Category Archives: Sermon

A Warning and Promise to Embrace



The writer of Hebrews has reminded the believers to continue building on the foundation that has been laid.  But then he warns that one should not abandon the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ alone.  The warning is that there is no other foundation that brings us to God.  But the promise is that God will fulfill what He has started in us by faith.  What He starts, He completes.  That is proven by our staying in the faith with Jesus Christ.  It’s a tough lesson to wrap our minds around but is designed to strengthen our trust in Him.
This is the third in a multi-part sermon series on spiritual growth and perseverance

Hebrews 6:4-18

Preached Sunday morning, October 20, 2019 by Brad D Harris


The Foundation is Christ



The writer of Hebrews reminds the readers that we don’t accidentally grow, we have to pursue maturity.   But in growing, we don’t leave what we learned first.  Instead we build on that foundation, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.  Here we are given six elements of that foundation that the writer wants them (and us) to build upon.  And we see how Christ is the one who holds it all together as we pursue maturity.
This is the second in a multi-part sermon series on spiritual growth and perseverance

Hebrews 6:1-3

Preached Sunday morning, October 13, 2019 by Brad D Harris


Growing toward Maturity



God accepts us and loves us just as we are.  Yet He loves us too much to leave us that way, as spiritual infants.  The Father desires us to grow toward maturity, closer to the image of His Son, perfect humanity.  Yet the writer of Hebrews reminds the readers that we don’t accidentally grow, we have to pursue maturity.   This is the first in a multi-part sermon series on spiritual growth and perseverance

Hebrews 5:12-14

Preached Sunday morning, October 6, 2019 by Brad D Harris


Why do hard times matter?



A lot more can be said than can be understood when it comes to the mystery of the incarnation of Christ and His perfect obedience to the Father’s will.  And His example as the Suffering Servant leaves us humbled as we often endure the trials to our faith through tribulation.  But it reminds us that Christ never asks us to do something that He has not done Himself.  Let us continue to trust when the road grows dark.

Hebrews 5:5-10

Preached Sunday morning, September 29, 2019 by Brad D Harris


Children of God – Lavished with Love



As the song says, to be fully known and fully loved is a gift only God can give.  When we are born again, the LORD also adopts us as His sons and His daughters, to be lavished with unconditional love – a love we did not deserve nor need to try to deserve.  It is ours by unmerited grace.  And as we contemplate that love and grace, especially as embodied in Jesus Christ, we are being transformed into that same image in preparation for that day of completion when we see Him as He is.

1 John 3:1-3

Preached Sunday morning, September 22, 2019 by Brad D Harris


Love the Lord who loved you first



The world can mean different things depending on how it is being used by the writer.  But John and the other apostles saw a “worldly” lifestyle that was inherently ungodly as it ignored God and eternity in order to live for today only.  Jesus had warned them against the dangerous myopia of forgetting what is infinitely important in order to play at what is temporarily in fashion.
Love the Lord who loved you and died in your place even before you knew or loved Him.

1 John 2:15-17

Preached Sunday morning, September 15, 2019 by Brad D Harris


When we feel like giving up.



Elijah was a man who had the same weaknesses as we all do, yet he was also a man of faith used by God in miraculous ways.  But we pause today to examine his humanity so that we might find hope and encouragement from the grace shown him in his time of weakness.

1 Kings 19:1-13

Preached Sunday morning, September 8, 2019 by Brad D Harris


More than words to share the gospel



Paul didn’t have much time with this little church plant, but he quickly fell in love with these people.   As he recounted how the gospel had been shared with them, he gave God the praise for how the gospel was now spreading from them to their neighbors.  And we see how we can share such good news with our neighbors as well.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Preached Sunday morning, September 1, 2019 by Brad D Harris


Word to the young, strong, and matured



John gives us his reasons for writing this letter to these believers with the mind to instruct and exhort these three groups.   His goal is that the children in the faith will grow stronger and be used by God to make more children in the faith.  That all would grow to maturity in Christ.  We want that for each of us as well.

1 John 2:12-14

Preached Sunday morning, August 25, 2019 by Brad D Harris


Being with God in the Word



While the pastor was on vacation, Gabe Harris came and preached the word for us at Prairie Oaks.  We wanted to share the audio from His message on the importance of daily time with God through His Word.  Please give it a listen as he had many good points that our summary does not cover.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Preached Sunday morning, August 18, 2019 by Gabe Harris