Favor with God

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It is easy to consider the Christian religion to be a series of “do’s” and “do not’s” but that is inaccurate.  Rather, Christianity is an emphatic “done” in Christ for Jesus proclaimed from the cross, “It is finished!”  And these messages are no different.  We take the time to hear from God how Christ gave us favor with God, when we needed it most.
Christ increased in favor with God on our behalf.

Luke 2:52 and Isaiah 52:13-15 and Isaiah 53:1-12

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

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Strength through Weakness

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Growing in body.  In some ways, this is easier done than we would like to admit.  But that leads to the point, growing in control over this body is significantly more difficult than being controlled by this body.  Hence the reason that January 19 is Quitters Day, the average time when new year resolutions to get healthy are abandoned.  But this message is about more than being healthy in this physical body, it is also about not being slaves to the physical when the spiritual is what is eternal.
Pray for me in this area, and I will pray for you!
Christ accomplished the victory even over the body!

Luke 2:52 and Galatians 5:16-25 and Luke 4:1-4

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

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Steadfast in the Faithful God

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Growing in wisdom.  James challenged his readers and us to call out to God for wisdom right after telling them to rejoice in tribulation for the endurance it produces in the believer’s life.  No coincidence.  James had seen in the life of Jesus that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  And wisdom is to trust God even when the challenges of our life don’t make sense.  And Christ sustains us when we seek to trust Him above trusting our reasoning.

Luke 2:52 and James 1:2-8

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

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Jesus Growing Up

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We don’t know many details, and it staggers the imagination.  Jesus was a baby, a toddler, a child, an adolescent, and young adult all before He was publicly revealed again to be the Messiah on the banks of the Jordan River.  And that growing up was vital part of being our Savior, fulfilling righteousness for us leading up to be our sinless Sacrifice.  But this little glimpse into His boyhood has much to teach us.

Jesus grew up.  We should continue to grow up as well.

Luke 2:39-52

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Blessed in Christ

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While the pastor was off, we had a technical malfunction and did not record our guest speaker.  Our apologies, Bro. Allen.  But the last time the preacher was gone back in August, Bro. Gabe Harris came and preached the word for us at Prairie Oaks, twice in one day.  We posted the morning message back then.  This week we are including Gabe’s verse-by-verse exposition from Ephesians 1 that he preached to our evening congregation.

Ephesians 1 is a powerful passage of Scripture that we do well to ponder upon often as Paul condenses what Christ accomplished for each of us who are in Christ.  And Gabe does a great job of revealing the glory that Paul packed into this letter.

Ephesians 1

Preached Sunday evening, August 18, 2019 by Gabe Harris

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Three gifts reveal the Greatest Gift

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There’s more going on in the Christmas carol “We Three Kings” than the title.  We find that if we listen to the message woven throughout the carol that we can learn much about the Child in Bethlehem.  The wise men traversed so far to behold Him and rejoiced to worship Him, giving such valuable gifts.  Indeed the Greatest Gift is the King, God, and Sacrifice revealed throughout the song and, more importantly, in Scripture.

We are still polishing up the audio and appearances of our podcast.  We welcome your helpful input that all might be done unto the glory of God.

Matthew 2:1-11
Revelation 5:1-10

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

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Christ is Faithful

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Our series in Revelation comes to its conclusion this week.  But we discover that last message is a very sobering reminder that we as individuals as well as churches can get far away from what we were created to be.  Yet even in the midst of correction from the Faithful and True Witness, Christ is Faithful to His wayward saints in love and righteousness.  He invites and even disciplines us back into fellowship with Him.  Jesus is the good news.
This is the last in a seven-part sermon series on church revitalization.

I added a short intro before the audio of the sermon audio begins.   Let me know in the comments what you think.

Revelation 3:14-22

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

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Christ opens the door…

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Ever feel like that there are so many obstacles and closed doors slammed in your face?  What is one to do?  The little church in Philadelphia was feeling weak and excluded.  But Christ reminded them that He had opened the most important door unto them, the one into heaven!  And they would enter that door victorious as they remained faithful in spite of their weakness.  In weakness is where the Lord’s strength is glorified.
This is the sixth in a seven-part sermon series on church revitalization.

I also included a testimony that the audio is difficult to hear (just a minute or so into the message) but if you can hear it, it’s a blessing.

Revelation 3:7-13

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

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Faithful though Few

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While it is important to have a good reputation, it is infinitely more important to have a good evaluation by the Judge of all the earth, Jesus Christ.  The church is Sardis had the reputation, but their evaluation from the Lord was that they were dead and dying.  Few were alive in Christ and faithful but even those parts were dying and needed rekindled.  Yet the Savior brings the dead back to life, if only they will repent.  What does the Spirit say to us?
This is the fifth in a seven-part sermon series on church revitalization.

Revelation 3:1-6

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

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Faithful in Purity

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Some of us just want to be nice and get along.  Kindness is a Christian virtue.   But Jesus, the Son of God, seems harsh when He calls for integrity and purity of His church in Thyatira.  They have allowed false doctrine and immorality to infiltrate and infect their growing body of Christ.  And Christ of the penetrating discernment is coming to judge the problem.  His church is doing things right and He wants to continue that with integrity.
This is the fourth in a seven-part sermon series on church revitalization.

Revelation 2:18-29

Preached Sunday morning, November 24, 2019 by Brad D Harris

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