We all know what it’s like waiting between two events – engagement and marriage, hiring and starting a job, and many others. Yet, what if there was another sort of in-between, an in-between that affected absolutely everything about how we live our lives in this broken world?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, as we move forward in the wake of the death of young Isaiah Simao – the son of our pastor, Monty Simao – we are blessed to welcome to our pulpit the associate pastor of Westside Baptist in nearby Bremerton, Washington, Peter Montoro.
Today Pastor Peter reminds us that as believers, we live our lives in this world in-between our crucifixion with Christ and our coming resurrection. And as we wait, it’s easy to feel as though the struggles we face will last forever. We must remember though, that just as the cross of Christ only made sense to the disciples in the light of His resurrection, so too the crosses we face will only fully make sense to us in the light of our own resurrection.
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.
Description: The Gospel is the central message of the church and the central figure of the message is Jesus Christ. Yet many in the church can’t define what this message is. Sometimes they even define it in ways that are the opposite to what the Scriptures reveal…ways that don’t lead sinners to salvation but leave them condemned with no good news.
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.
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.
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 Gospel of John Study (1997-1998) is now complete and in our SBC Classic Edition collection!
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
Today Pastor Peter reminds us that as believers, we live our lives in this world in-between our crucifixion with Christ and our coming resurrection. And as we wait, it’s easy to feel as though the struggles we face will last forever. We must remember though, that just as the cross of Christ only made sense to the disciples in the light of His resurrection, so too the crosses we face will only fully make sense to us in the light of our own resurrection.
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Sermon Notes
Sermon Notes
Sermon Notes
Scandia Bible Church 