Tag Archives: Hebrews

Submit to Christ



Paul is still instructing the followers of Jesus in Ephesus (and us today) how to submit to one another, just like Christ. This time he is instructing parents and their children. And he speaks to masters and slaves. While Paul does not waste words about the institution of slavery, his instructions reveal the revolutionary perspective he has. All people are created by God and that God is not partial in His judgment like we are tempted to be.

Ephesians 6:1-9

Taught Sunday morning, December 8, 2024 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!


Enduring Shame with Hope



Jesus undoubtedly endured excruciating pain and suffering on our behalf before dying in our place on the cross. That is the substitutionary atonement. Sometimes overlooked in that is the shame, humiliation, and rejection that He endured as our sacrifice – in order that the sting of our shame and humiliation would be shared by Him, in our place. We too can trust the Father to vindicate injustice in His time.

John 18:39 – 19:16

Taught Sunday morning, November 19, 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!


Run with Endurance



Having heard the testimony of these heroes of the faith and that God testifies of their faith, we are inspired to run with endurance the race of faith set before us. But we must look steadfastly at Jesus in order to stay the course and finish well, for He is the One to have blazed the trail and finished the challenge against all the obstacles. Otherwise, we will grow weary and despair along the way. But God has better things ahead for those who finish. It is worth it!

Hebrews 12:1-3

Taught Sunday morning, June 25, 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!


Choice of faith



Moses was pointed in direction of faith by his birth parents and their faith. His adoptive family gave him much but when the time came, he knew that Egypt did not offer him eternal life. By reasoned faith, Moses chose to pursue long-term gain and reward even if it cost him short-term pain and loss. He looked to the reward over following fear. And his courageous faith inspired his people to trust God to deliver them through the Red Sea.

Hebrews 11:23-29

Taught Sunday morning, June 18, 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!


Pioneers in Faith



The LORD challenged Abraham and Sarah to trust Him enough to leave their home, their family, and their culture identity in order to let God start something new with them – a new home, a new family, and new cultural identity. And courageously, they followed the LORD based on His promise. We are given promises of the same vein in order to follow Christ into a new cultural identity, new family, and new home, superior to anything found on earth. Will we follow by faith?

Genesis 12:1-9 and Hebrews 11:8-16

Taught Sunday morning, June 11, 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!


Noah found grace



Noah found grace

Noah sought God while living in a world that ignored God at best and defied God more often than not. And by his faith, Noah found grace in God’s sight. And God rewards those who seek Him. The LORD showed Noah the coming judgment and the plan for salvation from the condemnation. Noah by faith, trusted and obeyed the plan of God and rescued himself and his household from the judgment against sin.

Hebrews 11:6-7 and Genesis 6:8-9

Taught Sunday morning, June 4, 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 Day of Atonement



Leviticus is to point us to Christ.  The Day of Atonement may seem dense and a little weird at first reading.   Let’s see how these technical instructions from God prepare the way for us to understand our salvation through Jesus Christ.

Leviticus 16

Taught Sunday morning, October 10, 2021 by Brad D Harris
(on a windy day, sorry 😉

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!


More than a Name



The LORD descends to the mountain to proclaim His Name, to declare His character, for Moses and the children of Israel for all generations of those who love the LORD. We do well to meditate upon these verses and the character traits revealed here.

Exodus 34:6-7

Taught Sunday morning, September 19, 2021 by Brad D Harris

I am including links to some resources from Bible Project that go much deeper than we have time to do today. Check out all six videos.  Beyond the videos are hours of more learning in the amazing podcast.
The Bible Project – The Character of God

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!


Living the Living Word of God



I wanted to spend a few minutes sharing about a Bible study method we are using at Prairie Oaks. Plus I wanted to plug the Gideons International as the local chapter visits our congregation on Sunday. Our God is not silent. But we must choose to prioritize listening for His voice through His Word by His Spirit.

References: Gideons International
The Hedge at ABS
Student Ministry Matters
SOAP Bible Study Method

Hebrews 4:12

Taught Sunday morning, August 8, 2021 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 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!


Jesus is our Sabbath



The Sabbath reminds us of the Creation Ideal. The Sabbath reminds us of our redemption. The Sabbath reminds us of the Eternal Hope. The Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The pastor of Hebrews challenges his readers to not miss out on this opportunity to participate by faith in God’s gift of rest in Jesus Christ. There is no other rest.  Not today.  Not for eternity.

Hebrews 4:1-10

Taught Sunday morning, July 18, 2021 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 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!