God asks for relationship.



The teacher asked one question of the Greatest Teacher. What is the greatest commandment that God gave us? Jesus gives him two commands that go well beyond obedience. The commands are invitation to relationship with the Eternal Holy God Almighty. And in relationship with Him, God challenges us to join Him in His pursuit of love relationship with others.

I included more of the audio from the worship service just to give you a glimpse of our time on a Sunday morning.  I record the podcast through a microphone I wear, hence the reason you hear me better than those who pray or lead singing.  But we love all these parts of our worship service.

Mark 12:28-34

Preached Sunday morning, August 23, 2020 by Brad D Harris


Looking unto Jesus



As both our example of faith and the object of our faith, Jesus stands as the climax of Hebrews 11 and its list of heroes. Thus let us run the course set before us with endurance. There are hindrances to be set aside. There will be hostility from opposition. But looking unto Jesus, we see Him on the other side of those sacrifices and seated at the right hand of God. Let’s Go!

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 now 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!

Hebrews 12:1-3

Preached Sunday morning, August 16, 2020 by Brad D Harris

Prairie Oaks Baptist Church
402 Viney Grove Road in Prairie Grove, AR
P.O. Box 424, Prairie Grove AR  72753
prairieoaksbaptist.com
on Facebook @prairieoaks


By faith, they persevered.



The writer of Hebrews is giving us an avalanche of examples of commendable faith in the build up to grand finale. We need to see three big lessons from all these examples. One, for all of us, faith is occasionally mixed with failure. Do not let failure define your faith, but trust in God to redeem the failure. Two, faith sometimes brings victory on earth. Other times, faith shows the value of heaven when victory is harder to find. And three, we have greater opportunity to be heroes of faith in the new covenant than these Old Testament examples did.

Hebrews 11:32-40

Preached Sunday morning, August 9, 2020 by Brad D Harris


Rahab and Joshua



Rahab teaches us as much about Jesus as Joshua does.  She enters the story with a sordid reputation that tarnishes nearly everyone who associates with her. Yet she is crucial to knowing God and the work that the LORD was doing with the Israelites and Canaanites. So much so that the New Testament reveals more about her and through her than the Hebrew Scriptures do.  We are all more like Rahab than we may realize.
Sinners saved by grace.

Hebrews 11:30-31

Preached Sunday morning, August 2, 2020 by Brad D Harris


Moses traded up



It boggles the mind how Moses willingly traded the power, prestige, pleasure and treasure of Pharaoh’s household in order to identify with slaves. Yet with a hope that could not be realized in this life or even in this world, Moses by faith counted the cost and saw the gain in following Christ. How about you? Following Christ may cost you less than Moses forsook, but it’s still hard to let it go sometimes. But what holds us back is garbage compared to what is offered before us in Christ. Let’s endure together.

Hebrews 11:23-29

Preached Sunday morning, July 26, 2020 by Brad D Harris


Generations with God



The focus in previous section was on Abraham and Sarah being on journey of faith in life. This section focuses on their passing the faith to next generation before dying. Death was not what mattered. Being faithful through death is what mattered. Believing in the resurrection is what mattered. And preparing the next generation of faith is what mattered.

Hebrews 11:17-22

Preached Sunday morning, July 19, 2020 by Brad D Harris


Pilgrims with God



By faith, Abraham and Sarah waited and endured, moving forward. They lived in tents, meaning they didn’t live for the things of this world nor for the approval of this world. They dug wells, they improved the circumstances of those around them for generations to come. Abraham and Sarah built altars, they sought to draw others to the true God around them and for generations to come.

Hebrews 11:8-16

Preached Sunday morning, July 12, 2020 by Brad D Harris


Faith beyond sight



Fireworks are a short-lived thrill.  But it takes faith to live for something eternal because what is eternal is invisible to the eyes of the flesh.  Abel chose to pursue the invisible God with sacrificial worship.  Enoch walked with the invisible God knowing that the LORD rewards those who seek Him.  Noah prepared for eternity by not trusting his eyes but trusting the Word of God.

Hebrews 11:1-7

Preached Sunday morning, July 5, 2020 by Brad D Harris


Just Live by Faith



The confidence given to us by the superiority of Jesus Christ, in Whom we trust, is to valuable to let doubts and discouragement take its place.  Steadfast faithfulness has its reward and is commended by God with righteousness.  Let us persevere like the other redeemed sinners who have gone before us.

Hebrews 10:35 – 11:2

Preached Sunday morning, June 28, 2020 by Brad D Harris


The Father guides in the desert



Why does God allow the hard times in our lives?  Does He have a purpose for those dry, challenging circumstances we face?  Moses reminds the children of Israel and us that like a good Father, God brings us through the desert wilderness to test us and prepare us for greater victories ahead, if we will learn the lessons of the wilderness.

Deuteronomy 8

Preached Sunday morning, June 21, 2020 by Brad D Harris