Southside Baptist Church Podcast

Many people carry shame from past mistakes. Shame follows us wherever we go and often determines the choices we make at important crossroads of life. What appeared to be the end of the road for the thief crucified with Jesus was, in fact, his most important crossroad. Would he allow shame to define his final moments or would he embrace the life Jesus was offering? Join us as we look at a moment that was intended to bring shame, but resulted in one of the most epic displays of grace in history.

When we say someone is out of control, we normally mean that they have lost some sense of decorum, reason, or ability to manage themselves and others. When we say someone has control issues, we usually mean that a person is crossing some imaginary line of what is appropriate in managing a situation, group or individual. So what does it mean to be perfectly in control? And are we ever really in control of anything, or is control an illusion? Jesus’ encounter with Pilate is a fascinating study in the contrast between control and surrender and how you cannot have one without the other. Join us for part four of our series as we consider the decision Pilate made at the CROSSROADS.

Fear is a primal emotion. Our deepest convictions are often revealed when we come face to face with our greatest fears. The Apostle Peter is famous for his bravado and self-confidence, but when he faced the cross roads of fear and faith, Peter’s choice revealed the true condition of his heart. Join us for part three of Cross Roads as we explore how we can choose fear over faith.

He was just doing his job when one of those religious zealots pulled out a sword and cut off his ear. Maybe, like Malchus, you’ve had a hurtful encounter with one of Jesus’followers. Perhaps you still have wounds that serve as reminders of why you keep your distance from Jesus and His followers. While Malchus’ story begins with a wound inflicted by one of Jesus’ followers, it ends with a miraculous healing by Jesus. The Bible doesn't tell us what direction Malchus took at this cross road, but it does offer hope for all those who would bear the scars of religious wounds.

Judas Iscariot is one of the most notorious names in history. It is synonymous with treachery and betrayal, but it wasn’t always. There was a time when Judas was among the most trusted of all of Jesus’ disciples. What happened to him? Can that happen to Jesus’ followers today? Join us for part one of CROSSROADS as we take a closer look at Judas and discover the cross road every disciple must face.

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.