Biblical Literacy Podcast

Mark continued the series on The Lesser-Known Bible Women by focusing on Zipporah, Moses’s wife, as found in Exodus 4:24-26. He unpacked the meaning behind her striking statement: “You are a bridegroom of blood.”

The Context

In Moses’s time, culture dictated every aspect of life. Mark began by revisiting the pivotal moment of the burning bush, where God called Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt.

The Story

Mark contrasted Moses’s two departures from Egypt. The first time, Moses left alone, desperate, and powerless. The second time, God had provided for every need, equipping Moses for the mission ahead.

Zipporah’s act of circumcising her son reflects the covenant of blood—a foreshadowing of Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice.

Points for Home

God is with you!

God is with you in power!

God is with you in covenant!

Listen as Mark delves into the murky waters of Moses’s life and culture, revealing how God made Himself known and displayed His immeasurable power. Don’t miss this insightful message!

In this first lesson of 2025, Mark continues the Lesser Known Women of the Bible series by exploring the intriguing reference to the “elect lady” in 2 John. 

Who is the lady? - A majority of scholars interpret the “elect lady” as a metaphor for the local church - the unified body of Christ chosen by God, living in truth and love.

Central Theme: truth in Christ - Mark traces the overarching biblical narrative of God dwelling with humanity: from Eden to the Tabernacle, the Temple, the Church as Christ’s body, and within each believer as His image-bearer. Truth is God’s authentic and revealed word, never hidden but always genuine. Love and truth both originate from God’s divine nature.

Modern Application or Take home points: 

The importance and power of community.

Reflect on the lengths God goes to dwell with us. Are we walking with Him?

Hold fast to truth and love in our daily lives.

Discover how we are part of the “elect lady” and explore God’s profound love and desire to dwell with us as we grow in His truth through His Word.

Mark taught the last class of 2024 which concluded the series of Lesser Known Women of the Bible using a passage in Luke 2 with a focus on 3 witnesses of Jesus’s birth.

-Witnesses of the Shepherds: Those who were of the lowest social standing, outcasts. Even the line of priests who raised lambs for the temple sacrifice were considered untrustworthy.

-Witness of Simeon: God promised that Simeon would not see death until he saw Jesus. Simeon was in the temple when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus for circumcision on the eighth day.

-Witness of Anna the Prophetess: An elderly widow from the tribe of Asher, one of the lost tribes of Israel. A rare prophetess dedicated to God and His purpose.

Take homes:

Marvel at God’s work

Wait with patience

Be a witness

Listen to Mark offer insight into the lives and background of unlikely witnesses to the baby Jesus and how God used them including a lesser known woman of the Bible to proclaim the Messiah’s birth.

Pastor Brent Johnson continued with the series, Lesser-Known Women of the Bible with a focus on Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist from Luke 1.

Brent taught three points:

1. Aaron: Zachariah and Elizabeth were from the Levite clan.

2. Baron: Although righteous, Elizabeth was advanced in age, and felt shame and inadequacy in that culture.

3. Errand: Elizabeth served God by greeting Mary, acknowledging Mary’s pregnancy, spoke of God‘s blessings and shared blessings for Mary.

Take home:

1. Assembly required for the Christian

2. Be a blessing to others

3. God is at work

4. No excuses

Listen to Brent teach about Elizabeth’s difficult struggle with barrenness. Also listen to Holly Johnson speak about her personal experience with infertility and her faith journey. God sometimes works through impossible situations to accomplish His purposes.

Mark continued the series Lesser-Known Women of the Bible with a focus on Shiphrah and Puah, two of God’s unlikely heroes.

The Crisis: Egypt enslaved the Israelites when their increasingly large population became a threat. Pharaoh ordered the midwives to kill all newborn male babies.  The Courage: Midwives Shiphra and Puah faced the choice of living or killing the babies. They chose life and feared God.

The Blessings: God gave the midwives families.

Point for home: God often works through the smallest things to accomplish His purposes. Listen to Mark teach the new era of Egypt in which the Pharaoh did not know Joseph or care about the Israelites. Humanity tends to establish their own plans against God’s will. This results in deliberate rejection not just lack of knowledge. Shiphrah and Puah are the first historical instance of civil disobedience.

Mark continued the series Lesser-Known Women of the Bible with a focus on Shiphrah and Puah, two of God’s unlikely heroes.

The Crisis: Egypt enslaved the Israelites when their increasingly large population became a threat. Pharaoh ordered the midwives to kill all newborn male babies.  The Courage: Midwives Shiphra and Puah faced the choice of living or killing the babies. They chose life and feared God.

The Blessings: God gave the midwives families.

Point for home: God often works through the smallest things to accomplish His purposes. Listen to Mark teach the new era of Egypt in which the Pharaoh did not know Joseph or care about the Israelites. Humanity tends to establish their own plans against God’s will. This results in deliberate rejection not just lack of knowledge. Shiphrah and Puah are the first historical instance of civil disobedience.

11-24-24 Biblical-Literacy

Pastor David Fleming continued in the series of Lesser Known Women of the Bible with a focus on Vashti from Esther Chapter 1.

Dr. Fleming’s roadmap for the lesson included:

1. Context: King Xerxses held a massive feast for seven days to show his wealth and power.

Queen Vashti and ladies left, but other women joined the king and his guests.

2. Vashti’s story: The king ordered Vashti to attend

on day seven in a degrading fashion. She refused and the king responded by removing her as queen. We don’t know if she was killed.

She had dignity, self-respect, respect of others, and a place in history.

3. Points for Home / Application:

 Identity core convictions

 Find the courage to stand

 Be confident in God’s plan

Listen to Pastor David provide the background to the culture and insight to the deprivation of King Xerses, Vashti’s refusal, and why the book of Esther begins with Vashti. Pastor David challenges us to know who we are in Christ. It is not about us.

11-17-24 Biblical-Literacy

Mark Continued in the Lesser-Known Women of the Bible series with a snapshot of the

daughters of Zelophehad, five sisters from the tribe of Manasseh who changed the law. The

story is from Numbers 26 and 27.

1. The story: Zelophehad had no sons, and his daughters ask Moses for their father’s land.

The Lord agrees.

2. The context. A person’s name in the OT days was an identifier, character and actions,

continuity of being or existence, community memory/placement, and spiritual: place in

God’s covenant. Land: theological significance. God’s fulfillment of Abrahamic promise, a

divine inheritance. The land ties the people to God. Economic reality.

3. The application. Points for home: 1) Reflect the name of Jesus. Our name is more than an

identifier, It is our character and actions should reflect Jesus. 2) Our inheritance isn’t land

but in the saints and riches in Christ.

Listen to Mark teach the courage and boldness of the five daughters of Zelophehad, the

significance of names, the meaning of land, and the archeological proof of the

sisters’ existence and impact.

11-10-24 Biblical-Literacy

Mark continued in the series Lesser-Known Women of the Bible. Today’s

woman was a "wise woman” from 2 Samuel 20, who helped save her city by

turning over Sheba to Joab and his army.

The storyline: Sheba was a worthless man who encouraged the northern

tribes of Israel to rebel against King David. Worthless in those days meant not

living for God, did not know God, and didn’t use what he had to honor God.

The woman termed wise was shrewd, crafty, and cunning.

The contrast: Worthless leads to death, and wise leads to life.

Points for home included these three passages:

Prov 10:8

Prov 12:18

Prov 14:16

Listen to Mark teach on the culture and setting of this lesson’s time. The

nation under King David was a loose confederation of twelve tribes, not

united. Mark's explanation of worthless and wise show us a better

understanding of the people then and how we should live today.

Pastor David Fleming taught Lesser Known Women of the Bible with focus on Lydia from Acts 16 during Paul’s second missionary trip.

Pastor David share three areas of focus:

1. Story before the story: Paul was called from a dream to Macedonia. In Philippi, which had no synagogue, he and Silas gathered to pray outside the city gates by a body of water in prayer house. Paul found only women and met Lydia, who was a God worshipper.

2. Story of conversion: God opened Lydia’s heart to pay attention, and she became a believer.

3. Story still being written: Lydia was baptized along with her household. She invited Paul and Silas to stay with her. They encouraged Lydia and all the new followers before leaving.

Points for home:

Lydia’s story should challenge us.

Lydia’s story should inspire us.

Lydia’s story should encourage us.

Listen to Pastor David provide insights into the culture and tradition of the time regarding women, and what it means for Lydia to be the first convert in Europe. Jesus radically transformed the role of women, and Paul followed in His footsteps. Women were vital in growing the first century church.