Berea Baptist Church of Durham NC Podcast

Heart Matters

6.28.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Genesis 22:1-14

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he answered. [2] "Take your son," he said, "your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." [3] So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. [4] On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. [5] Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we'll come back to you." [6] Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together. [7] Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, "My father." And he replied, "Here I am, my son." Isaac said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" [8] Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." Then the two of them walked on together. [9] When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. [10] Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. [11] But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" He replied, "Here I am." [12] Then he said, "Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me." [13] Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. [14] And Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide, so today it is said, "It will be provided on the LORD's mountain."

Family Matters

6.21.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Genesis 21:1-2, 5-6, 8-21

 The LORD kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. [2] She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. [5] Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. [6] And Sarah declared, "God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.

[8]When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. [9] But Sarah saw Ishmael-the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar-making fun of her son, Isaac. [10] So she turned to Abraham and demanded, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won't have it!" [11] This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. [12] But God told Abraham, "Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. [13] But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar's son because he is your son, too." [14] So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar's shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba. [15] When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. [16] Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. "I don't want to watch the boy die," she said, as she burst into tears. [17] But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, "Hagar, what's wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. [18] Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants." [19] Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink. [20] And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, [21] and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

Laughing Matters

6.14.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Freely you have received; freely give.-Matthew 10:8

Genesis 18:1-15 CSB

The LORD appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. [2] He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground, [3] and said, "My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant. [4] Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. [5] I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant's way. Later, you can continue on." "Yes," they replied, "do as you have said." [6] So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and make bread." [7] Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. [8] Then Abraham took curds and milk, as well as the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree. [9] "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he answered. [10] The LORD said, "I will certainly come back to you in about a year's time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!" Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him. [11] Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. [12] So she laughed to herself: "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?" [13] But the LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Can I really have a baby when I'm old?' [14] Is anything impossible for the LORD? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son." [15] Sarah denied it. "I did not laugh," she said, because she was afraid. But he replied, "No, you did laugh."

Matthew 9:35-38 CSB

Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. [38] Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest."

 

 

 

Surrender and Repentance Pave the Road to Salvation

6.7.26 sermon by Dr. Robert Wortham

Psalm 33:4-12 CSB

For the word of the LORD is right, and all his work is trustworthy. [5] He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the LORD's unfailing love. [6] The heavens were made by the word of the LORD, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth. [7] He gathers the water of the sea into a heap; he puts the depths into storehouses. [8] Let the whole earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. [9] For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence. [10] The LORD frustrates the counsel of the nations; he thwarts the plans of the peoples. [11] The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart from generation to generation. [12] Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD- the people he has chosen to be his own possession!

 

Matthew 9:9-13 CSB

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me," and he got up and followed him. [10] While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" [12] Now when he heard this, he said, "It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. [13] Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Blessed Trinity

5.31.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Trinity Sunday 2026

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth." [27] So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.— Genesis 1:26-27

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send you greetings. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.--2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Is Your Response Ready?

5.10.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Acts 17: 22-34

Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, "People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. [23] For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, 'To an Unknown God.' Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. [24] The God who made the world and everything in it-he is Lord of heaven and earth-does not live in shrines made by hands. [25] Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. [26] From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. [27] He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. [28] For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also his offspring.' [29] Since, then, we are God's offspring, we shouldn't think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination. [30] "Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." [32]When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, "We'd like to hear from you again about this." [33] So Paul left their presence. [34] However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

 

Beautiful Broken Shards

5.3.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Psalm 31:1-24 CSB 

LORD, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. Save me by your righteousness. [2] Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me. [3] For you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name's sake. [4] You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for you are my refuge. [5] Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, LORD, God of truth.

  [6] I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. [7] I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul [8] and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place. [9] Be gracious to me, LORD, because I am in distress; my eyes are worn out from frustration- my whole being as well. 

[10] Indeed, my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my strength has failed because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. [11] I am ridiculed by all my adversaries and even by my neighbors. I am dreaded by my acquaintances; those who see me in the street run from me. [12] I am forgotten: gone from memory like a dead person-like broken pottery. 

[13] I have heard the gossip of many; terror is on every side. When they conspired against me, they plotted to take my life. [14] But I trust in you, LORD; I say, "You are my God." [15] The course of my life is in your power; rescue me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors. [16] Make your face shine on your servant; save me by your faithful love. [17] LORD, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them be quiet in Sheol. [18] Let lying lips that arrogantly speak against the righteous in proud contempt be silenced. 

[19] How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you. [20] You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues. [21] Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me in a city under siege. [22] In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to you for help. [23] Love the LORD, all his faithful ones. The LORD protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant. [24] Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD.

 

Is The LORD Your Shepherd?

4.26.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Psalm 23

[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need. 

[2] He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 

[3] He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name's sake. 

[4] Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff-they comfort me. 

[5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

[6] Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live

 John 10:1-15

"Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn't enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. [2] The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. [5] They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don't know the voice of strangers." [6] Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. [7] Jesus said again, "Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. [8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them. [9] I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. [10] A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. [13] This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn't care about the sheep. [14] "I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.

 

 

Letting Go and Trusting Jesus

4.19.26 sermon by Dr. Robert Wortham

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”—Matthew 11:28-30 CSB

Second Wind

4.12.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord GOD says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live!”—Ezekiel 37:9

John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be with you." [20] Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you." [22] After saying this, he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 

[24] But Thomas (called "Twin" ), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples were telling him, "We've seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "If I don't see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe." [26] A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." [27] Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don't be faithless, but believe." [28] Thomas responded to him, "My Lord and my God!" [29] Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." 

[30] Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. [31] But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.