Lessons

Series: Paul, a Legal Case Study


Mark began a new series about the Apostle Paul as if he were asked to represent Paul in a court of law. As a lawyer, Mark approaches the subject of Paul based on his own legal experience.

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
1093 PLCS 1.1- A Lawyer Takes Up a New Case 04/02/2017 W. Mark Lanier Paul: a legal case study Do you know Paul? Mark began a new series about the Apostle Paul as if he were asked to represent Paul in a court of law. As a lawyer, Mark approaches the subject of Paul based on his own legal experience. In this introduction, listen to Mark discuss Jerusalem in 57 AD as Paul brought an offering into the temple for the poor. 15
1094 PLCS 2.1- The Initial Interview 04/09/2017 W. Mark Lanier

Mark begins his initial interview of Paul in this 2nd chapter of Paul: a legal case study where Mark is reviewing the life of Paul as a potential new client. In this first part of Mark's interview we obtain Paul’s background including origin of his names, appearance, and family history. We learn Paul/Saul was born a Roman citizen in Tarsus of Clicia. He was not an only child, multilingual, and as a Pharisee could trace his lineage back to the tribe of Benjamin. Listen to Mark talk more about Paul and what his role as a Pharisee meant.

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1095 PLCS 2.2- The Initial Interview (Part 2) 04/23/2017 W. Mark Lanier

Paul: A legal case study

Today's class researches Paul's beliefs by focusing on his mentor Gamaliel. (Acts 22:1-3.) Gamaliel’s less conservative interpretation of the Torah, Mishnah, and the Talmud impacted Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. Listen to Mark explain more of the influences in Paul’s life and the biblical implications of his probable membership in the Sanhedrin.

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1096 PLCS 3.1- Follow- Up Interview 04/30/2017 W. Mark Lanier Mark focused this week’s study of Paul, a Legal Case Study, on what it meant to be a citizen of Tarsus and a Roman citizen. Tarsus, located in modern day Turkey, was a Roman naval base, a center of intellectual philosophy, as well as other attractions. Only the wealthy were able to pay for Tarsian citizenship and partake of the community leadership roles, which required wealth. In order for Paul to be a Roman citizen, his parents held the distinction. Social classes paid a vital part of the Roman life. Listen to Mark discuss more about Paul’s citizenships and how his experiences and status helped him spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. 12
1097 PLCS 3.2- Follow-up Interview: Clarifying Events and Attitudes (Part 2) 05/07/2017 W. Mark Lanier Mark focused this week’s study of Paul, a Legal Case Study, on what it meant to be a citizen of Tarsus and a Roman citizen. Tarsus, located in modern day Turkey, was a Roman naval base, a center of intellectual philosophy, as well as other attractions. Only the wealthy were able to pay for Tarsian citizenship and partake of the community leadership roles, which required wealth. In order for Paul to be a Roman citizen, his parents held the distinction. Social classes paid a vital part of the Roman life. Listen to Mark discuss more about Paul’s citizenships and how his experiences and status helped him spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. 11
1098 PLCS 4- Is Paul Legitimate or a Lunatic? 05/14/2017 W. Mark Lanier

Mark continues his discussion "In defense of Paul" Is Paul legit or lunatic? What changed him? What made the Damascus experience unique, and why was he willing to suffer for the Gospel? Listen to Mark’s insightful accounting of Paul’s behavior before and after he traded his old beliefs to follow Jesus, The Way, was a conclusion to his Jewish upbringing and training.

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1101 PLCS 5.1- Paul's Occupation 05/28/2017 W. Mark Lanier 9
1103 PLCS 6.1- Can I Get a Witnesses? 06/11/2017 W. Mark Lanier 8
1104 PLCS 6.2- Can I Get a Witnesses? (Barnabas) 06/18/2017 W. Mark Lanier Mark expands on how he'd have had Barnabas as a witness on Paul’s behalf. Barnabas knew first-hand that Synagogues were a place of learning, usually located near a body of water. Barnabas could share how Sabbath services functioned with Paul giving lectures proclaiming the good news to the Jews and those who feared God. Listen to how Mark would have Barnabas share the good and bad situations as noted in Acts 14, and how God equipped them to remain on mission, just as He does today in our lives. 7
1105 PLCS 7.1- Can I Get a Witnesses? Authentic 06/25/2017 W. Mark Lanier Mark introduced Rabbi Michael Vowell, a Messianic Jew, during today’s class. Michael gave his journey to Yeshua from a drug-dealing teen to an ultimate acceptance of Yeshua’s sacrifice for our sins. Michael shared insight and application from the Old Testament to the Christian perspective. Mark then continued sharing about the credibility of and authenticity of his line-up of witnesses (Ananias, Barnabas, John Mark & Peter) as he prepares to represent Paul in his upcoming trial. 6
1107 PLCS 8.1- Paul in Ephesus 07/16/2017 W. Mark Lanier

Today Mark taught about the charges brought against the Apostle Paul. At the time of Paul, a Roman trial had a stage of clarifying and documenting the charges to be proven or disproven called - “the formula". In Acts 24, we see Paul was charged with three crimes: 1) stirring up riots, 2) being a ringleader of the Nazarene sect, and 3) trying to profane the temple. Listen to Mark focus and disprove the first of the three charges which allegedly happened on his third missionary trip where he spent considerable time in Ephesus ministering to the Jews and Greeks.

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1110 PLCS 9.1- Paul and the Nazarenes 08/06/2017 W. Mark Lanier

Mark continued with “Paul, a Legal Case Study” as though he were representing the Apostle Paul. Mark focused on the historical context of Paul's case. During this time, Roman law stated that a defendant must be informed of the crimes he or she is being tried. In Acts 24:9, we read Tertullus charged Paul before the governor Felix of: stirring up riots around the world, being a ringleader of the Nazarenes, and trying to profane the temple. Listen as Mark references Josephus’ writings and explains the history and political climate surrounding how Felix became governor and how Tertullus used that knowledge in an attempt to persuade Felix that his claims about Paul were accurate.  

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1113 PLCS 10.1 - Paul: A Legal Case Study - Paul's Motivation 08/20/2017 W. Mark Lanier

As an attorney when Mark Lanier takes on new clients he has to ask a question: “What do you want”? For most people the driving motivation is selfish intent. It could be for freedom, fame, or fortune… but this wasn't the case with Paul. Together, let’s discover Paul's true motivation.

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1114 PLCS 10.2 Paul's Motivation: Higher Calling 09/03/2017 W. Mark Lanier Mark focused this week’s class on what motivated Paul. He had a higher calling to talk to high Roman rulers about Jesus as the Messiah. Paul spoke to the epicureans, who were materialists and believed truth came only from reasoning. They also claimed no afterlife. Happiness was life's goal, to be free from pain and fear. Paul also spoke to the stoics, who believed in one God without shape. Their philosophy was God doesn't care about us and is non emotional, and so their ideology was to avoid emotions. The epicurean and stoics believed the purpose of life was achieving happiness through moderate expectations. Listen to Mark teach about how Paul professed a higher calling than being happy 2
1117 PLCS 10.3 Paul's Motivation: Jesus 09/10/2017 W. Mark Lanier This week Mark taught the last lesson in the series: Paul, a Legal Case Study. Mark reviewed the several week study of how he would have prepared a case to defend the Apostle Paul. Today’s class focused on Paul’s motivation as his higher calling. He was progressive in his views of women, slaves, culture, and social status. His imprisonment provided an opportunity to proclaim the truth about Jesus to the high rulers of Rome. For Jesus, Paul willingly stepped into death’s gate. Listen to Mark explain the political turmoil in Rome during this time and the positions of key players. 1

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