent use Colossians 3 as a framework for our walk with Christ.

Mark continues with church-wide focus on a study of Colossians and asks three questions: 1) What satisfies your heart and mind? 2) Where do you source joy? 3) Where do you find life’s answers? The Apostle Paul desires the people to know that God redeemed all those who believed in the saving power of Jesus and the cross. Hear Mark share how falsehoods handcuff us and rob our joy. That we must look only to Jesus Christ who sets us free and how we can strengthen our relationship with Jesus…and watch the effects multiply!

Mark continued with session 2 in the church-wide Multiply study of Colossians. Today’s focus was Colossians 1:15-29. How should we study an epistle? Mark teaches four steps: 1. Read the entire epistle in one setting. 2. Make notes of ideas, issues or questions that come to mind. 3. Go back and study in sections. 4. Apply to life. Listen for additional tips to ‘dig’ deeper in your study. As an example, Mark went thru the process for a section in Colossians 1:15-23 and focused on study of image/representation/icon with multiple references to visible & invisible as well as dissecting the use of the term firstborn or prototokos in Greek concluding if we want to see God, see Jesus - the all sufficient Christ!

Mark begins a new series “Colossians” with an introduction anthropological perspective of the Colossians. Describing the lifestyle and the cultural issues leading up to the “occasion” letter addressing heresy. Serious bouts of false teachings threaten the Colossians church. Mark dives deeper giving us a detail perspective of Paul’s “occasion” letter to the Colossians. Paul’s letter is about correcting the false teaching circulating the Colossians. After Mark gives us insight into the issues the Colossians were facing he points out how Paul admonishing the Colossians with love.

1-7-18 Mark began the new year with some Torah Devotionals from the Old Testament books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. He showed how Psalm 96:1-2 and Psalm 119:97 show the love of the Hebrew people for the Torah or law. Mark shared devotions based on these passages: Genesis 1:1-2 May God fill and fill this Year; Genesis 7:24-8:1 God is an action God. Exodus 35:5, 21 Everything belongs to God; and Exodus 35:30-33 God has called you by name. Listen to Mark share why we should meditate daily on teachings from the Torah.

This is the second part of the Abraham story which includes the potential sacrificing of Isaac. Do you know the import of Isaac as the lamb to be placed on the altar and Jesus?

This video is about Abraham and is a part 1. This also continues the “Long and Winding Road” series.

This lesson continues the Long and Winding Road series and investigates the flood and Noah as a comparison to Judgement and Salvation.

Mark introduces the series with this first glimpse of Jesus in the Old Testament. Starting with Genesis, we get a look at the how the creation story, Adam and Eve, and Satan, point to the coming Messiah.

Mark Lanier interviewed Dr. Tremper Longman, one of the world’s authorities on the Old Testament, and honed in on questions about the Old Testament image of God as a “warrior God” who instructs Israel to slaughter large groups of people. This is an important dialogue as it is a challenging part of understanding God and His character. It seems at odds with the God we see in Jesus.

This week Mark taught the last lesson in the series: Paul, a Legal Case Study. Mark reviewed the several week study of how he would have prepared a case to defend the Apostle Paul. Today’s class focused on Paul’s motivation as his higher calling. He was progressive in his views of women, slaves, culture, and social status. His imprisonment provided an opportunity to proclaim the truth about Jesus to the high rulers of Rome. For Jesus, Paul willingly stepped into death’s gate. Listen to Mark explain the political turmoil in Rome during this time and the positions of key players.

Mark focused this week’s class on what motivated Paul. He had a higher calling to talk to high Roman rulers about Jesus as the Messiah. Paul spoke to the epicureans, who were materialists and believed truth came only from reasoning. They also claimed no afterlife. Happiness was life's goal, to be free from pain and fear. Paul also spoke to the stoics, who believed in one God without shape. Their philosophy was God doesn't care about us and is non emotional, and so their ideology was to avoid emotions. The epicurean and stoics believed the purpose of life was achieving happiness through moderate expectations. Listen to Mark teach about how Paul professed a higher calling than being happy

As an attorney when Mark Lanier takes on new clients he has to ask a question: “What do you want”? For most people the driving motivation is selfish intent. It could be for freedom, fame, or fortune… but this wasn't the case with Paul. Together, let’s discover Paul's true motivation.

Mark taught Round Two of why he’s writing devotions based on the Torah, the first five books of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). He began with a review from the previous week showing how the Tanakh is divided into three divisions. He then moved on to share devotions from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Listen to Mark teach from Genesis about Jacob’s journey to God beginning with the deception of his birthright, flight to safety, wrestling with God, and God giving him a new name of Israel. But God never tells Jacob His name. God is God, and that’s enough. Listen to Mark as he shares what God has stirred up in him while writing the Torah devotions.

Mark continued with “Paul, a Legal Case Study” as though he were representing the Apostle Paul. Mark focused on the historical context of Paul's case. During this time, Roman law stated that a defendant must be informed of the crimes he or she is being tried. In Acts 24:9, we read Tertullus charged Paul before the governor Felix of: stirring up riots around the world, being a ringleader of the Nazarenes, and trying to profane the temple. Listen as Mark references Josephus’ writings and explains the history and political climate surrounding how Felix became governor and how Tertullus used that knowledge in an attempt to persuade Felix that his claims about Paul were accurate.

Mark took a break from his series "Paul, a Legal Case Study," to discuss devotions from the Jewish Bible. TaNaKh is the Hebrew word for Old Testament. Each letter stand for a section of Scripture: Torah (the Law), Nevi’im (the Prophets), and Ketuvi (the Writings) Listen to Mark share a few devotionals planned for an upcoming book of devotions that will correspond to the yearly reading of the Torah.

Today Mark taught about the charges brought against the Apostle Paul. At the time of Paul, a Roman trial had a stage of clarifying and documenting the charges to be proven or disproven called - “the formula". In Acts 24, we see Paul was charged with three crimes: 1) stirring up riots, 2) being a ringleader of the Nazarene sect, and 3) trying to profane the temple. Listen to Mark focus and disprove the first of the three charges which allegedly happened on his third missionary trip where he spent considerable time in Ephesus ministering to the Jews and Greeks.

Learn what Paul’s message, as noted in Acts 17, meant to the Athenians, especially the Stoics and Epicureans. Although technologies may have changed over the years, ideas haven’t so much. Paul made three main points…1. God created the world, 2. God created man and man needs God, & 3. Man’s attempts to represent God with idols is foolishness. Paul goes on to quote from their own poets, being a master of communicating within the current context of his audience. Listen to Scott Riling share how God has given the ministry of reconciliation to all believers and be encouraged and confident in what you believe so you can share the truth with others person to person, as Paul did.

Mark introduced Rabbi Michael Vowell, a Messianic Jew, during today’s class. Michael gave his journey to Yeshua from a drug-dealing teen to an ultimate acceptance of Yeshua’s sacrifice for our sins. Michael shared insight and application from the Old Testament to the Christian perspective. Mark then continued sharing about the credibility of and authenticity of his line-up of witnesses (Ananias, Barnabas, John Mark & Peter) as he prepares to represent Paul in his upcoming trial.

Mark expands on how he'd have had Barnabas as a witness on Paul’s behalf. Barnabas knew first-hand that Synagogues were a place of learning, usually located near a body of water. Barnabas could share how Sabbath services functioned with Paul giving lectures proclaiming the good news to the Jews and those who feared God. Listen to how Mark would have Barnabas share the good and bad situations as noted in Acts 14, and how God equipped them to remain on mission, just as He does today in our lives.

Mark continues his discussion "In defense of Paul" Is Paul legit or lunatic? What changed him? What made the Damascus experience unique, and why was he willing to suffer for the Gospel? Listen to Mark’s insightful accounting of Paul’s behavior before and after he traded his old beliefs to follow Jesus, The Way, was a conclusion to his Jewish upbringing and training.

Mark focused this week’s study of Paul, a Legal Case Study, on what it meant to be a citizen of Tarsus and a Roman citizen. Tarsus, located in modern day Turkey, was a Roman naval base, a center of intellectual philosophy, as well as other attractions. Only the wealthy were able to pay for Tarsian citizenship and partake of the community leadership roles, which required wealth. In order for Paul to be a Roman citizen, his parents held the distinction. Social classes paid a vital part of the Roman life. Listen to Mark discuss more about Paul’s citizenships and how his experiences and status helped him spread the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Mark focused this week’s study of Paul, a Legal Case Study, on what it meant to be a citizen of Tarsus and a Roman citizen. Tarsus, located in modern day Turkey, was a Roman naval base, a center of intellectual philosophy, as well as other attractions. Only the wealthy were able to pay for Tarsian citizenship and partake of the community leadership roles, which required wealth. In order for Paul to be a Roman citizen, his parents held the distinction. Social classes paid a vital part of the Roman life. Listen to Mark discuss more about Paul’s citizenships and how his experiences and status helped him spread the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Paul: A legal case study Today's class researches Paul's beliefs by focusing on his mentor Gamaliel. (Acts 22:1-3.) Gamaliel’s less conservative interpretation of the Torah, Mishnah, and the Talmud impacted Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. Listen to Mark explain more of the influences in Paul’s life and the biblical implications of his probable membership in the Sanhedrin.

Mark begins his initial interview of Paul in this 2nd chapter of Paul: a legal case study where Mark is reviewing the life of Paul as a potential new client. In this first part of Mark's interview we obtain Paul’s background including origin of his names, appearance, and family history. We learn Paul/Saul was born a Roman citizen in Tarsus of Clicia. He was not an only child, multilingual, and as a Pharisee could trace his lineage back to the tribe of Benjamin. Listen to Mark talk more about Paul and what his role as a Pharisee meant.

Paul: a legal case study Do you know Paul? Mark began a new series about the Apostle Paul as if he were asked to represent Paul in a court of law. As a lawyer, Mark approaches the subject of Paul based on his own legal experience. In this introduction, listen to Mark discuss Jerusalem in 57 AD as Paul brought an offering into the temple for the poor.