In this in-depth Bible study on Romans 8:28, Mark looks closely at one of the most quoted — and most misunderstood — verses in Scripture: “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

But what does “all things work together for good” actually mean? Is it just Christian optimism? Fatalism? Or something far more profound?

Mark starts with the critical context of Romans 8:26–27, where Paul describes the Holy Spirit interceding for us with “groanings too deep for words” — using the Greek compound word sunantilambano συναντιλαμβάνομαι (to lift together, face to face). That “with” (sun-) framework shapes everything about how we understand verse 28.

Then Mark dives deep into the original Greek of verse 28 itself, exploring a fascinating textual question: Who is the subject of the sentence — “all things” or God? We examine some of the oldest manuscripts in existence — Papyrus 46 (possibly 80–200 AD), Codex Vaticanus (~350 AD), and Codex Alexandrinus (~450 AD) — all of which explicitly name God as the one working all things together for good.

Key takeaways:

We are not passive bystanders — we are called to pray and act with the Spirit

The post Session 32 – Romans; Romans 8:28: Mark Lanier, 05/17/26 appeared first on Biblical Literacy.

When words fail — standing at a deathbed, facing an impossible decision, or crying out to God in confusion — what do you pray? In this lesson from Romans 8:26-27, Mark explores one of the most comforting truths in all of Scripture: the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with “groanings too deep for words.”

Using a vivid word study of the Greek verb sunantilambano (“to grasp together with, facing each other”), Mark reveals that prayer is not a solo act. Just as two people lift heavy furniture together — facing each other, bearing the load — the Holy Spirit lifts alongside us when we don’t know what to pray.

In this lesson:

A theology primer on the Holy Spirit — Who He is, what He does, and why we need Him

Whether you’re in a season of grief, confusion, or uncertainty, this teaching brings powerful reassurance: you are never praying alone.

The post Session 31 – Romans; Romans 8:26-27: Mark Lanier, 05/10/26 appeared first on Biblical Literacy.

Why did Jesus eagerly desire to celebrate the Passover with His disciples before He suffered? In this in-depth Bible class, Pastor Brent Johnson explores the profound connection between the original Passover in Egypt, the Last Supper, and the Lord’s Supper we celebrate today. Brent covers: God’s covenant with Abraham and the 400-year promise (Genesis 12 & 15) The 10 plagues and why all 10 had to happen The meaning behind the Seder meal – the unleavened bread, the lamb, the four cups How Jesus transformed 1,500 years of Passover symbolism into the new covenant Why the Lord’s Supper matters for every Christian today Brent concludes the class with a communion celebration and a reading of Psalm 118. Whether you’re new to studying the Jewish feasts or looking to go deeper, this lesson will help you see how the entire Old Testament points to Jesus – the spotless Lamb of God.

The post Special Event – Don’t Pass Over the Passover: Pastor Brent Johnson, 05/03/26 appeared first on Biblical Literacy.

Have you ever felt a deep, unexplainable longing — like something is just not yet right with the world or even with yourself? According to Romans 8, that groaning isn’t a sign that something is wrong with you. It’s actually a sign of the Holy Spirit working within you.

In this message, Dr. David Capes explores three powerful realities Paul lays out for believers:

We Groan — because the Spirit within us creates a longing for what is not yet fully here

We are living in the gap between what is and what will be — between our current broken bodies and the glorious, redeemed bodies God has promised. Like earnest money on a house, the Spirit is God’s down payment on a future that is absolutely guaranteed.

If you’re hurting, longing, or searching for something more — this message is for you.

Join us Sundays at 11:00am CST! Links below:

YouTube: / @biblicalliteracy

CFBC Website: https://www.championforest.org/worshi…

The post Session 30 – Romans; Romans 8 Continued; Dr. David Capes, 04/26/26 appeared first on Biblical Literacy.

What does it really take to understand the New Testament? Two of the world’s leading biblical scholars join Mark for a wide-ranging conversation that will deepen your faith and sharpen your reading of Scripture.

In this episode, Mark sits down with Dr. Ben Witherington III (Asbury Seminary) — America’s most prolific New Testament scholar — and Dr. Steve Walton, one of the world’s foremost experts on the Book of Acts. Together, they pull back the curtain on what New Testament scholarship actually involves, why the manuscripts matter, and how to read the Bible with greater understanding and confidence.

Topics covered:

How each scholar came to faith and found their calling

Whether you’re a lifelong Bible reader or just beginning to explore the New Testament, this conversation will leave you wanting to dig deeper.

Join us Sundays at 11:00am CST! Links below:

YouTube: / @biblicalliteracy

CFBC Website: https://www.championforest.org/worshi…

The post Special Event – Conversation with Dr. Ben Witherington and Dr. Steve Walton: Mark Lanier, 04/19/26 appeared first on Biblical Literacy.

In this lesson from Romans 8:18–22, Mark steps into one of Paul’s most powerful claims: that the sufferings of this present time are not even worth comparing to the glory that is on the way. This isn’t wishful thinking or emotional optimism—Paul says he has thought it through and reached a settled conclusion.

But the message goes even deeper.

This passage reminds us that salvation is not just about getting to heaven. God is doing something far bigger. All creation is groaning, waiting, and longing for restoration, and we are part of that story. The world is not falling apart—it is in labor, and something new is being born.

If we can reframe our struggles—not as meaningless decline, but as part of God’s unfolding redemption—it changes everything.

Mark explores:

This is a message about endurance, perspective, and the kind of hope that holds—even when life doesn’t make sense.

Join us Sundays at 11:00am CST! Links below:

YouTube: / @biblicalliteracy

CFBC Website: https://www.championforest.org/worshi…

#Romans8 #BibleStudy #BiblicalLiteracy #ChristianTeaching #SpiritualGrowth

The post Session 29 – Romans; Romans 8:18-22: Mark Lanier, 04/12/26 appeared first on Biblical Literacy.

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

Spiritual growth

Graduation

Points for home

Listen to David 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.

Join us Sundays at 9:30am CST!

The post Session 4 – Philippians; Destination – Knowing Jesus: David Fleming, 07/20/25 Test appeared first on Biblical Literacy.

In this rich and deeply encouraging lesson from Romans 8, Mark Lanier unpacks Paul’s use of Roman adoption law to reveal the believer’s identity in Christ. Drawing on the legal world of the Roman Empire, he explains how adoption meant far more than sentiment—it meant cancelled debts, a completely new identity, and full inheritance rights. Against that backdrop, Paul’s words come alive: believers are no longer bound to the flesh, no longer defined by fear, and no longer called to live by self-reliance. Instead, we are welcomed into the family of God as full heirs, led by the Spirit and able to cry out, “Abba, Father.”

This lesson also offers a needed reminder for everyday Christian life: the walk of faith is not about trying harder in our own strength, but about yielding to the Spirit of God. Mark shows how Romans 8 speaks directly to fear, suffering, identity, and assurance, reminding us that even hardship is not outside the Christian story. As co-heirs with Christ, we are invited to trust that suffering is not the end of the road, but often part of the path to glory. This is a timely, practical, and deeply theological message about what it means to live not as spiritual slaves, but as beloved children of God.

The post Session 28 – Romans; Romans 8 Continued: Mark Lanier, 03/29/26 appeared first on Biblical Literacy.

In this lesson from Romans 8, we step into one of the most powerful truths in Scripture: the verdict has already been given. In Christ, there is no condemnation—no penalty, no second trial, no new evidence that can overturn what God has declared.

Using the courtroom language Paul draws on, Mark explores what it means to live not “in the flesh,” but “in the Spirit”—not self-reliant, but God-dependent. This is not something we are trying to become; it is our present reality. The Spirit of God has made His home in us, and the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives within us.

This changes everything. It reshapes our identity, our decisions, and the way we face daily life. The call is simple but profound: know whose you are, follow the Spirit, and stop living in what no longer defines you.

The post Session 27 – Romans; Romans 8:9-13: Mark Lanier, 03/22/26 appeared first on Biblical Literacy.

In a culture that treats waiting as failure, Scripture tells a very different story.

In this lesson, Mark explores A Theology of Waiting—a biblical exploration of what it means to wait, why God uses waiting, and how it shapes us. Drawing from the sweeping narrative of Scripture—from Abraham and Sarah to Israel, from Simeon and Anna to the Church today—we see that waiting is not an interruption to God’s work, but often the very place where His work is most profound.

Mark also investigates the rich vocabulary of waiting in the Bible—words that describe tension, expectancy, stillness, and eager anticipation—revealing that not all waiting is the same, but all of it can be meaningful.

If you are in a season of waiting—whether for clarity, healing, direction, or resolution—this message reframes that space. Waiting is not wasted time. It is working time.

God is not just rewarding your waiting.He is working through it—within you and around you.

The post Special Event – A Theology of Waiting: Mark Lanier, 03/15/26 appeared first on Biblical Literacy.