Mineral Springs Church of Christ Podcast

If you’ve ever watched one of the survival shows on television, you will have noticed all the various trials and challenges those on the show have to endure. Perhaps you’ve even criticized their actions and reactions. We may not face those same challenges, but just the fact that we are human means we will be tested by trials even though, given the choice, we would avoid them. The good news is that...

In the gospel of John, the author explains how God did something He had never done before. He became human to bring people back to God so they can experience the fullness of God’s grace and truth. We need to learn from the master teacher how to reach people as Jesus, the ultimate rabbi, did. Robert Peek, guest minister, uses the gospel of John and specifically, the fourth chapter of John to show l...

What are the characteristics of a strong person? While we may have different definitions of human strength, we have to admit that even the strongest person has weaknesses. In the last of his sermon series Power in Weakness, minister Aaron Hill reminds listeners that when Jesus took on human flesh, He gave up His rights. He chose to be confined in a weak human body. He allowed Himself to be weak so...

We have a tendency to put people we admire on a pedestal. When we do that, however, we risk disappointment, for those people are flawed humans. A Bible character we often put on a pedestal is David, yet David was also a flawed human. In fact, the Bible says he was a "man of blood." Minister Aaron Hill explains to listeners how God was able to use David in spite of his weaknesses. 

In the time of the judges, a famine has occurred. Naomi and her husband Elimelech have moved to another country to find food. There their sons marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. The unthinkable happens. Naomi’s husband and both her sons die leaving all three women widows. Naomi decides to return to her native land and urges her daughters-in-law to stay in their own country, saying, “May the Lord...

Throughout the Old Testament, we read stories of God's people, Israel, sinning, getting into trouble, and calling on God to save them. The book of Judges gives many examples. Minister Aaron Hill reminds listeners of the story of Gideon, an imperfect man, a weak man, whom God uses to save the Israelites. Gideon has doubts, but despite Gideon's doubts, God was able to use him for His purpo...

One of the most exciting yet sometimes confusing times in life comes when a young person graduates from high school and must begin making decisions that will affect the rest of his or her life. Todd Richards shares advice from the Bible for these young people and for the parents and grandparents  who will help them navigate a path through the sea of choices  they will face.

Power in weakness often shows up in unexpected people. Minister Aaron Hill tells listeners about one of those unexpected people as he relates the story of Rahab, a prostitute in the city of Jericho who chooses to be on God's side. She doesn't consider what can happen to her if the city leaders find out she has betrayed them. She selflessly hides the Israelite spies and helps them escape...

Abraham is a giant of faith who didn't grow up in church. In fact, he and his family were idol worshippers prior to God's call to him. Minister Aaron Hill reminds listeners that God called Abraham out of the land of his birth, away from the idol worship with which he had grown up, to go to the land of Canaan. God had other options. He didn't choose the smartest, the richest, the big...

When we see moral decline and evil surrounding us, and we choose not to participate, we can feel isolated and alone. Minister Aaron Hill tells us that Noah must have felt the same way. Genesis 6:1-8 tells us that God is grieved that man's thoughts and intentions have turned to evil, and God decides to blot out His creation. Noah, however, has found favor in God's sight. Noah's life...

We crave power. We like walking in our own strength. We are embarrassed by weakness, yet the apostle Paul boasts in his weaknesses. Minister Aaron Hill reminds listeners how Paul, whom we consider a giant of the Christian faith, points out his own weaknesses, declaring that it is God’s power that made him perfect in his weakness. Is it possible that if we don’t recognize our own weaknesses, we may...

How often have we let our inadequacies affect our faith? Minister Aaron Hill uses the example of Moses to assure listeners that God wants to be with us even though He knows we're not good enough by ourselves. Even though we're not good enough, that's ok. Moses didn't think he was good enough to lead Israel, and without God, he wasn't. Though we may doubt our own ability, i...

Guest speaker Paul Jones challenges listeners to be deep divers into God's word and to think seriously about their lives and the choices they've made and will make. Have you ever wondered how things would be if you'd never been born, if you hadn't chosen the same spouse, if you had chosen a different career? Our choices define us, and our choice to follow Jesus Christ is the mo...

Cole Law of Walnut Street Church of Christ in Texarkana walks listeners through Romans chapter 8. He asks whether any of his audience has reached his or her potential in life in Christ. Christians don't retire but continue to pursue that goal throughout their lives. God created us for more than we are doing now. Romans 8 gives us the confidence and assurance we need to continue on the Christi...

Kraig Martin of Harding University of Searcy, Arkansas, walks listeners through various theories of atonement, considering how Jesus' death on the cross affects salvation. Are we only saved from the guilt of our sin, or are we saved from the sin in our lives? Do we know what sanctification is, and do we strive for that through our lives as Christians? Martin gives listeners a lot to think abo...

Jesus told his disciples well in advance of His death that He would die and be raised from the dead. He was arrested, beaten, abused, crucified, and buried, and on the third day He rose. He appeared to some of His disciples, and they spread the word of His resurrection.  Minister Robert Peek reminds listeners that Thomas was one who did not immediately believe their report.  Thomas said that he wo...

Aaron Hill of Waco, Texas, and Searcy, Arkansas, reminds listeners that being a follower of Christ means making oneself vulnerable. We might cringe at the thought of making ourselves vulnerable. We view vulnerability as weakness, yet Paul the apostle said that God told him, "“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness .” Paul goes on to say, "Therefore I wil...

God created humans and wanted a face-to-face relationship with his creation. Humankind, however, began early to listen to the wrong voices. Todd Richards tells listeners that once Adam and Eve opted to listen to Satan instead of God, they began a trend that has continued throughout history. They chose human pride over the wisdom of God. We must learn what is gold and what is gold-plated. No matter...

Matt Carter leads listeners through an in depth look at Psalm 95. Two songs that we often sing come from this psalm: "Come, Let Us Sing for Joy to the Lord" and "Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down." The psalm begins on a note of hope, joy, and gratitude, but it ends with despair. The psalmist warns the Israelite people not to harden their hearts as they had done in the past and h...

Mike Ireland of Searcy, Arkansas, challenges listeners to take another look at the parable of the Good Samaritan. When the teacher of the law asks Jesus the question, he does so in order to test Jesus. After Jesus' answer, the lawyer, wanting to justify himself, asks Jesus who his neighbor is. Jesus responds with a story that likely made the questioner squirm. Jesus ends the story with a chal...

Sometimes it's hard to believe that Jesus was tempted in all things just as we are. Lee Henson uses the story of Jesus' temptation by Satan in the wilderness to show that, indeed, Jesus faced the same temptations we do: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. We are tempted, but God will always provide a way of escape; the key is staying alert and looking for the way out....

Stephen Woods of Dallas, Texas, uses Mark 9:14-29 and the story of Jesus healing a boy with a demon to compare those who were present at the scene to their counterparts today and see how they react to Jesus. The groups consist of 1) the boy and his father; 2) the crowd of onlookers; 3) the scribes; and 4) the disciples. The boy and his father represent those who need help, relief. The onlookers wa...

God always hears His people's grief. Willie Williams III of Dallas reminds listeners that while God is always concerned for and listening to the prayers of His people for relief, the answers to those prayers will not always be immediate. He may be preparing a Moses to lead His people out of bondage. He may be preparing a Gideon to lead a small army. Be assured God is always there, but know th...

Mike Ireland of Searcy, Arkansas, reminds listeners that God is a God of grace, using Ephesians 2: 1-10 as his text. The apostle Paul reminds the Ephesians in the first three verses how they were , and it is not a complimentary picture. They were dead in their transgressions and sins, disobedient, depraved, and doomed. Ephesians 2:4-5 reveal that God took care of the terrible predicament they and...

Jimmy Hubbard of near Batesville, Arkansas, reminds listeners that while many things have changed over the years, God has not. He still calls people everywhere to repent. Hubbard expounds upon the definition of repentance from a Biblical perspective and tells listeners that a refusal to repent brings dire consequences today just as it did during Bible times. He urges the audience to examine their...