McKernan Baptist Church Podcast

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we focus on the peace of Christmas. Today we'll look at a passage declaring that Jesus has broken in as God's promised light of peace to the darkness in and around Israel (Matthew 4:15-17).

A Christmas Program rightly focuses on Jesus coming as a baby in a manger and praises God for this amazing gift. Our grade 5/6 students have reminded us, however, that Jesus did not remain a baby. While we know this, we may still make the mistake of "leaving Jesus in the manger" and live without the incredible implications of Christ's coming to earth.

On this second Sunday of Advent, we focus on the love of Christmas. Today we'll follow Jesus through a few encounters and quickly notice how His love impacted the way He saw the situations, which was quite different from the people around Him.

Advent reminds us that Jesus often comes in very unexpected, yet powerful ways. While the story of Jesus calling Peter is not a Christmas story, it is certainly an example of Jesus breaking into Peter's existence in ways both unexpected and life-changing.

Today, our journey through the life of Christ takes us to Samaria where Jesus had a very significant encounter with a woman that moved her from unbelief to belief and a restored relationship with God (John 4:39-41). There is much we can learn from this encounter to help us overcome our fear of outreach and simply fulfill our role as witnesses for Jesus.

As we focus on children today, it is appropriate that our journey through the life of Christ take us to some passages where Jesus modeled a very different perspective on children than was widely held in His day. In so many ways, Jesus treated children with great dignity and in fact, used their position in life to cll His followers to grow up into childlike faith.

Today, our journey through the life of Christ takes us to Jerusalem where Jesus had a powerful encounter with a religious leader named Nicodemus. We read that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, a detail that proves to be quite telling as we get a glimpse of the darkness in Nicodemus' soul and of Jesus' gracious invitation to him to come into the Light.

In our current series of sermons exploring the life of Christ, we come today to the village of Cana where Jesus entered into a joy-filled wedding celebration that was threatened by the culturally shameful dilemma of running out of wine. Jesus restored the celebration by miraculously turning water into new wine.

When we open our Bibles and dig into the life of Jesus, what emerges is a picture of real, meaningful life breaking into the world with the result of Christ's life breaking out in those who followed Him. This view of Jesus runs counter to what is often a "stained glass" view of Jesus that largely leaves Him out of the everyday existence of our lives.

Today we welcome Ben Trites, the new Executive Director of Camp Caroline, to our services. Ben will be speaking on how our journey of faith calls us forward to fulfill God's purposes. The whole of Scripture tells the extraordinary story of God's profound love for people. And it is His call in your life and mine to share this love with anyone and everyone you spend time with each and everyday of ou...

When we examine the life of Jesus in the Bible, what emerges is a picture of real, meaningful life breaking into the world with the result of Christ's life breaking out in those who followed Him. Today, we'll stop at the Jordan River, where Jesus literally broke into public life and ministry by being baptized. In His baptism, Jesus deeply identified with us so that His life might break out in us....

On this Dedication Sunday, it is fitting to look at Jesus' explanation of why He came. If, as a church, we are to be His body, this implies we are His visible representation where He has placed us. As we dedicate these facilities, we are thus really dedicating ourselves. Ultimately these facilities will be only as effective as our commitment to facilitate God's purposes through them.

When we examine the life of Jesus in the Bible, what emerges is a picture of real, meaningful life breaking into the world so that the life Christ offered broke out in those who followed Him. Today, we continue a series following the life of Christ through the various places where His presence opened the doors of this vital life. Today we'll travel to the bleak wilderness west of the Dead Sea, whe...

When we examine the life of Jesus in the Bible, what emerges is a picture of real, meaningful life breaking into the world so that the life Christ offered broke out in those who followed Him. Today, we continue a series following the life of Christ through the various places where His presence opened the doors of this vital life. We stop today in Bethlehem and note that there are actually four acc...

When we follow the life of Christ in the Bible, what emerges is a picture of real, meaningful life, breaking out for those who are open. Today, we'll begin a series following the life of Christ through the various places in which His presence opened the doors of this vital life. Our first stop is Nazareth where we see how the announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary not only signaled God doing a new t...