Biblical Literacy Podcast

8-3-25 Biblical Literacy

Mark taught a unique class titled Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a Theology of Science / God's tools in human hands. Does artificial intelligence coincide with science and faith? Mark shares in three points:

1. A gift for flourishing

Man has a biblical charge to watch, keep, preserve, and be active.

God does not leave humanity helpless.

God shows us how to survive.

2. The proper relationship between faith and science

God’s word and God’s world show us how to exist.

Science doesn’t diminish faith, it magnifies it.

Science is God’s tool but can be used for good or evil.

3. Wisdom and Discernment in AI’s Power and Potential Danger

The call for biblical wisdom.

Use to enhance not hurt.

Points for home / Homework:

Embrace your role as God’ image bearer

Exercise faithful stewardship

Maintain wisdom and discernment

Listen to Mark provide the history/timeline of artificial intelligence. Theology of science came from God as noted in Genesis and throughout the Bible. AI is a gift of God which can be used to help us solve complex problems encompassing many facets including justice, mercy, truth, stewardship, or love. But it can also be used for evil so we must be wise in its use.

7-27-25 Biblical-Literacy

Dr. David Capes completed the summer series on Philippians with a study of

Chapter 4 and friendship. Our words can be positive or negative.

Chapter 4

1. Paul begins with terms of endearment.

2. Paul is calling the church together to help these women: my true yoke-

fellows.

3. Paul stresses the indicative and the imperative: what we believe indicates

how we behave.

4. Paul encourages rejoicing always. Joy has been a theme throughout the

letter.

5. Paul requests Christians use gentleness/reasonableness in all situations.

6. Paul asks us not to be anxious but pray with thanksgiving.

7. Paul suggests imitating him, not as a model of perfection but to point others

to Christ.

Points for home

 Rejoice in the Lord and praise His name.

 Be famous for our gentleness.

 Pray out our anxieties and don’t forget to thank God for the answers.

 Renew your mind by meditating on the true, the good, and the beautiful.

Listen to Dr. Capes share Paul’s love and concern for the church to be unified,

not just the two women who disagreed but also for the church as a whole

7-20-25 Biblical-Literacy

Pastor David Fleming taught from Philippians 3 - with the theme of Destination - Knowing Jesus. He shared 3 points:

Salvation is a gift - Ephesians 2:8-10

Beware of evil

Grace plus works is not grace

Is Jesus Enough? Did He do enough? Jesus paid it all.

Spiritual growth

Am I putting in the effort and energy?

Am I making progress?

Graduation

Eventually we reach graduation

Our citizenship is in heaven.

How would you like to meet Jesus in Heaven? Older? Better? Closer? More like Jesus?

Points for home

• Where are you now with the Lord?

• What area of your life could use some effort?

• Identify one action step to take today.

Listen to Dr. Fleming share that knowing Jesus is the ultimate of the Christian life and is worth letting go of everything. Religion, ritual, and routine are all works that do not equate to achieving God’s gift of grace.

7-13-25 Biblical-Literacy

Pastor David Fleming led in Part 3 of the summer series on Philippians with a focus on Chapter 2’s

call to Unity.

A call to Unity

1.Unity is not uniformity

2.Unity is more than the absence of open warfare

3.Unity is a common faith and interests and purpose

The Key to Unity... Humility

1.Lowliness of mind

2.Modest and accurate understanding of one’s own importance

3.Thinking of others first.

Examples of Humility

1.Jesus humbled Himself for us

2.Excellent example in Paul

3.Excellent example inTimothy

4.Excellent example in Epaphroditus

Points for Home

1.Unity, harmony ... not options

2.My humility is my responsibility

3.Test (push) the limits of humility

Listen to Pastor David teach that unity in the church requires a key called humility. He provides an

in-depth study of the meaning of humility according to Philippians. The essence of humility is Joy:

Jesus, Others, Yourself.

7-6-25 Bib-Lit

Pastor Brent Johnson continued with the summer series of Philippians. Week 2: “On Being a Good

Citizen” as found in Chapter 1.

Background

Date Written: AD 60-62

Location: Paul wrote the letter while in prison

Purpose: thanks and encouragement

Audience: Romans, Greeks, a few Jews, and slaves

Brent uses passport stamps to illustrate the lesson of Paul’s teachings.

Stamp 1 Prayer - Paul writes of prayer: instruction, response, and confidence in God’s active

involvement.

Stamp 2 Satisfaction - The Philippians are being used to accomplish God’s will. God is sovereign.

Stamp 3 Service - Be worthy of the Gospel, citizens of the kingdom of God, glorify God, and suffer

for Him.

Points for home:

Pray

Be satisfied with Jesus

Serve

Listen to Brent teach about the traits of a good citizen in God’s kingdom, what that meant to the

people of Phillipi, and what it means for us today.

6-29-25 Biblical-Literacy

Dr. David Capes provided an introduction in a summer study of Philippians: an Epistle of Friendship.

Paul’s relationship with the church: established on his 2nd missionary journey. First church in Europe.

Paul wrote the letter during Roman military custody

- Christian community supported him

- He was able to communicate outside of jail

- People were able to see him and tend to his needs

- Imprisoned a long time

Friendship Letter - a sharing of life together.

- Fellowship

- Equality

- Friends hold all things in common

- Friends have the same mind

- Sharing in trouble and sufferings and rejoicing

Points for home

- Friendship is central to the Gospel

- God will complete what he started

- Paul can teach us to pray

Listen to Dr. Capes present the background for Paul’s letter to the Philippians, written while incarcerated in a Roman prison. Dr. Capes breaks down Paul’s language of friendship to show the Joy of Christ.

6-29-25 Biblical-Literacy

Dr. David Capes provided an introduction in a summer study of Philippians: an Epistle of Friendship.

Paul’s relationship with the church: established on his 2nd missionary journey. First church in Europe.

Paul wrote the letter during Roman military custody

- Christian community supported him

- He was able to communicate outside of jail

- People were able to see him and tend to his needs

- Imprisoned a long time

Friendship Letter - a sharing of life together.

- Fellowship

- Equality

- Friends hold all things in common

- Friends have the same mind

- Sharing in trouble and sufferings and rejoicing

Points for home

- Friendship is central to the Gospel

- God will complete what he started

- Paul can teach us to pray

Listen to Dr. Capes present the background for Paul’s letter to the Philippians, written while incarcerated in a Roman prison. Dr. Capes breaks down Paul’s language of friendship to show the Joy of Christ.

6-22-25 Biblical-Literacy

Mark taught from Romans 4 with Paul’s passage on saved by grace, meaning of faith, and what that meant to the early Jew and Gentile believers in accordance to Abraham, who was considered righteous in God’s eyes and why.

The Covenant; justification by faith

Abraham lamented his lack of a son in Genesis 15. He had faith in God’s promise, which showed he was righteous. God requested Abraham to be circumcised. The Gospel was for all people who had faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Abraham was justified by faith before his circumcision—a sign or seal that something has been completed. In this instance, a covenant of righteousness that he had by faith when he was still uncircumcised.

The Law; justification by faith

The law didn’t come until 430 years later. Paul saw law and faith as mutually exclusive ways to God.

The role of the law is to bring wrath; transgression means we have done something that has been pointed out as sin. Grace was always plan A.

Grace; justification by faith

Grace is a gift from God that is unearned and undeserved. The resurrection of Jesus, justification by faith, is grace.

Points for home

1.  We are God’s plan A.

2.  Only the grace of God makes us right before God.

3.   Let us walk before the Lord in His mercy and grace.

Listen to Mark teach about the layout of Rome, and how it impacted Jews and Gentiles in their Christian faith. Be inspired by the behind the scenes of the early church’s culture and their faith journey, like ours, into an understanding of what it means to be saved by grace

6-15-25 Biblical-Literacy

Mark continued in Romans 4:1-9 with Paul’s focus on righteousness. Mark begins with Paul’s background, training, and the origin of the Pharisees. The sect was formed to ensure the preservation of the Jewish temple and religion.

Romans 4:1-9

Abraham was justified by faith apart from the law, so none get to boast. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Torah, but to help others understand it.

God does the impossible Justifies the ungodly. God did not forgive the ungodly but transferred the guilt to Jesus. We are forgiven when we believe in Jesus' resurrection.

Rejoicing with King David

David speaks of the blessing of the one whom God counts as righteous.

Abraham was the father of all who believed, circumcised or uncircumcised.

Points for home

 The Bible speaks to our present age

 We worship a God who does the impossible

 We rightly rejoice

Listen to Mark explain why Paul should stun us all because of his grace, humility, and love of Christ.

He made a 180 degree turn from the traditional practices of the Pharisees to an apostle.

Mark interviewed a special guest during today’s class: Dr. W. Scott Sager, minister, professor,speaker,community leader,and author based in Nashville,TN.

Scott first shared some general background. He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas in a Christian family.His dad was a church song leader. He attended Abilene Christian University, studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, received his doctorate at Southern Methodist University, and currently teaches at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. He’s married with two children.

The Bible and teaching: Scott has a heart for campus ministry and previously worked as the Campus Minister at the University of Texas in Austin. He is currently preaching a year long series on di fferent characters of the Bible. Scott is an author, and his favorite hymn is “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

Listen to Mark dialogue with Scott about his growing up years through life today. Tune in to learnabout Scott‘s book and author recommendations. He has a fascinating analysis of Jacob in the Bible and what that means to us today.