Biblical Literacy Podcast

Note: Last week's lesson from Feb 26 was not published due to technical difficulties. It was addressed in this week's lesson.

Summary: Mark Lanier continued the study of the Minor Prophets with Nahum. An oracle to Nineveh in the Assyrian Empire. Mark reviewed:

What in the world was going on? The reign of Ashurbanipal - 668-627 BC called himself the King of the World, the King of the Underworld. He had military might, great cities, postal system, and Eunuch’s as governors. God prophesied thru Nahum his kingdom would be destroyed.

How did Nahum plug in? He prophesied the destruction of Nineveh. God considered Ashurbanipal vile, contemptible, and a lightweight. Nahum quotes Isaiah in 1:15

Points for home

- History is developed one day at a time. Keep the faith.

- God doesn’t tolerate evil. Let’s seek God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.

Listen to Mark teach us how to keep the faith, trust and obey, and be authentic followers of God.

Mark hosted a special guest during today’s class - Dr. Havila Dharamraj from India. Dr. Dharamraj is from Bengaluru, India, and a third-generation Christian. She is currently Head of the Department of Biblical Studies at South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies in Bangalore, India.

Her country has four basic religions: Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christianity. Christianity dates back to the first century in India. Havila became a Christian at age twelve and was baptized at age eighteen. She received her Master’s in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Old Testament. In partnership with Langham, Dr. Dharamraj speaks and teaches all over the world, sharing her expertise in Old Testament translations to grow the global church in their faith. She encouraged the class to listen to the Holy Spirit and pray for discernment.

Listen to Mark and Dr. Dharamraj discuss the insight and wisdom of the Scriptures.

Mark continued the Study of the Minor Prophets with the book of Micah. He characterized Micah as a concept book focusing on three aspects:

1. Authenticity: Good and evil lead to different places. Micah is authentic to this reality. 

2. Justice:  Justice is more than a courtroom. Justice is part of God’s character. Micah understood good and evil and how it applied to life. Consistency is key.

3. Promise: God is on the other side of every door. Jesus is the promised one.

Listen to Mark explain that we have nothing to fear with God on our side. God will bring purity and peace. His resume is perfect. We are people of the book and should understand authenticity and truth and how it applies to our lives today. Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

2-12-23 Biblical-Lit

Mark moved forward in the Study of Minor Prophets with the second lesson in Micah.

Todays lesson had 3 points

1. A story of bookends

Who is like Yahweh?

Nobody is like the Lord

2. The meat of the sandwich

God is the witness

Israel was warned, and God was not amused.

3. Points for home

Expect the unexpected. Is 55:8

Remember the bookends. God pardons iniquity

Listen to Mark teach how God pays attention to what we do, warns, disciplines, and restores His people.

2-5-23 Biblical LiteracyDr. David Capes continued in the Minor Prophets series by introducing Micah. Dr. Capes gave us the 30,000 foot view of Micah, including the history and setting. He continued with various oracles forSamaria showing judgment and the hope and promise of restoration in a world that recognizes God as God. Dr. Capes show how Micah warned the people of how God would destroy the people for their disobedience and violence.In the points for home, Dr. Capes emphasized that disobedience to God brings hardship, and obedience brings blessing. Divine judgment is not just a problem in the Old Testament, nor is divine restoration only in the New Testament. Thankfully we have the hope of a new world coming.

Mark completed the study of Hosea in the Study of the Minor Prophets series with a focus of

God going to trial with the Israelites.

Trials in Israel at the time needed two to three witnesses for a capital offense - ones punishable

by death. In Hosea, God takes Israel to court because Israel has broken covenant with God and

committed adultery.

Points for home:

Time out. God wants best for you.

God isn’t blind to what we do.

Don’t miss the interweaving of law and grace.

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 and relational goodness. She defines good as that which produces life and blessings, shalom, and peace. Good is life. Good used for selfish reasons is evil. Evil gets its power from diverted good.

Listen to Dr. Faro and Mark discuss the reality of good and evil. Choose God. Good always wins.

Join us Sundays at 9:30am CST! Links below:

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCfocCxLc8BFCta-NO4JkTcA?view_as=subscriber

CFBC Website: championforest.org/worship/watch/biblit.php

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 your garden?

Be touched by His tender love.

How intense is your faith in God?

Listen to Mark teach how God used the culture of the people in1-15-23 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 your garden?

Be touched by His tender love.

How intense is your faith in God?

Listen to Mark teach how God used the culture of the people in in Hosea to communicate His Word thru the prophet.

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 matter

- Points for home

1. Wherever you are in life, make God the center.

2. There's either the easy way or the hard way.

3. You reap what you sow.

Listen to Mark teach the value of metaphors in Hosea. People infused with the Holy Spirit can better understand the will of God.

Join us Sundays at 9:30am CST! Links below:

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCfocCxLc8BFCta-NO4JkTcA?view_as=subscriber

CFBC Website: championforest.org/worship/watch/biblit.php

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 know countries: Philippines and Uganda. He wrapped up by sharing some points for home from a new devotional: Jesus for Living: The daily prayers, wisdom, and guidance follow the church calendar.

God has prepared all people to help them see the Gospel. Listen to Mark teach how Christmas is celebrated around the world and listen to a few carols from different countries sung in their heart language.