First Bentonville Podcast

In "Hello My Name Is Mercy", we  explore God's nature as the "Father of Mercies" and "God of All Comfort," emphasizing that mercy defines everything God does and that true comfort comes not from removal of suffering but from drawing closer to Christ. Paul describes God through direct action rather than theological categories, showing that our God uniquely acts in human history. The message challen...

Experience the joy and wonder of Christmas! Christmas at First Bentonville Church—a celebration filled with the magic of the season! Whether you celebrated with us in person or are tuning in for the first time, this special service brings the true meaning of Christmas to life through powerful worship, an inspiring message, and unforgettable moments for the whole family. Grab your hot cocoa, gather...

In week two of our series, the message explores how Christmas represents God's response to humanity's fall from glory through sin. Jesus Christ came as the incarnation of God's glory, becoming human to restore what was lost when sin entered the world. Through His suffering and sacrifice, Jesus not only offers forgiveness but restores believers to the glory God originally intended for humanity, tra...

In the first message of our new series, we explore the profound meaning of Christmas through Philippians 2:5-11, revealing that Jesus' birth wasn't just a historical event but God's ultimate demonstration of love and humility. By stepping down from heaven's glory to become human, Jesus showed us who God truly is, how far He will go to reach us, and established Himself as the Lord who deserves firs...

In the final message of our series, we explore God's kingdom work in a world filled with evil, using the parable of the dragnet from Matthew 13:47-50. Jesus teaches that God is currently extending His kingdom to all people without prejudice, like a net gathering fish of every kind, while a future judgment will separate the righteous from the wicked. We are called to live with urgency, casting the...

The next message in our series explores the parable of the pearl from Matthew 13:45-46, reinterpreting it with God as the merchant and the church as the pearl. The beauty of the pearl reveals how Christ's sacrifice on the cross covers our brokenness, transforming us into something precious. The merchant's pursuit demonstrates God's seeking love for us, and the price paid—everything—shows our immen...

This week's message reveals that we are God's treasure—the prize Christ joyfully gave everything to obtain. Through the parable of the hidden treasure, we see that Jesus didn't just save us out of duty, but out of deep love and delight, surrendering His glory, position, and life on the cross. Our worth is not based on our performance but on the infinite price He paid, and understanding this truth...

This week's message explores Jesus' parable of the leaven in Matthew 13:33, challenging the common interpretation that the church will transform the world for good. Instead, it presents leaven as a symbol of hidden corruption and false teaching that infiltrates truth. The lesson emphasizes that believers are called to be a pure offering to God—living with devotion, discernment, and intentionality—...

This week's message explores Jesus's parable of the mustard seed as a warning about the apostate church at the end of the age. While the gospel seed is powerful and transformative when planted in hearts, the church can grow into a corrupted "tree" that harbors false teachings and deceptive spirits disguised as truth. Believers are called to test every spirit, abide in Christ's true teachings, and...

In week two of our series we explore the parable of the wheat and tares from Matthew 13, teaching that good and evil coexist in the world by God's sovereign design. The enemy (Satan) deliberately sows evil wherever God plants good, yet believers are called to trust God's timing rather than try to root out evil prematurely. Through daily surrender, faith, and choosing good over evil, we can trust t...

As we begin our new series, "Good vs Evil", Pastor Chris explores how Christians should view and respond to evil in the world through the parable of the sower. Jesus teaches that the Word of God is like seed that falls on different types of hearts—hardened, shallow, crowded, and fruitful. As followers of Christ, we are called to sow good seed abundantly in a dark world, overcoming evil with good a...

This message from Proverbs 6:6-11 encourages us to learn wisdom from the ant's diligent work ethic and preparation. Just as ants work together in different roles within their colony—workers, harvesters, nurses—we are each uniquely placed in the body of Christ with specific purposes. The dynamic characteristics of ants—being highly aggressive in their mission, time-conscious, collaborative, and fol...

The final message in our series explores the power of prayer through the example of Jabez, emphasizing that we have direct, confident access to God through Jesus Christ. We are encouraged to pray specifically and significantly for things that align with God's will, trusting that He hears and answers according to His perfect timing and purposes. The key lesson is that prayer is always the answer in...

This week's message explores the concept of temptation through the prayer of Jabez and teachings in James, emphasizing that while temptation is universal, we can overcome it by focusing on God's goodness. Pastor Chris outlines the four-step path of temptation (desire, deception, disobedience, death) and he speaks to practical strategies for overcoming temptation through spiritual vigilance and sur...

This week's message explores the power of prayer through Jabez's example, emphasizing how God's hand represents His power and presence in our lives. It teaches that consistent prayer enables us to tap into God's unlimited power, helping us face seemingly impossible challenges with confidence. Pastor Chris encourages us to move beyond asking "Can God?" to confidently declaring "God can!" in all cir...

In this week's message about prayer from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we learn that prayer is not just an obligation but an opportunity to express our devotion and dependence on God. Through Jabez's prayer, we see that God responds to hearts that reach rather than settle, and that prayer is our way of cooperating with God's plan. Pastor Chris emphasizes that our lives can be as big as God rather than stay...

In week two of "PRAY LIKE THIS" Pastor Chris explores how prayer connects us to God's abundant blessings and guidance. Jabez's prayer demonstrates that true blessing means having more than we need so we can make an eternal difference in others' lives. The message emphasizes that the greatest blessings come through surrendering to God's will and waiting patiently for His timing.

During the kick off of our new series "Pray Like This," Pastor Chris examines how Jabez's prayer demonstrates the importance of an honorable life and sincere communication with God. He emphasizes that our response to pain, not the pain itself, determines our growth, and teaches that effective prayer requires self-reflection about sin, God's will, forgiveness, and faith. He concludes that our praye...

In Joshua 24, we witness a special moment where Joshua gathers Israel to renew their covenant with God, emphasizing God's sovereignty throughout their history. The passage teaches that God gives grace not because we are good but because He is, that serving the Lord requires continual commitment, and that complete surrender to God is essential for living out His purpose. Joshua's lasting legacy rem...

Joshua's final address to Israel serves as a powerful reminder that true faithfulness to God requires complete commitment and separation from worldly influences. His warnings emphasize the importance of clinging to God, following His Word faithfully, and remembering that God has kept every promise. These timeless principles challenge us to examine our priorities and recommit ourselves to loving an...

Joshua 20 details the cities of refuge, which symbolize Jesus as our ultimate refuge. Through Christ, we find safety from the "avenger of blood" (sin and death), experience righteousness, fellowship, and joy. Pastor Chris teaches that Jesus is available to everyone seeking safety, and it's our calling to share this refuge with others.

In this powerful message from Joshua 14, Pastor Chris reminds us that God is always faithful—even in the battles of life. Through the example of Caleb, we learn what it means to live a life of enduring faith, full devotion, and unwavering trust in God's promises. Faith doesn't depend on how strong we are—but how strong our God is.

This week in Joshua, Pastor Chris explores the end of chapter 10 and the key to spiritual victory, which comes through faith in Jesus Christ. This week's message emphasizes the importance of conquering the "kings" in our lives (pride, negative thoughts, worldly desires) by daily devotion to God. Through Christ's power, we can overcome our three enemies—the devil, the world, and our flesh—with the...

In Joshua 10, we witness an extraordinary display of God's power when Joshua prayed for the sun to stand still. This passage teaches us that faith means believing God for things we've never seen before, obeying God before understanding everything, and recognizing that what God has for us cannot happen without Him. God honors those who honor Him, calling us not to a comfort zone but to a faith zone...

In "Dealing With Deception" from Joshua 9, we learn the importance of discerning truth from lies in a world full of creative deceptions. Through the text, Pastor Chris warns that failing to seek God's counsel can lead to costly mistakes, as demonstrated by Joshua's treaty with the Gibeonites. Despite our errors, God remains faithful, working all things together for good and showing that where sin...