Tag Archives: life

Rule of the Spirit



Paul gives a personal glimpse of the struggles he felt between his old way of living (the rule of sin) and his new life in Christ (rule of Spirit). There were daily defeats but the war is already won in Christ. And so it is with us who are in Christ.

Romans 7:12 – 8:2

Taught Sunday morning, May 21, 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!


What is your sacrifice?



Honoring Jephthah’s daughter for her faith in God and her selfless sacrifice of her future and even her own self. And by doing so, she points to One even greater who also sacrificed Himself to honor His Father’s promises and will by laying down His life thoughtfully and completely.

Judges 11:28-40

Taught Sunday morning, May 14, 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!


Wages or Gift



Paul uses an analogy that he says is imperfect but still communicates an essential lesson for us. We have been set free from sin as a slave-master whose wages are corruption, shame, and death. Now that we belong to Christ, why would someone want to still want to work a second job for sin? Sin still pays corruption, shame, and death. Instead, we should work wholehearted for Christ who doesn’t just give us wages but He gifts us right-living, holiness, and eternal life.

Romans 6:23

Taught Sunday morning, May 7, 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!


Know your Shepherd



For a few minutes, we look at what is hopefully a very familiar passage of Scripture – Psalm 23.  The hope is that each of us growing increasingly familiar with not only Psalm 23 but also with the LORD, the Shepherd of Psalm 23.  Then when the trying times comes, we already have depth with the One who cares for our souls.

Psalm 23

Taught Sunday morning, April 30, 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!


Faith works



Paul preaches that we are saved by faith and not by works. James preaches that your faith should be accompanied by works or it’s not faith. And both point to Abraham as proof. Who is right? The Holy Spirit of course! Jesus is always right.

James 2:14-26

Taught Sunday morning, March 12, 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!


I’d Rather Have Jesus



Podcast Title - I'd Rather Have Jesus

“The eyes of the LORD run to and fro over the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is loyal toward Him.” God is looking for opportunities to do great things. Unfortunately the problem is on our end. We are missing out on His answers to prayer by not asking or by not believing fully in Him. Let us lean wholly on His everlasting arms.
May I suggest listening to George Beverly Shea sing, “I’d Rather Have Jesus” first?

2 Chronicles 16:9

Taught Sunday morning, October 30, 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!


Glory in the Cross



The centerpiece of Paul’s life was shameful in the eyes of the Roman and Jewish world – the cross of Jesus. But throughout his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul has insisted that the cross is the most important part of our theology as Christians and more. The cross is our only standing against our past before a holy and righteous God. The cross is our only hope in this present life. The cross secures our claim in the new creation of eternity future.

Galatians 6:14-18

Taught Sunday morning, October 2, 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!


Fruit of Holy Spirit



In contrast to the works of the sinful fleshly nature, abiding in Christ through walking in the Spirit produces fruit that is consistent with God’s character and modeled by Christ. We choose whether to crucify the old nature and walk in the Spirit, but it is the Holy Spirit that produces the fruit.

Galatians 5:22-26

Taught Sunday morning, September 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!


Fruit of the Sin Nature



Paul’s letter gives a scary warning. The sinful nature, the “flesh” is in warfare with the Spirit for the heart and mind of the believer. We must choose which desires we will pursue. Paul warns that this list of bad behaviors and attitudes (not comprehensive) are incompatible with God’s Holy Spirit nor His kingdom. And while they may be a part of our past, we need to leave them in the past based on what our future holds and Who holds us (see also 1 Corinthians 6)

Galatians 5:16-21

Taught Sunday morning, August 14, 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!


The Virtuous Life



I’m not an expert on being a mother, but I’ve had a good one for long time. Let’s visit on one description of a good mother from Scripture and realize we all have a lot to learn from this.  The virtuous life is only possible in Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 31:25-31

Taught Sunday morning, May 8, 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!