Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker pinch-hits for Pastor Monty and shares a message on murmuring from the book of Numbers that should give us all pause.
If we’re honest, our critical spirit nature does nothing but reveal our utter depravity and absolute need for Him.
Average Guy: I’m trying to listen to God, but I just don’t hear Him.
Scandia Host: Shhhh…. In our busy lives it’s often a challenge to slow down enough to actually come to a full stop and listen. For what we’ll find is that our desire and ability to listen to God is in direct correlation with who we consider Him to be.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker shares that too often we as Christians neglect the wonderful access and fellowship opportunities we have with our and Lord and Savior, because we fail to follow the clear and simple instructions found in Psalm 46:10:
Description: The cross: a Christian symbol evoking comfort and love for many, many people. But for some, it stands as a graphic warning sign declaring danger ahead.
Today on Scandia Bible Church podcast, Elder Keith Barker exhorts that the cross is SHOUTING that God hates our sin — so much so that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to pay the price for it by hanging on the cross. His blood was a ransom for us — freeing us from an eternity separated from Him, our loving Heavenly Father.
Yes, the cross serves as a merciful word of comfort to Christians of God’s finished work but, to the unsaved, a stark shout of danger.
Do you remember the Susan B. Anthony dollar? …You know the one that looked like a quarter.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker opens the Bible and draws our attention to a problem in America today: a lack of holiness.
Too often the church looks so much like the world, that those that are unsaved see no need to consider the claims of Jesus on their own lives. To them, they all look like quarters – but they’re really dollars. They don’t stand out because they’re lacking holiness.
If by the saving grace of Jesus Christ you are now considered a “dollar”… act like one. Because as He clearly commands: “Be holy for I am holy.”
Description: As the old saying goes, “If you are too busy for God, then you are too busy.”
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker takes us to the book of 1 Peter to show us that too often we start our day on a run and never quite get time to talk to our Lord and Savior – leaving us with the sad reality that God is more interested in talking with us, than we are with Him.
Our lack of a dedicated, disciplined, devotional time is perhaps the greatest hindrance to our growth as Christians. But our message reminds us that if we meet God each and every morning, we will experience a deeper, closer, and more wonderful relationship with our Lord… Our Lord who loves us so much that He was willing to die in our place.
Description: “He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony.” That’s how one Bible translation describes how Jesus felt during His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker opens the book of Mark to explore this prayer that theologians have endlessly pondered. The King James translation says that while praying in the garden, Jesus was “sore amazed” – prompting Martin Luther to describe it as the most astonishing statement in the Bible.
But all this agonizing stress seems out of context for Jesus, doesn’t it? After all, He is the God-man who spoke the universe into existence. But as we examine the situation, it becomes shamefully obvious that He did this for us. All this happened because of our sin. And because of His deep love for us, He surrendered His will and underwent the horrific experience. And then we realize, it’s not out of context for Him at all.
Scandia Host: Have you ever sat under a starry night sky and marveled at the billions of tiny lights?
Average Guy: Oh yeah!
Scandia Host: Have you ever wondered how it is that the sun and moon work out their yearly schedules with such clock–like precision?
Average Guy: And how the tides work? And why birds migrate? And how magnets do there “thing”?
Scandia Host: That I don’t know. But I do know, that if you’re honest, it’s pretty hard to deny that Someone wonderfully powerful and amazing is in charge of our universe.
Average Guy: That’s for sure.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker opens the Bible in a humble effort to expose our limited minds to the awe and wonder and magnificence of our God.
Average Guy:Believing in God is utter nonsense. It’s ridiculous! Anyone who does has obviously checked his intelligence at the door. I mean how can someone believe in a God they can’t even see?
Scandia Host: That was pretty good.
Average Guy: Thanks, I’ve been practicing.
Scandia Host: Sadly, though, too many people believe this way — so much so that they have their own groups.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker opens the book of Psalms to show us that even the heavens declare His name. They speak of His Glory, His Greatness, His Goodness, and His Grace. Nevertheless, even though God is shouting His existence into creation, a person with perfect vision can still be too blind to see it.
If you are one who is unsure of God, consider seeking to know Him. Open a Bible to the book of John, ask God to reveal Himself, and read the text with an open mind. It might just prove to be the most exciting decision of your life.
Description: “Virgin birth” – an expression people hear all around the world during Christmastime. But for people outside of Christianity – and sadly for far too many within it – they consider it a myth. Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, elder Keith Barker delivers a Christmas message that seeks to clearly and simply state the absolute essential need for Christ being born of a virgin.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker points out that many people — both today and in the days that Jesus walked the earth — believe that they are living lives in a manner pleasing to God. …But if Jesus were to come to your house for dinner, would He commend you or correct you? For the Pharisees of Jesus’ time, because they led such extremely disciplined lifestyles, their answer (at least for them) would be obvious. In today’s message we’re privy to such a dinner conversation, in which the Lord brings these very religious men face to face with the Truth.
Description: It’s difficult sometimes to say “no” to an obvious need. But we must remember that needs are never calls. Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker opens the book of Exodus to remind us that our strength comes from the Lord. We are to draw our strength only from Him… not ourselves. For when we depend upon our own humanity to energize and power us, we surely cascade to destruction. No, a need – in and of itself – is not a call; rather, a call is something that comes from God… to meet a need.
Description: The late preacher A.W. Tozer once wrote:
”What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker parks on this concept by opening the book of Isaiah. What about you? …Have you ever reflected on this? What’s your concept of God?
“How’s a person supposed to make good decisions!?? I’m trying my best… but a little help from Jesus would be nice.”
Many Christians have little to no confidence that they have Jesus overseeing their daily activities – the result, they make decisions which are contrary to a life of peace. Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker opens the Bible to the well-known Psalm 23, where we learn that, indeed, we are like sheep… often wanting our own way even when it’s the wrong way. But what we learn from God’s Word is that we can at any time ask for wisdom, and He promises to guide and provide… just like a good shepherd.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker shares with us that holiness is not something that you muster all of your energy to do, but rather something that is done to you. Holiness is an EFFECT – not a cause. Often, people believe that they need to “get better” in order to qualify for salvation. That in fact is, nothing is more impossible: the flesh cannot “Christianize” the flesh… because holiness is of the Lord.
…The first four words of the Bible – four words whose depth and volume lay the very foundation for the truths that the rest of the Bible proclaim.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker takes us all the way to the beginning of the Bible – Genesis 1:1 – and explains that when an author pens a story his aim is to grab your attention to draw you into his book. God did this with the first four words of His book… four words that are so important that if the reader can’t digest them, the remainder of the Bible will likely remain a mystery.
Description: Have you ever reflected on who actually killed Jesus?
…Was it the angry crowd? Was it the Roman governor, Pilate? Was it the religious leaders? Or was it the work of Satan?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker addresses the possible contributors to Jesus’ death by opening the 27th chapter of Matthew – a portion of scripture that every Christian should be familiar, for it is the centerpiece of our belief. Because you see, when you understand this chapter, you not only gain a grasp of what Jesus was willing to endure for the forgiveness of each and everyone of us… but you peer into the sacrificial heart of God.
Description: Isn’t fascinating how a chemist can put together certain chemicals that in and of themselves would be poison … yet when properly mixed, change from something bad to something good? For example sodium is a poison, and chlorine is a poison; but when compounded together, sodium chloride becomes table salt. Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker opens the Bible to show us that God’s “chemistry” was exhibited at the cross when His holiness met the depravity of man: yielding an outcome, for all who would believe, of salvation.
Description: It’s a comforting thought to realize that God wants us to know Him. And while most people see the Bible as “too deep” and “too confusing,” the reality is just the opposite. Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker opens the Bible to clearly establish the most important truth in all of Scripture – a truth made so simple by God that a child can both understand and respond:resulting in a life redeemed.
“A Baby’s hands in Bethlehem were small and softly curled; but held within Their dimpled grasp the hope of all the world.”
– Leslie Savage
Merry Christmas! Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker opens the Bible and shares with us that despite the efforts of Joseph and Mary to find suitable accommodations in Bethlehem, there was no room for Jesus.
Christmas is a festive time. A happy time. A family time. A time to remember Christmas’ past – perhaps as a child – when the wonder of the sounds and smells and singing of Jingle Bells warmed and filled your heart. Sometimes though it’s easy to fill our hearts with everything BUT the main point: the marvelous birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Description: “Come”…. The inviting, guiding word seen throughout the Bible. Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker shows us that the word “come” is found all throughout the Bible; in fact, the phrase “come to Me” is found 335 times! And in our text today out of Isaiah 55, we see that the word “come” appears three times in just the first verse alone! It’s a verse that begins a beautiful picture of the overflow of the results of the work Jesus did on the cross to make our salvation possible. And thus, in a sense, making the Bible one great, loving invitation to fallen humanity.
Sermon Archives
Given New Life
in SBC Classic Edition
We’re in the process of digging through the colossal SBC Sermon Archive Library to bring forth the rich and timeless Biblical Truths found within the hundreds and hundreds of sermon cassettes from yesteryear, in our Tape to Podcast Project.
Currently on the workbench:
The Jim Allen Lamentations Study (1998-1999) has joined our SBC Classic Edition.
The Jim Allen MARK Study (1999-2001) is (finally) complete! …as part of our SBC Classic Edition.
Watch our Steeple Study grow! … Great for a listen-study through a book or series.
Our Find-A-Sermon resource page helps you find what you’re looking for.
With the increased release of sermons from our archives, SBC Classic Edition is now podcasting on its own dedicated feed, separate from our current Sunday sermons.