First Baptist Spartanburg (Video)
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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.
