Tag Archives: Sanctification

Be an Example

Sermon, , , , ,

A quick thought on Paul’s exhortation to be an example of what it means to be a follower of Jesus the Messiah. Be an example in all the aspects of life in order to be a credible character witness of the Kingdom of God.

1 Timothy 4:12

Taught Sunday morning, October 5, 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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More

Exercising Godliness

Sermon, , ,

Paul continues his exhortation to Timothy of what to teach as a faithful pastor for God. Bodily workouts are beneficial in the short term, Paul says, but exerting oneself towards godliness is beneficial both in the short-term and for eternity. Keep God the major priority for life.

1 Timothy 4:6-11

Taught Sunday morning, September 21, 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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More

Ordained to Serve

Sermon, , , ,

Acts 6 and Acts 13 both mention that the church leaders “laid hands” on the new servant leaders before sending them to the work. The official term for that is ordination – a physical symbol of a spiritual reality that confirms the work of the Spirit and identifies the new person as one with the others to continue the work of the Lord.

Acts 13:1-5

Taught Sunday morning, August 24, 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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More

God’s Charge to Serve

Sermon, , , ,

Likewise, Paul continues God’s instruction regarding the character of servant-leaders in the church. We know them as deacons. But we may not know what they are supposed to look like or what they are supposed to do. So let’s see what the Bible says regarding these servants of the Lord.

1 Timothy 3:8-13

Taught Sunday morning, August 10, 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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More

God’s Charge to Pastors

Sermon, , , , ,

Jesus the Son of God is the only human who lived the perfect life in God’s eyes. Yet the Word still gives us these characteristics to be seen in pastors and elders. While we may feel inadequate at times, the bigger concern would be if we aren’t humbled by this challenge. Pride is the most deadly sin.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Taught Sunday morning, August 3, 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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More

Help My Unbelief

Sermon, , , ,

Jesus comes down from His mountain top experience with three of His disciples to find the other nine embroiled in an embarrassing mess. They were unable to help someone in need and no one knows why – except Jesus. Jesus walks a desperate father through the steps of faith so that he can see his son healed and restored. And Jesus helps His disciples learn how they need more faith to handle the challenges that they face.

Mark 9:14-29

Taught Sunday morning, June 15, 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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More

The Way of the Cross

Sermon, , , , ,

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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More

Hypocrisy Exposed

Sermon, , ,

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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More

Generosity and Gratitude

Sermon, , , ,

The believers in Philippi had given generously to Paul once again. And he wanted to express his gratitude without sounding too desperate yet not unappreciative either. Plus he wanted them to know that their sacrifice was like an offering to God and would be rewarded by the Lord. Thus we get some good sayings to contemplate regarding contentment and generosity.

Philippians 4:10-23

Taught Sunday morning, May 4, 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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More

Redeemed and Restored

Sermon, , , ,

Isaiah foretold of the Servant of God who would suffer death as the perfect sacrifice for the sin of God’s people. His words remained mysterious for seven hundred years until Jesus of Nazareth accomplished that sinless life and atoning death on the Roman cross. And His followers used Isaiah 53 to explain the significance of Jesus’s death and the reason for His resurrection. Peter applies that truth as the reason for us to live differently reflecting the new life we have in Christ.

Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 1:17-21 and 2:21-25

Taught Sunday morning, April 20, 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!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More