Category Archives: Sermon

Ordained to Serve

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Acts 6 and Acts 13 both mention that the church leaders “laid hands” on the new servant leaders before sending them to the work. The official term for that is ordination – a physical symbol of a spiritual reality that confirms the work of the Spirit and identifies the new person as one with the others to continue the work of the Lord.

Acts 13:1-5

Taught Sunday morning, August 24, 2025 by Brad D Harris

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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How We Serve

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While they are not called “deacons” in the book of Acts, the apostles instruct the church to appoint men to help them focus on the ministry of the word and to take care of the material needs of the church body. Yet the characteristics that these men should have are much like the characteristics that we saw Paul give Timothy – to be of good reputation and walking in the Spirit.

Acts 6:1-7

Taught Sunday morning, August 17, 2025 by Brad D Harris

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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God’s Charge to Serve

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Likewise, Paul continues God’s instruction regarding the character of servant-leaders in the church. We know them as deacons. But we may not know what they are supposed to look like or what they are supposed to do. So let’s see what the Bible says regarding these servants of the Lord.

1 Timothy 3:8-13

Taught Sunday morning, August 10, 2025 by Brad D Harris

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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God’s Charge to Pastors

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Jesus the Son of God is the only human who lived the perfect life in God’s eyes. Yet the Word still gives us these characteristics to be seen in pastors and elders. While we may feel inadequate at times, the bigger concern would be if we aren’t humbled by this challenge. Pride is the most deadly sin.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Taught Sunday morning, August 3, 2025 by Brad D Harris

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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A Charge to Pray

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Paul sometimes challenges us with doctrines that don’t make as much sense to us as they did in his context. But the instruction is always applicable to us. We need to pray, pray for those who don’t know Jesus as Savior, and we need to make sure we are not a distraction for others knowing him.

1 Timothy 2

Taught Sunday morning, July 27, 2025 by Brad D Harris

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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Paul’s Charge to Timothy

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Paul’s past made him grateful for God’s mercy. Paul used his present to show his appreciation for being saved by remaining faithful to the gospel message and teaching others to do the same. One of the products of the apostle’s work was young Timothy. His charge to Timothy was to remain faithful, keep a good conscience, and keep teaching the true gospel. What will we do with what we have been given?

1 Timothy 1:12-20

Taught Sunday morning, July 20, 2025 by Brad D Harris

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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Delights in Mercy

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Micah may be considered one of the minor prophets but only in length not in potency. And among the many important and recognizable verses in Micah’s writing are these last few verses. The LORD pardons iniquity in us and will defeat sin overall. He will cast our sins away from us as though they are on the bottom of the ocean. What do we desire more: His pardon or our sin? Do we show mercy as we have been given mercy?

Micah 7:18-20

Taught Sunday morning, July 13, 2025 by Brad D Harris
(audio recorded for YouTube video on front porch)

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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Enter the Kingdom

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Jesus teaches as though He is the authority on life and beyond. He teaches how His kingdom citizens should represent Him in a hostile world. And He warns that not everyone is in His kingdom. And the consequences of being out are destructive.

Matthew 7:13-29

Taught Sunday morning, June 22, 2025 by Brad D Harris

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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Help My Unbelief

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Jesus comes down from His mountain top experience with three of His disciples to find the other nine embroiled in an embarrassing mess. They were unable to help someone in need and no one knows why – except Jesus. Jesus walks a desperate father through the steps of faith so that he can see his son healed and restored. And Jesus helps His disciples learn how they need more faith to handle the challenges that they face.

Mark 9:14-29

Taught Sunday morning, June 15, 2025 by Brad D Harris

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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Kingdom Comes

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The glory of the King was veiled behind flesh but on one occasion it peeked through the veil for three men to see. And they were changed by what they saw. They did not understand all that they saw but they never forgot when Jesus was revealed as the Son of God, fully revealed on Resurrection Day.

Matthew 17:1-13

Taught Sunday morning, June 8, 2025 by Brad D Harris

We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

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