Genesis at FBS - Audio: Recent Episodes
Dr. Don Wilton
Genesis is a worship experience at 11:00 AM each Sunday, led by the Genesis band in a modern worship atmosphere.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the Who Are We series, sharing how the Word of God is foundational to our faith and practice. “You don’t need a new tool; you need the right tool.”
Dr. Mike Harder begins a new series looking at who we are as a church. This week focuses on Colossians chapter one.
Guest pastor Mike Glenn shares great insight as he brings our series in Daniel to a close.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series in Daniel, incorporating a story from his own life about being stranded in a dangerous place, and how God rescued and delivered. “People want to know if our faith works.”
Dr. Mike Harder continues in the book of Daniel. “What are we treating casually that God has set aside for worship?”
Join Pastor Mike as he shares a story of wedding-day chaos and how Jesus miraculously turned it around. Discover the incredible power of Jesus to transform even the hardest moments. John 2:1-11
Dr. Mike Harder preaches the third message in this Daniel series. There is no testimony without a test.
Dr. Mike Harder continues in this Daniel series, showing us how there is no power without prayer.
Dr. Mike Harder begins a brand new series in Daniel, conveying how we can invite the unbelieving world to test how good God really is.
Dr. Brett Avery preaches from Joshua 3 about what happens when God delivers us into something better.
Dr. Mike Harder continues this advent series in Revelation, describing how Christmas is a turning point in the war, and he asks, “What do you love more: your life, your lifestyle, or Jesus?”
Dr. Mike Harder continues this Advent series preaching from Isaiah. How can our hearts be in rhythm with God’s heart?
Dr. Mike Harder begins this advent series in an interesting place–Genesis chapter 3. Follow along to hear this profound tie in to Christmas.
Dr. Mike Harder continues this series, preaching from Acts and 1 Corinthians and detailing some fascinating parts of the journeys of the apostle Paul.
Dr. Mike Harder continues this series in the book of Acts and shares how we can finish well.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series in the book of Acts, encouraging us to “let God cook.”
Dr. Mike Harder continues this series in the book of Acts. How to we make connections in order to make Jesus known?
Pastor Mike begins a new series, preaching from Acts 16 and asking this striking question: “How much sewage do you want in your drinking water?”
Guest Caz McCaslin preaches from Romans 10, comparing passion to burden and inspiring us to get it right as Jesus did.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series The Gospel for Everyone, preaching from Acts 15 and demonstrating our interaction with culture using salt and yeast.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series in Acts. If you are walking in the way of Jesus, you will face opposition in the world. Suffering produces hope.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series, preaching from Acts 13. Are we willing to send our best? Expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series in the book of Acts, discussing the importance of Christian friendship.
Dr. Mike Harder invites Jeff Henderson to preach a message entitled “When God Goes Silent.” When you hear God’s silence and feel God’s absence, trust His presence. Malachi 1, Proverbs 21, Galatians 4, Matthew 1.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his brand new series called “GOSPEL FOR EVERYONE” with today’s message, “Power of a Name.” He reads from Acts 9 and Philippians 3.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his brand new series called “GOSPEL FOR EVERYONE” with today’s message, “Is the Gospel for Me?” He reads from Acts 8:26-40, Isaiah 56:3-5, and Matthew 19:12.
Dr. Mike Harder begins his brand new series called “GOSPEL FOR EVERYONE” with today’s message, “Who Is In?” He reads from Acts 8:1-25 and John 4:23.
Dr. Mike Harder concludes the series called “NOT A FAKE” with today’s message, “The Stoning Of Steven.” He reads from Acts 6:8-15, 54-56, 58; 7:51-60, Hebrews 13:12-14.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the new series called “NOT A FAKE” with today’s message, “It Takes All Of Us.” He reads from Acts 6:1-7; 7:3.
Dr. Mike Harder asked Dr. Brett Avery to preach this Sunday. His message is titled “How To Resist.” Pastor Brett preaches from Acts 5:17-42.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the new series called “NOT A FAKE” with today’s message, “Annias & Sapphira Runners.” He reads from Acts 4:32-37;5:1-6.
Dr. Mike Harder starts his brand-new series called “NOT A FAKE” with today’s message, “Biblical Boldness.” He reads from Acts 4:13, 23-31; 5:28 & Habakkuk 2:14.
This Sunday, Dr. Mike Harder has invited our student pastor, Rev. Samuel Phipps, to give his sermon titled “Relationship Over Ritual.” Rev. Phipps preaches from 1 Samuel 15:10-22, Romans 12:1-2 & Matthew 12:1-8. Join us today to experience what God has in store at First Baptist Spartanburg!
Dr. Mike Harder asked his friend Dr. Jed Coppenger, lead pastor at FBC Cumming, to speak today. Dr. Coppenger’s sermon is titled “Fake Christianity: 10 Traps Of An Inauthentic Faith (And How To Avoid Them).” He dives into Matthew 15:8, 23:1-3, 27-28, 37, James 1:22, 2:17,19 & Philippians 4:4.
This Sunday, Dr. Mike Harder has invited our executive pastor, Dr. Brett Avery, to deliver the sermon titled “Can I Trust the Bible?” The message will be based on 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Join us for a powerful time of worship and teaching!
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series The Church – Acts: An Origin Story. Today’s message is titled What Would Jesus Do. He reads from Acts 3:1-16, 4:13, John 14:12-14, 15:16, Ephesians 5:1 & Corinthians 11:1.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series The Church – Acts: An Origin Story. Today’s message is titled Choose Church. He reads from Acts 2:42-47 & Galatians 1:6-9.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series The Church – Acts: An Origin Story. Today’s message is titled The Gift Of The Holy Spirit. He reads from Acts 2:1-21, 37-41, Genesis 11:5-7, Ephesians 1:13-14.
Dr. Mike Harder starts a brand new series called The Church – Acts: An Origin Story. Today he reads from Acts: 1:4-11 & John 15:26-27.
Dr. Mike Harder invited Rev. Matt Chandler to share a message this morning at First Baptist Spartanburg. Matt is the senior pastor at Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas. Today he preaches a message titled “YAWEH 01: I AM WHO I AM.” He reads passages from Exodus 3, Revelation 4 and Isaiah 6.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series Restoration & Resurrection. In today’s message, Comparison Kills Joy!, he details the importance of us staying in our lanes. He reads from John 21:20-23.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series Restoration & Resurrection. Today he looks into Peter’s last detailed encounter with Jesus. He reads from John 21:1-13, 15-19.
Dr. Mike Harder starts a brand new series called Restoration & Resurrection. Today he dives into Thomas and his doubt. He reads from John 20:24-31.
On this Easter Sunday, Dr. Mike Harder teaches a message called I Have Seen The Lord. He reads from John 20:1-18.
On this Palm Sunday, Dr. Mike Harder teaches from John 19 and gives the answer to three important questions: 1.) What is the cross? 2.) Why the cross? 3.) What did Jesus accomplish at the cross?
Dr. Mike Harder invites the President of the North American Mission Board, Dr. Kevin Ezell, to share his message about Living On Mission. He reads from 1 Corinthians 16:5-9, Acts 13:3 and Philippians 3:13-14, challenging us to be intentional, expect challenges, and to stay faithful and focused.
Dr. Mike Harder finishes the series, Flourish, with today’s message titled Remember Me. He reads from Nehemiah 8:5-14, 13:14-31.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series, Flourish, with today’s message titled Battle to Breakthrough. Pastor Mike also reveals the building plan for the campaign Saturate: Restore & Reach. He reads from Nehemiah 6:15-16, Habakkuk 2:14, and 2 Samuel 24:24.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series, Flourish, with today’s message titled RESIST THE DEVIL. He reads from Nehemiah 6:1-14.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series, Flourish, with today’s message titled GRIT. He reads from Nehemiah 4:1-8, 16-20 & Psalm 3:7.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series, Flourish, with today’s message titled Boldness To Building. He reads from Nehemiah 2:11-20, 3:1-14 and 2 Samuel 7:11-13.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series, Flourish, with today’s message titled Burden To Boldness. He reads from Nehemiah 2:1-9 and Acts 4:13.
Dr. Mike Harder starts his brand new series, Flourish, with today’s message titled The Burden Of Vision. He reads from Nehemiah 1:1-10, Habakkuk 2:14, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Luke 19:10 and Romans 10:13.
Dr. Mike Harder finishes the series “The Last Teachings Of Jesus.” This week he teaches from John 18:1-40, Isaiah 53:3-5, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series “The Last Teachings Of Jesus.” This week he teaches from John 16:7-15 and Matthew 12:31-32.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series “The Last Teachings Of Jesus.” This week he teaches from John 15:1-8, Philippians 1:6.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series “The Last Teachings Of Jesus.” This week he teaches from John 13:1-17, 34-35, Philippians 2:5-7, Matthew 20:28.
Dr. Mike Harder starts his brand new series “The Last Teachings Of Jesus.” He teaches from John 12:12-16, 18:36, Zechariah 9:9, Revelation 19:11-16, Luke 19:39-40.
For the last message of the year, Rev. Todd Williams preaches a sermon titled “Why Did Jesus Have To Live?” He focuses on passages from Hebrews 10:1-18 & Romans 5:19.
Dr. Mike Harder is in week 3 of his Christmas series “Whispers Of Wonder.” He preaches from Micah 5:2-5, Samuel 7:4-7, 11-13, Luke 2:1-7.
Dr. Mike Harder is in week 2 of his Christmas series “Whispers Of Wonder.” He preaches from Isaiah 9:6, 7, John 3:16, Luke 2:14, 12:31-32, Revelation 5:9-10.
Dr. Mike Harder begins his brand new Christmas series, “Whispers Of Wonder.” He preaches from Luke 1:26-33, 38, Isaiah 7:1-14.
Dr. Mike Harder finishes the series, Scandal, with today’s sermon called “Be A Mary Not A Judas.” He preaches from John 12:1-7.
Rev. Seth Phipps brings a message titled “What’s Your Unlock?” He preaches from Acts 6:1-8.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series, Scandal, with today’s sermon called “Jesus: The Resurrection & Life.” He preaches from John 11:1-40.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series, Scandal, with today’s sermon called “Jesus: The Good Shepherd.” He preaches from John 10:1-11, 17-18, Ezekiel 34:10-11, Psalm 23:1-4, Isaiah 53:6.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series, Scandal, with today’s sermon called “Jesus: The Light Of The World.” He preaches from John 9:1-7, 35-38.
Dr. Mike Harder begins a brand new series, Scandal, with today’s sermon called “Whole Lot Of Leaving.” He preaches from John 8:2-11, Jeremiah 17:13, John 3:10-11, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
Dr. Brett Avery encourages us in his sermon titled “Extraordinary Faith” to let go of what we believe is safe in order to experience the joy of what we are told is possible. He preaches from Luke 7:1-10.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the Always Only Jesus series with today’s sermon called “Jesus Is The Bread Of Life.” He preaches from John 6:5-12, 30-35, 41-43, 53-58, 68-69.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the Always Only Jesus series with today’s sermon called “Jesus Is The Healer.” He preaches from John 5:1-18, Acts: 3:6-8, 12-16, James 5:14-15
Dr. Mike Harder continues the Always Only Jesus series with today’s sermon called “The Samaritan Woman.” He preaches from John 4:1-35, 7:37 & Isaiah 12:2-3.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the Always Only Jesus series with today’s sermon called “Jesus Is The Messiah.” He preaches from John 3:22-30.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the Always Only Jesus series with today’s sermon called “Jesus Is The Savior.” He preaches from John 3:1-18, 8:28, 12:32-33, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Psalm 107:2.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the Always Only Jesus series with today’s sermon called “Jesus Is Better.” He preaches from John 2:1-11.
Dr. Harder continues the “Always Only Jesus” series with this weeks message called “Look At The Lamb.” He dives into John 1:29-36, Genesis 22:11-14 and Revelation 5:4-6, 9-10.
Dr. Harder begins his new sermon series in the book of John called “Always Only Jesus.” He dives into the following passages of scripture: John 1:1-18.
Dr. Harder’s final message in the series Courage In Crisis is called “Taste and See.” He dives into 2 Kings 6:33, 7:1-9, 16-17, and Psalms 34:8.
Dr. Mike Harder is back in the pulpit this Sunday. His message this week is Elisha: Namaan. He teaches from 2 Kings 5:1-7, 12-15.
Guest speaker Wade Owens shares an inspiring message at First Baptist Spartanburg. Wade emphasizes the importance of having a deep, personal encounter with God rather than settling for a superficial or hurried experience. Drawing a vivid analogy from his passion for coffee, he compares the rich, immersive process of making coffee to how we should approach our relationship with God—seeking a full, transformative encounter.
Guest Speaker Dr. Mike Glenn delivers an inspiring message, detailing how we should “mind our own business” and “stay in our garden.”
Student Pastor, Rev. Samuel Phipps, shares this week’s message titled, “Holding On To Hope.” He dives into Mark 5:24-34.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series on Elijah with today’s message called “If We Repent, God Will Relent.” He focuses on passages from 1 Kings 21:1-7, 17-29, Ephesians 2:4-6.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series on Elijah with today’s message called “Elijah On The Mountain.” He focuses on passages from 1 Kings 19:8-18, Revelation 7:9-10.
In Dr. Mike Harder’s sermon “Running on Empty” from First Baptist Spartanburg, he explores the theme of spiritual and emotional depletion through the story of Elijah. After experiencing miraculous victories, Elijah reaches a point of exhaustion and despair, feeling completely empty. Harder parallels this with the experience of modern believers, emphasizing that feelings of emptiness and burnout are common but also an invitation to encounter God’s restoration and provision. He highlights that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, as shown by Elijah’s encounter with the Angel of the Lord, who provided physical sustenance and spiritual renewal. The sermon encourages believers to embrace their moments of emptiness as opportunities to experience God’s grace and faithfulness, reminding them that God meets them in their brokenness and provides the strength needed for their journey.
Dr. Mike Harder continues his series on Elijah with today’s message called “Showdown On Carmel.” He focuses on passages from 1 Kings 18:1-2, 17-39, Psalm 121:4.
Dr. Mike Harder launches a new teaching series on Elijah called “Courage in Crisis.” This week he focuses on passages from 1 Kings 17:1-17, 19-34, Hebrews 11:6 John 6:35, 11:25.
In Reverend Seth Phipps’ sermon titled “Stepping with the Spirit,” he emphasizes the importance of walking daily with the Holy Spirit and being receptive to God’s guidance. He begins by drawing parallels between parenting a young child and our relationship with God, illustrating how we sometimes feel abandoned or distant from Him. Reverend Phipps discusses the necessity of receiving what the Spirit has for us, responding promptly to God’s call, and continually remembering Jesus’ teachings. He underscores that being in the right place and position to hear from God, such as through prayer, is crucial. The sermon encourages believers to live available to God’s work, to respond without hesitation when the Spirit leads, and to remember and consider Jesus in all aspects of life, allowing His influence to permeate every area. Reverend Phipps calls the congregation to reflect on what might be hindering their walk with the Spirit and to trust in God’s greater plan and power.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series “Meet With Me” with this week’s message: The Cloud = The Presence of God. He visits passages from Exodus 25:8, 40:34-38, 1 Kings 8:10-11, Romans 10:9-10, Revelation 3:7-8.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series “Meet With Me” with this week’s message: Building The Tabernacle. He visits passages from Exodus 25:1-9, 36:4-7, Hebrews 9:11-12, 12:2, 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series “Meet With Me” with this week’s message: Beauty In Brokenness. He visits passages from Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:13-16, 18, 4: 6-7 and Zechariah 12:10.
Dr. Mike Harder continues the series “Meet With Me” with this week’s message: Presence of God. He visits passages from Exodus 33:15-23, 34:5-10, Matthew 17:5.
Dr. Harder continues his series “Meet with Me.” This week’s message, titled “Generation of Joshua’s,” focuses on passages from Exodus 33:7-11, Luke 22:42, Numbers 12:8, and Psalms 27:4-5.
Dr. Harder starts his brand new series called “Meet with Me.” His first message from the series, The Remembering Problem, focuses on passages from Exodus 32:1-6, 11-14, 30-34 and Hebrews 8:12.
Guest Speaker Dr. Wade Owens take us through Numbers 13:27-33, displaying our desire to put on “fear colored glasses” by choosing to believe what we see instead of believing what God has said.
On this Easter Sunday, Dr. Mike Harder discusses how we are a resurrection religion, and he preaches from Matthew 27:62-65, 28:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15:19-22, John 11:25-27.
On this Palm Sunday Dr. Mike Harder presents a fresh new message called “Cleanse the TEMPLE” from Mark 11:15-17. You will discover more as Dr. Harder preaches in Isaiah 56:6-7, Jeremiah 7:9-11, Revelation 7:9-10, 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:21, 1 Cor. 11:23-24, 1 Cor. 11:25 26.
Dr. Harder concludes his sermon series, “The X Commandments According to Jesus,” by diving into the tenth commandment, Do Not Covet. The passages used in his message include: Exodus 20:17, Luke 12:27-32, Hebrews 13:5.
Dr. Harder continues his series on “The X Commandments According to Jesus” by discussing the 8th commandment: Do not lie. He looks closely at the following passages: Genesis 1:31, 3:1-5, 8-13, 15, Exodus 20:16, Leviticus 19:15-16, and John 14:6.
Dr. Harder continues his series, The X Commandments According to Jesus, by discussing the 8th Commandment, Do Not Steal. He will be preaching from the following passages: Exodus 20:15, Psalms 24:1, Mark 10:21, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Mark 10:23-31.
Dr. Harder continues his series on “The X Commandments According to Jesus” by discussing Adultery. The scriptures he will focus on are Exodus 20:14, Proverbs 6:32, Matthew 5:27-30.
Dr. Harder focuses on the sixth commandment, Thou Shall Not Kill, from Exodus 20:13, breaking down murder into three aspects: Appetite, Anger & Apathy. Genesis 9:6, Matthew 5:21-24.
Week 6 of the series The 10 Commandments According to Jesus. Today’s topic: Honor your parents.
Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12, Luke 2:41-51, John 19:26-27, Ephesians 6:1-4
Dr. Mike Harder
Exodus 20:8-11
As a society, rest isn’t cultural for us. Many ignore the directive to make the Sabbath a day of rest. In Genesis, God modeled Sabbath rest for us. After creating the world, his labor ceased, and he rested. When we think of rest, a vacation comes to mind, relaxing at the beach or looking across a mountain vista. However, what if we viewed the Sabbath not as a day, but rather, a person. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Have you considered giving your burdens to Jesus and resting in him? No more running or trying to do life in your own strength. Find rest by giving your past, your story, to Jesus. Today, choose to rest in Jesus Christ.
Often when we become accustomed to beautiful scenery, relationships, or comfortable environments, we take those things for granted. They become so familiar. Perhaps that happens, also, in our relationship with God. In the routine of everyday living, we may lose our sense of who God is. Pastor Mike Harder continues the sermon series, the “Ten Commandments According to Jesus,” with today’s message on the third commandment: You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.
Jehovah God wants us to honor His name in all that we do. Never should we use His mighty name for personal profit. We must not live lives unworthy of His name, because Christians are people of the Way. His great name is never to be evoked as a slur or a curse. Instead, we should be eager to live as people in awe of the Father while simultaneously being close to Him.
Is the desire of your heart Jesus? If not, it can be. You can always come home to Him.
“…Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Isaiah 26:8
Dr. Harder continues his series, The X Commandments According To Jesus, by focusing on Exodus 20:4-6, Acts 4:12.
Dr. Harder continues his sermon series titled, “The X Commandments According To Jesus,” while focusing this week on “Defining The Relationship.” He displays the importance of ultimately forming a relationship with God, sharing personal experiences and reflections on relationships by including the anxieties and conversations that arise when defining a relationship. Dr. Harder further explains that the 10 Commandments are not merely a set of rules, but a means for establishing a deeper connection with God, encouraging us to define the relationship we have with God himself.
Dr. Mike Harder begins his new series “The Ten Commandments According to Jesus” from Exodus chapters 19 and 20. What if the Ten Commandments are not just rules to live by but something deeper—perhaps a love letter from God to a people who desperately need Him? In the earlier chapters of Exodus, the Israelites had seen God’s mighty power many times, but they really didn’t know Him. In chapter 19, they prepare to actually meet Him as God comes to Mt. Sinai. However, God makes it clear that because of their sin, they cannot actually approach Him. The Israelites needed an advocate to be their bridge to Holy God. They needed a way to know God personally. Moses was their advocate. Today, because of our sin we still cannot approach Holy God without an advocate. We need a way to personally know God. Jesus is our advocate… our bridge to Holy God.
Will you make Jesus Christ personal?
If you don’t have a personal relationship with Him, you can today by surrendering your life to Him.
If you already have a personal relationship with Him, would you be an advocate for someone else who needs to know of His goodness and love?
In his sermon titled, “The Mountains of 2024,” Rev. Jordan Davis focuses on facing obstacles and challenges in life with faith in God. He goes on to discuss how mountains can represent the difficulties we encounter, and how having faith enables us to conquer those mountains.
In his final message in the Christmas sermon series titled, “Do You See What I See,” Dr. Harder looks at the perspective of the the Shepherds. Hear how he highlights the significance of the Shepherds being the first visitors to Jesus, and what that reveals about how God uses all people. You’ll be moved by his appeal to truly encounter Jesus personally and worship him, not just know about him, this Christmas.
Continuing his Christmas sermon series titled, “Do You See What I See,” Dr. Harder focuses on the perspective of the the Angels who appeared to the shepherds to announce Jesus’ birth. God sent Jesus at Christmas to bring us peace with Him, transforming us from enemies into children in His family for eternity. We must first pursue peace with God before we can truly have peace with others or ourselves. This Christmas, fully embrace Christ as the Prince of Peace so you can know the joy of belonging to God’s family, both now and forever.
Continuing his Christmas sermon series titled, “Do You See What I See,” Dr. Harder focuses on the perspective of Joseph. When an angel appears to Joseph, he obeys God by taking Mary as his wife and naming her child Jesus, adopting him into the lineage of David and participating in the fulfillment of prophecy. Joseph’s life parallels Christ’s as the suffering servant, modeling self-sacrifice for God’s work. The sermon challenges us this Advent to follow Joseph’s example by going to join Jesus wherever he leads, even into discomfort and unknown places.
In his new Christmas sermon series titled, “Do You See What I See,” Dr. Harder focuses on the story of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary. He goes on to discuss Mary’s fear at the news she will bear the Son of God with the great favor and purpose God gave her. Likewise, we should choose trusting God’s favor rather than fearing the unknown when God moves in our lives. Pastor Mike urges replacing any negative identities we’ve internalized about ourselves with the truth that God has shown us favor by offering a relationship through Christ.
Dr. Harder explains in his sermon, “God, I will go,” the secret to having a New Testament kind of life is saying just that, “God, I will go.” By doing this, you put your yes on the table for God and make yourself available to be used by God to impact people’s lives with the good news of Jesus.
In his sermon “Testing the Blessing,” Dr. Harder reminds us we often take God’s blessings and provision for granted. Just like how we get bored with amazing technology like iPhones, we can get bored with God’s goodness and stop being grateful. The main point is gratitude – being continually thankful for God’s salvation through Christ, even if we’ve been Christians a long time. Avoiding boredom with the gospel and rediscovering wonder at God’s grace.
In his sermon, Dr. Mike Glenn discusses Jesus’ response when asked which commandment is most important – to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Glenn explains that truly loving God means desiring Him above all else, loving others requires receiving His outpoured love so it overflows to them, and loving yourself recognizes Christ’s sacrifice proves your immense worth. Glenn challenges listeners not to delay living God’s way and risk failing the final exam of life.
In his sermon “From Chains to Chosen,” Dr. Mike Harder discusses the story in Exodus where God miraculously parts the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape the pursuing Egyptian army. Harder explains that despite seeing God perform miracles in Egypt, the Israelites quickly lost faith when faced with danger. Harder says we often do the same, forgetting God’s past faithfulness when difficulties arise. Ultimately, through this miracle and adopting the Israelites as His children, God wanted to transform their identity from slaves to chosen sons and daughters. Likewise, though we were slaves to sin, through Christ we are adopted into God’s family. We must leave behind the chains of sin and trust our perfect heavenly Father.
In his sermon, Dr. Harder explains that in Exodus, God sent plagues on Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery and reveal that He alone is the one true God. The tenth and final plague was the death of all firstborn sons, but God provided a way of escape – placing lamb’s blood on their doorposts so the angel of death would “pass over” them. Dr. Harder connects this to the gospel, explaining that like the Passover lamb, Jesus’ blood saves us from God’s judgment and wrath. Just as the Israelites had to follow God’s instructions to avoid the plague, we must follow God’s instructions to find forgiveness and life through trusting in Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.
In this sermon on “Receiving Redemption,” Rev. Samuel Phipps explores how God restores and reconciles people to himself through the story of David’s sin and repentance in 2 Samuel 12. He explains that restoration begins when God, through the prophet Nathan, rebukes David’s sin, bringing conviction and understanding. For restoration to happen, repentance is required, which David models by immediately confessing. Finally, restoration leads to reconciliation, as evidenced by David worshipping God even after facing consequences. The key point is that God desires to restore our relationship with him daily, but we must be quick to repent of our sins so we can receive his reconciliation and restoration.
Dr. Mike Harder starts his sermon with a brief acknowledgment of gratitude for prayers during the conflict in Israel and his father’s safety, both while in country and in his ability to get the last ticket on the last flight out of Tel Aviv. He then delves deeply into the spiritual teachings from the book of Exodus, focusing on chapter 7, which narrates the initial confrontations between Moses, Aaron, and Pharaoh. Dr. Harder explores the significance of God’s power and sovereignty as displayed through the signs and wonders in Egypt. Drawing parallels from personal experiences, he recounts watching the movie “Rudy” with his family, using it as an allegory for perseverance and faith. He emphasizes the importance of not letting life’s challenges harden one’s heart and encourages listeners to remain receptive to God’s word and guidance.
In the sermon “God Wants You On His Team” by Dr. Mike Harder, the focus is on the biblical story of Moses and his journey with God as depicted in the book of Exodus. Dr. Harder emphasizes the importance of actively participating in God’s plan rather than merely observing. He draws parallels between the excitement of playing football and the fulfillment of being an active participant in God’s mission. The sermon delves into Moses’s hesitations and the questions he had about the message, the messenger, and the mission itself. Dr. Harder highlights the signs God provided to Moses, such as the transformation of a staff into a snake and the healing of a leprous hand, as demonstrations of His power. However, he also underscores that while signs can be awe-inspiring, they don’t necessarily change hearts. True belief and commitment come from a deeper understanding and relationship with God. The sermon encourages listeners to move from being mere spectators to active participants in God’s redemptive story, emphasizing that everyone has a role to play in His grand narrative.
The sermon “The Burning Bush” by Dr. Mike Harder, from the First Baptist Spartanburg podcast, delves into the transformative encounter between Moses and God, as depicted in Exodus 3. Dr. Harder draws parallels between Moses’ curiosity towards the burning bush and personal instances where individuals feel compelled to stop and investigate unusual occurrences, using a personal anecdote about discovering a cemetery with his family name. The sermon elucidates Moses’ life journey, from his upbringing in Pharaoh’s palace and among his Hebrew kin, to his exile in the desert where he marries and becomes a shepherd. It is in the desert that Moses witnesses a bush ablaze but not consumed, leading him to a divine encounter where God reveals His holiness, a concept unknown until then, and instructs Moses to treat the ground as holy. Dr. Harder expounds on the concept of holiness as being set apart and emphasizes its significance in understanding God’s nature. The sermon, thus, explores profound themes of divine encounter, holiness, and individual purpose, portraying Moses’ experience as a metaphor for moments when people are drawn to explore the unknown and subsequently discover the divine.
The sermon “Road to Redemption” by Dr. Mike Harder explores themes of loss, redemption, and divine providence, drawing parallels between everyday experiences and biblical narratives. Dr. Harder begins by sharing a personal anecdote about losing his debit card, using it as a metaphor for how people often feel forgotten by God, feeling that He has more interesting things to attend to. The sermon then delves into the book of Exodus, focusing on the story of Moses, illustrating how the Israelites felt abandoned and enslaved but were ultimately not forgotten by God. Dr. Harder emphasizes that, like Moses and the Israelites, individuals today may feel overlooked or forsaken, but God never forgets His promises and has a plan for redemption for everyone, reinforcing the belief in divine presence and intervention in human lives.
The sermon “Confidence over Compromise” focuses on the importance of finding confidence in the Lord to avoid compromising one’s faith. The sermon draws parallels between the biblical story of Daniel and the challenges faced by believers today. It emphasizes that, like Daniel, modern-day Christians often find themselves in situations where it’s easy to compromise their faith. The key takeaway is that if one doesn’t want to compromise their faith, they must find their confidence in the Lord. The sermon uses the story of Daniel to illustrate this point, highlighting how Daniel’s faith was tested when he was taken to Babylon. Despite the pressures and temptations, Daniel remained steadfast, showing that confidence in the Lord can help one stand firm in their faith.
The sermon "Fear Man...or Fear God?" by Dr. Mike Harder at First Baptist Spartanburg focuses on the theme of fear and how it shapes human behavior, particularly in the context of faith. The sermon begins with an introduction where Dr. Harder talks about the exciting things happening at First Baptist, including baptisms and people coming back to faith.
The main text for the sermon is from the book of Exodus, specifically starting from Exodus chapter 1, verse 8. Dr. Harder delves into the story of the Israelites in Egypt, where a new Pharaoh comes to power who does not know Joseph, the Israelite who had previously saved Egypt from famine. This new Pharaoh fears the growing population of Israelites and enslaves them. Despite the oppression, the Israelites continue to multiply, which leads Pharaoh to order the killing of all newborn Israelite boys.
Dr. Harder explains that the book of Exodus is not just about the Israelites escaping oppression but is fundamentally about God's redemptive plan. He emphasizes that Pharaoh serves as a proxy for Satan, who aims to thwart God's plan. The sermon also touches on the concept of "fearing God" as an antidote to worldly fears, illustrated by the Hebrew midwives who defy Pharaoh's orders because they fear God more than man.
The sermon aims to help the congregation understand that fear is a part of the human condition, but the type of fear that is encouraged in the Bible is the fear of God, which liberates rather than oppresses.
The sermon “God Pursues Prodigals” by Dr. Mike Harder at First Baptist Spartanburg delves into the story of Jonah and its parallel to the New Testament story of the Prodigal Son. Dr. Harder emphasizes that the story of Jonah is not just about a man and a fish but about God’s relentless pursuit of people who are far from Him. Jonah, like the Prodigal Son, runs away from God’s calling and is angry when God shows grace to the people of Nineveh. Dr. Harder argues that Jonah embodies both the younger and older sons from the Prodigal Son story, illustrating how God pursues us whether we are running away from Him or are distant while staying put. The sermon concludes with the idea that God uses various means, like the fish, the plant, and the worm in Jonah’s story, to bring people back to Him.
In the sermon, Dr. Mike Harder emphasizes the idea that God is a God of second chances, drawing upon biblical texts like Psalm 103 and the story of Jonah. He argues that God's character is one of compassion, grace, and abounding love, always willing to give people another chance to turn their lives around. Dr. Harder challenges the congregation to seize their second chances, whether it's in their personal lives, in their relationship with God, or in their community. He warns against becoming "church connoisseurs," who are more focused on critiquing than experiencing God. The sermon encourages people to embrace the opportunities for repentance and grace that God continually offers.
In his sermon at First Baptist Spartanburg, Dr. Mike Harder explores the theme of "waiting on God," drawing insights from the biblical story of Jonah. He emphasizes the concept of "Kairos," or God's perfect timing, and discusses "manna" as a symbol of divine provision. Dr. Harder acknowledges the universal experience of waiting—be it for a relationship, job, or other life events—and encourages the congregation to engage in "active waiting" by being faithful in their current circumstances. He reassures that Jesus himself understands the struggle of waiting and urges the audience to see their waiting as a "sermon" or testimony to others. The sermon concludes with a call to trust in God's timing and provision.
Our pastor, Dr. Mike Harder, continues his new series from Jonah - HEARING GOD. Today's title is VOICES ALL AROUND. Remember we are here for prayer anytime- text back or call 877-443-2273!