July 25, 2025

Biblical Literacy @ CF

taught by Mark Lanier

Lesson Archive

Series: Romans Study

Mark Lanier teaching through the book of Romans.

ID Title Presentation Date Speaker Handouts Slides Audio Video Full Lesson Synopsis Sort Order
Title Presentation Date Speaker Handouts Slides Audio Video Full Lesson Synopsis
1635 Lesson 1 - Introduction 03/30/2025 Mark Lanier 3-30-25 - Biblical-Literacy Mark Lanier began a new series on Romans. Today’s focus merged how to study an Epistle and began an introduction into the book of Romans. 1. How to study Romans, an Epistle, in 8 basic steps.  Historical context  Literary context  Textual analysis  Paragraph exegesis  Theological analysis  Application  Mix-in others  Constant ongoing reflection 2. The occasion of the letter - Mark explains historical context that result in the church in Rome consisting of both Jewish and Gentile Christians with an appeal for unity. 3. The opening of Romans - Learn how Romans differs from Paul’s other epistles in his introduction which includes the author, recipients and a greeting. Points for home  God works through history  Gospel is amazing news  You are loved, called, and forgiven 0
1636 Session 2 - The theme of the book of Romans 04/06/2025 Mark Lanier 4-6-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark taught the second lesson in Romans with an emphasis on the beginning verses of chapter one. Paul wrote Romans around 55AD. Mark breaks down the lessons: Paul’s Salutation to the Romans He is a servant of Jesus Christ. Called to be an apostle to share the Gospel. Grace and peace.  Paul’s Prayer Thank God for the Romans’ faith and prays for their strength.  Paul’s Theme Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is the power of God for salvation. Mark will devote next Sunday’s lesson to expanding on Paul's theme. Points for home: There is a lot to be praying about in this world Amazing news of the Gospel That is worth singing about Listen to Mark review lesson 1 and share insights into today’s lesson. Paul's opening shows his humility, love for God and the Romans, and his commitment to spreading the Gospel. 0
1637 Session 3 - Palm Sunday study of Romans 1:16-17. 04/13/2025 Mark Lanier 04-13-25 Biblical Literacy  Marks continued the study of the book of Romans by focusing on Chapter 1 vs 16 & 17 and Paul and his family life long movements and the influence that each of the places he lived and the influences each location had on his life, his person and influences on his character. God died for our sins. The most simple thing about the Gospel is Christ Died for our sins. The most profound thing about the Gospel is Christ died for our sins. Paul grew up in Tarsus, which was a major intellectual center and traveled the area as a child and as a God- fearing adult. Those travels shaped his persona and his deep belief and praise for the Christ that he came to know beyond well. Mark focused On:  The literary context of Romans 1:16-17 Dissecting Romans 1:16-17  The Impact of Romans 1:16-17 Good writing habits were discussed relative to the introduction content, omit needless words, brevity, completeness, conciseness, while focusing on each word. The lesson continues with the techniques that are needed to deliver an argument that is clear and lucid, briefly set forth in a methodical way, and have the following qualities, brevity, completeness and conciseness. Mark discusses, in detail, the use of the key words in Romans 1:16 & 17, Gospel, Power and Righteousness. Get Ready for Easter Weekend;  “For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being Saved it is the POWER OF GOD” 1-Cor 1:18 0
1638 Session 4 - explore these critical teachings explained by Paul in Romans. 04/27/2025 Mark Lanier 4-27-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued the study of Romans with a focus on The Wrath of God. The lesson was divided to include: Ancient Greco-Roman thought at the time of Paul’s writing the letter to the Romans  We naturally use our culture to understand the world around us.  They taught that moral blindness and error caused by the gods.  Paul can quote Greco-Roman philosophers who believed in many gods. Contrast Paul’s text  People suppress the truth and not the gods.  The wrath of God is true, genuine, without excuse, and there is cause and effect.  Root cause is rebellion against God. Points for home  God longs for our redemption.  Awesome power of God. Listen to Mark show how Paul was informed about and contrasted ancient culture with the truth of the Gospel: death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel. It brings the power of salvation and righteousness 0
1639 Session 5 - In Romans, looking at some fundamental truths about God and justice. 05/04/2025 Mark Lanier 5-4-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued a study of Romans with a focus on Chapter 2:1-11, highlighting God’s Principles of Judgment. The lesson was divided to discuss: 1. Paul’s legal background as a Pharisee -Jewish legal background. Had their own court system based on the Torah. The great Sanhedrin was considered the Jewish Supreme Court. -Roman background. Citizen of Rome granting Paul considerable rights in the Roman court and recognized throughout the Roman Empire. 2. Romans 2:1-11 - Uses Legal Terms -People have no excuse or defense for committing sin and wrong to judge others. -God will dispense justice according to what they earned and render a verdict. -God shows no partially. The righteousness of the Good News. The Gospel of death, burial, and resurrection. 3. Points for home -I can’t judge anyone -The Gospel is the power of God to save Listen to Mark teach about Paul’s legal background, his knowledge of Roman and Jewish law, and those who influenced his life. Kindness, forbearance and patience rule the Christian life 0
1640 Session 6 - What is the proper standard God would use if he was fairly assessing human behavior 05/11/2025 Mark Lanier 05-11-25 Biblical-Literacy   Mark continued in the study of Romans with an exploration Romans 2:12 - 3:21.   Paul used his lawyer background consisting of a 3-pillar approach of persuasion: ethos, pathos, and logos to provide information to the Greco-Roman culture. His flow of logic included a power statement and logically or methodically based statements that were brief, complete, and concise to show God’s judgment.   Romans 2:12 - 3:21 All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory: without the law or under the law. No hope without God. We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and belief in the Gospel or the Good News.   Points for home: There but for the grace of God go! The Gospel is the power of God for salvation for those who believe.   Listen to Mark show how Paul used the art and science of persuasion to show how we are saved from God’s judgment. Praise to the Lord Almighty. 0
1641 Session 7 - Mark continues in Romans 05/18/2025 Mark Lanier 5/18/25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the book of Romans with insights into Romans Chapter 3:21-26 with an exploration into the Greco Roman language vs English. He divided the lesson as follows: 1. Explore the word group  Ancient Greek origin of “dike” which means, right, justice, punishment.  Translated into English it uses various words from other language origins.  Paul is using one word that means various English meanings: courtroom verdict, covenantal faithfulness, conforming behavior, or setting right what is wrong. 2. Work thru the passage  Greek concise argument of the power of the Gospel in saving sinful man.  The righteousness of God saves us. Dramatic intervention but not an afterthought. Plan from the beginning.  God is: all the meanings of “dike." 3. Work thru the harmony with points for home  Can we talk about the awesomeness of God?  Can we talk about what He has done for us?  Who can refuse? Learn from Mark’s study how the Greek translation of Paul’s letter has much deeper meaning to the reader. God cares about justice, mercy, and paid the price for us as illustrated in the Gospel-death, burial & resurrection of Jesus 0
1642 Session 8 - Romans; The “Gold” in Paul’s Words, Romans 3: 21-26 05/25/2025 Mark Lanier 5-25-25 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the study of Romans with a focus on the “gold" in Paul’s words. This week Mark first provided some background and context, expanding on things shared from previous lessons, and then focused on Romans 3:21-26. Background and context: The Roman church was not full of lightweights. Paul produces a masterpiece with rhetorical features. Paul’s letters are longer than typical at the time. Powerful and detailed to an audience who were sophisticated in biblical matters. Romans 3:21-26 But now: the righteousness of God has been manifested. We have all sinned and are justified by faith as a gift. Propitiation means to appease God’s wrath. Numerous references to the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant. Sin must be punished. We have redemption in Jesus. Points for Home Can we talk about the awesomeness of God? Who can refuse? Blessed, thankful, grateful. Listen to Mark review the first three chapters of Romans, explain the tenses of Greek words that Paul used to show how the past influences the present. Righteousness looks to the past, applies to the present and the future. The cross is where God’s justice and mercy are validated 0
1643 Session 9 - Romans 3:21-4:3, where Paul lays out the very heart of the gospel message. 06/01/2025 Mark Lanier Mark continued in the book of Romans with an emphasis on verses 3:20-31 through 4:1. The theme of today’s lesson was based on the many Bible translations or interpretations today, especially focused on words in Romans 3:23-24. Faith and Christ Works will not justify us in God’s covenant of faithfulness. The passage can read faith in, of,from,or through the saving work of Jesus Christ. Mark provides 5 criteria that translators use to argue the meaning of these verses. Boasting The best we have is not enough to qualify us for the kingdom of God. We can only boast of God’s saving work for us. We are saved by faith. Boast only in the cross of Christ. Faith and Abraham God had our salvation planned before humans were formed in the Garden of Eden. His promise extended to Abraham a sinner, but one who trusted God and deemed righteous. Points for home: Be blessed, thankful, and grateful Listen to Mark give us a deeper understanding of these Roman verses according to various Biblical translations. Jesus Christ lived in covenantal purity. We will reach the same place even with different emphasis or views along the journey. Sin is worse than we think, and it requires God to deal with it. God is the Saver, and Jesus is the Savior. 0
1647 Session 11 - Mark concludes the Romans series with Romans 4 06/22/2025 Mark Lanier 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 0
1646 Session 10 - Romans Chapter 4 06/15/2025 Mark Lanier 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. 0