Baptist on the Bible

Do you pray for your country? In this devotion, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Psalm 85:4-7. These verses express a patriotic prayer for one's nation. God can relent in His anger. God can give grace. Do you ask Him to do so? Pray for blessings, revival, and mercy. Pray for your leaders and teachers. Ask God if He wants you to serve in an appointed or elected position.

What does Christian perseverance look like? How do I persevere when persecution finally comes? Is there a secret to persevering in the faith? In this sermon, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at 1 Peter 5:6-14. Peter calls Christians to persevere through prayer. Our prayers should seek for peace within ourselves, our church, and our world. With a humble heart, we pray,  meek in His might,...

Can a Christian be a patriot? Should a Christian be a patriot? In this devotion, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Psalm 85:1-3. This passage reflects the prayer of a patriot who recognizes God as his first allegiance. By keeping God in first place, Christians can maintain true patriotism for their nations, celebrating its virtues and grieving, even rebuking, its vices.

Are you ready for the test? Do you have courage in your convictions? Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 3:13-18. This passage recounts Nebuchadnezzar's confrontation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The king offers the exiles a final chance to worship his image. Their response is among the greatest answers given in the Bible. "Our God . . . is able to deliver us from the burning fi...

How can I lead well? It starts with humility. Why should I listen to those in authority? Christ commands it. In this sermon, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at 1 Peter 5:1-5. In these verses, Peter urges those in charge of others to be lowly leaders. In humility, we will lead those under our care with the right motives, anticipating the return of our Chief Leader, Jesus Christ. Jesus remains...

Old Testament-Christ-New Testament: Divorce and Remarriage (Part 3). Does abandonment or abuse constitute grounds for divorce? In this episode, Dr. Andrew Marquez and Dr. Ben Pate look at 1 Corinthians 7:8-16 to explore Paul's guidance for the church. 

How is your conduct? Will it withstand accusation? In this devotion, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 3:8-12. These verses tell of the charges brought against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, for not bowing to Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue. The charges accuse the exiles for refusing to obey the king. The accusers mischaracterize the exiles as being unloyal and disrespectful. The Bi...

What happens when Christians are faithful through persecution? In this sermon, Pastor Andrew Marquez preaches through Daniel 6:18-28. Daniel was faithful even when facing the lion's den. This resulted in Darius' hope being realized; Daniel's enemies being neutralized; God being glorified; and the prophet was lionized. Does your life testify to your trust in God? Do you consider what God might do t...

Are you Alert? Are you prepared? The devil is looking for an opportunity. In this devotion, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 3:1-7. This passage reveals the work of Nebuchadnezzar to counteract the dream of chapter 2. By building a statue of solid gold, Nebuchadnezzar rejects the vision of subsequent empires. By mandating worship to this statue, Nebuchadnezzar petitions his gods to...

What sustains a believer in suffering? In this sermon, Pastor Andrew Marquez preaches through 1 Peter 4:7-19. Peter reminds us that suffering is part of the Christian life. God uses suffering to conform believers to His will. Peter encourages believers to remain faithful in suffering by serving others and by fixing our eyes on the glory to come.

Old Testament-Christ-New Testament: Divorce and Remarriage (Part 2). What is marriage? The Bible views marriage as a sacred covenant between a man and a women that reveals mysteries of God. The revelatory nature of marriage informs the beauty in the Trinity. Divorce mars our view of the Godhead. Godly marriage allows husbands and wives to experience God in a profound ways.

A reward is in store for the faithful. In this episode, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 2:46-49. These verses finish the story of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue. After hearing Daniel's interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar rewards the prophet. Daniel's God is worshipped. Daniel is promoted and his friends are elevated. God will reward his people. Continue in obedience, endure faithf...

Is God in control? Do you believe it? In this episode, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 2:36-45. These verses reveal the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Babylon will be followed by lesser empires prior to the arrival of God's eternal kingdom. All earthly power is temporary. Worldly dominion is granted by God. While terrible people may come to power and persecute and disper...

Old Testament-Christ-New Testament: The Bible on Divorce (Part 1). What are the Biblical grounds for divorce? What does Jesus mean by "sexual immorality?" In this episode, Dr. Andrew Marquez and Dr. Ben Pate look at Matthew 5 and other Biblical texts to determine what Scripture says about divorce.

Do you hear God's Word? Have you ever heard from the Lord? In this episode, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 2:31-35. In these verses Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar the dream of the great statue. This scene reminds us of the importance of God's revelation. Nebuchadnezzar did everything in his power to hear from God. As a pagan king, his actions were extreme and even brutal. Despite thi...

Are you saved? Are you certain? Are you being sanctified? In this episode, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Philippians 1:6. This verse is one every Christian should memorize. It expresses Paul's confidence of the salvation and sanctification of believers within the Philippian church. Paul's confidence is grounded in His knowledge of Christ. Jesus begins the work of salvation and completes...

Have you heard the Good News? Have you shared it? In this episode, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 2:24-30. In these verses Daniel shares God's revelation with Nebuchadnezzar. His spoken word delays the destruction of the wise men and accelerates their deliverance. Daniel's message from God exposes the king's heard. Daniel gives all glory to God. Do we share the Good News with the...

Old Testament-Christ-New Testament: A Look at Laments. Can I grieve to God? How do the Biblical laments help the believer? In this episode, Dr. Andrew Marquez and Dr. Ben Pate invite Psalms researcher Dr. James Jordan to discuss the role of laments in the Christian life. Laments instruct believers on how and where to direct grief.    https://trainingleadersinternational.org/ https://www....

How do you as a Christian handle suffering? Do you see suffering as purposeful? In this sermon, Pastor Andrew Marquez preaches through 1 Peter 4:1-6. Peter reminds us that suffering is part of the Christian life. God actually uses suffering to bring us into His will. In the midst of suffering, Christians must be armed for affliction, cease from sin, rattler our revilers by good conduct, and vindic...

Are you prepared for persecution? In this sermon, Pastor Andrew Marquez preaches through 1 Peter 3:13-22. Peter encourages Christians to point to Christ in the midst of persecution. We will determine to do right despite what people my say. Believers plan to proclaim to questioners. Christians are sustained by remembering Christ's victory. 

Where do you turn in times of trouble? What do you do when God comes through? In this episode, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 2:17-23. These verses disclose Daniel's prayer meeting with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Threatened by death if he cannot tell the king his dream, Daniel gathers his friends to pray. Through prayer God reveals the dream to Daniel. Immediately they turn f...

Old Testament-Christ-New Testament: Degrees of Sin. Are all sins equal? In this episode, Dr. Andrew Marquez and Dr. Ben Pate consider whether God views all sins as the same. While Christ's death is sufficient to cover every sin, the Bible speaks of certain sins that bring greater condemnation. The death of Christ reminds believers of the offense that every sin carries. Christians strive for holine...

How can Christians counter chaos? In this episode, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 2:4-16. These verses tell of the failure of the wise men of Babylon to tell Nebuchadnezzar his dream. Their failure results in a death sentence for all the wise men of the empire, including Daniel and his friends. Daniel speaks with courage and wisdom to bring hope to a hopeless situation. Do we walk...

How should Christians respond to a government opposed to the worship of God? In this sermon, Pastor Andrew Marquez preaches through Daniel 6:1-17. Daniel's loyalty and leadership earn him favor along with some enemies. These enemies try to entrap him my creating laws that forbid prayer to God. Daniel defies these laws by praying as he always had. As a result, Daniel is arrested and thrown to a den...

Does God have your attention? In this episode, Pastor/Professor Andrew Marquez looks at Daniel 2:1-3. These verses introduce Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue. Through a dream, God gets the king's attention. God reveals His sovereignty through a dream that causes panic. This panic leads to quest for clarification. Through all this activity, God creates an opportunity to speak to the empire thro...