Episoder
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3-9-25 Biblical
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Literacy
Mark Lanier taught the final lesson in the Lesser-Known Women of the Bible series with
a focus on The Strange Woman and similar to Lady Widsom, this employs
personification as a literary device.
The lesson in 3 parts:
1. The
Path Metaphor
Scripture teaches of good and bad paths, and those paths compete for our souls.
Wisdom is the window into the character of God.
The early church is called the way.
2.
The Deceptive Beauty
Contrasted with Lady Wisdom is The Strange
or Foreign Woman/Way who isevil, folly, stupid, smooth words, attractive, seductive, and flatters lives outside
the people of God.
3. The Consequences
Life
Death
Points for home
1.Choose wisely
2.You get to pick
3.Daily choice
Listen to Mark expound on The Strange Woman and its meaning. Our choices impact
our relationship with God, Family, Community as well as ourselves. -
03/02/25 Bib-Lit.docx
Mark interviews three well known biblical scholars.
Dr. Steve Ortiz
Dr. John Manson
Dr. Lawson Younger
We are looking at our guests to enlighten us through scripture on:
1. How we See the World
2. How we See Scripture
3. How we See God
Dr. Ortiz Grew up in LA and moved to Arizona with his wife and two children. He lived in Isreal and then back to New Orleans. He then left New Orleans and attended South Western Baptist Seminary and after that accepted a position as a Professor at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dr. John Manson was Born in Zaire which was the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 1997. It was a country in Central Africa. He received hi PHD from Harvard University.
Dr. Lawson Younger was a math major in college and following the words of 1 John 5:13 he suddenly realized that he could have eternal life, he changed his focus to learning Latin, Greek and Hebrew. All of this helped him understand the context of how scriptures were developed.
They discussed how Burial was achieved in the Old Testament of the Bible. The belief was that the flesh decayed, along with it the sins of the dead and your spirit was raised into Gods Kingdom after that. It should be noted that Jesus raised from the dead in full body since he was without sin.
Each of the guest were asked to talk about how their academic discipline enriched scripture in ways that can transform our lives.
A great discussion took place concerning Tihlath-Pilser5 III, King of the Neo-Assyrian Empire from 745 BC to his death in 727. His reign marked the true transition of Assyria into an empire.
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Manglende episoder?
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Mark Lanier 02/23/2025
Mark takes us on a very different experience in our study of Lessor Known Women in the Bible.
Mark asks the question?
Who am I ?
1. I help a King Rule Justly
2. I cried out in the streets and raised my voice in the Public Square
3. I was there when God set the heavens into place
Wisdom: Wisdom in Hebrew is a feminine word and this realization shaped and framed the balance of the lesson.
Lady Wisdom in the bible stands out from all other cultures.
The lesson is delivered in three parts
1. The Literary devises of personification
2. Wisdom’s role in Creation- Go back before creation
3. Wisdoms Public Call
Mark goes through an in depth look at “Women” or it might be said the feminine gender of the Hebrew language in Proverbs chapter 8:3,4,15,22,24,26-33,34-36 +
Mark’s closing encouragement was to read the book of Proverbs one chapter a day until you have finished the book. -
2-16-25 Biblical-Literacy
Mark taught Lesser-Known Women of the Bible with an emphasis on unnamed but significant women. Anonymity can sometimes speak volumes. Why no name? Various reasons: to prevent embarrassment, the person is unknown or sometimes used as a literary device. Examples of the later could be to 1) elevate a universal significance as with the Shuminite woman, which provided a lesson in hospitality, 2) bring divine action to the foreground or 3) deliver a dose of irony.
Today’s lesson focused on 3 unnamed women in the Bible:
Lot's wife: turned into a pillar of salt. She made a choice that had consequences. Luke 17:32-33
Jephthah’s daughter: a rash vow causes his daughter to be a burnt offering.
The widow of Nain: Jesus demonstrated compassion for her situation.
Points for home:
Remember Lot’s wife
Pursue God
Don’t be an idiot
Never doubt the compassions of God
Listen to Mark teach insights into unnamed women in the Bible. Listen to him share the power of faith in the affairs of life. This world is not our home -
2-9-25 Biblical-Literacy
Mark continued the series: Lessor Known Women of the Bible. This week’s
lesson focused on Job and his daughters. The lesson had three sections:
1. The journey through suffering - Job, a righteous man whom God had
blessed with divine provision lost everything, including his children, health,
and relationships. God responds to Job’s questions by asking questions.
2. The significance of restoration - When Job prayed for his friends, he was
restored. He received double portions as God’s favor. The three daughters
are named, described, celebrated. Names were prophecies in antiquity.
-Jemimah. New beginning like dove after flood
-Kezia. Valuable and beauty
-Keren-happuch True beauty is a divine blessing
Points for home:
We don’t understand suffering
Be patient until the end
Suffering can transform
Listen to Mark teach the wisdom of God exceeds our understanding. True
wisdom often begin with humility. We will never understand God fully, but
we can understand him truly. Faith first, then recovery. God’s restoration
exceeds our expectations. -
2-02-25 Biblical-Literacy
Dr. David Capes led another lesson of Lessor Known Women ofthe Bible with
an interview of Dr. Nancy Dawson, author of All the Genealogies of the Bible.
Dr. Lawson received her doctorate in biology and always held an interest in
theology. In this lesson she focused on three of the five women named in
Matthew 1 who are part of the line of Jesus’ genealogy.
These three woman held the genealogy line for Judah:
Tamar: Gentile not a Jew.
Rahab: Gentile not a Jew
Bathsheba: Jew and wife of Uriah. She held a special place in both the
paternal/legal and biological genealogies of Jesus.
Listen to Dr. Dawson explain the culture and customs of the times that placed
these women in Jesus’s genealogy with stories of repentance and symbolism.
Points for home:
God works through all things to complete His purpose.
We must have faithful hope in God’s plan.
We are the privileged people to study God’s word and live for Him.l -
Dr. David Capes interviewed Dr. Federico Villanueva, regional commissioning editor for Langham Publishing and scholar care coordinator for current Langham Scholars in Asia. He teaches at the Asia Graduate School of Theology and Loyola School of Theology in Manila, Philippines, and is known for his focus on the church knowing the importance of lament as in the Psalms, Lamentations, and other areas of the Bible.
Dr. Villanueva grew up in the Philippines. He is married with two children.
He shared that lament comes from experiencing difficult situations and rises out of an intimate relationship and need for God. Without expressing lament, we risk losing our faith unless God steps in. The church needs both praises and laments / cries of the people. One should never become used to suffering in the world.
During life, we experience a cycle of three seasons: orientation - when life is generally good, disorientation - when experiencing a tragedy, and then new orientation - thanksgiving.
Listen to Dr. Federico Villanueva share his heart on how we are to bring our laments to God as prayers for help. There is room to be not-OK in our relationship with God. If we don’t express our lament to God and trusted others, we can stifle our growth and intimacy with God and others. -
Mark Lanier continued his series on Lesser-Known Bible Women with a study of Jael - Courage in a Crisis, from Judges 4:2 - 5:27. Mark divides the lesson into:
1. Context and Characters: Israel is under oppression from the Canaanite army led by Sizer who has control of the Jezerel Valley. The people are regulated to the mountains where it is not suited for agriculture and the trade routes are blocked. Deborah was Israel’s prophet and judge who commands Barak to lead Israelites into battle and defeat Sisera. Jael was a woman from a tribe friendly to the Canaanites who drives a tent peg into Sisera’s temple.
The Narrative Tension: Describes one story from 2 perspectives in Judges 4 and 5.
3. The theological implications (Take Home Points):
God can use unexpected deliverers
2. God uses the everyday stuff
3. Have courage
Listen to Mark teach how God works thru everything. He still rescues and provides for us despite time, culture, and circumstances. -
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. -
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. -
10-27-24-Biblical-Literacy
Mark picked back up with the series: Lesser-known Bible Women with a focus on Judges 19. Mark shared some context for the storyline, what went wrong and some application points for home.
Storyline: 1200 BC to 1040 BC. Israel is in the promised land. No earthly kings yet. A young woman of the Levite tribe is brutally murdered in the area of the Benjaminites. Her body is cut into twelve pieces and sent to the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. Eleven tribes war against the tribe of Benjamin. All the women and children are killed with unrighteousness actions and results and blame God for the situation!
What went wrong: God was supposed to be king, but not in the eyes of the Israelites.
Points for home
Is God your King?
I hate sin!
How are you treating those on the edges of society?
Listen to Mark teach the challenges of culture and timing when understanding stories of the Bible.He shares the status and meaning of a pilegesh or what has been translated in English as concubine during the times of Judges. This story shows what happens when God is not King, and everyone does what they believe is right in their own eyes. -
10/13/2024
Bib-lit Class Synopsis
Dr. Esau McCauley
Mark interviewed Dr. Esau McCauley, an incredibly focused and jovial
Messenger of God’s word.
Dr. McCauley is a Professor at Wheaton College. He discusses his child hood growing up in a God loving home and learning about the Bible from a “Cartoon Bible” which he read with great diligence. He was born in 1979 and he was raised in Huntsville Alabama. His mom taught him that he could be whatever he wanted to be and he chose a Christ filled life.
He discussed, in detail, the impact the Bible has on living a Christian life and how he studied the various languages the Bible were written in such as Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. He attended Gordon Conwell Theology Seminary in Massachusetts to achieve this study.
Dr. McCauley discusses how he was separated from his wife Navy Capt. while she was deployed during the pandemic. He had to deal with the needs and education of 4 children 16,14,10 and 8 (two boys and two girls). He discusses writing children’s books which were influenced by his own children, writing a children’s book about each one. Other books he discusses are a Children’s Bible, and a book about interracial marriage.
Dr. McCauley is a passionate follower of Christ and it is reflected in his writings and his day-to-day life. You don’t want to miss this interview.
As a short but incredible interlude, a young man from Korea, born in Jamaica, joined Mark and Esau on stage and discussed a 700,000 member church in Korea that has 60-70,000 people attending a prayer meeting at 05:30 in the morning. -
10-6-24 Biblical-Literacy
Mark completed A Study of Revelation with a focus on The Great News in Revelation 22. This final lesson closed out the study of Apocalyptic Literature and recapped the 7 vignettes each covering a segment of the age of the church to the 2nd coming.
Mark revisited the 7th vignette acknowledging varied interpretations of the millennium, the binding of Satan, and Jesus’ 2nd coming where He will judge all humanity on the Great White Throne and create a new heaven and a new earth.
Points for Home:
1. Revelation speaks to us.
2. Live in Faith.
3. What a great ending.
Listen to Mark read Revelation 22 with insight and wisdom concluding with “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen - Vis mere
