Tag Archives: prayer

Tempted and Tried



Ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Peter wasn’t necessarily in the wrong place but he hadn’t prepared himself (Luke 22:31-46) and when the test came, he failed miserably. What can we learn from his situation and other Scriptures to keep us from failing similar tests?

John 18:12-27 and Luke 22:31-62

Taught Sunday morning, November 5, 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!


Kept and Sanctified



Jesus prays for His disciples. We already knew that He did. But one of the longest prayers recorded by Jesus is found in John 17. He prayed for Himself and He prays for His disciples and for those disciples that His disciples will make. He prays that the Father would “keep” them in the faith, set apart and made holy for bringing glory to God by representing Him well and making disciples.

John 17:6-19

Taught Sunday morning, October 1, 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!


Peace of Mind – Peace of God



The Prince of Peace has come to establish peace on earth. The first order of business is Peace with God (reconciling rebellious humans with the Holy God). Having peace with God then sets one up to experience the Peace of God (a peace that surpasses understanding and earthly circumstances). As the LORD told through Isaiah and Paul, a peace that guards the heart and mind.

Isaiah 26:1-4 and Philippians 4:6-9

Taught Sunday morning, December 18, 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!


Faithful to Pray



Jesus used the story of a self-serving judge and a persistent widow to teach His disciples how much better God the Father is at answering prayer. But will we trust that He hears and answers our prayers in His good timing? Will we be found faithful when He comes?

Luke 18:1-8

Taught Sunday morning, October 23, 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!


Faithful to Pray



Persecution begins again for the church in Jerusalem. And this time, the first of the apostles is executed for his testimony of Jesus. And Peter is arrested and scheduled to be executed next. The church does not give up on praying to God. God answers prayers. He brought James home to be with him, a faithful witness. God delivered Peter from prison, in a way unexpected by the prayer meeting at Mary’s house. Don’t give up on praying to our Father. But trust the results to Him.

Acts 12:1-19 and Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:7

Taught Sunday morning, May 29, 2022 by Brad D Harris
(forgive the weak audio)

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!


Faithful through Persecution



Stephen was a faithful witness, even through opposition, persecution, and death.  But the seeds of the gospel that he had sown in his death did not produce immediate fruit.  Instead, a chief persecutor arose who wreaked havoc on the church, scattering them from Jerusalem.  Why would God allow this to happen to His infant church?  Instead, Jesus prepared His followers for this eventuality, knowing that what the world had done to Him, the world would do to His followers.  And He prepared His followers with great promises that His faithfulness would empower them to be faithful.

Acts 7:55 – 8:3

Taught Sunday morning, May 1, 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!


Forgiven for Relationship



If the LORD did a countdown of our sins, who would be safe? But instead, the LORD offers forgiveness, desiring to be reconciled to sinners. And as sinners consider the means by which a holy, righteous God punished sin and brought mercy to sinners, we grow in fear and reverence toward such a wise, loving, and faithful God. The LORD brought together justice and mercy at the cross of Jesus Christ, His Son.

Psalm 130

Taught Sunday morning, February 20, 2022 (2-20-2022) 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 Compassionate Shepherd



We probably don’t know much about shepherds like folks did in David’s day. But someone who cares for helpless animals by protecting, nurturing, and tending their needs is what David is telling us and more. Let’s see how the illustration of a shepherd with sheep is helpful for us to learn about how God cares for us through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Psalm 23
Model Prayer – Matthew 6:9-13

Taught Sunday morning, January 16, 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!


Do not forget



There can be so many distractions and discouragements that tempt us to subtly forget who God is. If we have hard times, we are tempted to doubt Him and His character. If we have it good, we are tempted to forget Him and keep the glory for ourselves. We give God the blame and steal the credit. But Moses warns us to not forget who we often are and remember who God always is.
(also, my memory failed and I misquoted Matthew Henry’s fourth thankful. He was thankful that he wasn’t the one who stole a wallet.)

Deuteronomy 8

Taught Sunday morning, November 28, 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!


Moses Remembers the LORD



On the edge of the Promised Land and having heard how wonderful the place is, ten spies lead the congregation into forgetting the LORD and rejecting Him and His Promised Land. Hurt and angry, the LORD tests Moses to see if he will intercede once again for these rebellious people. Moses pleads according to the instructions God gave him at Mount Sinai, rescuing the people from righteous destruction.

Numbers 14:11-20

Taught Sunday morning, October 24, 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!