Back Porch Bible Studies

Some relationships come back slowly. Some come back differently than we hoped. And some we have to entrust to God completely.

In this final episode of The Way Back, we look at what biblical restoration really is, what it isn’t, and how God can restore what is broken in us even when a relationship can’t be fully repaired. Restoration isn’t about pretending the hurt never happened. It’s about walking forward with the God who makes all things new.

Whether you’re rebuilding trust, waiting on someone else’s heart to change, or learning to rest in God’s peace with what’s left undone, this episode is for you.

Thank you for walking The Way Back with us. Grab the student guide to go deeper, and visit the back porch for more studies to help you keep growing in God’s Word.

What happens after forgiveness? Is it possible to move forward when a relationship has been deeply broken?

In this third part of The Way Back: A Biblical Journey Through Broken Relationships, we turn from the wound to the relationship and explore what Scripture means by reconciliation.

Reconciliation isn't pretending nothing happened or picking up the relationship exactly where it left off. It begins with laying down hostility and choosing to live at peace when that is within our power. But reconciliation also requires wisdom. We can extend peace without pretending trust has been restored, and we can pursue what is right without forcing an outcome the other person isn't willing to pursue.

Scripture gives us glimpses of what it can look like to move from conflict toward peace—and reminds us that some parts of that journey take two people willing to move forward.

Join us on the back porch as we explore what it means to pursue peace, release our expectations, and trust God with what happens next.

What do we do with the wound when someone has hurt us—and what does forgiveness actually ask of us?

In this second part of The Way Back: A Biblical Journey Through Broken Relationships, we take an honest look at biblical forgiveness and what it means to release both the wound and the debt to God.

Forgiveness isn't pretending the hurt didn't happen. It isn't saying what happened was okay. And it isn't the same thing as rebuilding trust or restoring a relationship.

Forgiveness is first about the wound—allowing God to heal what has been damaged in us—and about releasing the offense to Him rather than carrying the burden of justice ourselves. Sometimes forgiveness is something we have to practice again and again, whenever the wound or the memory threatens to take its place in our hearts again.

But forgiveness doesn't require us to ignore wisdom, dismiss consequences, or restore trust where trust has not been rebuilt.

Join us on the back porch as we explore what Scripture says about forgiveness—and discover why forgiveness may be the beginning of healing, but it isn't necessarily the finish line.

Broken relationships can leave us wondering, How do we find our way back?

The Way Back: A Biblical Journey Through Broken Relationships begins with a truth we often overlook: before we can work through what has been broken between us, we need to understand the kind of love God calls us to give.

In this first episode, we look at agape—a love that isn't based on what someone deserves, how they respond, or whether the relationship gets restored. It is the kind of love that flows from knowing and loving the Father.

What does agape look like when the relationship is difficult? What happens when love costs us something? And how do we love without allowing fear, hurt, or someone else's choices to determine how we respond?

The way back begins here—not with fixing the other person or guaranteeing an outcome, but with learning to love from a heart that belongs to God.

Join us on the back porch as we begin The Way Back.

After months of studying 1 John together, we've reached the conclusion of John's first letter.

At first glance, his final words can seem like a collection of unrelated thoughts—water, blood, the Spirit, prayer, protection, and idols. But John isn't changing the subject. He's gathering together everything he's been teaching us from the very beginning.

In this final episode, we'll discover how every section points to one beautiful truth: when we abide in Christ, we can know.

This episode is a little longer than usual because it serves as the conclusion to our journey through 1 John. So pour yourself a cup of coffee, settle into your favorite chair—or your own back porch—and let's spend one last afternoon with the apostle John as he points us to the One he knew, loved, and wanted us to know as well.

If you belong to Christ, what actually happened to your sin? Did it disappear… or do you still have to fight it? In this Porch Light bonus episode, we explore why sin no longer rules the believer, how your identity changed at salvation, and what it means to live under a new Master. If you still struggle but wonder where you stand, this conversation will help you understand why sin may still tempt you — but it no longer owns you.

When someone hurts us, what does God actually require? Must we trust them again? Does forgiveness mean pretending it never happened? And what happens when reconciliation isn't possible?

In this Porch Light episode, we'll explore the biblical differences between forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration. We'll discover why forgiveness is always commanded, why reconciliation requires participation from both people, and why restoration must be rebuilt slowly through renewed trust.

If you've ever struggled with a broken relationship, this conversation will help you walk through it with both grace and truth.

What if loving someone well doesn't change them?

Jesus loved Judas perfectly, yet Judas still chose betrayal. That truth frees us from a burden many of us carry: the belief that if we just loved better, people would respond differently.

In this Under the Porch Light episode, we explore how mature agape shifts our focus from controlling outcomes to pleasing our heavenly Father. Discover why loving what God loves gives us the freedom to forgive, extend grace, and love lavishly—even when reconciliation and restoration have not yet come.

Because fearless love isn't the absence of pain. It's the freedom to love without fear.

How does loving others prove that I love God?

In 1 John 5:1–5, John ties together everything he's been teaching about assurance. Faith in Christ, love for God's people, joyful obedience, and overcoming the world are not separate spiritual achievements—they are the natural fruit of being born of God.

Join us as we discover why God's family resemblance reveals the reality of our faith and why those who belong to Christ can live as overcomers in a world full of competing voices.

What would your life look like if fear was no longer in control?

What if you truly believed you were fully known, fully forgiven, and fully loved by God?

In 1 John 4:17–21, John reveals that fear and love move in opposite directions—and that perfect love doesn’t just comfort fear… it casts it out.

Join us on the Back Porch as we discover how the agape love of God brings assurance, security, and freedom through Jesus Christ.