Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston Podcast Por Brad Thurston arte de portada

Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

De: Brad Thurston
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A series of sermons preached at Long Creek Baptist Church, Burgaw, NC, by Pastor Brad Thurston.2022 Brad Thurston Cristianismo Espiritualidad Ministerio y Evangelismo
Episodios
  • Great, Greater, Greatest

    Great, Greater, Greatest
    Jun 18 2025

    Great – Greater – Greatest

    John 3:22-36

    Introduction

    Old Weddings – the best man and the cultural differences… Then and now! Daniel and Mark as opposed to other traditions?

    The Continuity of Baptism looking at inward and outward expressions of faith.

    1. Is baptism a ritual without reality? Or is it a death to self and a transformation into life eternal? Is life the same after baptism as before? Or does the Holy Spirit take control?
    2. Charles Swindoll said: ‘As theologians and teachers of the Word we study the Holy Spirit from a safe doctrinal distance; we are loath to enter into any of the realms of His supernatural workings or even to tolerate the possibility of such. Explaining the Holy Spirit is one thing: experiencing Him another’”
    3. Competition in ministry is a good example of how we need to see the growth and constant development in character. Here the question is who is greater, and the influence we thought we had, is waning. See 1 Corinthians 1:10-15:

    “NowI exhort you,brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you allagree and that there be nodivisions among you, but that you bemade complete inthe same mind and in the same judgment.For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’speople, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, thateach one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I ofApollos,” and “I ofCephas,” and “I of Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were youbaptizedin the name of Paul?I thank God that Ibaptized none of you exceptCrispus andGaius, so that no one would say you were baptizedin my name.”

    1. Great to Greater

    Psalm 96:4

    Forgreat is theLordandgreatly to be praised;
    He is to befearedabove all gods.

    Matthew 11:11

    Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisenanyonegreater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who isleast in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

    Who is the greatest? Luke 9:46;48

    An argumentstarted among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

    Jesus’ reply to such questions?

    Then he said to them,“Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

    1. John’s answer is thought provoking: Jesus is the greatest because:
    2. The Supremacy of Jesus focuses on his Origin
    3. The Testimony of Jesus focuses on his first-hand knowledge
    4. The Authority of Jesus focuses on the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit
    5. Our response to these things is important:
    6. Pointing people to Jesus
    7. Receiving the Holy Spirit

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    36 m
  • The Abundant Gift

    The Abundant Gift
    Jun 16 2025

    The thing about snakes – why put it up on a pole? And why does it bring healing? What is the type in the OT that Jesus wants us to be aware of? Is there a connection to the Passover feast that they are celebrating? Would Nicodemus have a different understanding about this from his historical and cultural background that we in our era and culture may have difficulty relating to?

    The snake, the devil and the bite of sin that brings destruction and death compared to the one who takes that sting of death away! It is a type of the cross and a prophetic view of what was to come with the real exodus from slavery to sin in the world of the flesh.

    The abundant nature of God’s generosity to those who believe in him.

    Condemnation and believing in Jesus

    The love of God for humankind is contrasted by our love of darkness. How do we identify darkness? By deeds that are evil – by God’s definition, which is the only one that counts in the face of eternity!

    The focus on truth as the means of coming to the light.

    Matt Carter: The reality of God’s love – 14-16 for us and so reveals the need, the reason, the intensity and the demonstration of God’s love. The proof of the Love of God is in the giving. The demonstration proves the intensity and assurance of love, not just the words. The sacrifice is the proof more than time or money. Compare gave to sent in 17!

    The reason Jesus came – 17 sent not to condemn Romans and liberate Jews. To condemn means to judge a person guilty and liable to punishment.

    The result of belief – 18 the message of the Bible is about God’s love and mercy and about man’s sin and need leading to the rescue found in Jesus Christ

    The response of man – 19-21 our choice
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    36 m
  • The Three R's

    The Three R's
    Jun 14 2025
    The Three “R’s” - John 3:1-15The 3 Rs in school. Helps us to remember. Many preachers like to use the same alliterative method in their preaching to help folks remember their sermons. I have found that it does not really work like that. If you want folks to remember something, it has to be short and really memorable, (like “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!”) or you need to repeat it so often that at least the preacher can remember it. Usually, what people remember is how you made them feel, not what you said. The proof is not in specific words, but in what is printed in your heart! What you experience. Selwyn Hughes: l knowing the Psalm (23] is one thing – hearsay – but knowing the Shepherd is quite another – heart-say.Read textLet’s look at the three Rs in this passage: Selwyn Hughes: “make no mistake about it – the image of God that you carry in your heart is the one that you will relate to in a moment of crisis.” Repentance Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38David Pawson: “Do you realize if you are ever going to start on the road to the kingdom of heaven you have got to repent of your good deeds as well as your bad deeds, if you’ve been putting your trust in them?”Rebirth Titus 3:5 NIVRevelationFlesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. Matt. 16The picture of the snake Numbers 21:4-9 and Jesus quotes this now.The discussion with NicodemusTroubled by what he sees and knows and is honest enough to seek out answers despite the perceived opposition, he takes a risk to seek out Jesus.As a teacher in Israel, he knows the laws that govern and how they are interpreted. Do good deeds, do the religious things and then you will be acceptable in God’s sight. But he obviously doesn’t know about the assurance of salvation, and the actions of Jesus, disturb him, even though he can see how those deeds were contrary to what they believed. But it was going to affect his as well as their income, lifestyle, teaching, and their way of life that they had become accustomed to. Was it worth it? Is what Jesus brings worth the price of every one else’s wrath? Isn’t what we do, perhaps with some alterations here or there enough? Why this dramatic confrontation and change? Aren’t we all the children of Abraham? Are we not on the right path? We are doing what we are supposed to do with the offering, sacrifices and the religious zeal for the Words of the law and prophets? We memorize it, we teach our children, we do our best to be kind and good people. Okay we mess up sometimes, but we all do it, but at least we belong to the right family!Jesus cuts right through all his questions and his dilemmas and comes straight to the point: “You must be born again.”This means, Jesus is saying you are not in the right family at all. Being a descendent of Abraham does not make you righteous. Keeping the laws to the best of your ability does not make you righteous. Your basic problem is: You have the wrong nature. Your good deeds are like filthy rags to God. He is not pleased with you because you try harder to please him. There is only one thing you can do with your nature, and that is it must die. If you want live, you must be born again.Nicodemus: What do you mean? What are you talking about? How can you be a teacher in Israel and not know this? Abraham lived by faith in God! Jacob lived by faith in God. Joseph lived by faith in God. Moses lived by faith in God! All of them lived in faith before the law came! They understood their nature was the nature of sin, death, darkness and evil. It is not about religious activities; it is a matter of a transformed heart. A birth where God Almighty is your father.Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, as a matter of fact, if you are not born again of the spirit of God you cannot even see the kingdom. Worshipping God is not about religious activities, it is something we do in Spirit and in truth! The breakthrough comes when God enters you like the wind and directs you in your faith and your life.Wow. Jesus must have loved him a lot to confront him so directly.Now the matter of being born of water and the Spirit: Some think it means the passage of water when you are born the first time. Birth of the Spirit comes when you believe in Jesus.Most say it can be a dual understanding. You see John has just spent time with John the Baptist and following this encounter Jesus and the disciples go baptizing as well. The focus really is on what happens in Baptism:The First R is Repentance. Repenting from bad deeds and good deeds as well if they are what you are depending on for God’s pleasure and acceptance. The focus on repentance is critical for a spiritual life. It is the forerunner of moving into God’s Kingdom. Learning to be humble and repent before God. Being able to see when we do wrong ...
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    46 m
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