Southside Baptist Church Podcast

What if you were reading a newly discovered letter from a respected, loved, and long departed person and discovered that they had mentioned you in their letter? That is precisely what we discover when we read Jesus’ prayer recorded in John 17. There is an old gospel song that says, “While He was on the cross, you were on His mind.” John 17 is proof that this is true. What did Jesus pray for you? Why should it matter? Join us for the final message in “One,” to discover the prayer Jesus prayed for you.

A person’s dying request is a window into their heart. It reveals what they think is most important. Just before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prayed a prayer that contained His dying wish for His church. While He could have asked for the Church’s military or political success, their financial well-being, wisdom or success, He instead asked for their unity. Join us for Part Three of “One” and learn how prayer affects our relationships and how our relationships can affect our prayers.

Prayer is an opportunity to align our hearts with the heart of God. Unfortunately, too often it is our attempt to convince God to align Himself with us. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He told them to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When He was in the garden shortly before His crucifixion He prayed, “Father, not my will, but yours be done.” Join us for Part Two of “One” and discover the one purpose of prayer and how that purpose will change your approach to talking to God.

What Jesus prayed is important, but don't overlook the fact that Jesus prayed. He prayed a lot. If Jesus, who had never sinned and lived in perfect communion with the Father thought that it was important to pray, how much more should the rest of us? In Part one of “One” we will explore Jesus’ habit of prayer to learn ways we can better connect to God through a meaningful and consistent prayer life.

Despite the fact that each year a growing majority of Americans wish they could skip Christmas, our collective celebration of the holiday continues to grow more and more extravagant. The commercials begin sooner, the decorations are brighter, the trees are bigger, and the gifts become more expensive. What does it all mean? Do our modern celebrations maintain any resemblance to the occasion they supposedly celebrate? In part six of “Let Earth Receive Her King,” we explore the story of King Herod, an insecure, impostor king, who attempted to fake his was into the very first Christmas celebration.

Despite the promises of peace made by kings and politicians throughout the ages, the kingdoms of this world are constantly at war. When Isaiah announced the promise of a coming Savior, he called Him the “Prince of Peace.” Seven hundred years later, when the angels announced the birth of Jesus, they declared, “peace on earth, good will toward men.” The Son of God was called the Prince of Peace and then the Son of God told His followers that if they wanted to be called “children of God,” they would be peacemakers. In part 4 of Let Earth Receive Her King, we will discuss the difference between the peace of the kingdoms of this world and the peace of Christ.

Chess is often an analogy used for life. It can be especially useful when discussing politics. There are kings and pawns and pieced in between. The weaker pieces are seen as extendible and the stronger pieces are always sacrificed for the good of the king. However, throughout the pages of the Bible, we find God’s story turns the chess board upside down. Pawns overthrowing kings and kings being played like pawns in the grand design of God’s plan. In part three of “Let Earth Receive Her King,” Pastor Gary Webber explores God’s unlikely strategy to use the kings of this world for His ultimate victory.

In part two of “Let Earth Receive Her King,” Pastor Gary Webber explores two ancient stories in which God’s people abandoned Him in favor of earthly kings. What is most surprising about these stories isn’t the rebellion of God’s people and their request for lesser kings, but God’s willingness to grant their request. Is it possible that Christians today might fall into that same pattern? Join us as we consider what we want when we demand an earthly king.

Deep within the genetic memory of humanity is a longing for a perfect king. A king who will restore order and justice. A king who will provide for and protect his people. A king whose reign will never end. Our problem seems to be that we cannot find such a king. When earthly kings have failed and we’ve exhausted political solutions, we are still left with the unfulfilled hope of a once and future king. Join us for part one of “Let Earth Receive Her King” as we explore Psalm 2 to discover the King we are longing to know.

In one of the most provocative parables ever told, Jesus introduced two men who took very different approaches to life. One spent his life while the other invested himself. Join us for the final message in the Invested series to discover the outcome of these two different approaches to living.

In one of His most bizarre parables, Jesus praises the techniques of a crooked money manager. If that isn't odd enough, He then tells us we should learn something important about investing from this guy. Join us for part five of Invested where we will share an important lesson learned from white collar criminals.

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells three parables. The first is like a canvas, the second is like a palate of paint and sets of brushes, but the third is the subject of the painting. Join us for part four of Invested, where we will see the heart of God as captured in His most precious treasure.