Tag Archives: Repentance

Circumcise the Heart



The Commander of the LORD’s armies appears to Joshua and commands Joshua to remove his shoes for he stands on holy ground. This consecration had already begun as Joshua prepared the sons of Israel to have their hearts circumcised so that they would love the LORD and love one another as God commanded.  We need the same work of God in our hearts that we would always be sensitive to God’s working to prune us to life.

Joshua 5:1-15

Taught Sunday morning, March 24, 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!


Be Faithful



Joshua secretly sent two spies into Canaan. He didn’t know it but God sent them for a more important reason than recon. God knew that Rahab believed in Him and He gave her opportunity to demonstrate her faith in a dramatic way. And thus delivered her into the congregation of the people of God, heroes of faith.

Joshua 2:1-21

Taught Sunday morning, March 10, 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!


Baptism Proclaims



John started baptizing people who confessed their sinful condition and desired to be made right with God (repentance). The dip in the water symbolized the washing of their sins and trust in the “One to come” who was greater than John. This greater One would baptize people in the Holy Spirit, but the physical symbol Jesus taught His apostles was to baptize people in water who had by faith been baptized into the Holy Spirit. Plus their dip under the water also symbolized their faith in the One who had died, been buried, and rose again to new life.

Matthew 3

Taught Sunday morning, January 14, 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!


Jesus and Peter



Jesus had already had a private meeting with Peter after the disciple’s denial of Him. But this conversation is about Jesus loving Peter enough to restore him to leadership and Peter loving Jesus enough to humbly accept restoration. We have so much to learn about love and forgiveness from Jesus.

John 21

Taught Sunday morning, January 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!


Repentant Thief and Vindicated Judge



Part Two of The Judge Speaks
The Judge gave warning to those who rejected God’s chosen Savior. Coupled with the warning is the offer of forgiveness for one’s rejection of Jesus. The prayer of Jesus was graphically answered when one of the murderous thieves changes his mind about the Man on the middle cross. Fearing God, he admits his wrong and asks for mercy from the King and Judge of the living and the dead. And Jesus tells the repentant thief that he will join the King in the garden that day. Jesus knows His vindication will come from His Father. He too rests in the justice of God.

Luke 23:24-47

Taught Sunday morning, December 3, 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 Judge Speaks



While continuing our tour of the closing chapters of John’s Gospel, we supplement our picture of the crucifixion with Luke’s account of the Gospel story. Having been condemned, the Judge of all the earth gives four sayings of judgment that we would be wise to hear. Words of warning, words of mercy, and words of vindication. This is Part One of Two.

Luke 23:24-47

Taught Sunday morning, November 26, 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!


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!


Reasons for Peace – Part 1



Jesus warns His apostles that trouble is coming that would squeeze the life out of them and try to make them fall away. And that He would not be physically with them as these troubles came. But in His warning, He also gives reasons for hope. They won’t be alone just the same as He wasn’t really alone when His followers fled. Not only can they survive, but they can overcome because Christ overcame. Not only do they have reasons for peace, but Christ gives them joy to the full.

John 16:33

Taught Sunday morning, September 10, 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!


Stand in the Gap



Stand in Breach

The LORD sought for someone to intercede to Him on behalf of the people and maybe to turn the tide back toward God. But there was neither anyone qualified and able to do that. Nor were the people willing to be led toward a change of mind, much less a change of behavior. Thus that generation would experience the just return for their wicked behavior. Will we?

Ezekiel 22:30

Taught Sunday morning, September 3, 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!


Delight in God’s Ways



Jehoshaphat starts well in following the LORD but he also works to bring his people closer to God with the removal of idolatry and teaching the law of the LORD. But then he makes a dangerous alliance with Ahab of the northern tribes of Israel – a follower of Baal. But when Jehoshaphat is rebuked by the prophet, he seems to repent and pursue God instead of hardening his heart as his father Asa had done. Jehoshaphat delights in the LORD.

2 Chronicles 17-19

Taught Sunday morning, July 9, 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!