Biblical Literacy with Mark Lanier

Mark interviewed Dr. Ingrid Faro, professor at Northern Seminary and the author of Encountering Evil. We learn that Dr. Faro wasn’t born in a Christian home. She found Jesus through Young Life and a Billy Graham Crusade. Through life experiences and multiple trials and sufferings, she learned God is good. Dr. Faro defines evil as the corruption of creational […] The post Special Event &#8211...

1-15-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the Minor Prophets Series with Part II of Hosea on metaphors. God uses all forms of communication, and metaphors link one idea to another. Use of agricultural related metaphors in Hosea show we reap what we sow. Some household metaphors reflect the tenderness of God. Points for home: What is sowing in […] The post Chapter 13, Old Testament Minor Pr...

Mark continued The Minor Prophets series with an initial look at the book of Hosea. The Bible and Prophets are about God using people and language to communicate to humanity. Today’s focus was with metaphors. Metaphors make us think. – Metaphors in Hosea applied to the people then with their culture and language. – Choices […] The post Chapter 12, Old Testament Minor Prophe...

Today Mark taught the final class for 2022 with a tour of Christmas Around the World. He shared results of his research of how different countries celebrate Christmas today and how historical traditions play a part. Mark selected a couple of better known countries: Germany and China and compared them with a couple of lessor […] The post Special Event – Christmas Around the World: Mark...

In today’s lesson, Mark took a journey of Christmas through the Ages. He grouped how Christmas was celebrated, or not, during three periods of time following Jesus’ birth. 1. Roman. There’s no record the first church celebrated the birth of Christ. But does that make it wrong? Consider Jewish feasts not in the Old Testament. The post Special Event – Merry Christmas – Christmas Through...

Pastor David Fleming continued the study in the Minor Prophets with Amos 5 & 6. His lesson contained three points: 1. What time is it? A time of peace and prosperity for Israel, but lamentations are coming. Time for God to stop the party. God is continually working out His plan and purpose. 2. What […] The post Chapter 11 – Old Testament Minor Prophets, Amos (pt 5) appeared first o...

Mark was interviewed by Brent Johnson. Mark identified several folks in the audience that would be more interesting to interview than him, but the focus was on Mark this day. Brent began by asking Mark: Some fun questions like; Wild Socks, Where and Why, Quarks, What and Why and Tennis matches planned soon. You will […] The post SE- Pastor Brent Johnson Interviews Mark Lanier appeared first...

11-20-22 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued the study of Amos in the Minor Prophets Series.today’s lesson focused on important passages in Amos. The Hebrew biblical language has only 6,000 to 7,000 words. Compare that with the average English speaking person who knows 20,000 to 30,000 words. The realm of meaning for a Hebrew word contains many similes and metaphors according […] The post Chapt...

Mark continued in the study of the Minor Prophets with the final lesson on Amos. Mark focused on passages in Amos that reflected when they were written and what we can learn from those passages today. God’s word is inerrant, meaning no error. His Word is written exactly as He intended. Mark explained that we […] The post Chapter 9 – Old Testament Minor Prophets, Amos (pt 3) appeared fi...

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. […] The post Chapter...

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 […] The post Chapter 7 – Old Testament Minor Prophets, Amos (pt 1) appea...

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 […] The post Chapter 6 – Old Testament Minor Prophets, 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. The post SE- Senior Pastor Jarrett Stephens and Davi...

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 […] The post Chapter 5 – Old Testament Minor Prophets, Jonah (pt 3) appea...

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 […] The post Chapter 4...

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 post Chapter 3 – Old Testament Minor Prop...

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 […] The post Chapter 2 – Old Testament Minor Pr...

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 […] The post Chapter 1 – Old Testament Minor Prophets,...

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 […] The post Chapter 29 – Snapshots of Jesus as seen through the Gospels; Final: app...

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 […] The post Chapter 28- Snapshots of Jesus as seen through the Gospels,...

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: […] The post Chapter 27- Snapshots of Jesus as seen through the Gospels, Gospel...

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 […] The post Chapter 26 – Snapshots of Jesus...

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 […] The post Chapter 25 – Snapshots of Jesus as seen through t...

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. […] The post Chapter 24 – Snapshots of Jesus as seen through the Gospels...