The BereanWay is the pulpit preaching ministry of Pastor Antonio “Tony” Harris…
His desire is for preaching and teaching of the word of God is to be the voice of God as he speaks to the people of God, the will of God. God, in his infinite wisdom has chosen the foolishness of preaching (I Cor. 1:18, 21) and chosen men to speak for him.
The BereanWay (formerly Pulpit Points) is a selected collection of messages from the pulpit preaching ministry of New Berean Baptist Church. It is our intent to share these inspiring, challenging and encouraging messages as a means to help supplement your faith in the Christ as well as stimulate spiritual growth and commitment in the things of God. Our collection features some audio and video messages. So, browse through our archives and leave a comment of encouragement.
Called to Care – Lam. 1:1-12 Minister James Parker of Calvary Evangelical Baptist Church, shared a special, sobering and challenging message entitled, “Called to Care“.
Sharing from the chronicle of Jeremiah in comparison, we are at a point in time in which we cannot afford not to care. In our indifference, we have allowed the world to carry on their life with the thought that no one cares. We are saved, we are rescued, we are called to care because God cared and cares for us.
In his documented lament, the prophet Jeremiah described the state of Israel. as they were wasted and desolated because of their rebellion against their God at the hands of their adversaries. (Lam. 1:1-12). We are both informed, warned and admonished to learn, repent, trust and obey to the Lord our God to avoid and minimize a similar hand of God’s righteous judgment when we too fail to care as we have been called to.
The BereanWay Sunday – A Bad Child, but A Good God
In today’s message, Rev. Robert Addison shared five biblical principles God wants us to know about how we are as children and how he is as the Father. (mp3 audio)
In today’s message Pastor Tony expounds on the account of Jesus and a Samaritan woman he met at a well. Jesus, the “Bread of Life” tells he is also “The Wellspring of Life“. Pastor Tony gives us these two thoughts on Jesus: 1. He Flows to Unlikely Places. Samaria was an unlikely place for a Jewish person. Jesus went to that unlikely place to flow as the love of God. 2. He Reaches to Underserved People. The woman felt unworthy and asked why he would speak to her. Jesus reached out to her and engaged with her.
Just A Touch – In this account recorded by Mark, Guest Speaker Robert L. Addison, shares how Jesus met with a man who had been crippled from birth. And in this account, we see how we all come to Jesus and the three-part process he uses to provide us with “Just a Touch” of his love, compassion and hope.
The Ten Commandment of James – Moses was given credit for The Ten Commandment of the Old Testament. But in the New Testament, there is the Ten Commandments of James. Pastor Tony begins this division of the book of James as part of a lesson to grow and mature in our practical walk in Christ. Join us as delve into the elements of The Ten Commandments of James, James 4:7-17
Bartimaeus; Poor, Blind and Bankrupt (Mark 10:48-52) – As New Berean Baptist Church celebrates its 35th anniversary, Pastor Tony invited guest speaker Robert Addison to share today’s word. Pastor Addison speaks from Mark 10:48-52 on the account of Bartimaeus and 1) His Condition, 2) His Cry and 3) His Cure. God wants us to recognize these spiritual truths in our lives and the lives of those around us and that we too can enter into the same cure as this man Bartimaeus. (video)
The Proper Attitude for Share the Gospel – Today, Missionary to Curacao Bernard Sylvien shared with the gathered crowd a timely message regarding our attitude when sharing the gospel of Church. Sylvien has been serving on the Caribbean for over twenty years. (video)
Because of the joy that was set before our Lord (Heb.12:1-2), we too can experience joy on the midst of our world. God has given us his Spirit to comfort us and bring us joy. In the conclusion of his series on “The Joy of the Lord”, Pastor Tony reminds us with some practical helps on how to live in the joy of the Lord (audio)
The Joy of the Lord Pt II – The Lord has a plan for each of his children (Jer. 29:11). He allows circumstances and trials in our life to teach us how to trust him, how to glorify him and how to shown through us. In today’s series conclusion, Pastor Tony takes us through the printed word as written by James these principles that will encourage our hearts when we are face with trouble (The Joy of the Lord Pt II).
The Joy of the Lord – Pastor Tony shares with us today why the joy of the Lord is our strength and what our understanding of that joy ought to be to help through the toughest and roughest of times in our life. Join us as we follow along with him through James 1:1-4 (video)
In Times Like These – The Bible says that perilous times will come but in reality, those times are here. We have seen some and witnessed some amazing things in our life and they will only get worse as we come to the end of time as we know it. Today, Pastor Tony echos the words the writer of Hebrews (10:24-25) to exhort one another on a daily basis as we see that day approaching. Join us in the auditorium of New Berean Baptist. We hope you will be encouraged and blessed.
The Parable of the Good Father – Luke 15 is traditionally coined as the account of “the prodigal son”. But in today’s Father’s Day message, Pastor Tony of New Berean Baptist Church shares with us a message of rebellion and restoration entitled “The Parable of the Good Father”. Pastor Tony gives us a clear and vivid image of the how blessed we are to have God as our heavenly Father and how he is towards all his children and who he is towards anyone who wants to experience him, personally. (video)
The Life of a Believer – What is the life of a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ like? It’s like no other life. It is the abundant life that Jesus spoke on in John 10:10. And in today’s message, Pastor Tony shares with us three elements of that abundant life from the account of Luke the Physician, chapter nine, verse 23-27. Join us in the auditorium of New Berean for another edition of The BereanWay (video)
A Mother Like That – Every mother has been fitted with certain characteristic traits that mirror that of our heavenly Father. Our lives have been enriched, inspired and edified by those who have chosen to faithfully follow and obey the Lord’s call on their lives as mothers.
In today’s message, Pastor Antonio “Tony” Harris provides three elements that have blessed us and please the Lord:
1) A Caring Mother,
2) A Correcting Mother and
3) A Creating Mother.
Join us and listen in on today’s message.
Search and Rescue, Lord Jesus -Today’s message by focuses on work God does through the person of his Holy Spirit to develop us to be the people of God he intended us. Follow along with us through Psalm 139,
He Sent Him Down – The Holy Spirit – In his message series, Pastor Tony brings us the point where the Holy Spirit is promised and purposed. What was the promise and purpose of the Holy Spirit and why is there so much confusion of who he is? He gives us three reasons why Jesus, the Holy Spirit down. Listen and follow along with Pastor Tony. (video)
He Went Up – The Ascension of Christ, We have explored and experienced the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior. But what happened after his ascension? Jesus left his disciples and followers some instructions on what he expected. These instructions extend to every believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ today. (video)
Holy Heartburn – Emmaus Road – Too much of a good thing can sometime cause problems. In today’s BereanWay message, Antonio Harris shares with us the account of the risen Savior and the two men he crossed paths with on the Emmaus Road. The Lord conducted on them what is commonly call a S.O.A.P test. He examined them with a “S-Subjective Inquiry”, an “Objective Questionnaire”, an “A-Assessment” and finally a “P-Plan” for Getting Better. The Lord always wants us to understand where we are and why we are where we are, so he can show where we ought to be. Follow along with Pastor Harris from Luke 24 (video)
He Got Up! – I Cor. 15:1-4 On this day in which we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus, the Christ, Pastor Harris share how important it is to be reminded and to remind others of this important and significant series of events of our faith.
The Triumphant Entry of the King of Kings – On this Palm Sunday, we recognize the Savior as he arrives in Jerusalem in the days leading up to his death. God made this a spectacular event with the timing of the Passover. Join us in the auditorium of New Berean Baptist Church as we remember this blessed time of celebration. (Video 1, Video 2).
Turning the World Upside Down – The followers of Jesus were so moved, motivated and convicted of the message of the Gospel that they share this message with anyone who would hear. As they had been dispersed and dispatched, they took this life-changing message of eternal love and spiritual hope in God all parts of the then known world. But because most people are comfortable and settled in their own mindset, world and beliefs, this message from the disciples was met with some hostile challenges. In today’s message from Pastor Tony, we too are challenged with same convictions and call of the disciples to too be accused of “Turning the World Upside Down“.
Series
Walking With the Shepherd (Psalms 23)
The Trilogy of Our Shepherd Psalm 23 -Jesus in his role before God is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and Chief Shepherd. in today’s message, guest speaker and former associate Minister Edwin Goodwin shares with the attending crowd how blessed we are as believers to have Jesus as our shepherd. (video).
Changing an “If Faith” into a “Though Faith (Luke 23:38-42) – What kind of faith you have? An “If faith” is based upon the condition or present circumstances we find ourselves. But a “though” faith is both a positional and faith. In today’s message, Pastor Tony explains the difference between and importance of the “if” type faith and the “though” faith. (video)
Highways and Hedges (Luke 14:16-24) – Pastor Antonio Harris gives of a word from Jesus’ parable account of the dinner feast prepared by a house master. The word from the Lord is go into the streets, the highways and the hedges and extend his special invitation to join Him. This message of the Lord is more for the believers than unbelievers to be about the Father’s business of executing and carrying out his Commission. (video).
What Mary Did Know Pt 2 – Mary, the motherly vessel chosen by the Lord God to birth the Savior, knew some things and learned some others. In today’s Pulpit Points message Antonio Harris shares, some of those things and how they can relate to our life. (video)
What Did Mary Know? Pt 1– The question is asked in the song, “Mary Did you Know?’ But in today’s message, Pastor Tony answers the question. From the text, Luke 1:26-38, there are at least two things Mary knew;
- Mary Knew the Grace and Favor of God
- Mary Knew Jesus as her Savior
Let us listen in on the message today (video)
The Greatest Love of All (John 3:16-18) – There many levels and expressions of love in our world today. But what about God’s love? In today’s Pulpit Points message, Antonio Harris shares with us the depths of God’s love for mankind and how no human expression of love in its greatest effort can compare to the greatest love of all (video).
Acting on the Acts of God – A Study in the Book of Acts
Acting Out the Acts of God Pt 5 – In continuation with his series entitled, “Acting on the Acts of God”, Pastor Antonio Harris shares with us from the spectacular amazement God did at the birth of the early church. Here in the text, Acts 2:42-47 shows us how the church received the word, believed the and as a result were magnified and if we are going to continue the acts of God as they did, we too are going have to be as they were (video).
Acting Out the Acts of God Pt 4 – Peter’s message (Acts 2:14-21) speak of the acts of God through death burial and resurrection of his dear son. Pastor Tony shares with the uniqueness of this special event in the history of Israel and the church to the Gentiles.
“Acting Out the Acts of God Pt 3” From the second section of the Acts of the Apostles, Pastor Tony expands on that “Pentecost is a Reverse of the Curse at Babel and Serves to Unify Unbelievers with God” (vss 1-12). The curse of Babel left the people who were assembled in one place confused (Gen 11:1-9) without understanding. But at Pentecost, all who were assembled were yet confused but they were given clear understanding through the revelation given by the Holy Spirit (video).
Acting on the Acts of God Pt 2 – Pastor Harris takes us back to when the Lord demonstrated himself mighty as he began the acts through the Apostles (Acts 2:1-12). As He gave them utterance, the people gathered in one place and began to speak in a dialect that was different from another but was recognizable by everyone present. If we are going to be the people of the church of Christ, we must get an understanding of how God established, sustained and worked through those who faithfully obeyed his command to wait. As they obeyed, God blessed. (video)
Acting on the Acts of God Pt 1 – Once you’ve been given permission, promises and power, you can now act. Pastor Antonio Harris share with us how and why we can now carry out the Commission of Christ – – (Video)
Series
How to Handle Change
How to Handle Change Pt 3 Sometime change happens gradually and sometimes changes happens “suddenly”. In today message on How to Handle Change Pt 3, Pastor Tony takes us to the account of Jesus disciples when they were out in a boat and a tempest suddenly arose. But what happens when things happen immediately in our lives?
How To Handle Change Pt 2 We should handle change prayerfully. It’s a good and spiritual thing to say we should handle change prayerfully but we, admittedly do not prayerfully handle change. In today’s, part 2 of Pastor’s Harris’ series on “How to Handle Change – Part 2”, he gives us a way that will allow us to properly and biblically handle change. Psalm 62:1-8 is our text today.
How To Handle Change – From David’s account in Psalm 62, Pastor Tony helps know that no matter the change, we have a source to help us navigate and adjust through it. We are limited in our wisdom and understanding of why things are the way they are and why change happens. But when we see things from God’s sovereign perspective, we can be at peace, in safety and have hope.
The BereanWay – The Vision of New Berean
B – Believing God for the Impossible (An Ugly Problem and A Beautiful Gate) – Beginning a new series of message, today’s Pulpit Points message by Pastor Antonio Harris from Acts of the Apostles 3:1-10, reminds us that whatever is impossible to us, is possible with God. He reminds us that God is not limited to what we can imagine but is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what we can think. (video)
E – Educating and Equipping the Saints – In the second installment of the series entitled, The BereanWay, Pastor Tony is sharing with us the vision God gave him for the direction of New Berean. Join us, as we follow the direction of New Berean – The BereanWay, Educating and Equipping the Saints (audio).
R – Reaching Up and Reaching Out – The BereanWay is God’s plan for the local church. It is a compilation of faith in the word of God and works of service for the glory of God (James 2:18-24). In today’s Pulpit Points message, Pastor Antonio shares with us the act of Reaching Up and Reaching Out as our guideline from (Matthew 6:9-13). The source of our faith is in the Lord God and his written instructions – the bible. He has ordained every believer to be about his business (Acts 1:8, Matt. 28:20) and in fulfilling The BereanWay, we must Reach Up and Reach Out. (audio)
A – Adore God (Psalm 95) – According to Psalms 95, we have a vivid description of how and why we can and should adore the Lord our God. It is a good thing to give thanks and praise to the Lord but we must know who he is. Pastor Tony speaks to us today from this special Psalm of David. (audio)
N – Nobly Search and Study the Scriptures – The Bereans of Acts 17 were considered more noble because of some things they did. God used them as examples of how we too can be biblically and spiritually noble and in today’s Pulpit Points message by Pastor Harris, outlines and details these attributes. Additional messages from Pastor Harris can be found at nbbcMinistry.com/ordinary-people. (audio)
W – Welcome All Who Come –
A – Adventure with God through the 23rd Psalm – The God of the Bible is a wonderful God, a God of adventure. He has told us through Jabez to “expand my borders” (I Chro. 4:10). He has told us through Paul that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20). The wisdom of his creativity is displayed in the scriptures (Psalm 104). To experience God includes experience the wonders of his majesty. (audio)
Y – Youth Focused – Let Them Come – In today’s final segment of the series, “The BereanWay”, Pastor Tony shares with us the importance to welcome the youth into the world and ministry of Christ. In Mark 10:13-16 we find our Savior taking an opportunity for a teachable moment of our responsibility to a) Bring Them In (v 13a), b) Stop Hindering Them (v13b-14) c) our Need to Follow Them (v15) and to remind the That Jesus Wants to Bless Them (v16)
Our Father’s Business
Our Father’s Business – Conclusion – In correct conclusion, Pastor Tony brings us to the last component of this series. God’s Business Plan “Worship of the Savior” (video)
Our Father’s Business – Pt 4 – God’s Business Plan for the Church – (video) In continuation of his parent message “Our Father’s Business” Pastor Tony focuses on “Fortifying for Ministry and Servantship”. Being about our Father’s business requires us as believers to know what his business is. His business plan includes fortifying every believer for ministry and servantship. We all have been ordained and called by our God to reach up, reach out, to be strengthened and to stir up gifts and meet the need and share His creed. In today’s message, Pastor shares with us some practical insight from the Acts of the Apostles on God’s business plan.
Our Father’s Business – Pt 4 – God’s Business Plan for the Church In being about our Father’s business, the Lord has a part for every member of his Church fit into. In today’s message about our Father’s business, Pastor Antonio Harris shares with us the role and business of the to evangelize the lost and disciple the believers in the teachings of the Apostles. (audio)
Our Father’s Business (Part 3) God has a business plan and that plan includes you. It is his strategy that is divinely engineered for the ultimately purpose of glorifying himself and redeeming mankind back to himself. When Jesus told Joseph and Mary that he must be about his Father’s business (Lk 2:49), it was this divinely engineered plan that he was talking about. He did not come to run or manage his own business but to the business or will of him who had sent him (John 6:38). (Video)
In today’s message, Pastor “Tony” continues his series on knowing and doing the business of God (ref. Matthew 28:18-20)
Our Father’s Business (Part 2) – On this journey as believers, we are going to experience all facets that will stretch us to our wits end. We will be pulled on, tugged at and challenged in are we never thought. And in today’s message, Pastor Tony reflects on the call of his life as a believer and the life of a young Jesus and how there is a similarity in our own lives as we seek to be about our father’s business. Reflecting from (Luke 2:48-50 and Luke 4:18-21), we’ll see a) the Mission of God, b) the Vision of God and c) the Goal of God as laid out in the plan to 1) Send and Mend, 2) Seek and to Set Free and 3) Sanctify, Unify and Love. (video)
Freedom from Life’s Ultimate Enemy – Freedom is defined as having the ability to act or behave oneself without the hindrance or restrictions of. But in God’s word, freedom is the ability to live, move and exist within the boundaries of his word. Biblical freedom has is limitations and benefits. In today’s message, Pastor Antonio “Tony” Harris shares why the most complete freedom is found in Jesus Christ @NBBCMinistry1 (audio clip)
A Cure for Heart Trouble – Sometimes our hearts can be heavy, sometimes our hearts slow. God wants us to know no matter the situations that have caused us to be weary in heart, He is the God of all comfort and is both willing and able to provide a cure for heart trouble. (Audio clip)
That’s My Father Romans 8:15-28 – We have fathers, good ones, bad ones, present ones and absent ones. We’ve had mothers as father, filling in the gap, foster dads and all kinds of fathers. But as good as they are, have been and will be, there will never be a Father like of heavenly Father. Through our earthly Fathers, God brought us into existence. We may not have anything to credit our dads credit, but one thing we can say is that we are here because of them.
But God has been our Father even when our mothers and Fathers have forsaken us. He has been everything we need of a father. In today’s message, Pastor Tony shares with us why we can rejoice in saying to God about God, “Thats My Father”. Listen and be encouraged
Let’s Go! Deeper Joshua 1:7-11 After the death of Moses, God’s anointed servant, he raised up Joshua to led and move the people of Israel on towards the promised land Canaan. The Lord knew the path getting there was not easy and required Israel to trust him as they did under Moses. In today’s Pulpit Points message, Pastor Tony shares three practical points we can apply as we grow in our faith. Let’s Go Deeper!
Let’s Go! Joshua 1:1-6 After the death of Moses, God Joshua and the rest of Israel a land that flows with milk and honey. But in order for them to receive this gift, they had to go forward in order to go over. In today’s message, Pastor Harris gives us an understanding how God asked Israel to trust him go into the land wherewith he had promised.
A Memorial to Remember – Pastor-elect Antonio Harris shared a personal, timely and challenging message to help us remember memorials in our life. In this account of Martha, Lazarus and Jesus, we learned to:
- Remember Martha Served Jesus
- Remember Lazarus and Simon the Leper Testified About Jesus
- Remember Mary’s Anointing of Jesus
Samuel’s Commitment to Intercessory Prayer – Like the nations surrounding them, the Israelites really wanted a king. But when their rejection of God as the real king was exposed, they were terrified and realized their sin in asking for a king. Now that Saul was their king, there could be no turning back from their mistake. Samuel could not change their mess. He promised that he would not sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for them and that he would keep teaching them God’s way.
Godly Mothers – Builders of Tomorrow’s Children – This message serves as an encouragement to those Godly and devoted mothers whose Christian walk is genuine. They have set marvelous examples before the Lord and prepared, protected and nurtured their children for their future and for eternity. These mothers are like today’s builders who follow the building codes, in order to erect enduring and magnificent mansions that last through time. Lets study the examples of some Godly mothers in the Bible who followed the codes of the Master builder as they laid the foundations of righteousness for their own children’s tomorrow. 2 Timothy 1:2-5, Proverbs 22:6
The Lifelong Devotion of Daniel (Daniel 1:1-21) – Daniel was a well known prophet in the Bible and wise advisor to several Kings some 2500 years ago. As a royal teenager he, along with surviving prisoners and children from the families of nobility were taken captive from Jerusalem and exiled to Babylon during the first of three invasions by Nebuchadnezzar. Yet, Daniel demonstrated an enduring and strong devotion to the Lord from his youth until around the age of 90. This message highlights the lifelong devotion of Daniel, a man who purposed in his heart to follow God, no matter what.
The Preeminence of Brotherly Unity – As one of the 12 Songs of Ascents by David, Psalm 133 was also written to be sung by the people of the Lord as they went up to the House of the Lord in Jerusalem to worship. It begins with, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”. What wonderful preparation for the family of the faithful entering for worship, as they recognized the blessings of doing it together. Psalm 133
Jesus – The Way, The Truth, The Life, At the Last Supper, as Jesus was preparing his disciples for His impending death Jesus told them he will be with them only a little while longer, and that where he is going, they cannot come but he would return and take them him where he is with the Father. This prompted questions by Phillip and Thomas who tells the Master, they don’t know where Jesus is going and asks for directions on how to get there. In our message Jesus’s response to Thomas’s records one of the most well-known and comforting passages of all scripture, John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.
The ‘Roman Road to Salvation’ is a popular method of evangelism that uses selected verses from Paul’s Epistle to the Romans to simply lay out God’s plan of salvation. Thousands upon thousands of Christians have used it successfully to share the way to salvation through repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. This message takes us on an adventurous road trip down the Roman Roads, and a few other side roads to boot.
What Say Ye About the Resurrection? – In the Gospel of John, we read about Thomas, who finally gets to see the risen Savior in person and afterwards confesses Jesus as “my Lord and my God. But Thomas was not the only witness to see Jesus alive. In our message today we seek the testimony of his accusers, disciples, friends, and others as we probe the question, “What say ye about the Resurrection?”
Prepared for the Cross – Jerusalem was abuzz with activity and crowds of visitors during the Holy Week of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were desperately seeking to secretly accuse Jesus and put Him to death. Time was short, but Jesus knew why He was in Jerusalem. He was there to die for our sins. Let us look at some of the preparations needed for what would happen at Calvary.
A True Friend of God – In the summer of 2020, during the onset of the COVID pandemic, our whole world became twisted and disoriented. We were in a place, a situation where (to some degree) we didn’t know if we were coming or going. God had called home into eternity our Senior Pastor of 30 years. The family, the ministry of New Berean needed comfort, compassion and compass for direction. As expected, He answered the prayers of God’s people and opened the door for Pastor DeWayne Cason to become the voice, the mouthpiece and spokesperson to provide the needed leadership.
In this message entitled, “A True Friend of God” from July 2020, Pastor Cason shares with the attend audience what God had given him to a ministry devastated, hurt and in need of some love. Listen in on this special and timely memory of New Berean Pulpit Points
Why Good Friday Was So Good – They say there would never have been a Resurrection to celebrate without the somber events that took place on that grim Good Friday some 2000 years ago. So what made that particular Friday in ancient Jerusalem so good? Our message aims to answer that question – with the truths found in the pages of the Gospel of Mark.
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Simon Says – There are many voices out the calling our name, barking out commands and telling us what they want us to hear. These voices are speaking to follow and obey. But as believers in the Lord Jesus there is one voice that we must hear and must obey. Minister Jason Harris shares in today’s message the encounter of Peter and the Lord when the Lord told Peter that Satan had desired to sift him as wheat. But Jesus gave him great comfort in response that he had prayed for him. There is to be a deliberate effort on our part to accept God’s words over the words and plans of anyone else. In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”: The reason for this is that other voices they will not harken to.
.Why We Preach – Why Preach? Certainly, with respect to the Gospel, all of us are responsible to preach, according to the Great Commission. But what about the Pastor? Ephesians 4:11 describes pastors as men who God gives to churches as a gift. Why do these “spiritual gifts” from the Lord preach or communicate God’s Word to others? In this Message, our Lord Jesus, along with His Apostles Peter and Paul gives us some biblical insights on ‘Why We Preach’ (ref. 2 Peter 1:12-21).
A Time to Choose A Servant – King Saul had been rejected as a leader because he did not obey God’s commands. The prophet Samuel, who had anointed Saul as King, was reluctant to do so out of fear of Saul. But it was time for Samuel to step out on faith and acknowledge God’s call to anoint a new leader for Israel once again. (ref text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13)
I. It Was Time to Move Forward 1-3
II. It Was Time to Make a Choice – Vss. 4-11
III. It Was Time to Be Anointed for Service – Vss. 12-13
SERVING TO WIN – God’s messenger, Minister Donald Franklins that the Lord wants us to be like the Apostle Paul in his willingness to reach the lost. Our calling to salvation is a call to service by remembering that servants are bound to their masters and free to serve. Taken from the context found in I Corinthians 9:19-23, we find in Paul, the example that will make us intentional and a people of purpose.
• God Wants Us To Be a Witness
• God Gives Us The Plan to Reach People Who Seem To Be Unreachable
• Serving God, as We Serve Others, Opens Doors
THE GOSPEL OF LOVE – Today, guest Minister, Antonio Harris delivered a timely message to encourage the hearer of the deep penetrating impact love that is God I John 4:7-11
- The Love of God is Defined as God
- The Word of God is Love Made Flesh
- The Love of God was Preached on the Cross
TONGUE TIED RELIGION – THE ART OF EVIL SPEAKING, The divine pathway of sanctification is chock-full of obstacles, not the least of which is the tongue; that unruly evil which James says no man can tame. So, unless the Christians spiritual grow stays on point, many believers who do a lot of talking may find themselves guilty of at least three sins. evil speaking, vain speaking, or foolish speaking. This message looks into this mysterious phenomenon we are calling a “Tongue Tied Religion and the Art of Evil Speaking”.
Uzziah – The Boy Kings of Judah (Pt 2) – Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became the 10th King of Judah, he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. The Bible tells us that Uzziah became famous and was a great and prosperous King who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord – all during the years of his mentor, a prophet named Zechariah. But unfortunately, his pride and arrogance against the things of the Lord led to his downfall. Here is the sad story of King Uzziah, in Part 2 of ‘The Boy Kings Of Judah’.
JOASH, The Boy Kings of Judah (Pt 1) – Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. The Bible tells us that Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest, who had hidden him safely in the Temple from the evil Queen, Athaliah for six years so that she did not kill him. Though he was privileged to have the opportunity to do great good for the Lord, he sadly fell into apostasy and failed to finish well. Here is the tragic story of King Joash, in Part 1 of ‘The Boy Kings of Judah’.
Becoming Prisoners of Hope – Some years after the Jewish remnant from Babylon returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel, their initial enthusiasm to rebuild the temple began to fade. But because of the many difficulties, sorrows, and a great fear of their hostile neighbors they became discouraged. They became prisoners of fear and stopped rebuilding the Temple with little hope for the future they longed for. But the prophet Zechariah, gave the exiles an encouraging message from the Lord about God’s love and care for His people. His prophecies centered on the glory that would once again be restored to Israel, then and in the future with Second Coming of Christ. Because God was faithful in keeping His promises, the remnant was encouraged to become prisoners of hope.The Message:I. Prisoners of the Past – 2 Timothy 2:26, Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Peter 5:8-9II. Prisoners of the Present – Zechariah 9:9-10III. Prisoners of the Future – Zechariah 9:11-12, Colossians 1:13-14, Isaiah 61:7
Stay In the City – Do you ever wonder about Christ’s Second Coming? The Disciples of Jesus believed that their hope of a Messianic Kingdom in Israel was all
but a shattered dream, until Jesus revealed His resurrected body to them. Jesus consoled them, declaring that His Kingdom was still coming, but it was not going to be established at the present time as they had hoped. To
prepare for the establishment of the coming Kingdom, the Disciples first needed to receive the promised Holy Spirit so they could carry out the Great Commission. So, he told them to “stay in the city” and wait. And then as they watched Jesus ascending into Heaven, the angels standing nearby reminded them that their hope for the Kingdom was only delayed, for Jesus was indeed coming back, in the same manner in which he left.
This message gives us four characteristics of Christ’s Second Coming
Finally – A 2023 New Year’s Challenge – The year 2022 ended with the Christmas celebration of the Saviors’ birth. Now in 2023, its finally time to accept a New Year’s Challenge to take the baton for this next leg of the journey. Time to join up with a new Pastor and with God’s leading, continue this race that has been set before us. This message provides some positive steps to help prepare us for this New Year’s Challenge. This message by Pastor Cason was recorded in part.
2023
More Than Expected (Luke 1:26-38)- The angel of the Lord, said to Mary about her situation and her relative Elizabeth, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37. Today’s guest messenger, Minister Jason Harris, shared with the attending congregants how God, in his infinite wisdom, authority and power, is not limited by our limits. He is able to do exceedingly abundant above all we can think or ask because our limitations are not his. Elizabeth was old in age (1:36) and barren but yet the angel foretold she would bare a son whose name is to be John. The same Angel told Mary, she would bare a son and here response was “how could this be”? She was a virgin. We ask for things and God does more. We don’t ask for things and God gives anyway. He does more than expected and often times, it is not as we had expected. As we enter into this week of celebration of the birth of our Savior, let us be reminded our God can do the miraculous just as he did in the lives of Elizabeth and Mary.
A Christmas Worth Waiting For – As children, how many of us remember what it was like, waiting for Christmas morning. It’s a kind of waiting where things are hard you become anxious, waiting for something good to happen. Today the world waits expectantly for the celebration of Christmas, some for the gifts and presents, and others for Jesus being born into the world. But in our message today we will look at several people who were waiting for what was to become the very first Christmas, the promised birth of our Savior. And Glory to God, it was a Christmas worth waiting for!
Timeless Gifts from God – On Christmas Eve, many families have a tradition of opening one gift. The children are likely to want the biggest, heaviest gift possible. While those more mature adults may find themselves looking instead for those timeless gifts that create lasting and touching memories. As we will see from this message, God also has some gifts for us to “open”. Timeless gifts, to bring us eternal joy not only this Christmas season, but forever and forever.
James Keys to True Religion (James 1:19-25) – True religion is evidenced in our speech, our compassion towards those in need and demonstrated by a Christlike walk, that is unstained by the world’s influence. In his epistle to the Jews dispersed throughout the world, James gives keys to his readers of what God accepts as “true religion”.
A Thankful Leper – In today’s hectic culture many believers become so used to receiving God’s blessings that they forget to earnestly thank Him in return. In contrast, new converts, who have not previously known God, may express true gratitude the first time they become aware of God’s goodness to them. This was demonstrated on an occasion in the Gospel of Luke when Jesus healed ten lepers. He then sent them to the priest as the Jewish law required, but none of the Jews in the group returned to give him thanks. The only one who thanked him was a lone Samaritan, a foreigner.
In Difficult Times – Trust In God – The Book of Job tackles one of the oldest questions ever posed by mankind, ”why do godly people suffer?”. After Satan, with God’s permission launched a series of calamities resulting in the fall of Job’s life from prosperity to poverty and ill health, his friends came by to comfort him. But soon a series of great debates began in which they told Job that his suffering was the result of his own sins. Exasperated, Job finally reacts to their accusations with that well known verse in Job 13:15, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”. Let’s examine that verse and the lesson it reveals about believers going through difficult times while maintaining their hope in Christ and trusting God to the end.
The Peace That Christ Gives – As Jesus was preparing His disciples for His death, resurrection and leaving them, He shared some loving words of comfort, encouragement, and this precious promise in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In this message we will discover the truths of what that peace was all about and how today’s believers can have that same His gift of peace today.
Jehovah – The Lord Who Heals – After celebrating the Lord’s victory at the Red Sea, Israel traveled three days in the wilderness into the Shur Desert. But after three days, the multitudes became thirsty. Instead of stopping to pray and ask God for a solution to their problem, the people became dissatisfied because the water at Marah was too bitter to drink. Immediately the people murmured and complained to Moses. This message tells what happened after Moses cried out to God for help, who not only turned the water from bitter to sweet, but revealed Himself as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who Heals.
The Lord Cares for You – Psalm 1:6 reminds the righteous believer that the Lord cares for us and watches over all the plans and paths of godly men, but the paths of the godless lead to ruin. In fact, the Psalm says we are blessed because of it. And how do we experience this loving care from our God? Quick Clip
The Divine Adoption of the Believer by Our Heavenly Father – Our calling and redemption as believers have been planned and worked out by God the Father, paid for by the Son and applied to the Christian by the Holy Spirit through regeneration. And in this we greatly rejoice, for it was our Heavenly Father who before the foundation of the world, predestined us for adoption as heirs of God and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit – God’s Advocate to the Believer – As Jesus is the believer’s advocate before the Father, the Holy Spirit serves as the Father’s advocate before men. It is the person of the Holy Spirit who empowers us, helps guide us in living the Spirit-filled life, guides us in worship, praise, in directing our prayers and our personal study and understanding of the Bible.
Why “Wine” About It? Celebrate What I Can Do About It – The scene was set at a wedding. The Master of the house, Mary, Jesus’ mother, Jesus’ disciples and Jesus himself were in attendance. In today’s message from the Gospel of John (John 2:1-11), Minister Jason Harris shares several key points on this Church Anniversary Celebration, a timely message of the importance of not complaining but celebrating the fact the Lord has chosen us for a purpose. As we approach a new horizon here at New Berean, God’s message to all of us is to trust him, his ability and willingness to do the miraculous.
Elijah’s Journey From Hopeless to Hopeful (audio) – Elijah the Tishbite, was one of the most remarkable Old Testament prophets in the Bible. After the victory on Mt. Carmel and the defeat of the 450 false prophets of Baal, he had reached the height of his extraordinary ministry. But after King Ahab told wicked Queen Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and that she vowed to kill him, he became fearful and despondent and ran for his life. Like many exhausted servants of God, he became hopeless and defeated in his ministry. He was “just done”. Our message from 1 Kings 19:1-18 tells the story of Elijah’s journey from hopeless to hopeful and how God rescued the despondent prophet and as an example to us, recommissioned him back to service with support from his new helper, Elisha.
Isaiah, The Call of the Prince of Prophets (video, audio) – After the death of King Uzziah, Isaiah, the princely priest hears the voice of God, and in a majestic vision, he writes, “I saw the Lord “, and promptly answers Gods’ call to serve as a Prophet of God. In this message we will look at the steps leading up to Isaiah’s commission as a Prophet. As believers, we too should be prepared to experience these steps as we answer God’s call to serve as effective witnesses for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jacob Returns to Bethel – After dwelling with his Uncle Laban for about 20 years Jacob and his family were returning home. Earlier while traveling to Laban’s house, God appeared to him at a place Jacob called “Bethel,” or “house of God”. This was a place where Jacob had made specific promises and vows to God. Now God is calling Jacob back to the place of his original commitment. It’s time for the Patriarch to make a renewal of his promises to God Almighty.
The Remarkable Life and Times of Rebekah – Rebekah, the beautiful wife of Isaac and mother of twin boys, Esau and Jacob, is described as courteous, trusting, and helpful. One of the Matriarchs of the Old Testament, she was considered a woman of faith, gentleness and grace. Our message today explores the remarkable character of Rebekah and her faith journey to fulfill the mission of the Abrahamic Covenant and the great dilemma she faced when she deceived Isaac into bestowing his blessing on the son that she so deeply favored, Jacob.
Road to Emmaus – The Gospel of Luke presents the story of two disciples, who on the evening of the first Easter Sunday were sadly returning home to their village of Emmaus some seven miles from Jerusalem. These two devout but disappointed followers were discussing what happened with the Master when suddenly Jesus appeared to them on the Road to Emmaus. Today’s message introduces Luke’s wonderful account of how this encounter with the risen Savior caused their ‘hearts to burn’ as He broke down the OT scriptures of God’s plan of salvation and how His death and resurrection were necessary for the redemption of mankind.
The Last Words on the Road to the Cross – Our message today is a review of “Last Things” observed from the concluding events of Chapters 22 and 23 in Gospel of Luke, as Jesus continues his solemn journey to Jerusalem. Beginning with the plot to kill Jesus, these events will also include the betrayal, the Last Passover, and Last Supper, followed by the arrest, trial and conviction of Jesus. Finally, we will see the last event in which the Son of Man will suffer and die at Calvary on the Cross as the Messiah to complete humanity’s redemption.
Heaven, Hell and the Tale of Four Souls – Have you considered that every day, thousands of people’s lives come to an end? Do you have the assurance that if you were to die today, you’ll be in the presence of the Lord in heaven? Well, today as we continue our series of messages from the Gospel of Luke, the Son of Man weighs in on the existence of Heaven and Hell, through his parables and stories and from His own personal experience.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke Chapter 10 records some of the most well-known events about the Son of Man’s Judean Ministry. In our message, a lawyer stands up to tempt Jesus. He asks Jesus many questions which lead Him to the telling a story of a Good Samaritan. It is through this story that the Son of Man demonstrates the second greatest commandment with the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
The Message:
- A Neighbor Is Someone God Brings To My Attention
- A Neighbor Is Someone God Gives Me Ability To Help
- A Neighbor Is Someone To Whom I Make Myself Available
A Perfect Father – Is there such a thing as a perfect father. With all the responsibilities of this important role in raising children, how do we know if we are even doing it right? The Bible gives us instructions on how to be a good father and a man that leads his children well in Christian living. In today’s Father’s Day Message, Dr. Luke reveals how our Perfect Heavenly Father is ready to show us how to be a good father.
- The Heavenly Father as the Perfect Father – Luke 11:11-13
- The Heavenly Fathers Examples of Fatherhood – Psalm 103:13-14, Proverbs 14:26, Ephesians 6:4
- The Strength for Fatherhood Comes from the Heavenly Father- Proverbs 3:5-6
- The Results from Being Good Fathers – Proverbs 20:7, 3 John 1:4, Psalm 127:3-5
Sermon of the Plain – After Jesus Christ chose his Apostles, he came down from a mountain and stood on a level place or plain. He gave a sermon to the disciples and would be disciples who were present, along with a throng of people who had come from far and wide to hear Jesus Christ’s word and to receive healing from their diseases and delivery from unclean spirits. This speech in the 6th Chapter of the Gospel according to Luke (vss. 17-49) is often referred to as the Sermon on the Plain. In the sermon the Son of Man described the radical new life of Kingdom living for His followers.
Almost! The Story of Would-Be Followers – Many people who say that are willing to follow Jesus really aren’t. From our series on the Gospel of Luke, “Jesus, the Son of Man”, we find three people who alleged or agreed to follow the Son of Man. Well, Almost! When they counted the cost to follow Jesus, they weren’t as willing as they said. As we dive into our message today from Luke 9, may we challenged to evaluate the devotion, determination, and faithfulness of our commitment to following the Lordship of Jesus Christ
When the Son of Man Calls – Today, we are continuing our series from the Gospel of Luke, “Jesus, the Son of Man”. We will take a look at the 5th chapter which provides some remarkable accounts of the Son of Man’s early Galilean ministry. It’s stories reveal Jesus bringing hope to the oppressed and challenging those in power. Come find out what happens in today’s message which is entitled “When the Son of Man Calls”.
The Points:
- A Call to Follow – Luke 5:1-11 Discipleship calls for:
- Love
- Obedience
- Self-denial
- A Call for Healing – Luke 5:12-16
- A Call for Forgiveness – Luke 5:17-26
- A Call for Repentance – Luke 5:27-32
- A Call to Change – Luke 5:33-39
The Temptation of the Son of Man – Following His baptism in the Jordan, where Jesus had received the visible anointing of the Holy Spirit, it was now time for Him to be challenged and tested in the Judean wilderness by the Devil to demonstrate His readiness as the Son of Man for the Gospel. Today’s message from Luke 4 looks at the account of the temptation of Jesus, who was tempted in all points, as we are – but without sin.
Jesus’ Comforting Words to Mothers – Throughout the Gospels and especially in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was seen to have great love and compassion towards women of all walks of life, from the poor, the sickly, the demon possessed, the grieving widows, adulterers, prostitutes and especially mothers who found themselves or their children in great need or despair. So, as we celebrate Mother’s Day today, let us take a moment to discover some of the comforting words that the Son of Man spoke to three of those special mothers found in the Gospel of Luke according to Luke.
Life and Times of the Baptizer and the Savior – Luke’s Gospel or account of Jesus life and ministry is the third Gospel of the New Testament. Luke’s version portrays Jesus Christ, the Son of Man. He wrote it to present Jesus as the Savior of the world, preaching the Good News, a compassionate healer and teacher. It is the story of Jesus Christ – and as Luke, the physician and historian puts it, exactly as it happened. We begin this new series on Luke’s Gospel with a message that introduces both John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ and our beloved Savior entitled, “Life and Times of the Baptizer and the Savior”.
Don’t Discount Your Faith – In today’s Resurrection Day message delivered by Minister Jason Harris, we are introduced to a different perspective of the man commonly called, “Doubting Thomas”. John 20:24-29 describe the time when Thomas the disciple stated unless he saw the risen Saviour, he would not believe. But was he really doubting the Lord had risen or was he more inquisitive than the others? Follow along as Pastor Harris explains why we should not Discount our Faith.
Continue, Continue, Continue – Costa Rican Missionary Jean-Claude Guildbaud shared a message of encouragement today. He spoke the audience from a familiar passage Philippians 1:6. Based upon the reality of the ministry and godly service work can be straining, paining and draining we are encouraged to continue:
1. Continue With Confidence – God has promise to be with us, supply us and sustain us
2. Continue With the Calling – God has called us to a holy calling
3. Continue Until Complete – God has a plan to complete the work in and through us to whom he has called
We are forever grateful to the those like Missionary Jean-Claude and Matilde Guildbaud for the work they are doing by the power of our living God in Costa Rica.
The Good Hand of God Was with Him – Ezra was a man of God, appointed by God to do his will over the people of God. God had shown him and Israel favor under the rule of King Artaxerxes. Through Artaxerxes the Lord used Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of God to share with Israel his decree of restoration to both the Temple and their worship. Ezra 7:11-28 and 8:15-20 is the account of how a mighty God :
- Commissioned Azra’s Return Vss. 11-14
- Provided Resources for the Return Vss. 15-24
- Declared Ezra’s Responsibilities Vss 25-26, Ezra 8:15-20, Psalm 2:11 & Romans 12:1-2 and
- Received a Response from Ezra for His Good Hand Vss. 27-28, Phil 2:12-13
Ezra’s Prepared Heart – After a 70-year hiatus in the resumption of temple operations, our message today reveals some insight into what was needed for God to remind a people how to participate in true worship and faithful living once again in obedience to God and His Word. And who would God send to rebuild, restore, and establish such a work? It was Ezra the Scribe, who had prepared his heart, to study God’s Word, to do it and to teach it to all Israel. Through this story, may we find encouragement and hope that such a thing is not impossible in our own Church work. For we serve an able God who helps us in doing the work He has prepared beforehand for us to do. Pulpit Points:
- Ezra’s Priestly Pedigree – vss. 1-5
- Ezra’s Purpose – vss. 6-9
- Ezra’s Preparation vs. 10, James 1:22-25, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Ephesians 3:20-21
Return of the Exiles – A Faithful God on the Move – Ezra 1:1-11 The Prophet Jeremiah records God’s promise to restore His people after the 70 years, but for the captives themselves, it was a humanly impossible task. How could things ever be restored? After 70 years in Babylon, the city of Jerusalem and the Temple laid in ruins. The exiles didn’t have the resources to do it, even if a royal edict permitted them to return to the land. But thanks be to God. What man could not do a faithful God did. This is story of Ezra Chapter 1.
That You May Know (I John) – In today’s Pulpit Points message, we find the Apostle John, writing from Ephesus and identifying himself as “The Elder”, wrote three powerful epistles to the same unidentified readers as his Gospel. And much like his Gospel, he encouraged his flocks to “know” with certitude the assurance of their salvation and the truths of Gods promises for living the Christian life. In 1st John the word “know” recurs some thirty times throughout the epistle as he rendered compelling reasons for knowing those truths. In this message we will look at four of those reasons that the Apostle John wanted his “little children” to know.
Why Christians Should Guard Against Pride and Rejoice Instead (Luke 10:17-20)- In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus appointed 70 disciples, using His authority to carry out a preaching mission throughout Judea proclaiming the Kingdom of God in Word and in miracles. Upon their return they reported that the mission was so successful that they rejoiced over how even demons were being cast out. While Jesus rejoiced with them over Satan’s defeat this time around, He then gave them instructions to guard against pride in the enemy’s defeat but rejoice instead. Today’s points:
- THE POWER OF THE DISCIPLES – Luke 10:17-18
- THE PRIDE OF THE DISCIPLES – Luke 10:19, MARK 16:15-20, ACTS 4:4
- THE PRIORITY FOR REJOICING – Luke 10:20, HEB 12:23, REV 3:5, LUKE 10:38-42
Nehemiah Challenges Israel’s Compromise, Complacency and Commitment – Once the wall had been rebuilt and dedicated, and the Israelites had made commitments to the Lord, Nehemiah returned to his original post as the cupbearer for the King of Persia. 12 years later, Nehemiah again returned to Jerusalem to be the Governor of Israel. When he returned, he found that Israel had backslidden while he was away. In this message we will find Nehemiah once again taking charge and establishing new measures and reforms regarding the Tithe, Sabbath and intermarriages with foreign idolaters. Let us look at Nehemiah’s bold challenges to the remnant of the Children of Israel in dealing with their sinful decline.
Conflict Within The Walls (Neh. 5:1-18) As Nehemiah was halfway towards the completion of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, Satan tried to stop the work from the outside. When that failed, Satan also created problems within the community of workers rebuilding the wall. If Satan can’t succeed to destroy God’s people from the outside, he seeks to work his evil from within. Let’s see how this godly servant leader dealt with the internal conflicts threatening God’s people and God’s work from within the walls
Internal conflict nearly derailed the work of God in rebuilding the broken-down walls through discouragement, mistrust, selfishness, and the lack of concern for the poor among local leadership. In today’s negative culture, some leaders may have become stressed out, bitter, withdrawn or quit altogether when faced with the type of pressure this Governor encountered. But not Nehemiah. Instead, He listened to the people’s complaints. He considered his response before he confronted the problems. He got a commitment from the leaders and the people to set things right before God. And finally, he set a positive example of how others should behave. He was triumphant and received the favor of God because as a leader, he feared God, walked upright before men, and genuinely loved God’s people.
Sad Excuses for Missing A Great Banquet While at a dinner table, Jesus responds to a self-righteous Jew who spoke as though they were blessed or entitled to eat bread in the Kingdom of God. In the Parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus responds to his statement with a story comparing the Kingdom of Heaven with a great banquet, in which the guests gave excuses to reject the host’s gracious invitation.
Excuses, excuses. God is inviting both Jews and Gentiles to come to Christ and taste of His eternal grace and the goodness of the Kingdom of God. Those who offer excuses and reject God’s invitation to believe on His Son will never taste of God’s offer of eternal salvation but will remain under the wrath of God forever. So, what will you do with your invitation?
A Hometown’s Rejection of Jesus (Matt. 13:54-58) After ministering around the area of Capernaum, Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth for a second visit, the first having ended in an attempt to kill Him by the local townsfolk. Now, the people are given another opportunity to hear the lifesaving message of the gospel from their homegrown teacher, Jesus. Will they be amazed at His teaching as one with authority and power or will they reject Him as before?
The Points
- THEIR WATCHFUL OBSERVATIONS – VSS. 54-56
- THEIR WILLFUL OFFENSE – VS. 57
- THEIR WASTED OPPORTUNITIES FROM UNBELIEF– VS. 58, 2 Corinthians 4:4 & John 3:19
In this second visit to His hometown, the people of Nazareth found a convenient excuse to reject Him. Their offense? That Jesus was “just one of us” so there is nothing extraordinary about Him. They took offense to the wisdom and works Jesus was performing. But perhaps, like the unbelievers of today, their main reason can be narrowed down to this truth. Because they were “willfully unbelieving”.
2022
A Tale of Four Preachers – Towards the end of the time of the Judges, God was silent and Israel had not heard from God in decades. The priests are corrupt. The surrounding countries continued to jeopardize the land’s safety. Even Eli, the high priest and judge of Israel, was not faithfully serving God and the people. Israel needs more than a judge. Israel needs Word from God.. Israel needs a prophet, a Man of God. But who would God choose? Lets find out in this is a tale of four preachers.
The Garment of Praise – In today’s message, Pastor Cason shares from Isaiah 61 which begins as a passage about God’s promises to the post exile children of Israel. He tells them he would bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness or despair in Isaiah 61:3.
Message Points:
– God’s Promise for Salvation and a Garment of Praise – Isaiah 61:1-3
– God’s Power to Deliver Us From the Spirit of Heaviness – 2 Samuel 12:15-21
– God’s Plan for Future Blessings on His People – Isaiah 61:3
In conclusion, Pastor Cason asks, “has life got you on hold? Has despair robbed you of hope? No desire to spend time with God? Is the spirit of heaviness weighing you down? The Word of God tells us to exchange that spirit of heaviness for a garment of praise. When we do and begin to praise the Lord in spite of our circumstances, others will begin to see it in our lives. And as we begin to experience the joy of the Lord again, God will get the glory.
A Savior is Born (Luke 1:1-14) – A special child was born in the town of Bethlehem, in fulfillment of scripture to a young Nazarite mother named Mary. The baby was the promised Savior sent from God. And as promised to both Mary and Joseph, on that quiet night in Bethlehem in an animal shelter, a Savior was born, to save us from sin.
- God’s Promise is Fulfilled (Isa. 7)
- God’s Plan is Perfect (vss. 1-3)
- God Prepares A Place (vss. 4-5)
- God Prepares A People (vss. 6-7)
- God Proclaims The Savior’s Birth (vss. 8-14)
Who Is This Christmas Baby? During the Christmas season, people all over the world watch TV shows, movies and even participate in Christmas nativity plays of the birth of Mary’s baby as narrated from the Gospels. They devote their time on manger scenes, shepherds watching their flocks by night, wise men, the bright star and angels. But who is this little baby? In his Epistle to the Colossians, Paul reveals His glorious identity as that of Jesus, Mary’s Christmas Baby and His divine Preeminence. From Colossians 1:12-22, we’ll see:
- The Baby’s Relationship to the Father – Col. 1:15, Phil 2:5-7
- The Baby’s Relationship to the Universe as Preeminent – Col. 1:16-17
- The Baby’s Relationship to the Church – Col. 1:18, 20-22
What Does God Require? In the Lords’ controversy concerning His people’s idolatry, injustice and oppression of the poor, the Prophet Micah was challenged by the guilt burdened people, to reveal just what the Lord required of Israel. In Micah 6:8, the Prophet delivered Gods’ clear and plain-spoken response. In order to truly please God one must act right toward other people and toward God. The prophet points out three actions to do right:
Today’s Points
- What Must One to Do? – Treat People Justly
- What Must One Love? – Mercy
- How Must One Walk? – Humbly With Your God
Jephthah – The Outcast Judge – In the Book of the Judges, during the 6th apostacy, much of Israel was given over to idolatry. The Lord therefore sold them into the hands of their oppressors, one of which was the Ammonites. After 18 years of desperate living, the people finally repented and asked the Lord for help. Deliverance came through a man called Jephthah, a mighty man of valor, whose past included being born of a prostitute. Because of this he was cast aside and rejected by his own family and the civic community leaders. In our message today we will see how God can use still use flawed and broken people to serve Him and carry out His Kingdom’s purposes.
Today’s Points –
- Jephthah – God Can Use Those Who Have Been Rejected- Judges 11:1-10, 1 Corinthians 1:26-28
- Jephthah – In His Zeal He Makes an Unwise Vow – Judges 11:29-31
- Jephthah – He Fulfills His Unwise Vow – Judges 11:32-35
How The Local Church Partners With & Supports Missions (audio) – There is a Biblical basis for the local Church to partner with and support Missions. In our message today we will look at the Church at Antioch – the birthplace of organized missions to the uttermost parts of the world – initiated by the Holy Spirit.
In the Church at Antioch, we first see the role of the local church in sending missionaries in the will of God. It involved several aspects:
- They Fasted (Acts 13:1-3)
- They Prayed
- They Laid Hands
- They Sent Them
- They Supported Them.
When God Goes Before Us (audio) This is a story of what happens when God goes before His people and their leaders in times of distress. During the often-dark period of the Judges, the Prophetess Deborah was called by God to deliver the Israelites from the Canaanites as the fifth judge. And while she was a courageous, dynamic, and capable leader and the only recorded woman Judge, she knew that victory over the Canaanite oppressors was only possible if God went before them in battle.
When God goes before us, what have we to fear? Although Deborah’s courage is justifiably celebrated, her confidence did not come from her own abilities or Israel’s poorly equipped and outnumbered army. She trusted in God’s power and provision alone. Psalms 20:7 reassures us with these words, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” And let us thank God for giving us capable and faithful leaders like Deborah who remind us of the abundant life we can experience when our trust is placed in the God who goes before us.
Getting It Right With God (audio) In the Gospels we see Jesus condemning the Pharisees’ self-righteous hypocrisy because it blinded them from noticing their own need for repentance and a Savior. But unfortunately, many back then failed to get right with God. But what us about today? How can we figure out getting right with God?
If you want to get right with God, first made a decision for Christ to become his child, then live for him in that relationship. Learn and obey His Word. He loves you and is looking to have a right relationship with you.
Why Are You Cast Down, Oh My Soul? (audio) – For a believer with a sorrowful heart, the cry from this message to their inner self is “Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? The answer that was given to his soul is found in Psalm 42:5. Fix my eyes and my Hope on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face.
How To Kick Away The B-L-U-E-S (audio)
Ever had a case of the blues. In the Bible it is called being downcast. It’s an emotion that even some of the greatest biblical heroes, like David, Elijah and Jeremiah faced. While circumstances or hormones can trigger our blues, we don’t want to stay there. Using an acrostic from the word “BLUES”, let us examine the scriptures to find some practical ways to help kick our blues away.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. The Psalmist transitions from being blue, longing for God in his state of depression and despair, to singing the praises of God as he now places his hope in being in the very presence of God, face to face. When we find ourselves feeling like the blues because of our lives circumstances and struggles, ask God to help us.
B-BELIEVE THE POSITIVE – Philippians 4:8
L-LOOK FOR THE PURPOSE – I Peter 5:10
U-UTILIZE GOD’S PROMISES – Romans 15:4
E-ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE – I Corinthians 1:4
S-SING GOD’S PRAISE – Psalm 66:2, Psalm 71:14
Understanding Unity in the Church Body (video) – As New Berean Baptist Church looks forward to the many horizons ahead of us, we will continue in our pursuit be a Church United. In this last message of our series, let us seek to unpack the message that the Apostle Paul shared with the Church at Ephesus as he linked the unity in the Church, with Christ as the head, with the marvelous inner workings of the human body.
From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
How A Godly Man Fights (audio) – In today’s message by guest speaker Pastor Donald Franklin of Little Grove Baptist Church, Minister Franklin reminds us of God’s expectation of us while in conflict. We as Believers in the Lord are engaged in a spiritual war with which we must both defend the name of Lord and wage an attack for his cause when required. It is to be understood we will face or will experience opposition but we must use spiritual weapons and not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4).
The last moments of the life of Stephen are an example of how we as godly folk ought to fight a good fight of faith. ref (Acts 7:54-60).
The Pursuit of Unity of The Church (audio)- In the Epistle to Ephesus Paul, appealing as a prisoner for serving the Lord, begs the church to lead a life worthy of its calling, for they had been called by God. Thus the Christian calling requires a daily pursuit to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
From the prison cell in Rome, Paul urges the church to lead a life worthy of the calling to which it has been called. In pursuit of this unity with the Spirit let our manner of life be meek and lowly in heart so we will not bring any disrepute upon the great God who called us into his kingdom and glory.
Jesus Prays for A United Church (video/audio) Pastor Cason shares today from John 17:21-23, how before Jesus was arrested in the Garden, he prayed for himself, his disciples and finally for the unity of the Church. When the Church (Universal and Local assembly) operates in the unity of the faith, the world may know that God has sent Jesus who died for them because of the love of the Father. Join us in the teaching of God’s word.
Answers for a Troubled Heart (video/audio) In today’s Pulpit Points message, Pastor DeWayne, share from Psalm 13 a revealing story of a troubled man, who under duress from his enemies, wrestles with feeling forsaken by God and that a divine rescue on his behalf is being planned.
Psalm 13 also provides some answers for our troubled heart. For even the most spiritually mature believer may experience low points where everyone, including God has seemingly forsaken them. As David wrestled with thoughts of abandonment, he soon came to realize that he needed to confess to God what he was feeling and to call on God for understanding and deliverance. The sadness we feel when we are convinced that God has forgotten us, is quickly transformed to joy and thanksgiving as we remember all the blessings, He has poured upon us. Join us from the auditorium of New Berean today
Rejoicing In The Gospel (audio) – In Paul’s Epistle (Romans 5:1-11) to the Church in Rome, the Apostle reveals three reasons why Christians should rejoice in the gospel having received the benefits of justification by God’s grace.
- We Rejoice In the Hope, Romans 5:1-2
- We Rejoice in Trial and Tribulations Romans 5:3-10
- We Rejoice in God Romans 5:11
In this message we found three reasons to rejoice in the blessings of the gospel of salvation that Jesus provides by faith. First we rejoice in hope, secondly in suffering, which produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And finally, we rejoice in God Himself who loves people and wants to save them. Believers who realize this will be rejoicing in God and His amazing grace who is the very source of salvation.
A Witness For the Gospel (audio) – From the first part of our current series entitled “The Power of the Gospel“, we looked at one of Apostle Paul’s most notable passages, Romans 1:16. In this week’s message, we will discover why Paul was such an effective witness in proclaiming the simple message of the Gospel of Christ, by sharing his testimony to Religious Leaders, Governors and King Agrippa II (Acts 26:1-23).
In conclusion, whether believers are new converts like the woman at the well or the demonic with whom Jesus cast out the legion of demons, all Christians have a testimony—a story of the way that Christ has worked in our lives. Whatever our background or past, God wants to use the stories of hard times ship and victory in our lives to change the lives of those around us. God can use our testimonies to impact others for the Kingdom through the Power of the Gospel. By telling our stories, we are telling His story! The Good News.
The Power of the Gospel (audio) From Pharisee to Apostle, from persecuting the Church to Preaching Christ, one of Paul’s most notable passages is Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. In this message, let us unravel this mystery of the Gospel of Christ.
Ruth Part IV – From Blue to Blessed, The Redemption of Ruth (audio) – Ruth is a story of the love and devotion of a Moabite woman who forsakes her pagan gods in order to cling to the people of Israel and their God. After having received Ruth’s request to marriage her, Boaz was ready, willing and able to marry Ruth as her as a ‘kinsmen redeemer’. Under the Mosaic Law, he would marry her ‘in the name’ of her first husband and redeem Naomi’s family property. But as we learned in Chapter 3, there was a closer relative who had first rights to buy Naomi’s family’s fields and also thus marry Ruth. In this message, Boaz steps up to this challenge to contend for Ruth and Naomi’s redemption, wellbeing and family estate.
This story began with the grief and brokenness of two destitute widows, returning to Bethlehem, one a Israelite women whose family had died and the other a stranger, a Moabite woman who left her old life to cling to her grieving mother-in-law Naomi and to Naomi’s God. As they returned in poverty back to Bethlehem, God in his divine providence began to work behind the scenes to show his mercy and love for the two widows through the redemption by their kinsman redeemer Boaz. God still shows His love in spite of our tendency to dwell on our circumstances and brokenness. Jesus, the descendant offspring from Boaz & Ruth, is God come-in-the-flesh and is thus our ‘kinsman’, just as Boaz was to Ruth the Moabite. Jesus paid the penalty of our sin debt to God while nailed to a cross and is a picture of God reaching out to us with His love. Like Ruth who entered the land as a stranger but was then shown love by Boaz, God desires to show His love even to those of us who feel far so away from Him.
Ruth Part III – Bold Faith In Action (audio) – Ruth is a story of the love and devotion of a Moabite woman who forsakes her pagan gods in order to cling to the people of Israel and their God. In Chapter 3, having realized that the owner of the field in which Ruth had been gleaning was Boaz, a close relative of Elimelech. As a possible kinsman redeemer, Naomi, believed God’s was at work and immediately acted as a match maker between Boaz and Ruth. So, she told Ruth to approach Boaz, seeking that he redeems her in marriage as her kinsman-redeemer in accordance with the Law of Moses
It was with bold faith in action that Ruth was willing to do as she was told. Obedience in our everyday life pleases God. And we show our faith in God when we obey His Word. From our message today, let us learn from Ruth to act boldly in our faith by understanding these four fundamental truths: Bold faith is rooted in trusting God and his Word, Bold faith requires obedience, Bold faith takes action and finally, Bold faith waits patiently.
Ruth Part II Hope and The Providence of God (audio) Pastor Cason continues the message of Ruth and the hope God provides in spite of unfavorable circumstances. Today from Ruth 1:19-2:23, we will see how we too can hope and share hope:
- Through Hope, Ruth Saw A Need
- Confident With Hope, Ruth Sought A Solution
- Guide By Hope, Ruth Secured A Position
- Because of Hope, Ruth Showed Appreciation
- With Hope Fulfilled, Ruth Shares Her Reward
Ruth (Part 1) The Choice To Return (audio) Ruth is a story of the love and devotion of a Moabite women who forsakes her pagan gods in order to remain cling to the people of Israel and their God. Her loyalty to her mother in-law and faithfulness is rewarded by God with a new husband and becomes the great grandmother of King David and positioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
- Elimelech -He Chose to Retreat
- Naomi – She Chose to Return
- Orpah – She Chose to Reject
- Ruth – She Chose to Rely
The story of Ruth reminds us that many people around us need restoration. They needed to return to a right relationship with God. Taking matters into their own hands, they left the place of God, left the people of God, and wandered from the very presence of God. They found themselves backslidden and distraught. Being bitter and empty, their hearts were filled with regret and sorrow, questioning God or even blaming God for their situation. However, they had to realize that God never left them. It was they who walked away from Him. In this story we saw that God was right where they left Him and He desired for them to return to Him. In his Sovereign plan God had devised the events of their lives to bring them to a place of restoration. God also has a plan for you and may have a divine appointment planned for you.
The Vast Reach of God’s Mercy (audio) Psalm 69 describes the outward cry a believer drowning in the depths of despair and agony, because of his enemies unjust persecution. In his plight, he appeals to God for vengeance against his foes, seeking immediate help – from the vast reaches of God’s mercy.
- THE UPWARD REACH OF GOD’S MERCY- Ps.69:16, Ps.103:11
- THE DOWNWARD REACH OF GOD’S MERCY – Ps 136:23, Ps 51:1-2
- THE INWARD REACH OF GOD’S MERCY – Ps.119:76-77, Hebrews 4:16
- THE OUTWARD REACH OF GOD’S MERCY – Ps.119:64, Eph 2:4-5, Ps 89:1
Through the Psalms we discover the vastness of God’s mercy towards us, motivated by love. When we feel like we are in a situation we cannot bear or faced against our enemies before God, we turn to Him, and call on His name for mercy. For we are never out of the reach of God’s mercy. No matter how far away God may seem at times, we know that He will answer us out of the goodness of His love.
Better Than Lucky, We Are Blessed (audio/video)- Today’s Father’s Day message was delivered by guest speaker Elder Marion J. Williams as an encouragement to fathers. Using Job (Job 1:1-5), Williams outlined three things God used to describe his servant and how men can please the Lord:
- Job Was A Good Example To His Children
- Job Was A Good Provider and Steward
- Job Prayed For His Children
The Shepherd if His Flock – (video) This 23rd Psalm has comforted many believers from the time of the Kings of Israel David to now. Those who have shared in the deep confidence and contentment of the Lord as their personal Shepherd are those who have experienced this blessed relationship for a lifetime. Psalm 23 illustrates the perfect and divine relationship between the Good and the Great Shepherd and the believers, His sheep.
Jude Part III – Praise For An Able God (video) – Now, having warned the Beloved of the false teachers who have secretly crept into the Church and pleaded with the Saints to contend for the faith, Jude reminds them in this prayer that they are not alone in this battle for the faith. For Jude concludes his Epistle with one of the most popular prayers found in the Bible, a doxology of praise, of the One who is Able.
Contend For The Faith (audio) – Jude, one of the half-brothers of Jesus wrote this small epistle to Jewish Christians to warn them of the dangers posed by false teaching and to persuade them to contend for the faith.
Like the culture we live in today, Jude’s epistle exposed a culture of false teaching in the first century, that was turning the Church farther and farther away from the truth of God’s Word. Unfortunately, more churches have also been invaded by false teachers with some pastors and believers laying down their Bibles, setting the truth aside and embracing the world’s teachings. Jude, in this short but inspiring letter encourages the Christians of his day to know who they are, what they have in Christ and what they should believe. He warns them to watch out for false teachers and to earnestly contend for the faith
Walking In The Truth (audio) In his third epistle, the Apostle John presents three members of the first century Church who were challenged to walk in the truth of God’s Word, Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius. As it was in the first century, it is the Churches obligation to know and to live the truth in love. In this epistle, truth was an issue in a local congregation. There were those who lived in truth and those who did not.
The lives of the three church leaders in John’s letter underscores the importance of walking in the truth of the Gospel. Gaius and Demetrius are faithful Christians who walk in the truth and are highly praised and blessed by John. Diotrephes, in contrast, is a member of the church in a position of authority but is walking contrary to the truth. We are to imitate the examples of those who walk in line with the Gospel of truth. And we must become discerning enough to be aware of those leaders whose behavior is like that of Diotrephes, so far from the great example of servanthood that Jesus taught. We should be helping the Kingdom rather than living contrary to the truth.
WARNING ! It’s Your Last Chance (audio) – The parable of the fruitless fig tree is Jesus’ comment on the patience of God and the immediacy of Israel’s need to repent before the coming judgement of God and the time of reckoning. In the parable, the vineyard owner (God) gave one last chance for the fig tree (Israel) to bear fruit, or else it would be cut down. Listen intently as this message is also relevant to both today’s lost and those who are saved. It’s a warning about the last chance and a day of reckoning for the lost and a day of loss rewards for those Christians who fail to live out and share the gospel to a lost world.
God is patient. He does not wish anyone to perish. He has extended time for a season to allow many the opportunity to be saved according to scriptures. But there is a warning about the last chance for man. Hebrews 9:27 reveals that it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. Therefore it is urgent that Christians be busy living for the Lord in such a way, that those who are lost see and hear the need to repent, because of us. God is being patient, but we need to be busy. The Lost need the gospel.
Benefits of Knowing God Through Christ (audio/video) The 1st Epistle of Peter was written from Rome between AD 64-66 to encourage the churches who were in and around Asia Minor to stand fast in their faith in Christ in face of the persecution from without. Soon afterwards between AD 65-68, prior to his martyrdom under Nero, Peter now writes this 2nd Epistle to warn these same churches of the false teachers who were now attacking the Church from within
The Apostle Peter understood that the best way to live the Christian life without stumbling in their faith walk was to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, if they were ever to win against the enemies of the cross. Thus, it was essential to know and embrace the truth of the deity of Christ and His work to redeem mankind, for those who believe and trust in the Savior. May we also seek to learn the benefits of knowing God through the Jesus Christ.
God’s Caring T-O-U-C-H (audio) We have a loving and caring God who touches our lives, ministers to hurting hearts and heals those who need his miracle healing power with His touch. In this acrostic we will examine the depths of His T-O-U-C-H.
With his intimate love, God’s touch is able to pierce our hearts, heal our wounds and bring us closer to Him. And just as times of old God still touches today, but some resist His touch. As believers we should allow God to touch our hearts, rather than resist, because no other touch is like the touch of God.
David Responds To Shimei’s Curses (audio/video)- This is the story of King David’s response to a hateful member of King Saul’s clan who shouted curses, threw stones and kicked dust against King David and his followers as they fled Jerusalem during the dark time of Absalom’s rebellion. May we look to the example David, a man after God’s own heart when we are confronted with lies, accusations, slander and cruel criticism from our enemies. In our response, let us learn to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking. Put away all malice. Let us remember the example of David’s response to Shimei. Finally, may we be as forgiving as our Savior is to us, and if at all possible, become reconciled to our adversaries.
Resurrection Sunday (audio/video) For every Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, there is much to celebrate about on Resurrection Sunday. Guest Speaker, Robert Addison shares why this is true. It is by far the most significant day for the Christian faith and it is a day to be celebrated. Above all the events biblically recorded, Resurrection Sunday validates the power, authority depth of God’s love.
What A Fool Believes (Part 2) (audio) In Proverbs 1, the Bible describes several types of fools: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?” (Prov. 1:22). In our sermon today, we will look at six categories of fools found in the Scriptures.
In today’s Pulpit Points message, Pastor Cason does not only asks the question, “What a fool believes?” But rather explains what a fool believes. The Worldly fool believes there is no God. But what do we believe? Are we worried that someone may call us a fool for Christ? Or are we willing to be a wise fool. The truth is that all of us will be one type of fool or another. What type of fool are you and what type do you desire to be? Are you a Simple fool? An Unreasonable fool? A Stubborn fool? A Scorning Fool? Or are we thirsting to be a wise fool, a fool for Christ. That is the kind of fool we want to be.
Anatomy Of A Godly Christian (audio/ video) – Proverbs 4 reveals the story of a Father who implores his son to seek wisdom with everything he has. As the father is teaching his son how to use wisdom to respond to life’s challenges, he uses the anatomy of the parts of the body as a means of encouraging wisdom to bring about godliness.
In today’s Pulpit points message Pastor Cason shares with us how Solomon exhorts his son to pay attention and keep the lessons of wisdom before his eyes, and to stick to that path because it is a source of life. When we learn to exercise wisdom to help control our bodies, we will be better able to make right choices and live a life of faith as of a godly Christian.
A Challenge to Holy Living (A Call to Higher Ground) – (audio/ video) The challenge for a believer who seeks to become a yielded instrument for God’s service is to Walk in the Spirit. In our text the writer challenges the Christian to aim for godly living and answer the call to higher ground, as a living sacrifice in a world that is opposed to God.
When we answer God’s call to for reasonable service, it involves surrendering our will to a place where our body yields to obedience and our minds are transformed to act and think as He does, and to do what He commands. So as we are being sanctified day by day until we see Him face to face, through the power of His Word and Walking in the Spirit we will meet life’s challenges of consecrated life, separation from the influences of the world and be transformed to be more like Jesus.
- A Call To COMPLETE CONSECRATION – Romans 12:1, Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Philippians 3:21
- A Call to COMPLETE SEPARATION – Romans 12:2, Psalms 1:1, Hebrews 12:1
- A Call to COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION– Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Philippians 2:13, John 14:6
Those Who Wait On The Lord (audio/video) Isaiah 40 begins with a promise of comfort and deliverance to the Babylonian exiles, who have grown faint and hopeless in their captivity. Recalling Gods covenant promises they are reassured that God has not forgotten them and has the power needed to deliver them and strengthen them.
Much like the Jewish exiles we all grow weary physically and spiritually. But God promise to His people in times of old still ring true today: “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
Wait On The Lord (video)( audio) Psalm 130 describes the prayer of a repentant psalmist for the forgiveness of his sins. Caught up in the depths of his trouble he cries out to the Lord for deliverance. Being assured that he will receive mercy from the Lord and be forgiven, he declares that he will wait for and wait on Lord and encourages the nation of Israel to do the same. Let us discover from this song what he reveals about “waiting on the Lord”.
This is one of the Psalms of Ascension, sung by worshipping Hebrews as they ascended up the mountain to the House of the Lord in Jerusalem. The theme of the psalm is found in the 5th verse of Psalms 130,” I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.
The Greatest of These is Love (audio) (I Corinthians 13) In this letter to the Church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul discussed the proper use of spiritual gifts. Groups had become disruptive and jealous of others spiritual gifts and were competing with themselves. In response Paul compares the misuse of spiritual gifts against the superiority and nature of God’s kind of love, agape’.
Pulpit Points:
- LOVES EMINENCE OVER SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
- LOVES VIRTUES EXPLAINED (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
- LOVES ENDURANCE (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)
In a powerful and eloquent response to the Church at Corinth, Paul describes the nature of love and its attributes and how love is superior to all gifts, making the point that without love the other gifts are of no value. He emphasized that these gifts are temporary and must be rooted in love towards others while wait for His return. But as he further explained, that after all things on God’s Kingdom agenda are completed, only faith, hope and love will remain, and the greatest of these is love.
Philemon – From Bondage to Brotherhood – Does Christian brotherly love work in real life, especially when the circumstances are embroiled in tension, distrust, and difficulty. Can forgiveness and reconciliation work to bring Christians together as Jesus teaches? In this personal letter to Philemon, a Christian leader in Colossae, the Apostle Paul is asking this slave owner, who has been wronged by his runaway slave Onesimus to forgive him and be reconciled to him. And not only that, but to release this slave from bondage and receive him as a fellow brother in Christ.
The Message:
- I. Paul’s Praise of Philemon (vss 1-7))
- II. Paul’s Petition for Onesimus (vss 8-16, Deut. 23:15, Gal 3:28)
- III. Paul’s Pledge to Philemon (vss 17-25)
Running To Win The Prize – The Christian race is not easy but demands that we endure and push past our tiredness in faithfully proclaiming the gospel as we move towards the finish line. Not for boasting but running in such a way as to win the prize, the eternal and incorruptible crowns that last forever. This race can be divided into 4 stages:
The Outset (Matthew 6:33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
The Outlook (Philippians 4:4) “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
The Outreach (2 Corinthian 5:20) “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
The Outcome (2 Timothy 4:7-8) “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
The Outset, the Outlook and the Outreach will determine the runner’s Outcome. So, man must consider his very soul while racing on this side of eternity. Those who reject Christ will lose their race and will forever be without hope. May it not be so for you. Instead, choose to race with those who have accepted Jesus as Savior, for they will be receive the Crown of Life. For those who have trusted in Jesus, may we look onward to finishing our course. We do not race to find salvation for that is a precious gift by grace though faith. But we run our race, with a mindset to win the prize.
Essential For An Orderly Church Part III – Do Good Works (audio) (video) Titus was a young protégé of the Apostle Paul who was left behind on the Island of Crete to finish organizing the new churches there. In this passage Paul shares with Titus that an orderly church must be devoted to doing good works
Essentials For An Orderly Church Part II – Sound Doctrine, Sound Living, (video): Titus was a young protégé of the Apostle Paul who was left behind on the Island of Crete to finish organizing the new churches there. In this passage Paul shares with Titus that he must teach what is fitting to sound doctrine to help develop sound Church members of various age groups.
Essentials For A Godly Church Part I – The Pastor (video), Titus was a young protégé of the Apostle Paul who was left behind on the Island of Crete to finish organizing the new churches there. In this passage Paul is reminding Titus to ordain leaders in each city for the work of the church. He reveals to Titus the qualities that are of expected of “Elders”
2021
Mercy, When God Says Enough (video) – Have you ever had to make a very difficult choice. Like you are at a crossroad? Felt like you do not know what to do next? You feel stuck, insecure, and unsure of your next step. Do you ever fear the future because you have no idea what you are supposed to do? In our message, King David had to make a choice about the punishment Israel would have to endure because of his sin of not trusting in God alone
Gods Christmas Presents – In today’s Pulpit Points message, guest speaker Pastor Robert Addison shares with the attending congregation why Christmas is so special to the believer and why it is to be celebrated. In spite of the many efforts by satan and all those opposed to the things of God, Addison reminds us that God presented the world that was gift wrapped, free of charge and is priceless.
What A Fool Believes – All of us would like to think that we are not easily fooled, yet there are times when we can be deceived. When the people of Gibeon realized that they would be conquered, they decided to use trickery to fool Israel.
The God of Moses and children of Israel’s Joshua and the Children of Israel had great success conquering the promised land. Their fame had spread throughout the land of Canaan. They were given specific instructions for destroying the inhabitants of the land. Most of the seven Canaanite kings were afraid and decided to form an alliance to fight against the army of God. But the Gibeonites, fearing they would be annihilated, decided to fool Israel into making a peace treaty with them. (audio)
Can These Bones Live? (video) Ezekiel was part of the group that was captured and taken into Babylonian exile in 597 BC. God called him to deliver condemning messages to a sinful and rebellious people who were already scattered and suffering in exile.
In today’s Pulpit Points message, Pastor Cason shares how on one day in a vision, God carried Ezekiel to a desolate place, a valley full of dry bones, where God would tell the prophet to prophesy a message of hope and restoration for the scattered nation of Israel. (audio)
A Witness From Samaria (video)- In our justice system, attorneys cross examine witnesses in the court room to discover the truth about what the witness has seen or knows. It is the Christians responsibility to witness or to be soul winners with the message of the gospel according to the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. In our sermon today, we will see our Lord Jesus in action, the greatest soul winner of all time as He contends for the truth of the Messiah with an outcast and forlorn woman, the Witness from Samaria. (audio)
Give Thanks To the Lord – Americans are preparing to sit down for Thanksgiving feasts with family and friends, watch football on attempt to and get away with a well-deserved rest from it all. However we of the Christian faith are also reminded to remember what God has done for us during these times and remember to give thanks to the Lord.
Encourage One Another – Everyone needs encouragement. Believers are called to encourage one another day by day, with the truths and promises found in the Word and who they are in Christ. Else, they may become discouraged by the troubles of the world and become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (audio)
In todays Pulpit Points message, Pastor Cason share three points from the book of Hebrews of other selected passages of our responsibility to obey God and encourage others.
Hope In His Unfailing Love – Hope can be described as believing with confidence that God’s perfect plan for our lives will ultimately happen. Hope is essential for us to live and survive. Rather than drift along hopelessly from one circumstance to another, let us be reminded of the psalmist’s encouraging declaration found in Psalm 147:11 – the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
Searching Like The Bereans – At New Berean Baptist Church, you will find the following statement on our Church website regarding the Foundation of our local Church. The website that the emphasis of the foundation rests on the scriptures, the Holy Bible – the truth. It implies that the scriptures found in the Bible are the basis and foundation of the believer’s faith (Rom 10:17 – “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”). As such, we accept Acts 17:11 as the basis for our mindset and therefore we believe the doctrinal truths found in the scriptures. Today we will be reminded from Acts 17:11 why we at this local assembly are called New Bereans.
Prayerfully Speaking – In the third installment of messages, Pastor Cason shares several things we could employ in our life on prayer. As we approach our day-to-day activities, we could become complacent or routine and forget how important prayer is to our day. Join us to as Cason speaks to us from Nehemiah 1:1-11
- A Prayer of Conviction (vss 5-6a, Lk. 18:1)
- A Prayer of Confession (vss 6b-7)
- A Prayer of Confidence (vss 8-9)
- A Prayer of Commitment (vss 10-11)
Positively Speaking – We live in a time when the world of social media demands that we conform to its negative mindset of self-centeredness. But such was not the attitude of our Savior who showed us the pattern of servanthood, humility. Today we will look at six positive steps we can take to help us have a mindset like Christ.
In the epistle to the Church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul expresses his joy and gratitude for the Philippian’s love and financial assistance while in chains for the preaching of the gospel as prisoner in Rome. One of the themes of the letter was its presentation of the humility of Jesus as a model for us.
Practically Speaking – Having explained to the Church at Ephesus God’s great plan of salvation, Paul now gives them instructions on practical Christian living and how they are to live a life worthy of the calling they have received. After beseeching them to put off the Old Man’s life style, the Apostle shifts his focus in Ephesians 4:24 and encourages them to put on the New Man, seeking to imitate God in righteousness and true holiness.
Christianity is a practical faith. After coming to know Christ as Savior, God wants us to conduct ourselves in a practical, Godly way as the New Man. We should put away lying, uncontrollable anger, malice, poisonous words and evil conduct towards our fellow man. Instead we are to be imitators of God. We should hold no grudges and be those who do not grieve the Spirit of God, but practice kindness and forgiveness. We should forgive as we have been forgiven by God, demonstrating grace.
Game On! On the night before he was to die, Jesus presented to his disciples some things that must take place. Things that would change the course of history. His obedience to his coming to earth would be the way that God chose to bring salvation to the world. From his message text (John 18:4-11) Before his disciples, he presented;
- His Claim (vss 4-7) – Jesus claims to be the “I AM”
- His Concern (vss 8-9) – Jesus expresses his concern for the disciple’s safety
- His Compassion (vs 10) – Jesus displays his compassion for the soldier who had his ear cut off
- His Commission (vs 11) – Jesus announces the reason he has come to drink the bitter cup of sin for the world.
God Calls A Mighty Judge – The Bible declares that God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise (I Cor. 1:27). There are some of us who would immediately chosen the best, the strongest, the biggest or the fastest. But just as God did with David, the unlikely one to challenge a nine-foot Goliath, he knows the heart means more than the physical attributes. It has been said, “you can’t teach or coach heart”. Some people have it and some just don’t although they have all the skills and ability.
In today’s Pulpit Points message, Associate Pastor Cason takes us to a dark time is Israel’s history and God the omnipotent One chosen an unlikely one named Gideon to deliver them and a bleak moment. “God Calls A Mighty Judge” is a perfect example of the great mercy and grace, God has towards his people and his divine wisdom to taken us through the dark times in our own life.
David’s Prayer of Confidence – In today’s Pulpit points message, Associate Pastor DeWayne Cason, shares several lessons we can all learn from David. David is always referred to as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), simply because he lived his life to please the Lord. Pastor Cason takes us to Psalm 27 to learn the how and whys of praying in confidence. Join us today.
God Is Still In Control – In a world of so many uncertain circumstances, we all can be left in a fog of confusion and be overwhelmed. In the process we can be so captivated by events happening we lose sight of focus. In today’s message, Leroy E. Ricks reminds us that no matter, the God of the bible is still in control as he always has and always will.
Heirs with the Saints and with The King of Kings – In our life as Believers we will experience a number of things, events and circumstances that will challenge our faith. God wants us to know that no matter what we experience we belong to Him and he is our God. And as a direct result of that relationship we are heirs to an inheritance that the world as a whole are not
Lessons From The Valley Pt 3 – In today’s message Dr. Ricks continues his series of Lessons from The Valley. God has shown us how He uses Elisha in the previous lessons with the widow and her son and how he provided for them. Today, we will see how God used Elisha before Obadiah, Ahab and Jezebel. (I Kings 18:1-19)
Zacchaeus Seeks A Savior – Zacchaeus was a man, a human like anybody else. We were all sinners like he was, lost and out on a limb. But Jesus knew his sin condition and came to seek and to save the lost to bring about spiritual reconciliation in our lives. In today’s Pulpit Points message, we’ll see the process the Lord used to expose Zacchaeus’ need for a Savior.
–The Dangers of Drifting Away From God (Part I)) – God has given us instructions on everything that pertains to life and godliness (1 Pet 1:3) and He expects us to faithfully follow in obedience. In today’s Pulpit Points message, Dr. Lamont Ricks shares with us that there are dangers associated with falling to follow the Lord’s word.
We as Believers will be challenged to compromise what we know to be true. The Lord established and has maintained his church as the vehicle by which we are to be instructed and discipled in his word. But when we chose to consider His establishment as an option, we open ourselves up to list, hear and follow others who will seek to pervert the truth of God’s word. (Dangers of Drifting Part II)
-The Benefits of Fearing God (Part I) – Believers are encouraged to know and understand there are benefits to fearing God. Fear God is simply have the right, reverence and perspective of the true and living God. God is sovereign and righteous and is able to do as his wisdom determines.Having an incorrect perspective, respective or fear will cause us to do things that will can cause that will not brings glory to the Lord. This type of mindset will cause us to fall into dangerous territory.
On the contrary, having the right fear of God, we will experience some divine and blessed benefits.
–The Benefits of Fearing God (Part II)
–The Right Attitude for Serving Christ – The life of the believer is to be lived as unto the Lord. This basically and simply means that everything we do and say is to be done to the glory of God.
In today’s Pulpit Points message, Leroy E. Ricks, Sr, reminds us we must be mindful of our responsibility to serve and minister with the right attitude.
–The Power and Purpose of Trauma – Trauma as defined, is an unfavorable, unpleasant or difficult experience that causes one to move in a direction that will change one’s mental state. Today’s message, Dr. Ricks shared with New Berean, that all of us will at some point of time experience trauma. God’s eternal plan through salvation is to use some of these traumatic experiences to change our spiritual mindset towards Him. In effect. trauma will cause us to:
–The Blood of Christ – A couple weeks ago, Pastor Ricks, shared with us in a message entitled, The Body of Christ, several key elements we needed to know regarding Christ’s physical and spiritual body. Today at New Berean, paired up that message with The Blood of Christ. Today we learn what it means to have the blood of Jesus applied to our spiritually bankrupted case and why we should be eager to share in the Communion experience and not be reluctant to partake. Join in today’s Pulpit Points.
–Mothers, Tell Your Children (of God’s Goodness – If you were a mother, what advice would you give another mother to help set up her children for godly approval and success? What words of wisdom would you share with them?
In today’s Pulpit Points message, Leroy E. Ricks, Sr. shares three things that every mother or mother to be should be able to tell their children. on Mother’s Day, we honor our mothers and God does too when they impart the timeless truths of His word on our precious children.
–The Body of Christ – One of the most significant elements of the Christian faith is in the reality that God became man. He became one of his own creatures that he may provide them an example they could follow and be without excuse. In today’s Pulpit Points message, Leroy E. Ricks, Sr, shares with us four reasons why our faith rests on “The Body of Christ”.
–Skeletons – Skeletons are evidence of a dead past. A past that should been buried and walked away from. But as with all of us, we have a past that at times seeks to remind us of where God has delivered us.
Dr. Lamont E. Ricks shares how God’s eternal and abundant grace is what we need to overcome and be delivered from the ungodly influence these skeletons can have on our lives.
–The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection – The most defining element of the Christian faith is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In today’s Pulpit Point’s message, Leroy Ricks shares with the congregation of New Berean Baptist Church four particular reasons why it is important that God raised Jesus from the dead and how it plays such an unparalleled part to the overall gospel message.
–Don’t Forget To Give God The Glory – From time to time, we have to be reminded because we tend to forget. In today’s message, Leroy Ricks, Sr of New Berean Baptist Church reminds us that as quick as we are to ask the Lord for help, we are not to forget to give God glory when we receive the help we asked for.
–Pray Like Jabez Prayed – God cares more for us than we can ever imagine. He reminds us that, faith is what pleases Him (Heb. 11:6). He reminds us in His word, that our thoughts do not measure up to His (Isa. 55:8-9) and that we must not be double-minded (Jam 1:5-8)
In today’s message, Pastor Ricks shared with the congregation a message entitled, “Pray Like Jabez Prayed”. In the prayer Jabez offed to the Lord his God (1 Chronicles 4:9-10), he left for us a model of things we can petition the Lord for things in our own life:
Jabez Prayed –
Bless Me Lord
Enlarge My Territory
That Your Hand Lord, Would Be With Me
God, Keep Me From Evil, That I May Not Cause Pain
God’s desire for us is to know we can trust Him and he cares for us. Be encouraged that just as Jabez prayed, we can go to our Lord in faith and boldy ask for grace to help in our time of need (Heb. 4:14-16)
–The Blessings of Being In Christ – Blessings all mine with ten-thousand beside, Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand has provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. Blessings are defined as, “a thing conducive to happiness or welfare of another”.
God has endowed us as his children with an infinite source of blessings for both here and in eternity. In today’s Pulpit Points message, Leroy E. Ricks shared with the congregation of New Berean, just some of the many blessings given to us to enjoy and be encouraged by. We are challenged everyday by the ills of the world and the satanic influences set it place to take us away from our focus. But the Lord wants us to be reminded of the blessings we have to keep us focused.
–Pain Before Prosperity – All of us as Christians, have a journey that has taken us through the process of molding and shaping us into the image of Christ. For some of us, the road has been rough and for some of the road has been rougher. None of us will escape the process for in the process, we’ll cross opportunities to grow deeper in our faith. We’ve been forced to deny ourselves more time than we’d like to admit although now are glad for them. God has proven himself to be faithful through them all and in today’s message, Dr. Lamont E. Ricks, shared with the congregation of New Berean Baptist Church how and why the process is necessary and in place to bring God glory.
–Praise For Deliverance – Praying for deliverance is different from praising for deliverance. If you’ve ever been in a desperate situation, you wanted to be delivered. In those times when you were delivered, the overwhelming emotions took over and moved from one extreme to another. Leroy E. Ricks, Sr shares with the New Berean congregation the importance of giving God praise when He delivers us.
–Stuck But Not Stranded – If you’ve ever been in an unfavorable situation longer than you have wanted and felt like you were hopeless, Dr. Lamont Ricks, Associate Pastor of New Berean Baptist Church, shares with us from God’s word why these moments exist and what our response ought to be. As Believers, we are never without hope no matter how dark or deep the circumstance is for our hope is in the Lord.
–It’s Not Your Fault, But You Are Still Responsible – Things happen, Some things are our fault and some are not. In today’s Pulpit Points message of nbbcMinistry, Dr. Lamont E. Ricks, shares with us that whether or not the circumstances we find ourselves, we still have a responsibility to God to do right by Him.
–The Purpose Of God’s Redemption In everything we do or say, we are to give God glory. We are expected to see to it that as we decrease in praise or acclamations for our service and the praise goes to our heaven Father. But we are reminded that whatever God does, he does to his own glory, even when He redeemed us. Although our redemption was for our benefit by escaping the eternal wrath of God and the corruption of this world, ultimately, it was …
–The Power of God’s Intervention Contrary to popular thinking, things happen and don’t happen to us as a direct result of God’s divine providence. God’s omniscience and omnipresence allows Him to know everything and be everywhere at all times so he can demonstrate his omnipotence to control or intervene on thing as they pertain to his good pleasure and will.
–The Power of God’s Timing, Timing is everything. To be in the right place at the right time is critical and can be beneficial to the person wanting to benefit. But in today’s Pulpit Points message from Dr. Lamont E. Ricks, Associate Pastor at New Berean Baptist Church, we learn that our timing is not necessarily God’s timing and we will shorten the benefits when we prioritize our timing over the Lord’s. Pt 1.
– The Power of God’s Timing Part 2
– That Place Called Heaven Heaven is a place people want to go, but most people will not get there. There are various reasons why but God wants all to come to where He is. In today’s message, Pastor Leroy Ricks, Sr shares with us what heaven is who is going to be there as well as who is not
– Christ’s Resurrection Is No Hoax The resurrection of Jesus is the least optional element of the Christian faith. On Christ being raised from the dead, all of the Christian faith hinges. No other aspect equals to what the resurrection means to our faith. The validity of the Christian faith rests securely on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Pastor Leroy E. Ricks shares with the congregation of New Berean Baptist Church why the Resurrection of Christ is No Hoax
– True Friendship is a quality and trait we all would like to speak of in the people we associate ourselves with. The reality is we can’t say that we have true friends in everyone. On the flip side of that, we can’t say that we’ve been true friends ourselves. In a recent message, Pastor Ricks, shares from his pulpit ministry “True Friendship” and highlights; a) The Qualities of True Friendship, b) Things That Hinder True Friendship and c) What It Means To Have Jesus A Our Friend.
– Walking In The Word Of God is foundational to the believer. For the Bible is the inspired conversation of God to mankind and the believer is commanded to follow it. In doing so, God assures us that we will experience the blessings of being obedient. We will experience how and why it is difficult to be obedient and we’ll see what our level of determination is to be obedient from the text of Psalms 119:1-8
– The Believer’s “To-Do List“ – We are all caught up in things to do. But after we are saved, are there things we are should do? Yes, there. Many people will tell you the things we ought not to do but what about the things Gods expects us to be found faithful in? The Lord has included them in His word and in Romans 12, we have a short list. Take a few minutes and write some of the down. We’ve included a worksheet for you. Believers To Do List
– The Security Of Our Salvation – The Security Of Our Salvation, Part I, There are many uncertainties in this life. There are a number of seemingly gray or shaded issues in Christianity. One of the more important issues in Christianity is the security of salvation. In this message, Pastor Leroy Ricks, Sr. shares with us how and why our salvation is secure through the involvement of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
– Help For My Journey – Life’s journey includes some twists, turns, detours, u-turns, flyovers and rail road crossings. We may even get lost at times but he wants us to continue on with the assurances of his help along the way. In this message from Pastor Ricks, we’ll hear and see in the scriptures just how helpful our God is in every situation.
– The High Cost Of Rejecting Christ – Our salvation cost Christ his life. On the ugly side accepting him which leads to salvation is the high cost of rejecting him. Along with eternal damnation there are a number of other things. Pastor Ricks share with us a few things you’ll want to know.
– Stay In Your Lane of Grace – Grace, grace God’s grace. Hard to understand and at time harder to live in.
– 7 Ways To Please God (Pt I) Pastor Ricks shares ways we can please the Lord
– 7 Ways To Please God (Pt II) Pastor Ricks shares ways we can please the Lord
– My Deliverer (Pt I) In the Lord, we can rest assure we have a Deliverer
– My Deliverer (Pt II) In the Lord, we can rest assure we have a Deliverer
– God Will, If He is Willing (Pt I) In all that we hear, say and do, God has the final say so in the matter
– Help Is On The Way (Pt I) Whatever unfavorable situation or circumstances we may find ourselves, we can rest assured we need not to fear, because help from the Lord is available.
Help Is On The Way (Pt II) – In a continuation of this message, Pastor Ricks shares with us from God’s word the assurance we can have when we are going through unfavorable circumstances.
A Promise Kept – Everyone one of us would like to keep our promises. And more importantly we would like for those who make promises, keep them. In today’s Pulpit Points Christmas message, Pastor Ricks shares what promise God kept and how we can and should rejoice that He is “The Promise Keeper”