Tag Archives: Matthew

The Way of the Cross



The disciples recognize Jesus as Messiah and Son of God but without realizing all that the Messiah has come to do. So Jesus begins teaching them the way of the cross. And there is resistance from them. They didn’t expect that. But Jesus knows the way to glory passes through the cross. And if we desire to follow Him to glory, we follow His way too.

Matthew 16:21-28

Taught Sunday morning, June 1, 2025 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!


Father Reveals Son



Jesus could be mysterious at times. So when He asked His disciples questions, it’s a wonder that someone would speak up. Thankfully Simon Peter would speak up. And His answer this time is as solid as a rock, a boulder to be precise. Only the Father could reveal such timeless truth for someone to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Matthew 16:13-20

Taught Sunday morning, May 25, 2025 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!


Hypocrisy Exposed



The religious leaders were full of hot air, it seems. Jesus condemned their prideful refusal to believe the evidence from God that Jesus was the Messiah sent from heaven. Rather, they stubbornly clung to what they wanted rather than what they needed. And thus they were not ready when the Judge of all the earth examined their hearts and found them lacking. I hope we won’t do the same.

Matthew 16:21-12

Taught Sunday morning, May 18, 2025 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!


Humility and Faith



This story is uncomfortable for us, and is probably intended to be. We know Jesus is compassionate and not prejudiced but it sounds bad here. Maybe Jesus has more going on here than meets the eye. Maybe Jesus is confronting us more than He is this woman. Do we have what it takes to pass the test of faith? Do we actually have the compassion that He does?

Matthew 15:21-28

Taught Sunday morning, May 11, 2025 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!


Gentiles seek Him



The Magi (or wise men as we popularly call them) not Jewish but they came from far away to find the King of the Jews. But they were not looking for a minor king but The King – the Messiah for all peoples, Jews and Gentiles. And their search was rewarded by God who always rewards those who diligently seek Him.

Matthew 2:1-12

Taught Sunday morning, December 29, 2024 by Brad D Harris
(audio from the YouTube video recorded before Sunday)

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!


Joseph and Mary



Joseph was a simple hard-working young man, betrothed to be married to a pretty girl from Nazareth. But appearances are not always what they seem to be. Mary is caught up in something much bigger than Joseph or her has ever imagined. And he is given the choice to embrace the bigger story God is writing. God is about to rescue His people.

Matthew 1:18-25

Taught Sunday morning, December 22, 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!


Great Commission



Ancient Landmark – the Great Commission Jesus commands His disciples to continue to go and make more disciples of the Kingdom of God. The authority belongs to Jesus and the good news is that He welcomes people from all nations to follow Him in His kingdom of heaven. And we have the privilege and empowerment to teach others to join the movement.

Matthew 28:18-20

Taught Sunday morning, July 21, 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!


Lord’s Model Prayer



An Ancient Landmark that has been recited and meditated upon for generations of Christ-followers. Jesus taught His disciples a short model prayer that they could direct and inform their prayers to their heavenly Father.

Matthew 6:9-13

Taught Sunday morning, July 7, 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!


God’s Light



God created light and then created beings to show a physical light. His image bearers failed to live in His spiritual light. So He sent His Son to be spiritual Light and give spiritual light to those who believe in Him. They become His lights to show His Spiritual light in a dark world. And one day, God will once again combine the physical light and spiritual light to eradicate darkness once and for all from His creation.

Genesis 1, John 1, John 8, Matthew 5, and Revelation 21-22.

Taught Sunday morning, June 23, 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!


Ten Commands – Part 3



The LORD spoke from the mountain these ten commands of His covenant with Israel but they have been taught much longer and wider than there. Jesus expounded them in His gospel of the kingdom (Sermon on the Mount). The apostles taught them and applied them to new Christians regardless of their ethnicity and culture. These are the timeless guidelines for honoring God by honoring His image in humanity.

Exodus 20:1-17
Seventh through Tenth Commands

Taught Sunday morning, June 9, 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!