The LORD is our Help



The LORD our Help

It’s not a spectacular story compared to some in the Hebrew Scriptures. But it is significant for important reasons. It marked the end of dark time for the children of Israel when they had lost so much. But through repentance, the children of Israel, led by the prophet and judge, Samuel, experience a powerful victory through the LORD’s help. How? Because they let Him.  And they raised a monument to remind them of His help.

1 Samuel 7:1-12

Taught Sunday morning, January 29, 2023 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!


The Righteous by Faith Shall Live



Paul writes to the church in Rome to introduce himself. And to know Paul is to know his passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ. So this lengthy letter from the apostle is more about the salvation message than the messenger himself. And his thesis statement is that Jesus has provided righteousness to all sinners who believe Him.

Romans 1:8-17

Taught Sunday morning, January 22, 2023 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!


The Spirit Enables



Acts is crucial for connecting the gospel accounts of Jesus to the collection of letters that make up most of the New Testament books. Acts begins with the resurrected Jesus ascending into heaven triumphantly, leaving the apostles to waiting for empowerment from on high. And power is what they get. The Holy Spirit emboldens Peter and the rest of the Twelve to boldly proclaim that Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father.

Acts 1:1-21

Taught Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 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!


Prince of Peace is Lord



If we have peace with God from being reconciled through Christ, we can experience the peace of God from living in the Spirit of God. With the Spirit of God within us, we can experience peace within the body of Christ. No longer just peacekeepers, but we are to be peace-makers – loving one another in concrete ways of grace, mercy, forgiveness, submission, and honor. It radically changes how we live and how we selflessly interact with the world today in light of our eternal home in Christ.

Colossians 3:12-17

Taught Sunday morning, January 1, 2023 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!


The Gospel of Christmas



Christmas wouldn’t mean as much if it weren’t for the Resurrection. The Resurrection proved that this descendant of David was (and is) indeed the unique Son of God with power and holiness. And we have been commissioned to share that good news of His unmerited favor and rescue with the nations.

Romans 1:1-7

Taught Sunday morning, December 25, 2022 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!


Peace of Mind – Peace of God



The Prince of Peace has come to establish peace on earth. The first order of business is Peace with God (reconciling rebellious humans with the Holy God). Having peace with God then sets one up to experience the Peace of God (a peace that surpasses understanding and earthly circumstances). As the LORD told through Isaiah and Paul, a peace that guards the heart and mind.

Isaiah 26:1-4 and Philippians 4:6-9

Taught Sunday morning, December 18, 2022 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!


Peace with God



Peace is more than a cool down in hostilities.  In Hebrew, Shalom includes a wholeness from righteous rule that brings justice and fruitfulness for all.  And that kind of peace can only happen once we are at peace with God.  What does that mean?  Peace with God is when repentant sinners are surrendered to King Jesus to receive His forgiveness as purchased at His cross.  Hence He is known as the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6-7 and Romans 5:8-11

Taught Sunday morning, December 11, 2022 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!


Son of David, Have Mercy



David is pretty heroic in Sunday School stories, pretty cringe-worthy at other points in his life. Yet God made a BIG promise to David that people are still talking about it in eternity. God would establish a “house” for David so that the Son of David would establish a “house” for God and be established in God’s kingdom forever. With all the talk about “seed” and “forever” it makes you wonder how anyone got confused about this covenant ever being about a temple in Jerusalem. It is so much bigger than that.

1 Chronicles 17:1-15

Taught Sunday morning, December 4, 2022 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!


Greater than Moses



Moses is kinda a big deal. God Himself called Moses a faithful servant and called him a friend that God spoke to face to face. When everyone else shrank away in fear, Moses answered the call of God to come into the fire to come closer to God. Could anyone ever measure up to being a prophet like Moses? God said there would be. Only the Messiah Himself could measure up and exceed the standard set by Moses. Let’s see a few ways that’s possible.

Deuteronomy 18:15-19

Taught Sunday morning, November 27, 2022 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!


Looking for a Star



Balaam was a famous seer and influential man among the gods. But something out of his ordinary happened when he accepted the task of trying to curse the chosen people of the LORD. He could not curse but was forced to utter blessing. And he saw a future King who would change the world of the Gentiles. And wise men began watching for the sign of this coming King – the Star.

Numbers 24:15-19

Taught Sunday morning, November 20, 2022 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!