PV Bible Alive

Jesus said to His disciples, "I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.... You will be hated by all men because of my name."   We are living in the middle of that reality right now.  As Dorothy said to Toto, "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." For much of my life, we Christians in America had an expectation that society would be hospitable to us, or a...

This is the final sermon in this series.  And is appropriate that we finish with how we view God.  If your world crumbles around you, it's time to look for the Solid Rock on which you can safely stand.  If love and kindness fail from those in the world, you have to trust the One who is the source of real love.

This is a sermon from my late father over unity.

The is my late father's sermon.

This is my late father's 1st message on God's sovereignty.  The sound is pretty bad, but I hope you get a blessing from it.

This is my late father's 2nd message over God's Sovereignty.  It is a pretty bad recording, but I hope you get some blessing from it. 

In our nation today, it feels like we have less and less control over our future and the future of the country than ever before.  If we are being honest, maybe we never had that control.  But if we are Christians, we are given an example in the book of Acts of some people who "turned the world upside down."  And they didn't do it with elections, or judges, or legislation.  They did...

This is the third message that my late father gave in a series about "God's Sovereignty."  The sound quality is poor, but I hope you get a blessing from it. 

The hostile divisions in our country are widening.   Republican vs Democrat, Black vs White, State vs State.  And the hostilities have made their way even into what seems to be the most innocent of conversations; mask vs no mask, vaccine vs no vaccine.  So, when it seems as though we have lost some of the cultural and political battles in this country, what then is an American Christian to do?   W...

Each of the four gospels has something important to say about Jesus, and the Christmas story.  In this episode, we consider Jesus as a man, according to the gospel of Luke, and Jesus as God, according to John.

     How do we live in this world that is drifting farther away from the original core values of this country and people?  As a Christian, we used to have certain values in common with most of our neighbors.  We all believed in God, the 10 commandments, law and order, our country, and our common history.  But now, we find ourselves hated by many around us because of those same values.  So what do...

Many people know that the Christmas story, the birth of Jesus Christ, is only recorded in two of the four gospels; Matthew and Luke.  But can the other two gospels, Mark and John, tell us anything about the Christmas story and it's meaning? In this message, I look at how each of the gospels paints a portrait of Jesus.  And each of those portraits is important to have a full understanding of t...

My late father, Art Hays, delivered this message before his church participated in a Lord's Supper observance.  It was interesting to hear some of the insights he gained as he studied the Passover from the book of Exodus.

In this sermon by my late father, Art Hays, he looks at the passage of Scripture where the disciples are trying to prevent children from coming to Jesus.   We need to ask ourselves the question if our actions are preventing our children and grandchildren from coming to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

The nation that we've grown up in has changed.  It used to be that people treated each other with respect, even if they disagreed.  A Christian could believe, and teach that abortion and homosexuality are a sin, and people let them alone.  A Christian could believe that God created the world in six days, and those beliefs were a least tolerated. But today, if you express those beliefs or most...

The book of Hebrews talks about the Christian life as a race.  And in order to run well in a race, you have to lay aside those things that weigh you down.  One of those things, for most believers, is "the sin that easily entangles you."   What is that?  It's that temptation, that sin in your life, that you've struggled with all of your life.  For some it may be lust, for others...

The story of the Philippian jailor is well-known because he asked the most important question that anyone can ask; "What must I do to be saved?"  By the time he asked that question, his entire world had been rocked.  His system of thought was disabled, his conclusions about the purpose for his life had been dismantled by two prisoners who had been brought to his jail. Learn the 4 step an...

Jesus called on His disciples to act differently than the world they were living in.  You see, it is normal for people to love the people who love us in return.  But it is entirely abnormal to love those who hate us. And we are living in a world where those who would consider themselves enemies of the church and of the people who call themselves Christians, are multiplying. So how do we respond? ...

What is the meaning of life?  What is the purpose for our being here?  Some invest their lives in the pursuit of goodness, money, or power.  But, as the old hymn says, "On Christ, the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." While Paul was in Philippi preaching Christ, a number of its citizens have their lives meanings slip away, like the ground falling away from under your...

This is part two of "How to be a Liberated Woman."  This is the story of a girl who was enslaved in every possible way that anyone can be enslaved.  But from eternal appearances she may have appeared to be quite liberated. She is an illustration of how freedom only comes in Jesus Christ.

How to be a Liberated Woman (Or Man) Chapter 16 of Acts tells the story of two women.  Both were successful in a chosen field.  Both were gifted.  Both seemed to be independent of men.  But at the end of the day, only one of them was truly liberated. We think liberation comes when we "call our own shots," when we are our own boss, when we are free to make our own choices based on our dec...

How do you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit?  Is it a whisper in the ear?  Is it following of favorable circumstances, or making a great plan?  Is it hearing and obeying the Word of God? The Holy Spirit leads in a number of ways, and so, as a Christian we have to humbly listen for His voice.  

There are times, according to the Bible, when you can, and should defy the authority and law of a government.  When is that?  In short, any time government tells you to do something that God's Word says not to do, or any time government tells you not to do something that God tells you to do; you have to follow the higher authority of God's Word. This study has become especially relevant...

What is the role of the government according to the Bible?  This question makes me think of the common meme; "You had one job, and you couldn't even do that!"  The main role of the government according to the Bible is to punish evil and reward good.  And in many places around our nation, they are doing the opposite.  Rioters are being applauded, and the police are insulted and threa...

There is much confusion over the meaning of baptism as practiced in Christian churches today.  Who should be baptized?  When do you do it? (in infancy or adulthood)  Where should I be baptized and how?  (sprinkling, pouring, or immersion)  And most important, do I have to be baptized to be saved?  We had a baptismal service at our church where I answered those questions in a sermon.