First Bentonville Podcast

God is building a real church, not one defined by a name, opinions, or traditions, and that church stands on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the cornerstone. Because of Christ, we are no longer separated from God but are brought into God's household as fellow citizens with the saints. The church functions like a living, growing building where each believer is a "living st...

Easter 2026. In Luke 24, the road to Emmaus reminds us that God can feel silent in our confusion, grief, and unmet hopes, even when God is present and working. The cross shows that life will not always make sense in the moment, but we can hold onto what God has already made clear. Saturday's silence teaches that God often does the deepest work when we see the least evidence. The resurrection revea...

God gave a warning of judgment, but also provided a way of rescue through Noah—showing that salvation comes by grace through faith. Noah trusted God's word about things he couldn't yet see and obeyed, even when it didn't make sense. His faith wasn't passive; it moved him to act, and that obedience brought salvation to his household. This story reminds us that real faith means trusting God fully an...

This week's message explores Ephesians 2:8-10, emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God through grace and faith, not earned by our works. God's work happens in three dimensions: FOR us (salvation through Christ's sacrifice), IN us (transforming us into His workmanship), and THROUGH us (equipping us for good works). We are saved by grace, through faith, for the purpose of doing good works that...

This week's message explores Ephesians 2:1-7, highlighting how the phrase "But God" transforms our story from spiritual death to abundant life. Paul reminds us that every Christ-follower has a past marked by sin and separation from God, a present defined by God's rich mercy and grace through salvation in Christ, and a future where God will eternally display His grace toward us. The core truth is t...

This week's message emphasizes the urgent call for believers to live on mission, following Christ's example of seeing and serving those who are spiritually blind. Jesus modeled a life of intentional engagement with people, recognizing that every person matters to God and deserves an introduction to His love. We are called to make the most of our time, working the works of God while we have opportu...

This week's message explores the spiritual inheritance believers have in Christ, emphasizing that God's promises are freely given and require no effort to claim. Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:18-23 reveals three key truths: the hope of God's calling (our past doesn't define us, God isn't finished with us, our future is secure, and what we do today matters), the glory of His inheritance in the saint...

This week's message explores how the Holy Spirit's role in salvation provides believers with an unchangeable inheritance. When we hear the gospel and place our faith in Christ, we are immediately sealed by the Holy Spirit—a divine guarantee of our salvation that cannot be altered. The Holy Spirit serves as both a seal of ownership and a pledge (down payment) of the complete inheritance we will rec...

This week's message explores the profound truth that our salvation originates entirely with God through His sovereign choice. Before the foundation of the world, God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless, predestining us for adoption as His children—not based on anything we've done, but according to His grace and love. We are accepted in "the Beloved" (Jesus), which means God loves us with t...

This week's message explores wisdom from Proverbs 1, defining it as seeing and responding to life from God's perspective rather than relying on our own understanding. True wisdom begins with reverence for God and is gained through studying His Word, obeying His commands, and cultivating a deep, personal relationship with Him. 

This sermon explores Psalm 1:1-4, contrasting the blessed life of those who delight in God's law with the fate of the wicked. It emphasizes how believers should avoid worldly influences and instead be rooted in Scripture, resulting in spiritual prosperity and God's favor. The message highlights that when God plants us by His Word, He provides for us, produces fruit through us, and preserves us—lea...

This week's message explores the incredible spiritual inheritance believers receive through Christ, emphasizing that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Just as earthly inheritances pale in comparison, our connection to Christ grants us access to unfathomable riches—wisdom, grace, redemption, and divine guidance for both spiritual and practical matters. The key...

This week we kick off a new series through the book of Ephesians. In Ephesians 1:1–2, we explore the incredible spiritual inheritance believers have in Christ. Paul emphasizes three key themes: discovering our God-given purpose as apostles called by His will, understanding our position as saints set apart for His possession, presence, character, and glory, and receiving God's provision of grace an...

This week's message explores the biblical foundation of the Church, beginning with Jesus' declaration in Matthew 16:18 that He would build His church on the confession that He is the Christ. The birth of the Church occurred at Pentecost in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit descended on believers with wind and fire—traditional symbols of God's presence—marking them as God's new temple. Through speaking...

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...