Lessons

A little over seven years ago at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, we launched a Sunday School class on "Biblical Literacy" with about 85 people in attendance. Over a three-year span, we worked hard to teach material, Genesis to Revelation, which would give someone a proficiency in knowing, understanding, and applying the basic lessons of Scripture.

As time went on, the lessons morphed in form, both written and oral. The class participants changed also, adding several hundred in attendance by the time the class concluded three years later. We then spent two years studying church history followed by almost two and a half years in the life and theology of Paul.

With that road behind us, we have taken sight on going back through the Bible, cover to cover, much like we did with Biblical Literacy. This time, however, we intend to take a slightly different tack. Before, we were intent on finding the "core material" that would give even a novice familiarity with the Bible. This time, the effort is targeted a bit deeper. Our goal is to present and study together material that would be appropriate for study of a survey-type class on a seminary level.

This does not mean that someone already has to have great knowledge in order to appreciate this study. We hope to present the material in a way where the novice can grow as well as the believer who has spent decades in study. In other words, we hope to have something for everyone.

We live in an age and society where we like to know who is responsible for what we are hearing or reading. It makes a difference to us. Authorship is important.

But, it was not always so. During the time of the Old Testament’s composition, the concerns over authorship were not present. They did not assess credibility the way we do. No doubt this is one reason why the authors are not always named in much of the Old Testament.

Join Mark Lanier as we set out various issues important to the authorship debate on Genesis. In the process, we must recognize both our goals and our limitations.

We started this two part lesson with questions of authorship and credibility. We end it with affirmations, not because we can conclusively assert that Moses wrote each and every word of the Pentateuch exactly how we now read them. The reason is that the ultimate source of Scripture is God.

God has worked through history and through many people to place his Holy Scriptures before people. We know through the recognition of Hebrew authority, the authority of Christ and the apostles, and the authority of the church, that we have Holy Scripture. With Scripture, we have revelation of God. Without it, we are lost with manmade ideas that bear little to no sense to truth.

Join us for an exciting new journey into Biblical Literacy.  Pastor David Fleming introduces us to a new series taught by Mark Lanier.

Pastor Fleming lays the groundwork for studying this wonderful new series by helping us understand that the Bible and it's entire content is THE WORD OF GOD.  It is available to us today and deserves to be read and studied and made a part of our everyday lives.

Come along for this exciting series and check back each week for the wonderful lessons to be learned in our Old Testament books of the Bible.

There are many wonderful books on the subject of Creation and Evolution, but the books in the Annotated Bibliography are the principle works read in preparation for this lesson. The comments are given in hopes it helps others determine which books, if any, might be worth additional study.

Please download the PDF file and browse through these resources for further study.

Things were good – really good. Man was living in a garden the LORD God planted in “Eden.” Man and woman were in God’s garden, a place of pleasure and delight. The joys of walking with God in the cool of the day, of tending the garden, of easy food and godly purpose, were the normative for both man and woman.

Temptation, however, entered the garden and their lives. What happened? How could something so good become something so bad?    Join Mark Lanier in this lesson of "Good Gone Bad."

What are the core meanings of the Creation story in Genesis?  In Part Four of "Geneiss: Creation and Evolution" Mark Lanier explores the suppositon that Scripture is God's revelation of his message to man.

Join us in our final lesson on creation and evolution as we explore three tenants.  1.  God is not a man, nor is he man’s invention.  2.  The world should never be viewed as God or confused with God.  3.  God chose to make you.  He made you for a reason.  God's purpose for you rotates around his relationship with you.

Methusaleh gave birth to his son Noah.  Noah built the ark God commanded him to build before the world was destroyed by the flood.  Methusaleh lived 969 years.  If you "do the math" you will discover that Methusaleh died the very year that the flood came.  Did Methusaleh die in the flood?  If so, why was he not on board the ark?

What a perplexing question!  Yet, this is by no means the only passage in Genesis that has perplexed scholars.  Mark Lanier explores some of these perplexing (and not so perplexing) issues that occur in the genealogies, floods, and towers of Genesis.

What evidence do we have of Abraham’s life outside of the biblical accounts? Not surprisingly, the answer is “None,” if we are seeking direct evidence. We have no birth certificate, marriage certificate or newspaper obituary. Such did not exist in his day. Interestingly, some scholars regard this lack of direct evidence as substantiation to their theory that Abraham was a fiction, not a real person. Yet, the absence of such information is not odd. Should such information ever be found, that would be the oddity.

Join Mark Lanier as we work through Abraham’s life, adding information and insight we get from various archaeological finds.  We begin our story in Genesis 11:27 and follow through until Genesis 25:11.

Going back into early civilization, when houses and even cities were razed, burned, or destroyed, they were not scraped off the ground for new construction. Instead, the new construction generally went on top of the old. Over time, this produced small hills for the cities and towns. When these towns were abandoned, those hills would accumulate dirt and eventually become solid hills that covered any history of ever existing as a community.

As we work through the archaeology of Abraham’s time period, we begin to consider certain materials found at various ancient digs. The limited nature of the digs necessarily limits the available material. Still, there is more than enough to enrich our understanding of Abraham, as well as to confirm our belief in the historical timeliness of the stories as told in Scripture.

Man seeks to create God in man's image.  We constantly hold God to our internal moral standards of right and wrong. Whatever we think is right, we expect of God. Whatever we think is wrong, we disassociate from God.

Join Mark Lanier as we look at the lessons of Joshua, and focus on the issue of God as warrior. In this two part series we examine the actions and instructions attributed to God which seem contrary to both our moral expectations of God and to the teachings of God in the New Testament (and other parts of the Old Testament) as a God of love, long-suffering and patient, seeking redemption rather than revenge.

Faith is like racquetball in some ways, and yet, it is very different in others. Like racquetball, faith is a personal matter; it is not a team sport. Each of us has our individual faith walk with the Lord. There are times where we are on our game, where our intimacy with the Father is warmly felt, and consciously confirmed. Then, other times we are “off.” The warmth is not so great, and doubts crowd the mind.

Unlike racquetball, faith is not easily measured with objective results. Some people are quick to openly discuss such things, as time and opportunity appear. But for most, there never is a full disclosure, no real ability to measure or appraise “where we are” versus where others are. Consider in this vein, the life of Jacob. We read of Jacob in over ten chapters of Genesis, yet to the extent we know the stories, we carry presuppositions that make it hard for us to fully understand who he was and what struggles he had in his life.

Join Mark Lanier in part one of "Jacob and Faith" as we better appreciate Jacob's life story in Scripture, his struggle with God, and the choices of life.  He had faith, yet he lived in ways and made choices that have made scholars uncomfortable for thousands of years. As we study and consider Jacob, it is instructive to understand not just his story, but also how that story compares to our lives.

Every story needs a protagonist (the hero), something the hero desperately wants (a quest), a danger faced by the hero, and a robust antagonist (the person we love to hate!). Do you know an antagonist?  Perhaps a neighbor across the street, a co-worker, or maybe even a boss?

In part two of our lesson on "Jacob and Faith," Steve Taylor teaches us Jacob was the perfect antagonist in the real life story revealed in Genesis 25-32. Only four verses into his biography, we see Jacob demonstrating a penchant for manipulating others – revealed by the story of his purchasing Esau’s birthright for a bowl of lentil stew!  Join Steve as we learn more about the antagonist, Jacob.

In 1997, an annual research seminar was conducted at the University College in London, England. The subject was: The Origin of Early Israel—Current Debate: Biblical, Historical and Archaeological Perspectives. The study reflected a sharp division among scholars over the genesis of the Jews as a people. This division still exists among academics that argue for and against the Abrahamic start of the Jews, the issues of the Egyptian background as provided in the Bible, how the Israelites came to inhabit Canaan (swift military conquest or nomadic infiltration?), and even whether King David existed.

Join Mark Lanier in his compelling response to the critics of the Scripture's account of the Jewish people and the Exodus.  We will explore the issue in two parts.  First, by carefully examining the qualifications and motives of the authors’ opinions. Second, by examining the opinions, carefully weighing their merit both against common sense and against the thoughts of other experts in the area.

Has your Christian walk experienced success AND failure?  Sometimes our walk can be wonderful, exciting, and aw-inspiring.  Sometimes, it can be miserable and difficult to endure.

The problem really is not what we go through, it is our perspective of the One overseeing the journey. Simply put, God often works outside the things we can see with our eyes, touch with our hands, or understand with our minds, and that makes us feel that He must not be aware of our situation. If only God would offer an explanation for it. If only we understood the reason. If only we knew why. If only.

Israel had a deliverer who experienced moments like these.  We know of him as Moses, the man who led the nation of Israel out of Egypt and met with God on Mt. Sinai.  Join Steve Taylor as we explore what made Moses the man of God that he became. And maybe more importantly, what, if anything, does Moses life mean for our own walk with God?

On the rugged steps of Mount Sinai, Helen, the mother of Constantine the Great, established an early Christian monastery. The building site was immediately adjacent to a bush that the local people believed to be the bush that “was burning, yet was not consumed” (Ex. 3:2).

The exodus story is replete with events that foreshadow the life of Christ, the walk of the believer, and the practice of the church. There are so many, we will narrow our focus somewhat in this lesson by Mark Lanier. We will dwell on some of the wonderful lessons for the church that are set within this historical story of Israel. As this lesson continues a story line of the Exodus carried forward in earlier lessons, we begin by taking the narrative past the night of the Passover.

A trip to the Cairo Museum feels like a visit to a movie set. You are transported immediately into an ancient world, where monuments, statues, and paintings stir up clear images of history from thousands and thousands of years ago. The most stunning and moving exhibit is the room of mummies.

There is one mummy worth seeing more than all the others: Ramesses II. Many scholars believe this was the man before whom Moses stood and demanded the release of God’s people from the bonds of slavery. Was Ramesses II the Pharaoh of the exodus? We cannot say with certainty.

We live in a numbers age. Many of us, have a driver’s license number, a social security number, a PIN number, numerical passwords, numbered bank accounts, credit card numbers, a house number, a zip code number, etc.,—more numbers than we can count!

If we go further back in history to ancient Israel, then we find still a different time numerically. The ancient Hebrew language had words for numbers, but they were much more limited than the Greeks or Romans. The Ancient Near Eastern societies were not built around numbers the way ours is today.

Mark Lanier reminds us we always need to be careful to seek first to understand Scripture within its own historical context and frame of reference, for God placed his revelation in historical interactions with his people. This care becomes especially relevant as we conclude our study of the Scriptural account of the exodus in relation to archaeological evidence.

Is it an easy question: What is the Law? If we narrow our question to the first five books of the Bible, can we simply say the law is where God instructed his people to do something? Do we think one part of the law is more important than another? Are the Ten Commandments some kind or level of “law” superior to another? How are the laws written? Are the most important ones given first? Do they march through some logical order, whether alphabetical or by subject matter?

Join Mark Lanier in our discussion the law as given to Moses, both in general as well as a few “problem laws” brought up by class members for discussion.

Have you heard any of the frequent news stories about some wonderful and devout person finding images of Mary or Christ in everthing from potato chips to pizza pans?!  While these may seem a bit far fetched to many, we need to be careful in judging too quickly lest we find ourselves guilty of the same thing, theologically.

Many wonderful, well-meaning people find pictures, images, and archetypes in Old Testament figures and stories as they relate to our New Testament theology.  This does not mean that these stories don't exist and we shouldn't be taught by them.  Instead it means we should proceed with caution!

Join Mark Lanier as we explore one such story, "The Tabernacle."  We will observe lessons and parallels given in New Testament Scripture and see several other apparent relationships that seem present, but may need to be carefully reconsidered.

Life is a journey.  It is a journey that can have wonderful things in store, even when difficulties arise.

Journey themes resonate because we recognize that all of us are at some stage in a journey we call our life. We may be at the start, the middle, or the end. The journey may be uphill or downhill. It may be a lonely journey or one with close company. We all understand the idea of a journey, however, and we can look at our own lives or the lives of others for inspiration, success stories, and warnings.

Join Mark Lanier in our three part study of "Lessons from the Journey."  We will consider some of the journey lessons of the Israelites as they journey from Egypt, through the wilderness, and finally into the Promised Land.  As we learn their stories, we can personalize lessons for our own individual journeys home to the Father.

Ah, the good old days!?  We all have stories of the good old days.  Some recount a time of simple bliss and joy.  Others recount a time of difficulty and hardship.  Often upon careful, truthful reflection we find that the good old days in reality aren't quite the way we remember them!

Join Mark Lanier in part two of "Lessons from the Journey" as we consider a few additional vignettes as part of our "journey musings" of the Israelites journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Are you familiar with Father Guido Sarducci's sketch from the 1970's where he offers his five-minute university degree?  He humorously taught us that there are a limited number of things we will remember five years after graduating from college.  So, why bother learning the entire subject, let's just learn what we will remember five years later.

As Mark Lanier continues in Part 2 of "Joshua and the Promised Land" we attempt to go just a little deeper than Father Guido Sarducci might recommend.  We hope to open a door to understanding the issues behind the archaeological record of Joshua and Jericho.  We will compare the archaeological findings to the data supplied in the Bible. This means exploring some of the more important finds, and discussing the interpretations of those finds. Rarely is a finding absolute in its import or meaning, and often a great deal of interpretation is involved, giving a range of possible understandings.

Join Mark as he suggests that the main use for archaeology is to put Biblical stories and passages into a cultural context so that they can better be understood. As our vision of the physical and cultural background to the Bible expands, so does our understanding of the Bible passages written within that background.

One of the more amazing Bible stories we learn as children is the battle of Jericho.  We even have a song to help us remember the event, "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho, Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down."

Why is ths story one of such foundational understanding in our youth?  It certainly makes for great story telling.  It underscores the hand of God on the people of Israel and their new leader Joshua.  But does the archaeological record support such a story?

Join Mark Lanier for Part 3 of "Joshua and the Promised Land" as we explore the opinions, archaeological record, and evidence of this Old Testament account of history.  Through it all we will discover that nothing in the archaeological record destroys or proves our faith.

Have you ever used the phrase, "Do Over!"?  Or played the game of golf and declared "Mulligan" after hitting a bad shot?  For God, we understand these concepts as "Grace."  A wonderful second chance to do what is right in the eyes of God.

Join Steve Taylor as we look at the lessons to be learned from Joshua as he leads the nation of Israel in their journey after the death of Moses.  A journey that should have taken one year had instead taken forty, all because of some terribly wrong choices. But instead of completely abandoning the Israelites, God gave them a second chance of sorts – a do-over, a mulligan. Here was their second chance to enter the land that God had promised them through Abraham and Moses, to see God work in ways that only God could work, and to be a testimony to the world of what a great God He is.

There is a Hebrew word, Hesed, that is difficult to translate into English.  However, there are many people who live their lives showing hesed to people around them.  When a couple gives their vows in marriage they often express the concept of hesed.  So, what is the meaning of this word, hesed, and how does it relate to my life?

Join Dale Hearn as we study the book of Ruth.  Through the story of Ruth we understand that hesed is a Hebrew word that describes the indescribable, that defines the un-definable. Put simply, hesed is the defining characteristic of God in the Old Testament. It is a key to opening the mysterious door to understanding who God really is.

Have you ever cried out, "Why God?!"  When we cry out, "Why God?" we do so from within our moment in history and eternity that we are living.  Jesus Christ taught us directly and by example that crying out to God is both appropriate and important.

Join Mark Lanier In Part 2 of "A Warrior God?" as we approach the problem of how does a God of love, a God who teaches love for enemies, a God who teaches some measure of personal pacifism, a God who says we will be known by the love we show – how does this same God command complete destruction and annihilation of the enemies of God?

Judge Roy Bean was, by his own proclamation, the “Law West of the Pecos.” History records some bizarre judgments issuing forth from Judge Bean and his courtroom (his saloon, the “Jersey Lilly”).

As bizarre as some of Judge Roy Bean's judgements might have been, we find an even more unusual association with judges found in the Old Testament.  In the Biblical book "Judges", we find stories so far removed from today's civilization that some are hard to understand.

Join Mark Lanier over the next three lessons as we study this book.  We will begin with a general overview, setting out the stories in a rhythm in which they appear. In the second and third parts of our study, we will focus on understanding issues of authorship and on the archaeology presented by the book.

In a courtroom, a lawyer must learn how to handle the facts.  The good facts, the bad facts, and the facts that have no bearing on his case.  So, how does a good attorney handle all of the facts of the case?  According to Mark Lanier, trial lawyer and lecturer, the best way to do this is to recognize all of the facts.  All of the facts make up the whole story.  Therefore all of the facts make up the truth!

This same principle applies to archaeology, specificaly, biblical archaeology and even more specifically, archaeological issues surrounding the book of Judges.  Join Mark Lanier as he presents the archaeological evidence surrounding Judges and suggests the evidence is not to be used to prove the Bible. Instead, its best service is to help put the Bible into an historical context for increased understanding.

In 1683, the University of Oxford conducted the last book burning sanctioned by the government in England.  One of the books banned and burned was Lex, Rex, written by the Scottish Presbyterian Samuel Rutherford.  In his book Rutherford wrote, "The law hath a supremacy of constitution above the king." In substantiating his argument, Rutherford quoted the Biblical account of King Saul. Rutherford believed that the law is over the king rather than the king over the law.

As Mark Lanier considers David in this lesson, we see that David found a time where he violated in rapid succession three of the Ten Commandments, but not without dire consequence to him and to his family. For David, as for all rulers, God’s authority trumps that of the king!

There are great stories in 1 Samuel as the life of David unfolds.  For example, David annointed King, David and Goliath, Saul and David and their stormy relationship, and the friendship between David and Jonathan.

Most of these stories are well known, but still well worth our study.  Join Mark Lanier as he uses each selection to focus on some useful insights for life.

On January 12, 1966, the first episode of Batman appeared on television.  The first episode was entitled "Hi Diddle Riddle" and featured the Riddler.  Batman and Robin would work to solve the Riddles, frequently using a master computer in the Batcave!

Adolescence can often be a trying time.  Friends come and go.  Cliques are formed, including some and excluding others.  Establishing intimate friendships that last is often difficult.

Fortunately God has created in us an ability to communicate wtih him in all circumstances.  We can laugh with him, we can lament with him.  We can rely on him 24/7!

Join Mark Lanier as he recounts these types of personal memories and also explores the intimacy David shares with God.  May the lesson of David's intimacy with God encourage others to find the abiding and reliable relationship that God wishes to have with all his creations.

Throughout the life of David, the life of his son Solomon, the days of the monarchy, the days of the latter prophets, and into the New Testament, the beyt David, the house of David, carried special significance not simply as some physical building, nor as the extended family group living together, but of a legacy of promise. This legacy was not simply a genetic promise, but was an assurance that God was at work doing something extraordinary of eternal significance in the beyt David.

Join Mark Lanier in a unique lesson on the House of Daivd and a brief foundation in understanding the Hebrew alphabet.

The English letters Yhvw don't appear to form a sensible word.  There are no vowels as we would expect in our English language.  Yet, for centuries and for countless people, they form the most holy word in human speech. The word is so holy that many people refuse to say it out loud.

Follow along as Mark Lanier walks us through the next four letters of the Hebrew alphabet and explores how Solomon started construction on the temple as beyt Yhvw, the house of the LORD. This phrase is used over and over in reference to the temple, not simply by Solomon but by others in the Old Testament as well. The phrase is best understood if we study Yhvh a bit more carefully.

When you were growing up, did you ever imagine finding Aladdin’s magical lamp? This was the lamp that, when rubbed, produced a genie that would grant the holder three wishes.

This childhood experience comes to mind this week as we study Solomon and wisdom. Join Mark Lanier as we examine the story of God’s giving Solomon wisdom, along with a review of what is and is not “wisdom” within the Biblical context.

We all make choices day in and day out. Many times these choices are not made in a vacuum. Frequently advice and counsel are offered, sometimes unsolicited! It would be nice to have a silver-bullet answer that is a definite winner every time a decision is needed. But life is not like that. God has not made us machines where we have no need to think, no need to learn, no need to process, no need to pray, and no need to grow. This life is one of decisions and one of learning how to make them wisely.

We all get advice and give advice. How we should process that advice is a focus of this lesson as we walk through the history of the monarchy and the divisions after Solomon.

Interest in things ancient, especially as they relate to matters of faith is at an all time high. Believer and non-believer alike are fascinated to see the evidences, and lack of evidences, that substantiate or bring into question, matters of faith.

Every believer is encouraged by rational reasons to believe. Every non- believer is similarly encouraged by rational reasons for their “faith” in having no faith!

There is another interest for the believer beyond added confidence. It is the insight into faith that comes from the study of history. History, through the lens of archaeology or ancient writings, informs our faith with context and greater layers of understanding. Join Mark Lanier as we attempt to understand that archaeology’s greatest service to Scripture is informing our understanding by providing a contextual framework.

Have you ever heard the term, "narcissism?"  The condition references an overwening preoccupation with oneself.  How do we battle our tendency to see the world through our own lens? How do we avoid the problem of narcissism, so confident and proud in who we are and what we think that we can give credit to no one else?

Sometimes it seems as if people think they have outgrown the biblical basics of God. In the face of this, the Biblical narratives cry out. They proclaim the truth of God in his revelation. God is a truth that one does not outgrow, does not out think, and does not put in its place.

Join us as Mark Lanier explores how Jeroboam discovers that God cannot be fooled!

Have you ever placed conditions on God?  Have you ever said, "I'll go when God does something for me?"  If you have, rest assured you aren't the first.  However, in the Bible, we find someone who did not place conditions on God - Elijah.

What if Elijah had placed conditions on God? Would we have the wonderful testimony of God’s faithfulness as exhibited by Elijah’s fresh encounters with God? Elijah was willing to take God at His word and to trust God’s impeccable timing!

Join Pastor Stephen Trammel as he explores Elijah’s life and ministry and be reminded of God’s faithfulness to accomplish His plan.

Join Mark Lanier as we take an interesting approach to three narratives in 2 Kings.  By continuing our study of the Hebrew alphabet we look at three questions that you have most likely never heard before!

Who is at your Petach?

Was Jehu a Tzadik?

Is the Qol Music or Noise?

Intrigued?  Follow along and learn more!

One of the first questions often posed in a discussion on Jonah is, “Was it real?” People debate whether the story is a factual account of a large fish gobbling and then regurgitating Jonah or whether it is more akin to a C.S. Lewis story that has true lessons to teach, using a story medium to convey them (think Chronicles of Narnia or The Great Divorce). That is a subject that is almost moot to discuss. (God certainly has the ability to make a fish grand enough to accomplish the task.  He is God!)

In Part 2 of Jonah, Mark Lanier explores several more themes, some particular details apparent in the Hebrew reading of the book, and the New Testament usages of Jonah, along with certain parallels found there.

The United States of America is a country that prides itself on independence, freedom, equality, and economics. The American economic system is termed “capitalism.” It is a free enterprise system that allows the market to dictate prices for goods and services. People are allowed to work in this system for their own individual prosperity. The good side of capitalism is its ability to raise the level of life for everyone in a society, as raising water lifts every boat. Left without some manner of regulation, however, capitalism can lead to the wealthy preying upon the poor, letting “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” In a land of opportunity, many believe that kind of unfettered capitalism can be abusive.

These ideas come to the front as Mark Lanier combines a lesson that teaches the last three letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and begins the study of the prophet Amos.

How would you rate your knowledge of poetry?  Is your knowledge limited to "The Night Before Christmas" or the always popular, "Roses are Red, Violets are Blue...?"  Or maybe you are a true connoisseur of Shakespear's sonnets, of iambic pentameter, and various rhyming schemes.  Or maybe you haven't given poetry much thought at all.  As a student of the Bible, you are faced with reading and understanding poetry, no matter your expertise.

As Mark Lanier begins a multi-part study of Psalms, we begin by learning that the Psalms are poetry.  Yet they are not simply expressions of the heart and mind, but they are also tools of teaching. They inspire as they increase our understanding of God and man. The insights that can come from deliberative chewing on the messages within the simplest of verses, heightens the appreciation that God has used many different literary tools to present his revelation to humanity.

God rewards motion. We are made to move. We are made to grow. God expects us to embrace a lifestyle of physical fitness to take care of His temple, namely, our bodies. God also expects us to embrace a lifestyle of spiritual fitness.

You determine the level of intimacy with God. Be creative and plan for your daily time alone with the Lord. Embrace spiritual fitness and watch what God does to bring you to a new level in your love relationship with Him. Join Executive Pastor, Dr. Stephen Trammell, as he offers practical insight for enhancing your daily quiet time through the Psalms.

We live in an era of classifications. Since the advent of the scientific age, scholars have worked to classify most every aspect of life. Organisms are classified by species and genus. Food groups are vegetables, dairy, grains, and meats. We have the cosmos classified by galaxies and solar systems.

It is not surprising to find out that some scholars have worked to classify the Psalms into various types. These divisions are wonderful means to help understand how Psalms are put together, how they function and were used, and how we should interpret and apply them today. The only catch is that a system of classifications is never able to really hold all the Psalms.

In this lesson, Mark Lanier explores the Psalms by category, looking to see what insight might be gleamed.

Repeatedly, we make choices and live with the consequences. Sometimes life seems more like a rat’s treadmill where we run without regard to destination, simply doing what comes natural. Yet the story of Israel should shout sense to us. Life is not simply a treadmill. We really do have choices. These choices are real, and they affect our lives and the world.

Join us for Part 3 in "The Fall of Israel" as we continue to piece together the story of Assyria and Israel.

Setting aside the Bible for a moment, if there is a Supreme Being, and if he is able to communicate, and if he created humanity, it would seem logical that the Supreme Being would reach out and communicate with humanity. Francis A. Schaeffer expressed the principle that a personal communicating God would certainly want to communicate to the personal communicating beings he created.

Now, picking up the Bible we find that it explains that God has communicated directly, through his creation, through others, and in so doing, he has set out a revelation of historical interactions with mankind. Among God’s communications in Scripture is the book of Proverbs. This is a book where we read principles of behavior and instructions for wise living. These are concepts that understandably a communicating God would want to give to his people. They are also concepts that are applicable, and to some extent evidenced, by the lives of all peoples, whether Godly or not. Join Mark Lanier and find out why the book of Proverbs has always been associated with wisdom for living.

How does one chart what is good and worthwhile if there is no God to orient our compass and give meaning to our pursuits?  Without an adequate measuring rod to define “good,” who is to say? For that matter, if there is no God, then what “virtue” is there in doing well to others when those others are in no position to do good back to you? What is the reason for doing anything beyond securing your own enjoyment in life and that of others you care about? Does not that (and most any other activity) seem to be vain and without real profit?

What would you call the "best" music?  Now out of all those songs that might be the "best" of music, can you pick out one song that you can say might be the "best of the best"?

We have in scripture a song that is the highest song. The Song of Solomon.  This is a song that reaches into the heart in allegory and literal truth. It is a song that expresses the heights of love and devotion. It is a song that can be expanded to any time, any era, and any people, in a way that communicates multiple eternal truths of God.

Historical writing and documentation can take on different forms, depending upon its purpose. It can inspire questions, it can document relationships and activities, it can comment upon events and their causes and results, and it can simply provide interesting and engaging stories. Historical writings need not be resigned to only one category or purpose. Oftentimes, people write with multiple goals in mind.

In this 4 part series on the Divided Monarchy of Judah we will study the history presented, and also study the purposes of the text preserved for us in Holy Scripture.  As Mark Lanier makes his way through the history of Judah, we will see many kings, while not perfect, were recognized for trying to do right before God with a good heart.  A just and noble pursuit we can emulate today!

Is there any reason to read Scripture? Is there any reason to attend real teachings of Scripture? Is there any reason to have godly counselors and friends? Is there any reason to marry inside the faith?

In Part 2 of "The Divided Monarchy" we explore the stories and the Prophet Historian who shouts, “ABSOLUTELY!”

There is great value in studying historical events with the understanding and perspective of several different authors.  Join Mark Lanier as he explores the book of Kings and other historical sources in an effort to knit together a full appreciation of the divided monarchy.

Through the views of different authors we can begin to understand the fuller meaning of events.  Such is the book of Kings in the Old Testament.  It is a book that finds its story in the pages of history, even though it was written wtih a purpose that far exceeds simple recitation of historical facts.

God is not simply a parachute to be pulled out when one is falling to one’s death. Where is God in our life when things are going well? Do we awaken each morning with grateful hearts for the wonderful things we have, including air to breathe and food to eat?!

These attitudes rise to the surface as we consider the life and death of King Azariah (more popularly called “Uzziah”). This king exemplifies the issues of attitude toward God as helper and strength.

In the "game of life" we have many choices to make regarding our occupations and the jobs we wish to pursue.  Should I pursue a career in finance, law, medicine, technology, prophecy... Prophecy?!  In our current time, becoming a prophet is likely very, very far down the list on most career counselor's list of things to do.  Yet there is one man who became a prophet and found the occupation both very difficult and very rewarding.

Today we study Hosea, one of the foundation prophets of Israel in the Old Testament.  Hosea was one in a long line of prophets that were ignored and even persecuted for the sake of the message. Yet his message did not go out and fail to return. Hosea is repeatedly quoted in the New Testament, and his experience forms a basis for better understanding the ultimate act in history, the crucifixion of Christ.

This lesson continues our study of the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Que Sera, Sera
Whatever will be, will be The Future’s not ours to see Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

This futility is not found in the stories we study today. In fact, we see the opposite as we consider part two in the life of Hezekiah and his son, Manasseh.

Isaiah is a unique prophet in the way he understands and presents the events facing the people of Israel.  He is not awed by the Assyrians nor does he cower in fear.

But how can he maintain this attitude in the face of certain defeat and annihilation of the people around him?  Perhaps it is because he has seen the Lord in his glory and it changed his perspective.  Listen to Mark Lanier explain Isaiah's perspective and may you understand that God is GOD and any trials or tests you face are simply a tool in God's tollbox for His use as needed.

Who is like YHWH?  Or, who is like God?  What a question, right?  So, how does one answer such an enormous philosophical question?  The old testament prophet Micah answered the question with YHWH himself providing all of the details.

Join Mark Lanier as we focus on the perspectives of Micah's question by considering, the expected and unexpected nature of YHWH, the justice of YHWH, and the mercy of YHWH.

The answer to Micah's question...?  No one is like YHWH!

Earthquake, tsunami, tornado, hurricane, flooding, drought: What do you think of when you see one of these natural events occurring in our world? Do you write it off as naturally occurring events, or the result of cyclical climate change, or the consequences of manmade global warming? Or, do you ever wonder whether an event like one of these could be an act of God intended to judge sinners, or to get the attention of saints?

Join Pastor David Fleming as he explores these very real questions and points us in the direction of understanding the difficult challenges we face when we are confronted with natural disasters.   Be encouraged today to always look for God, turn to God, and never lose confidence in God.

As you study the Old Testament have you ever wondered if you are reading true stories or were some of them fictional or semi-accurate renditions of fables, stories, myths, legends, or fantasized histories?  How accurate are these stories of the prophets who we believe were entrusted with the message and words God chose to impart to his people?

Join Mark Lanier as we study the Prophet Nahum and seek to better understand the "product" of his words, given by God.  Discover with us how Nahum delivered the word of God that was confirmed as time went by.

With recent economic disasters, terrorist actions, war in the Middle East, and natural disasters, one might observe that the world seems to be falling apart.

It is one thing when the world around us seems to fall apart.  But what happens when YOUR world falls apart? Have you experienced a deep disappointment in life?  Have you wondered where God's loving kindness has gone?  Have you been deserted?

When all seems lost and there is no explanation for the circumstances in your life, please know there are answers!

Listen in today as Mark helps us understand that there is help even when it seems everything has fallen apart.

Have you ever experienced the loss of a friendship because one of you moved?  Moving far apart and the passage of time can work a one-two punch on continuity in life. This is even truer in the deep recesses of history, before telephones, readily available books (and literacy), and easy transportation. We often speak of the world becoming smaller because it used to be so difficult to keep up with things far removed. Before the advent of the internet and social media the world was much larger than it is today.  Can you imagine how much larger it was in 600BC?

This simple observation of life is relevant in the study of Ezekiel.  Join Mark Lanier as we explore the unlikely idea that a small mountain tribe's worship of their perceived local deity could survive a dispersal of the people, removal of their tmeple, a loss of their monarchy, and destruction of their capital.  It would seem preposterous and against all odds.  However, the worship of YHWH is billions strong today.

How did this worship survive?

What was the core message of Jeremiah? Different scholars would no doubt give different answers. Jeremiah’s life was built around the word of the LORD. He was commissioned by the word, to deliver the word faithfully and to follow the word. Jeremiah did so, at great personal risk and expense. His life stands in stark contrast to a generation that refused to hear the word of the Lord.

By touching jeremiah's mouth, the Lord sets it apart for his purposes, placing his words into Jeremiah's mouth.  Join us as we try and understand the varied and illuminating conclusions from Mark Lanier's unique perspective.

Hopefully, this lesson will spur on greater personal study and consideration. At least the next time the radio plays, “Jeremiah was a bullfrog,” you will remember there was much more to Jeremiah than that!

One might think the practical aspects of preaching would include speaking to the problems of people’s lives or some other “practical aspect” of the preacher’s job.  In truth, many seminaries teach that there are two real areas of practical importantce: weddings and funerals.  Apparently, there is an art and a science for preaching funerals!

And it seems that the importance of preaching funerals has been around for a long, long time. The Old Testament includes several funeral dirges. Similar to funeral services today, these compositions were written to express grief with an eye toward some measure of resolution and healing.  Mark Lanier explores the book of Lamentations and explains the five funeral dirges found there.