Mineral Springs Church of Christ Podcast

The book of John gives readers additional insight into Jesus ministry, giving us snapshots of Jesus' ministry that are not included in the other gospels and revealing the difference Jesus makes in the personal situations of those with whom he interacts. Guest minister Robert Peek uses the text from John 5:1-18 to illustrate how Jesus does this in the life of one man, a man who had been unable to stand and walk for 38 years. Jesus renders an act of compassion by healing the man and suffers the judgment of the religious leaders for what He does. 

In 1 Samuel 17, we find David completing an errand for his father. He has been sent to take provisions to his brothers and check on their well-being. While there, he sees and hears the Philistine giant Goliath defying the Lord's people. Astounded, he questions why the Israelites are cowering before the Philistines. Of course, the rest is history. David slays Goliath with a sling and a stone because he knows that the God he serves is greater than any man no matter how big he might be. We, too have giants in our own lives, the biggest of which is sin. Guest minister Will Webb compares our battles with our giants to David's battle with Goliath. Just as God delivered David from Goliath, He will deliver us "from the sin that so easily besets us" (Hebrews 12:1). 

So often we fail to experience peace. It seems our lives are full of chaos, but just as Jesus calmed the storm for His disciples, He will calm the storms in our lives if we will call out to Him. Kraig Martin uses the storm that Jesus calms in Mark 4:35-41 to remind us where we can go for help when we face difficulties in our lives. If the winds and the waves listen to and obey Jesus' voice, why are we holding back?

What is it that makes people feel small, useless, or insignificant? Is it the way they feel about themselves or the way others feel about them? Maybe they feel that God feels that way about them. Maybe they think it's too late for them to change. Guest speaker James Beam leads listeners through Zechariah 3:1-7 reminding them that God is always ready and waiting for His children to repent and come back.

Some of Jesus' last words were to "go and make disciples." What does it mean to make a disciple? What does it mean to be a disciple. In his message, Eddie Beene tells listeners  about the process one must go through to become a disciple of Christ.

What should we do when we encounter temptation? Do we stand and fight, or do we retreat? Guest speaker Scott Dutile discusses tactics we should use in our Christian walk to avoid the snares of the devil as we fight the fight of faith.

In this world, there are no guarantees. While there are many things in life that we would like to have guaranteed, the truth is we don't have the ability to make all of our desires become reality. Through God, however, we have guarantees far more important than what we can have in this life. John Martin discusses the various struggles that we and well-known people in the Bible have had, and then shares a few of the guarantees we can count on: the promises of God.

Six hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah foretells the coming of the Messiah. We find the God has been thinking of us much longer than we've been thinking about Him. Minister Robert Peek focuses on Isaiah 9:6 in today's message: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." He considers the prophet's description of the coming child, keying in on the "wonderful" aspects of the promised One. He is wonderful in His humanity, in His humility, and in His Honor. 

This episode fits the title "The End" in more than one way. The podcast will continue, but today is minister Aaron Hill's last sermon for us as our preacher. He and his wife will be moving to a church nearer their families in New Mexico. The message itself is from the last chapters of Revelation signifying another end, a narrative about the end of an age given to us by the apostle John.

Revelation is both a literal and symbolic depiction of what things will be like at the end of times. It is often difficult to determine with 100% accuracy what is literal ad what is symbolic; therefore, we must be careful how we interpret what the book says.

John gives us a picture of a new heaven and a new earth. There is no sea, no sun, no moon, and no stars. The water of life flows from the throne, and God and the Lamb provide the light. It becomes evident who is responsible for life and light. The living water and the light are available to all of the sons and daughters of God free of charge. Nothing will be able separate us from Christ, and we will experience full enjoyment of the presence of God in this place.

In the last lesson in his "Identity Politics" series (Episode 366), minister Aaron Hill focused on the church at Ephesus, a church faced with the possibility of losing its candlestick because of its lack of love. In today's sermon, he discusses the plight of the church at Thyatira, which faces a vastly different challenge. They are commended for having the love that Ephesus lacked, yet some of their body are admonished for following the teaching of a false prophet in their midst. 

This so-called prophet is called Jezebel, reminiscent of the evil queen Jezebel who promoted idolatry and Baal worship in Old Testament times. Some in the church of Thyatira are apparently following this "prophet's" teaching and engaging in sexual immorality. John condemns this practice, and tells those, including the "prophet", that they must repent, or they will face resultant tribulation. 

He makes it clear, however, that this is not a whole church issue, or the church in Thyatira would likely be warned of losing its candlestick just as Ephesus was. He tells them in Revelation 2:24-25, "But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come." For those who hold fast to Christ, he promises a reward, emphasizing their need and ours to be vigilant at all times and not to become complacent.