Biblical Literacy Podcast

Mark interviewed Sharon Dirckx, PhD in Brain Imaging, University of Cambridge, speaker, author, and adjunct lecturer at The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Mark first posed questions to Dr. Dirckx regarding her personal and professional background. She became a Christian while attention Bristol University. Dr. Dirckx shared her testimony and how her studies of brain activity and a doctora...

Mark Lanier continued with the study of The Minor Prophets - Part II of Amos. Mark shared extensive historical context and background. Amos was from Judah in the eighth century. His occupation was a breeder of cattle/sheep, a traveling consultant and dresser of figs. Mark also identified passages in Amos which speak of God’s judgment on Israel the northern kingdom. Finally in Points for Home: 1) Y...

Dr. David Capes taught today in the continuing study of the Minor Prophets with an introduction to Amos. The prophet Amos was a shepherd and a man of means in the 8th century BC. He prophesied the future of the northern kingdom Israel by speaking to the people what God revealed. He spoke of judgment coming against Israel and other neighboring countries and why. Although Amos’ words highlighted doo...

10-16-22 Biblical-Literacy Mark returned to teaching on the minor prophets with the study of Obadiah. Listen to Mark explore Obadiah with insights into Israel’s culture at the time as he reveals powerful truths from the one chapter book: God is the present tense. He not a territorial God. God is 100 percent reliable. We enjoy a musical treat from Phil Keaggy based on Mark’s lyrics concerning Obadi...

During this class Pastor David Fleming and Pastor Jarrett Stephens interviewed Mark Lanier. Questions and discussion evolved around Mark’s spiritual and personal life. Listen to Mark respond to habits, family, personal tastes, what he does for fun, his method of writing, his many projects and nonfiction books that express his passion for Christ.

10-2-22 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued with the study of the Minor Prophets and week 3 of Jonah. Mark showed us in today’s lesson that characters drive a good story. In the 47 verses of Jonah, we not only see Jonah in action but the sailors, the Ninevites, and Jesus. Sailors: each cried out to their own god for deliverance from the storm. Ninevites: they were receptive due to the Holy Spirit’s c...

Mark continued with the study of the Minor Prophets: Part II of Jonah. Mark shares examples how “stories” have always been an important means of communication. In this lesson we learn what the story of Jonah says— Of God: God speaks! God cares about all people. God plans. God saves. Of Jonah: Disobedient. Uncaring. Out of sync with God. Miserable. Of me: Importance of growing. What are my prioriti...

Mark continued his series on the minor prophets with study of Jonah. Mark provided critical insight into Jonah’s life and the historical context. Jonah’s job was a prophet counselor to King Jeroboam II c793 BC before God directed him to Nineveh and call the people to repentance. Instead, of obeying God’s new job, Jonah flees via boat in the opposite direction to Tarshish. Mark taught that we are t...

Mark continued teaching the series on Minor Prophets with Joel - Part II. He divided the lesson into three parts. Before the hinge: Joel 1:1-2-11 Joel is one of God’s speakers for His message. The hinge: Joel 2-12-17 Return to Me wholeheartedly, repent, and rend your heart. After the hinge: Joel 2:19-27 God’s blessings for repentant people. God's spirit will fall on believers. Pentecost: Acts 2:16...

Mark started a new series on The Minor Prophets beginning with the prophet Joel. Good indications suggest Joel is the earliest of the minor prophets. Historical context: Joel was likely written in 8th B.C. after Israel was divided. Biblical context: The Jews were entrusted the Word of God. The prophets are God’s speakers. We learn that Joel means Jehovah is God. God has a message for us. Listen to...

Pastor Brent Johnson taught the final lesson of Snapshots of Jesus. He posed the question: How should we take action from what we’ve learned from Snapshots of Jesus? Pastor Brent encouraged us to live the Christian life as Jesus modeled during his short time on earth. We are to hear the Word of God and do it by taking action. Pastor Brent shares through scripture how we each have a responsibility...

Dr. David Fleming was the guest lecturer continuing with the Snapshots of Jesus series. Dr. Fleming’s focus was the three “lost” parables from the Gospel of Luke and how Jesus’ was making an overall single point from the three stories. Dr. Fleming used three questions to teach from the parables: 1. What did the parable mean then to them? 2. How does the parable fit in the context? 3. What is the p...

Dr. David Capes guest taught a lesson in Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. Dr. Capes addressed the question of eschatology. 1. What is eschatology? Derived from two Greek words that mean final things. A branch of theology that deals with end times. It has individual and cosmic meanings. 2. A review of: Luke 11:20; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 19:11, and Luke 17:34-37 3. Conclusions drawn: this wo...

Guest teacher Pastor Jarrett Stephens taught Snapshots of Jesus today from Luke 9 - The Transfiguration. The Transfiguration: God is revealing the glory of His Son Jesus to us who is 100 Percent God and 100 percent man. Pastor Jarrett compares this mountain top experience to other mountain top experiences described in scripture. 1. The Transfiguration takes place following a time of prayer 2. Only...

Mark continued his teachings on Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of John 4 that features the woman of Samaria. After reviewing the story, Mark offered insights into the passage including: Jesus didn’t have to pass through Samaria; He chose to be on mission for God. Jesus offered living water which is fresh. Jesus revealed He was the Christ. Listen to Mark teach the meaning of living/running wate...

Mark continued the series Snapshots of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. Mark teaches God’s great concern for the outsiders by using parables to teach His principles. 1. What are parables? A narrative or story that is told to convey an underlying message. During the time of Jesus, parables were used as a teaching tool. 2. Parables only in Luke. --The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37 --The Parable of the Ri...

Mark continued Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. This week he continued with Part II of how Jesus interacted with women. Listen to Mark expound on the passages in Luke that shows how Jesus valued women and all outsiders. God is about making life better. God is setting about reversing the world. 1. Look at Women’s passages Luke 10:38-42 Mary and Martha. Luke 11:27-28 a woman blesses Jesus...

Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. Mark taught today’s lesson about some of the women Luke records in His Gospel as cultural outsiders who became insiders. 1. Mark referenced several women passages and then focused on a first story where Jesus raises a widow’s son from the dead. 1) The Lord had compassion on the widow. 2) He said "Do not weep". 3) He touches the plank holding the dead man...

Dr. David Capes taught Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. This week, his focus was from Luke 10 with the lawyer’s question to Jesus: What is the goal of life? He expanded on: 1. Some possible answers to that question: 1) meaningless, 2) get all you can, and/or life, 3) liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 2. Famous story: a lawyer asked Jesus what should he do to inherit eternal life? Je...

6-26-22 Biblical Literacy Mark continued sharing Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. This week’s theme focused on U-turns. Luke shows how the world is off course, but God is reversing the world. Good news: Elizabeth becomes pregnant in her old age with John the Baptist who will turn many of the children of Israel to God. Mary learns she is pregnant with Jesus who will sacrifice his life fo...

6-19-2022 Biblical Literacy Mark continued with Snapshots of Jesus transitioning to the Gospel of Luke. Mark explained Luke’s background, the author of Luke and Acts. Luke uses the pronoun “they” when the events were told to him, and “he” when he was not an eyewitness. Luke puts the sources by name into his accountings, showing his attention to detail. Luke, the physician and historian traveled wi...

Biblical Literacy - June 12, 2022 Scott Riley taught the Biblical Literacy class today on Snapshots of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. He had three areas of focus: 1) The kindness of God A supernatural reliance on the kindness of God. Love and do good—friends and enemies—without anything in return. Walk in the power of God with love and mercy. 2) The strength of God What is impossible with man is pos...

hey began by discussing the Queen’s Jubilee, a celebration of her 70 years on the throne. They also discussed Tom’s service as Lord Bishop of Durham and what those duties entailed within the Church of England. He also discussed his responsibilities as a member of the House of Lords. They further discuss the Queen of England’s Christian beliefs and their impact on her Reign as Queen and on her pers...

Synopsis Biblical Literacy Class Chapter 16 05/29/22 Mark continues the Snapshots of Jesus, as found in the Gospel of Matthew Today’s lesson focuses on interpreting and clarifying problem passages submitted by class members, Matthew 27: 51-53 Mt. 27:51 “ And behold , the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” He discussed the meaning of this and what the separation of the curt...

Synopsis Biblical Literacy Class Chapter 16 05/22/22 Mark continues the Snapshots of Jesus, as found in the Gospel of Matthew Today’s lesson focuses on what is in a ”Name”, and how to interpret the many “Names “ Jesus was called throughout the scriptures of Matthew. We had the privilege of having Dr. Simon Gathercole from Cambridge University and a translator of the NIV version of the Bible and Dr...