Pastor Ben Harper

Was the New Testament Church Really One Body?

A popular claim says the early Christians disagreed so much that the New Testament church was really "churches," a loose collection of groups with different beliefs that everyone just had to tolerate. If that's true, nobody today has to agree on anything either.

So let's open the Book and test it.

In this video we look at what Jesus said about His church, how the apostles described the body of Christ, what the plural "churches" actually means, and how the early church settled doctrinal disputes under one government. We also deal honestly with the disagreements the New Testament records, like Corinth's factions, Paul and Peter at Antioch, Paul and Barnabas, and Romans 14, and ask whether the apostles celebrated those divisions or corrected them.

#Bible #EarlyChurch #NewTestament #SoundDoctrine #KJV #ChristianTeaching #OneBody

Christian faith just believing without evidence? Many skeptics say so, and even some Christians talk that way. But what does the Bible actually say?

In this video, we walk through the Scriptures to see how God invites us to reason with Him, how the apostles pointed to eyewitnesses and "many infallible proofs," and why Paul staked the entire Christian faith on the resurrection. We'll also look at the Bible's own definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1, and why biblical faith is anything but blind.

Does the Bible teach that we must be born again before we can believe? Total depravity, the "T" in Calvinism's TULIP, says a sinner is so dead in sin that God must regenerate him first, and only then can he have faith.

In this video, we open the King James Bible and walk through the text: Romans 10, Ephesians 1 and 2, Colossians 2, John 5 and 6, and more. We look at what "dead" means in Scripture, how God uses His Word to produce faith, and why the Bible's order is consistent: the gospel is preached, the sinner hears, believes, and is made alive in Christ.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

This isn't about attacking our Reformed brothers and sisters. It's about being Bereans and searching the Scriptures to see whether these things are so. If you hold to Calvinism, I'd genuinely love to hear from you in the comments.

Three words. One unforgettable warning.

Why would Jesus interrupt His teaching about His return with such a brief command? What was so significant about Lot’s wife that Jesus expected His disciples to remember her generations later?

In this message, we examine Luke 17 in its context and discover that Lot’s wife serves as a warning against a divided heart, worldly attachments, and failing to trust God when He calls us to leave the old life behind.

If you’ve ever wondered what Jesus meant by these words, this sermon will challenge you to examine where your heart truly is as you await Christ’s return.

Scripture: Luke 17:20–37 (Focus: Luke 17:32)

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“Remember Lot’s wife.” — Luke 17:32

Every preacher loves to preach—but that’s not enough.

One of the greatest dangers in ministry is falling more in love with the pulpit than with the study. Before God ever calls us to proclaim His Word, He calls us to know it. Faithful preaching is born out of faithful study.

In this video, I share one piece of advice I wish every young preacher would take to heart: fall in love with studying the Bible more than you fall in love with preaching.

As Paul told Timothy:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God…” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Whether you’re a young pastor, a Bible teacher, or someone preparing for ministry, I pray this encourages you to pursue depth in God’s Word before seeking a platform.

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#PastorBenHarper #Preaching #BibleStudy #YoungPreachers #ExpositoryPreaching #PastoralMinistry #ChristianLeadership #BiblicalTruth #2Timothy215 #PreachTheWord

Is Romans 7 describing the normal Christian life… or something else entirely?

In this video, I take a deep dive into one of the most debated passages in the New Testament. Is Paul talking about a mature believer struggling with sin, or is he describing the unregenerate man under the Law?

We’ll walk through Romans 7 in context, compare it with Romans 6 and Romans 8, and examine how “life in the Spirit” changes the entire picture.

This is a verse-by-verse theological discussion dealing with sin, sanctification, the Law, and the power of the gospel.

📖 Topics Covered:

* Romans 7 explained

* The “I do what I hate” passage

* The unregenerate man view

* Romans 8 and life in the Spirit

* Victory over sin

* Paul and the Law

* Sanctification and regeneration

If you enjoy biblical theology, expository teaching, and deep Scripture study, consider subscribing.

#Romans7 #BibleStudy #BiblicalTheology #Romans8 #ChristianYouTube #PaulTheApostle #Theology #ExpositoryPreaching #HolySpirit #BibleTeaching

The cross was not a backup plan—it was necessary. In this message, we uncover why atonement was required, why sin demands payment, and why only Christ could provide it.

In this message from Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV), we explore one of the most well-known and powerful commands in all of Scripture:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

So often we try to figure life out on our own. We lean on our understanding, our plans, and our wisdom. But God calls us to something deeper — a wholehearted trust in Him.

In this sermon we look at why God is truly worth trusting:

• Because of who He is

• Because of His perfect wisdom

• Because of His faithful guidance

• Because He promises to direct our paths

Even when life is confusing and we cannot see the road ahead, God invites us to trust Him fully.

📖 Scripture: Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV)

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Can we really trust the Bible in a skeptical world? In this message, we examine the historical reliability, fulfilled prophecy, manuscript evidence, and the transforming power of God’s Word.

This sermon will strengthen your faith, equip you to defend Scripture, and remind you why the Bible is not just a book — it is the living Word of God.

If you’ve ever struggled with doubts or wanted solid answers about the reliability of Scripture, this message is for you.

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“What is truth?” — It’s the question Pontius Pilate asked Jesus nearly 2,000 years ago. It’s still the question our world is asking today.

In John 18:37–38, Jesus stands before Pilate and declares that He came into the world to bear witness to the truth. In a culture of confusion, relativism, and competing voices, this passage confronts us with a life-altering reality: truth is not an idea — it is found in a Person.

In this message, we explore:

• The nature of truth

• Jesus’ claim to absolute authority

• The danger of rejecting truth

• What it means to belong to the truth

If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, cultural pressure, or the question of objective truth, this sermon will challenge and encourage you.

📖 Text: John 18:37–38

✝️ Theme: Christ as the embodiment of truth

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