“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.
Description: Many folks, with the best of intentions, sit each week in their favorite church pew and are presented with a lovely talk that comes close to being from the Word of God.
The man up front is wearing a nice suit, has a traditional hair cut, a big Bible, and a degree in theology.
He reads a passage and then gives a stirring and interesting talk. The congregation all listen intently, shake hands, smile, and go home… feeling like, by attending church, they’ve done their bit to please God.
In today’s message we are going to be taught – by Jesus’ own words – a Truth that could make some folk reassess their relationship with the Lord Jesus.
“The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and his connection with the Name of God. She came to put his reputation to the test by asking tough questions. She made a grand and showy entrance into Jerusalem—camels loaded with spices, a huge amount of gold, and precious gems. She came to Solomon and talked about all the things that she cared about, emptying her heart to him. Solomon answered everything she put to him—nothing stumped him. When the queen of Sheba experienced for herself Solomon’s wisdom and saw with her own eyes the palace he had built, the meals that were served, the impressive array of court officials and sharply dressed waiters, the lavish crystal, and the elaborate worship extravagant with Whole-Burnt-Offerings at the steps leading up to The Temple of God, it took her breath away.”
— 1 Kings 10:1-5 MSG
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker laments the great sadness in the world today: that so many know the name of Jesus… yet do not (or will not) grasp who He is. (Even the Disciples who walked with Jesus during His days traveling the dusty trails in Israel, didn’t understand that indeed He was far greater than even King Solomon). Yes, the Truths of the Bible are hidden only to those who refuse to seek them.
In our sermon, Elder Barker recounts the history of the Queen of Sheba seeking to know whether or not “The Great” King Solomon was as great as his reputation held. … And that’s really the point: this African queen — so many decades ago — set an excellent example for us today. Hearing of the wisdom of Solomon, she sought him with an open heart to confirm the stories of his greatness.
…”Oh that everyone walking the earth today would come to Jesus with the same hunger and honesty seeking the Truth.”
Description: If your life is a challenge, be encouraged that you are a normal human being. The Bible tells us that there will be ongoing trials, testing and temptations. Christianity will not make you immune. The only difference for a Christian is that they can rest in absolute confidence that their loving God is with them. This truth is developed beautifully in the first verses in the Book of James.
Description: How does one live a victorious Christian life? It’s a mystery to many Christians. For many think that it can only come through years of service on the mission field or perhaps 20 years in the pastorate. Yet Jesus spelled it out simply in His everyday teaching as He walked the earth. Today’s message is an effort to clearly and simply offer precious insights to believers, young and old, on the path to a deeper walk with the Lord.
Description: As church-attending-Christians we hear the same scriptures repeated over the years. They tend to become so familiar that we no longer listen to the little details. The passage in this message has some wonderful insights that are too often overlooked. May the Lord slow each of us down to the place where we can fully grasp what the Bible is telling us in this amazing section from Luke 23.
Description: Most Christians don’t associate Easter with Passover. But with some study, one can see how they are beautifully interwoven into God’s perfect tapestry. The parallel of the Passover Lamb and our Lord Jesus — the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God — helps clarify in our minds the wonder of God’s plan for the salvation of believers.
Description: It’s easy to become fascinated by the topic of End Times. The challenge is that many respected theologians disagree about this section of the Book of Revelation. Today we will present one view and seek to support it from other Scriptures. And while this view may not agree with yours, if the result of listening to this message leads you to further study, then the time is well spent. The caution, however, is that good is often the enemy of best. …And the in-depth study of Christology is always the best.
Description: Our culture in America places great value on the knowledge that comes with a college education. From a financial perspective it nearly guarantees your life earnings will increase. The Bible, though, tells us to study for knowledge, but to askfor wisdom. There’s a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is acquired through study, but wisdom is something that is given. You can’t get wisdom just by obtaining that precious college degree, because wisdom is a gift of God.
Description: To our amazement the year 2015 suddenly ended, and we are now knee deep into 2016. Perhaps this is a good time to plan a strategy for the coming months. God’s word has given us many examples of how to successfully transit into a new year. The story of the 12 spies exploring the Promised Land gives us some insights into how God would have us move into the coming year.
Description: Every new day for a Christian is another chance to walk in the excitement of the Lord Jesus’ promise that He is going to come again to call us into His presence. If that doesn’t put a smile on your face then you should open the Scriptures and soak in them until you find that blessed inner joy.
A song has the words:
“…And the things of life will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
If you haven’t realized that yet, maybe this message will help make it personal for you.
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.
Sermon Notes
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Scandia Bible Church 